Examining the interest in the profession talent and capabilities of the both Police-College-Graduate and High School Graduate students studying at the faculty of security sciences of the police academy

The aim of this study is to compare the interests, abilities and values of Police Academy 1st year and 4th year students on the basis of high school education (Police High School vs. other high schools) and class level (1st grade vs. 4th grade). The Self Evaluation Inventory (S.E.I.) was applied for the purposes of this comparison. The study was conducted with a total sample of 202 students from the Ankara-based Police Academy Security Sciences Faculty, and was appliedspecifically to 1st grade (N=121) and 4th grade students (N=81). Fifty-eight 1st year respondents are graduates of Police High School, whereas 63 of these are graduates of other high schools. From the 4th year sample, 40 respondents are graduates of Police High School, whereas 41 are not. One- Way Analyses of Variance (ANOVA design) was conducted to comparetotal scores and dimensions of the SEI. Secondly, LSD was conducted to reveal the origins and sources of significantly different dimensions. Lastly, the t-test was conducted to compare independent group scores. Results of the SEI indicate that students are best at "verbal ability" and worst at "spatial ability", and they demonstrate the highest interest to "persuasion" and the least interest to "music". The highest value held is the "ability to use skills and talent", while the lowest value held was found to be "profit". Overall, there was a significant difference between police high school graduates and others in terms of verbal and mathematical abilities. However, there was no significant difference in terms of spatial ability. Class levels of students (1st class vs. 4th class) had no significant effect on "fundamental science", "social sciences", "mechanics", "persuasion", "music", "social aid", "literature" and "fine arts", whereas class levels had a significant effect on "trade" and "job details".IV When the SEI was investigated in terms of job values, it was examined that 4th grade police high school-based students place significantly higher importance to "leadership", "profit", "difference" and to the"acquiring of fame". However, different level of students did not respond differently to otheraspects of job values, such as: "ability to use talent", "imagination", "competition", "cooperation", and "regular life". The results of the test indicates that all of theese students take the highest point on "ability to use skills and talend" and the lowest value held was fonud to be "profit".