Police sciences between theory and practice : an evaluation of scientific grounds through the prism of the constituents of science
Year: 2026
Type: conference-paper
Study design: Systematic Review
Abstract: Purpose: This paper aims to conduct a theoretical analysis of the fundamental constituents of police sciences and assess their level of scientific grounds against the core elements that define any academic discipline.Design/Methods/Approach: A systematic review of relevant literature was carried out and benchmarked against widely accepted standards of scientific rigor. Selected subfields of police sciences (police organization and tactics, police ethics, traffic safety from a policing perspective, police-criminalistics topography, and specialized physical education for law enforcement) were evaluated according to criteria such as research subject, methodology, terminology, theoretical framework, empirical basis, logical coherence, value system, institutional embedding, and societal context. Findings: The analysis demonstrates that all considered disciplines within police sciences satisfy the essential requirements of a scientific field: they possess a clearly defined subject matter, employ valid research methods, develop specialized terminology and theoretical models, rely on empirical studies, exhibit coherent, logical structures, uphold professional values, enjoy institutional support, and address pertinent needs of the social environment.Originality/Value: This study provides the first comprehensive theoretical evaluation of the scientific foundations of police sciences through a detailed examination of their constitutive elements. It establishes a robust basis for their equal recognition among academic disciplines and promotes enhancing police education, research, and practice.
Language: English
Field: Social Sciences
Domain: Social Sciences
Open Access status: green
OpenAlex ID: W7152355072