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Approach-Avoidance Motivation and Predicting Witness Cooperation in Violent Felony Investigations: A Moderation Analysis

Mitsch, Jennifer L.
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xulead1600166754108738

Abstract Details

2020, Doctor of Education (Ed.D.) in Leadership Studies, Xavier University, Leadership Studies and Human Resource Development.
This study was designed to examine the impact of witnesses’ participation in the Cincinnati Citizens Respect Our Witnesses (CCROW) witness support program on decisions whether to cooperate in violent felony cases and the potentially moderating effects of approach and avoidance motivation (Elliot & Thrash, 2002) on those decisions. The study employed Carver & White’s (1994) BIS/BAS scale to assess approach and avoidance motivation and Cincinnati Police Department archival data documenting the levels of cooperation among witnesses of violent crimes and their participation in a program designed to protect and support such individuals in one Mid-Western urban community. An overview of contemporary research related to approach and avoidance motivation theory and witness cooperation establishes areas of intersection between these lines of research, but not direct tests of the relationship among these variables. The literature highlights a variety of aspects related to community support and themes related to witness cooperation including historical aspects of the no-snitch mentality and witness intimidation. Review of previous research explores themes related to approach-avoidance motivation: goal setting, self-regulation, and the need for relatedness and affiliation. This review determined current research is lacking on the relationship between community support and witness cooperation, as well as witness motivation to cooperate. The review of literature also established that witness cooperation has been a long-standing phenomenon within the legal system (Cannavale 1976), and civic engagement in a variety of ways can lead to a decrease in crime rates (Masiloane and Marais 2009). Given that witness non-cooperation continues to persist, this study was designed to explore the effectiveness of the CCROW program in predicting cooperation among the witnesses of violent crimes, and whether differences in participants’ motivational profile moderates program effectiveness. Data were collected from participants in a program designed to support and protect witnesses to violent crime, in an effort to better understand the potentially explanatory role of approach-avoidance motivation in their decision whether to cooperate with the prosecution of the crimes they witnessed. Based on the data collected, only two of six hypotheses relating to levels of CCROW participation were tested; neither was supported by the data. The other four hypotheses could not be tested due to lack of variability in one of the outcome variables (level of cooperation). Research questions were not supported by the results of this study. Limitations included the small sample size and lack of comparative data from non-CCROW participants. Future research recommendations include collecting longitudinal data and comparative data on witnesses who decline to participate in the CCROW program.
Gail F. Latta, Ph.D. (Committee Chair)
Ebony Ruhland, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
Ahlam Lee, Ph.D. (Committee Member)
97 p.
Behavioral Psychology; Behavioral Sciences; Criminology; Social Research; Social Work
Approach; Avoidance; Approach Motivation; Avoidance Motivation; Motivation; Witnesses; Witness Cooperation; Witness support; Victim Advocacy

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Mitsch, J. L. (2020). Approach-Avoidance Motivation and Predicting Witness Cooperation in Violent Felony Investigations: A Moderation Analysis [Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xulead1600166754108738

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Mitsch, Jennifer. Approach-Avoidance Motivation and Predicting Witness Cooperation in Violent Felony Investigations: A Moderation Analysis . 2020. Xavier University, Doctoral dissertation. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xulead1600166754108738.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Mitsch, Jennifer. "Approach-Avoidance Motivation and Predicting Witness Cooperation in Violent Felony Investigations: A Moderation Analysis ." Doctoral dissertation, Xavier University, 2020. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=xulead1600166754108738

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

xulead1600166754108738
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This open access ETD is published by Xavier University Leadership Studies and Human Resource Development and OhioLINK.