Unexpected events during survey design and trust in the police: a systematic review

This review synthesizes the impact of unexpected events on trust in police and evaluates the methodological rigor of 12 studies, focusing on causal inference assumptions. Studies meeting these assumptions show significant changes in trust following police (non)violence and protests, though excludability is less rigorously addressed than ignorability. The findings support the procedural justice framework, suggesting that vicarious experiences influence short-term public trust in police. The review highlights challenges in study design, power, statistical validity, and addressing threats to internal validity.

Journal Article