Brita Bjørkelo

• Kolke, Laura Vom; Sunde, Nina & Bjørkelo, Brita (2026). Forensic system bias: Systemic factors shaping digital forensic decision-making. Forensic Science International: Digital Investigation. ISSN 2666-2825. 59. doi: 10.1016/j.fsidi.2026.302205. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lau, Bjørn; Fostervold, Knut Inge & Bjørkelo, Brita (2026). The effort–reward imbalance model in policing: associations with mental health and work functioning among sworn and civilian employees. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. ISSN 0340-0131. 99(7). doi: 10.1007/s00420-026-02231-5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Abstract Objective The Effort–Reward Imbalance (ERI) model is widely used to explain work-related stress and its health consequences. In policing, ERI research has primarily focused on sworn officers, while civilian employees have received limited attention. The purpose of this study was to examine whether ERI variables are associated with mental health and occupational functioning among police employees, and whether these associations differ between sworn officers and civilian personnel. Methods This cross-sectional study included sworn police officers and civilian employees in the Norwegian police. A random sample of 4000 employees was invited to complete an online survey, and 560 employees participated. Effort, reward, and overcommitment were measured with the 16-item short ERI questionnaire, and the ERI ratio was calculated from the effort and reward scales. Anxiety symptoms, depressive symptoms, work engagement, and job-related self-efficacy were assessed using separate questionnaires. Group differences were examined using analyses of covariance, and associations between ERI predictors and outcome variables were tested using hierarchical regression analyses with interaction terms for occupational role. Results In the covariate-adjusted analytic sample (N = 558), no significant differences were observed between sworn officers and civilian employees in ERI variables, mental health outcomes, or occupational functioning. Higher ERI ratio was associated with higher anxiety symptoms (β = 0.28) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.33) and with lower work engagement (β = − 0.27) and job-related self-efficacy (β = − 0.16). Overcommitment showed stronger associations with anxiety symptoms (β = 0.50) and depressive symptoms (β = 0.46) and was inversely associated with job-related self-efficacy (β = − 0.28) and work engagement (β = − 0.14). Occupational role did not moderate these associations. Conclusions The findings support the ERI model by demonstrating consistent associations between effort–reward imbalance, overcommitment, mental health, and occupational functioning in policing. Neither the levels of the ERI variables nor their associations with the outcomes differed by occupational role, suggesting that ERI processes operate similarly across occupational categories within a highly regulated welfare-state context.

• Lau, Bjørn; Bjørkelo, Brita & Fostervold, Knut Inge (2026). Occupational trauma and probable PTSD among sworn and civilian police employees. European Journal of Psychotraumatology. 17(1). doi: 10.1080/20008066.2026.2726597. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Background: Police personnel are frequently exposed to potentially traumatic events (PTEs), increasing their risk for posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). While much research has focused on sworn police officers (SPOs), less is known about civilian employees (Civilians) who work alongside them. This study examined trauma exposure and probable PTSD in both groups within the Norwegian Police Service (NPS). Methods: A random sample of 4,000 employees received an invitation to a web-based survey in 2021, of which 560 responded (61.8% SPOs, 38.2% Civilians). Trauma exposure was assessed with the Life Events Checklist for DSM-5 (LEC-5), and probable PTSD was measured with the PTSD Checklist for DSM-5 (PCL-5). Logistic regression analyses examined group differences in trauma exposure and PTSD prevalence, adjusting for sociodemographic covariates. Results: SPOs reported significantly greater overall lifetime trauma exposure than Civilians (87.3% vs. 69.2%) and substantially higher occupational trauma exposure (72.0% vs. 21.5%). Probable PTSD was 5.6% among civilians and 2.6% among sworn officers; the crude group difference was not statistically significant (OR = 0.45, 95% CI [0.19, 1.09]). However, after adjusting for different trauma exposure indicators, the association reversed and became statistically significant (adjusted ORs = 0.12–0.16), consistent with a suppressor effect whereby the higher exposure among sworn officers masked their relatively lower risk of PTSD. Discussion: This is the first study to directly compare trauma exposure and probable PTSD among SPOs and Civilians in the NPS. While SPOs reported markedly higher trauma exposure, Civilians also faced substantial risks despite lower levels of direct occupational trauma. PTSD prevalence in both groups was lower than commonly reported in international police samples and broadly comparable to estimates from the Norwegian general population. Nevertheless, the high levels of trauma exposure underline that posttraumatic symptoms remain an important occupational health concern.

• Slåttebrekk, Tarald; Bjørkelo, Brita; Ågotnes, Kari Wik & Olsen, Olav Kjellevold (2026). The anatomy of insider threats: exploring safety consciousness in an adverse recruitment process. Security Journal. ISSN 0955-1662. 39(1). doi: 10.1057/s41284-026-00551-2. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Utilizing the Critical Incident Technique (CIT), this in-depth case study explores the role of individual safety consciousness in an adversary recruitment process. The data stems from the legal proceedings of a criminal case in which Russian Foreign Intelligence (SVR) successfully recruited a trusted employee from a societal safety-oriented organization. Based on three CIT categories: (1) professional recruitment strategies, (2) safety consciousness in the recruitment process, and (3) change in behavior due to the recruitment process, we provide a conceptual model and typology of insider threats. Conceptualized through security violations as accidental & neglective, self-motivated, and actor-driven insider threats, the results may help organizations delineate and target preventive efforts and draw on existing research.

• Bjørkelo, Brita; Wieslander, Malin; Hedin, Ulla-Carin; Lane, Linda; Nielsen, Kristian Stampe & Grønstad, Anniken [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2025). “That’s Not Sexual Harassment, Is It?”: How Understandings of Sexual Harassment Impact Intervention Work. Tidsskrift for kjønnsforskning. ISSN 0809-6341. 49(3), s. 129–129. doi: 10.18261/tfk.49.3.3. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Sexual harassment (SH) is commonly categorized into gender harassment, unwanted sexual attention, and sexual coercion, and can be understood as part of a broader continuum of violence often experienced by women. To better understand why SH persists, this study examines how perceptions of SH influence organizational interventions,using data from the Norwegian Police Service since 2016. Findings show that behaviors such as unwanted hugging and touching—classified as gender harassment—are not always recognized as SH by those affected or by those designing interventions. Moreover, interventions often focused on individuals rather than addressing group or organizational dynamics. These results underscore the importance of contextualizing SH as a shared workplace concern and developing more holistic intervention narratives.

• Grønstad, Anniken; Blenkinsopp, John & Bjørkelo, Brita (2025). Whistleblower Well-Being: What Are the Roles and Responsibilities of HR? I Philips, Arron & Portfliet, Meghan Van (Red.), Whistleblowing Policy and Practice, Volume I : Internal aspects. Palgrave Macmillan. ISSN 9783031931659. doi: 10.1007/978-3-031-93166-6_8. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Organizations are increasingly under pressure from policymakers to adopt procedures to handle disclosures in a more transparent and effective way, yet, we continue to see whistleblowers speak up and suffer for doing so. Why does this happen? This two-volume work examines the different perspectives on who is responsible for receiving and acting on whistleblowing disclosures, implementing processes and procedures, and even deciding who can be defined as a whistleblower, These debates are contingent on underlying ideas for how whistleblowing should be handled and what channel is most appropriate, where debates also persist. While there is widespread agreement that whistleblowing is a good thing (a position we assume in this book) the purpose of this book is to draw out the debates around the who and the how, two of the important questions for business to consider when dealing with whistleblowing disclosures. This first volume explores whistleblowing from within the organization, exploring the internal organizational systems that can support or thwart whistleblowing attempts. it will be of great importance to academics and researchers of business ethics, HRM, corporate governance, leadership, strategy and corporate law.

• Loncar, Lea; Langvik, Eva; Rostad, Ingrid Steen; Saksvik-Lehouillier, Ingvild & Bjørkelo, Brita (2025). Work Stressors and Resources Among Police Emergency Dispatchers. Exploring Opportunities for Improving Working Conditions for Employees Critical for Public Safety. Scandinavian Journal of Psychology. ISSN 0036-5564. 66(6), s. 908–918. doi: 10.1111/sjop.70001. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Emergency dispatchers are required to remain calm and focused, managing complex and intense situations when allocating resources and providing information to first responders on site. However, despite their importance in securing public safety, the working conditions of emergency dispatchers have received marginal attention. This study addresses this gap by exploring: (1) “How do police emergency dispatchers experience their working conditions?” and (2) “Which initiatives do the emergency dispatchers suggest for reducing stress, improving the working conditions, and promoting health maintenance?” We applied qualitative content analysis to responses from 78 police emergency dispatchers to open-ended questions from an online survey. The work's demanding and intense nature is regarded as both stressful and engaging. Cumulative stress is perceived as more challenging than dramatic incidents. Noise and suboptimal technical solutions add to the burden. Lack of follow-up, understaffing and turnover may be depicted as a vicious circle that could be counterbalanced by more staff, outsourcing of redundant tasks, better technical equipment, and leadership-initiated debriefing. Although limitations apply, the results from this study are important for practitioners and researchers within the field of operative psychology and emergency dispatchers. The results can contribute to an improved work environment, work culture, training, well-being, and performance of police emergency dispatchers, which can increase job performance as well as effectiveness and, consequently, secure public safety.

• Nielsen, Kristian Stampe; Hansen, Maj; Bjørkelo, Brita & Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe (2025). Evaluating a dialogue-based bystander intervention for work-related gender-based violence and harassment: a mixed method pilot study. International Journal of Conflict Management. ISSN 1044-4068. doi: 10.1108/IJCMA-09-2024-0229. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Flinterud, Guro; Lundgaard, Jenny Maria; Bjørkelo, Brita & Dahl, Johanne Yttri (2025). A Matter of Facts: Mapping Materialisations of Digitally Mediated Knowledge in the Police. Nordic Journal of Science and Technology Studies. ISSN 1894-4647. 13(1), s. 5–17. doi: 10.5324/njsts.v13i1.5877. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Digitalisation and the use of technology are at the core of knowledge production in policing. This paper presents various ways in which perspectives from the diverse field of science and technology studies (STS) can provide new insights into studies of policing. In detail, we suggest ways in which STS, with its broad and open perspectives, can be employed to investigate how different practices involving human–technology interaction within policing act as authorisation processes that turn uncertain information into facts. Through theoretical and empirical examples, we exemplify how STS perspectives can be used to address knowledge construction in three areas of police: operative practices, online presence, and criminal investigations. These examples demonstrate that perspectives from STS are relevant to many areas of policing as digitalisation and the production of digital information affect and change policing, not only at the micro-level but also as a whole. By doing this, we hope to present the field of STS with an organisation that is less commonly associated with it and police researchers with new perspectives on the interplay between technology and knowledge in policing.

• D'Cruz, Premilla; Bjørkelo, Brita & Uys, Tina (2024). Whistleblowing at work. I Bal, P. Matthijs (Red.), Elgar Encyclopedia of Organizational Psychology. Edward Elgar Publishing. ISSN 9781803921754. s. 718–722. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Walker, Heidi Haugland; Bjørkelo, Brita; Hole, Åse Storhaug & Blenkinsopp, John (2024). The role of formal employee and safety representatives in whistleblowing. Social Science Research Network (SSRN). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In this article, based on a qualitative research method, we examine the role of formal employee and safety representatives and their experience of whistleblowing in the Norwegian Correctional Service. Employee representatives and safety representatives experience themselves as having an important role (dissemination of knowledge and prevention through the development of a voice climate). At the same time, there appears to be underutilised potential in the collaboration between the parties, who do not experience the responsibility as being shared. There is a gap between the possibilities for participation provided by formal meeting arenas, and the actual participation and involvement between the parties. The role of the formal employee and safety representatives thus becomes more reactive than proactive. This is seen as resulting from informal factors, discussed here applying theories of proactivity, trust and psychological contracts. Shared responsibility requires mutual trust. Trust is built over time through clarification of expectations, and collaboration. Shared responsibility encourages co-responsibility and proactivity, and this can increase the possibility of treating whistleblowing as a shared responsibility, rather than individual, issue. Collective agreements can be an important organisational measure, contributing to whistleblowing functioning as intended by legislators.

• Bjørkelo, Brita; Hartmann, Mia Rosa Koss; Helleve, Ingrid Maria & Knutsen, Geir Gjerde (2024). Etterforskningslederes opplevelser av etiske dilemma: Ambivalens som premiss i beslutningstaking. I Jakobsen, Kristina Kepinska & Risan, Patrick (Red.), Etikk i etterforskning. Gyldendal Akademisk. ISSN 9788205605602. s. 245–260. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  I etterforskningsledelse er beslutninger avgjørende for oppklaringsprosessen. Samtidig er konteksten for etterforskning ofte kjennetegnet av stor uklarhet. I komplekse etterforskningssaker er det ikke to saker som er like. Man kjenner oftest få eller ingen brikker i puslespillet fra starten av. Der lovverket ikke er tydelig, må etikken overta som støtte for etterforskningsledelsen. Hvordan vite om man skal henlegge eller ikke? Hvordan vekte innhenting av informasjon mot det man er villig til å utsette tredjepart for? Hvordan vekte kompetanse opp mot det å få nok folk til å etterforske? I dette kapittelet ser vi på etterforskningslederes rolle med tanke på å ta beslutninger i saker som inneholder etiske dilemma. Kapittelet er bygget på data som forteller hva etterforskningsledere selv identifiserer som etiske dilemma, og analyserer disse i lys av perspektiver på etikk. Tretti studenter som tok etterutdanning i etterforskningsledelse i forkant av etikkundervisningen, ble invitert til å sende inn eksempel på det de selv definerte som etiske dilemma. Bakgrunnen var et ønske om å benytte dilemmaene i undervisningen for å kunne reflektere sammen med kollegaer. Studentene har gitt tillatelse til at dilemmaene brukes i forskning. I dette kapittelet gis ingen svar på hva som er rett eller galt, men derimot en grå ramme som kan benyttes til å reflektere over det å stå overfor to like gode eller like dårlige etiske valg som etterforskningsleder

• Valland, Tatanya Claudine Bianca Ducran; Nordberg, Tanja Haraldsdottir & Bjørkelo, Brita (2024). Humour, sexual harassment, and police managers´ discretionary practices. Police Practice & Research. ISSN 1561-4263. doi: 10.1080/15614263.2024.2342632. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  In this article, we describe and analyse police managers’ response to incidents of gender and sexual harassment as they play out in a police workplace context. The aim is to examine managers’ supervisory discretion in safeguarding employees’ legal rights, through three research questions: 1) What implicit understandings of sexual harassment, in the organisation, are made visible by managers´ approach to harassment; 2) what do these implicit problem understandings mean for which incidents become legitimate and illegitimate experiences of harassment in the organisation; and 3) which types of harassment incidents are employees protected against? Based on two cases of harassment, observed during 6 months of fieldwork, we explore and analyse humour and managers’ power of definition, applying socio-legal perspectives on implementation of laws and rights in a work context. Through this, small incidents of everyday harassment become visible and highlight the role of police managers in transforming policy to action.

• Holm, Ragnhild; Villman, Emma; Bjørkelo, Brita; Helgesen, Janne Henriette Ingarsdotter & Boe, Ole (2024). Police Leadership Education: Digital Didactics, Perceived Learning and Perceived Increased Competence as Police Leaders. Nordisk tidsskrift for utdanning og praksis. 18(3), s. 61–91. doi: 10.23865/up.v18.5744. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Police leadership is an essential part of policing, as is the education of police leaders. Our study responds to the call for research on how to transform police leadership education into practice. In this longitudinal mixed-methods single case study we investigate two research questions: 1) How do the digital didactics of the digital police leadership course contribute to students’ perceived learning? 2) How are the knowledge and skills acquired in the digital police leadership course perceived to be applied 1.5 years after course completion? We collected data from students enrolled in a 12-week course. This course offered 24 students a two-day on-site course introduction, while the rest of the course was taught online. Data was collected through five surveys and follow-up interviews with six partic- ipants. The results show that police leaders perceived increased competence in being a police leader, report enhanced ability to bridge theory and practice, and improved their dig- ital skills. They also reported increased confidence in the leadership role and increased sharing of competence after study completion. The findings suggest that digital didactics may achieve embedded police education as it can provide an interplay of individual and organizational factors.

• Bye, Hege Høivik & Bjørkelo, Brita (2024). To Add or to Multiply? Gender, Sexual Minority Status, and Sexual Harassment in the Norwegian Police Service. Journal of business and psychology. ISSN 0889-3268. 40. doi: 10.1007/s10869-024-09958-3. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Does being a sexual minority member heighten the risk of sexual harassment to the same extent for women and men? We compare two perspectives on the interaction between gender and sexual minority status in predicting exposure to sexual harassment: gender and sexual minority status as independent risk factors (additive effects) versus sexual minority status as a stronger risk factor for men (interactive effects). In a representative survey among N = 4386 employees from the Norwegian Police Service, we found support for the additive perspective. Women, OR = 2.46, 95% CI [2.12, 2.89], and sexual minorities, OR = 2.51, 95% CI [1.81, 3.48], had higher odds of being targeted by sexual harassment. We do not find that sexual minority status is a stronger risk factor for men than for women but that sexual minority status increases the odds of being targeted with sexual harassment for both women and men. The effect of the interaction between gender and sexual minority status (OR = 0.80, 95% CI [0.39, 1.63]) was too small to be significant in our sample. We discuss methodological challenges in studying low-frequency events such as sexual harassment from an intersectional perspective. The group most at risk for being sexually harassed at work in the NPS is sexual minority women. Norway is characterized by gender equality and legal protection of sexual minorities. This does not seem to cancel out the effects that violations of gender ideals have on the likelihood of being harassed.

• Rabbing, Lillis Marie-Louise Elisabeth; Lau, Bjørn; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Blenkinsopp, John & Bjørkelo, Brita (2023). Enhancing self-reported assessment of working conditions in policing: Revisiting the psychometric properties and applications of the police stress questionnaire. Psychological Reports. ISSN 0033-2941. s. 1–19. doi: 10.1177/00332941231207957. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Objectives Policing is recognized as a highly stressful occupation, encompassing stressors not commonly encountered in other fields. In response, police-specific stress scales have been developed and used when studying police work. Despite changes in the composition of police personnel, most studies examining police working conditions focus on sworn police officers (SPO), excluding employees without police education (EWPE). To advance research and practice on stress in the police, align results, and increase the possibilities for comparisons across studies using police-specific measures (PSMs) we conducted a psychometric evaluation of the two scales in the Police Stress Questionnaire (PSQ). We examined whether adding “Not Applicable” to the response scales would reduce vulnerability and make the PSQ more robust. Method Based on a survey with a randomised sample (N = 560) of SPO and EWPE in the Norwegian Police, we tested the original factor structures of the PSQ through Confirmatory Factor Analysis including tests of factor structures from previous studies. Results For all models, the indicators of fit indicated a poor fit with either our whole or stratified sample. The response choice ‘Not Applicable’ provided extended information for SPOs and EWPEs on the PSQ. Conclusions To promote aligning results and enabling comparisons across studies using the PSQ, we suggest treating the PSQ scales as formative indexes, rather than reflective scales. Adding “Not Applicable” to the response scale offers an influential elaboration of the PSQ with beneficial and extended information. Generalised studies of stress in the police should include the entire population working there.

• Stapinski, Piotr; Bjørkelo, Brita; D'Cruz, Premilla; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe & Gamian-Wilk, Malgorzata (2023). A role that takes its toll? The moderating role of leadership in role stress and exposure to workplace bullying. International Journal of Conflict Management. ISSN 1044-4068. doi: 10.1108/IJCMA-03-2023-0047. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ellefsen, Hjørdis Birgitte; Bjørkelo, Brita; Sunde, Inger Marie & Fyfe, Nicholas R. (2023). Unpacking preventive policing: Towards a holistic framework. International Journal of Police Science and Management. ISSN 1461-3557. 26(2), s. 1–12. doi: 10.1177/14613557231163403. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Assuming that society is better off if the harm caused by crime – including the costs entailed by the investigation, prosecution and punishment – can be avoided, the proactive approach of preventive policing (PP) is generally promoted and understood as a good and effective solution. In this article, we unpack the concept of PP by analysing how it has been understood and practised across time and space, and find that the ‘preventive turn’ and current aspirations for a police service with a ‘preventative mindset’ seem to require a return to a police role that might be incompatible with the liberal and democratic ideals of today. We argue for the need for a holistic approach and outline six key elements for an overarching theoretical framework that is sensitive to the fundamental challenges of the ‘preventive turn’. This includes arguing for the need for an awareness of how the problems that are to be prevented are defined; how preventative interventions are directed; what role the police and other actors should play; how underlying rationalities and logics may affect the understanding, implementation and outcome of PP; how effects and consequences can be measured; and the need for legal and ethical limitations and guidelines.

• Dahl, Olav; Damen, Marie-Louise; Bjørkelo, Brita; Meling, Camilla Pellegrini & Jensen, Magnus Rom (2023). The Role of verbal peer feedback in the police: A Scoping Review. Vocations and Learning. ISSN 1874-785X. 16, s. 227–250. doi: 10.1007/s12186-023-09316-z. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Police officers, like other professionals, need to develop their competence and skills in correspondence with society. Peer feedback has been proven to significantly affect learning in the educational setting, and colleagues are seen as significant for the learning process in organizations. However, there seems to be little systematic knowledge concerning how verbal peer feedback affects police officers in workplace learning programs, and which elements affect this feedback. This review aims to fill this gap by analyzing 20 studies selected based on Arksey & O’Malley’s methodological framework. Findings show that police officers’ performance, motivation, and job satisfaction effectively can be improved using verbal peer feedback. It also shows some workplace conditions and factors management, and feedback actors should consider when organizing for and conducting feedback. Lastly, it shows that much of the research conducted within the educational sector also is valid for police workplace learning programs. However, further research is needed, especially concerning the relationship between police peers.

• Lundgaard, Jenny Maria; Flinterud, Guro; Bjørkelo, Brita & Dahl, Johanne Yttri (2022). Transparens og tilsløring i politiets kunnskapssystemer. Nytt Norsk Tidsskrift (NNT). ISSN 0800-336X. 39(2), s. 111–121. doi: 10.18261/nnt.39.2.2. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Det norske politiet vektlegger i økende grad det som kalles kunnskapsbasert politiarbeid, der kunnskap skal være retningsgivende for praksis. Det har i mindre grad vært fokusert på denne kunnskapens tilblivelse. Artikkelen bruker en case fra politiets operasjonssentral for å utforske teknologiens rolle i produksjonen av kunnskap, i lys av perspektiver fra teknologi og vitenskapsstudier (STS). Vi diskuterer hvordan teknologiene er med på å forme hva som får status som kunnskap, og hvordan de løfter frem og tilslører forskjellige sider av virkeligheten.

• Gamian-Wilk, Malgorzata; Bjørkelo, Brita; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe; D'Cruz, Premilla & Madeja-Bien, Kamila (2022). Workplace bullying: individual hostility, poor work environment or both? Exploring competing explanatory models in a single longitudinal study. International Archives of Occupational and Environmental Health. ISSN 0340-0131. doi: 10.1007/s00420-022-01896-y. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Valland, Tatanya Claudine Bianca Ducran; Nordberg, Tanja Haraldsdottir & Damen, Marie-Louise (2022). Ekte politiarbeid? Utvikling og uttesting av et prestisjehierarki for politiarbeid. Tidsskrift for kjønnsforskning. ISSN 0809-6341. 46(3-4), s. 150–165. doi: 10.18261/tfk.46.3.4. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Selv om det tradisjonelt mannsdominerte politiet nå har færre menn i opptak til bachelorutdanningen enn kvinner, dominerer menn i senior politiposisjoner, og noen politispesialiseringer er kjønnet. Videre beskrives noen former for politiarbeid, for eksempel problemorientert politiarbeid, som å jobbe «inne», altså kontorrelatert arbeid. Det omtales også som «teddybjørn»- eller «vaffel»-politi – i motsetning til ordenstjenesten, som omtales som «det virkelige politiarbeidet». Basert på rammeverk fra medisin og sykdomshierarkier, så vel som tidligere politistudier, utvikler og piloterer vi et prestisjehierarki for politiarbeid. I en undersøkelse blant 101 politiansatte i etter- og videreutdanning finner vi at menn og kvinner deler oppfatningen av hvilke typer politiarbeid som gir høy og lav prestisje i politiorganisasjonen, og at denne inndelingen til en viss grad henger sammen med kjønn. Studien bidrar med unik kunnskap om hvordan alminnelige oppfattelser av prestisjehierarki i politiarbeidsoppgaver kan tenkes å henge sammen med kjønn.

• Bjørkelo, Brita; Almås, Aslaug Grov; Roness, Dag & Ulvik, Marit (2022). Relasjoner som grunnlag for læring og utvikling. I Almås, Aslaug Grov; Bjørkelo, Brita; Roness, Dag & Ulvik, Marit (Red.), Betydningen av å møtes: Relasjoner som grunnlag for læring og undervisning. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245037999. s. 11–33. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Almås, Aslaug Grov & Bjørkelo, Brita (2022). Relasjoner i digitale læringsmiljø. I Almås, Aslaug Grov; Bjørkelo, Brita; Roness, Dag & Ulvik, Marit (Red.), Betydningen av å møtes: Relasjoner som grunnlag for læring og undervisning. Fagbokforlaget. ISSN 9788245037999. s. 59–81. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rabbing, Lillis; Bjørkelo, Brita & Langvik, Eva (2022). Upper and lower musculoskeletal back pain, stress, physical activity, and organisational work support: An exploratory study of police investigative interviewers. Health Psychology Open (HPO). 9(2). doi: 10.1177/20551029221146396. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Police investigative interviewers in special victims’ units have particularly stressing work conditions. Being few in numbers, with highly specialised competence, the health and well-being of this workgroup are key. This study explores the prevalence of muscular lower and upper back pain and stress and associations with physical activity and organisational work support among 77 police investigators. The police investigative interviewers reported high levels of physical activity. Compared to other police employees, they reported similar levels of musculoskeletal back pain, higher levels of upper back pain, and higher levels of stress. Physical activity was not related to musculoskeletal back pain. In the regression analysis, musculoskeletal back pain was negatively associated with organisational work support. Limitations due to low statistical power and a cross-sectional design apply. However, the study provides interesting insight into the prevalence of musculoskeletal back pain and its association with organisational work support and stress among police employees.

• Rabbing, Lillis; Bjørkelo, Brita; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Strømme, Hilde & Lau, Bjørn (2022). A Scoping review of stress measurements and psychometry in police research. Journal of Police and Criminal Psychology. ISSN 0882-0783. doi: 10.1007/s11896-022-09498-7. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Despite a growing body of research, there is no systematic body of evidence that establishes the rigour of existing measures of stress among police. The aim of this scoping review was to investigate (1) the diversity of stress measures used in police research and (2) the psychometric properties of such measures and the ways in which they are utilised. The systematic literature search discovered 16,216 records, which were reduced to 442 records of relevance. A total of 20 qualitative and 422 quantitative studies were found to be relevant, including a total of 129 unique measures, of which the majority showed satisfactory reliability (Cronbach’s alpha≥0.80). The identifed measures pertain to four main categories: police-specifc, perceived stress, psychological and physiological outcomes (including mood and afect changes), and assessment batteries. The measures have a general tendency to emphasise illness, and police-specifc stressors pertain mostly to traditional police work. Measures should be chosen based on the aspect of the stress phenomenon that is to be investigated. This study provides detailed recommendations concerning how to use these measures to advance research concerning stress among police.

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• Almås, Aslaug Grov; Bjørkelo, Brita; Roness, Dag & Ulvik, Marit (2022). Betydningen av å møtes: Relasjoner som grunnlag for læring og undervisning. Fagbokforlaget. ISBN 9788245037999. 189 s. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

Se alle arbeider i NVA

• Scheistrøen, Line; Bjørkelo, Brita; Lundgren, Silje & Steinþórsdóttir., Finnborg Salome (2026). Seksuell trakassering i politiet: Ønsker å gjøre arbeidsmiljøet til en del av løsningen - Arbeidsliv i Norden. [Journal]. Arbeidsliv i Norden. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Forskere fra flere nordiske land utvikler nye metoder som skal gjøre kolleger og ledere til aktive medspillere i forebygging av seksuell trakassering i politiet.

• Sunde, Nina; Kolke, Laura Vom & Bjørkelo, Brita (2026). Executive Summary for Deliverable 2.2: Organisational Culture. doi: https:/claruseu.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/07/D2.2-Executive-Summary-1.pdf. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The Clarus project brings together forensic scientists, academics, police, linguists, the public and other professionals across borders to understand how communication, professional culture, and decision-making influence the way digital evidence is handled.

• Bjørkelo, Brita; Kolke, Laura Vom & Sunde, Nina (2026). Executive Summary for Deliverable 1.4: Residual sources of bias. doi: https:/claruseu.net/wp-content/uploads/2026/03/CLARUS-Executive-Summary-D1.4-8.pdf. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The Clarus project brings together forensic scientists, academics, police, linguists, the public and other professionals across borders to understand how communication, professional culture, and decision-making influence the way digital evidence is handled.

• Bjørkelo, Brita (2026). UISH WP1 møte med samarbeidspartnere. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita (2026). UISH WP1 meeting. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita (2026). UISH WP1 samarbeidsmøte. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Lundgren, Silje; Wieslander, Malin; Steinþórsdóttir, Finnborg Salome; Pétursdóttir, Gyða Margrét & Axelsdóttir, Laufey [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Understanding and Intervening against Sexual Harassment at work - (UISH). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  UISH is a Nordic project on sexual harassment where police researchers will investigate understandings and ways of working in practice with sexual harassment. The work is done in collaboration with the police in Sweden, Iceland and Norway.

• Bjørkelo, Brita; Størdal, Tale Røijen; Wieslander, Malin; Lundgren, Silje; Steinþórsdóttir, Finnborg Salome & Pétursdóttir, Gyða Margrét [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). “A wall of welcoming”: A study of access trajectories across Nordic police organisations. doi: https:/english.hi.is/conference/nwlc2026. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Størdal, Tale Røijen; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe; Grønstad, Anniken & Langvik, Eva (2026). Sexual Harassment Bystander Interventions: The “Intervene-SH Police version”. doi: https:/english.hi.is/conference/nwlc2026. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Lundgren, Silje; Wieslander, Malin; Steinþórsdóttir, Finnborg Salome; Pétursdóttir, Gyða Margrét & Axelsdóttir,, Laufey [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2026). Understanding and Intervening against Sexual Harassment at work (UISH). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  UISH is a Nordic project on sexual harassment where police researchers will investigate understandings and ways of working in practice with sexual harassment. The work is done in collaboration with the police in Sweden, Iceland and Norway.

• Knudsen, Marianne; Bjørkelo, Brita; Wieslander, Malin & Steinþórsdóttir, Finnborg Salome (2026). Dialogue training to combat sexual harassment in the police | NordForsk. [Internet]. NordForsk. doi: https:/www.nordforsk.org/news/dialogue-training-combat-sexual-harassment-police. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  A slap on the bottom, jokes and physical assaults are now well-known phenomena in the police. Experiments with case studies and role-playing at police academies are now proving to have a preventive effect against sexual harassment.

• Trædal, Torkjell & Bjørkelo, Brita (2026). Politiets skjulte Messenger-grupper: Chattet om siktede og hengte ut sjefer. [Journal]. Aftenposten. doi: https:/www.aftenposten.no/norge/i/wgyg7n/politiansatte-chattet-om-siktede-og-hengte-ut-sjefer-i-messenger-grupper. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Ansatte i politiet delte personopplysninger i usikrede chattekanaler. Det er i strid med politiets retningslinjer. En leder for en annen seksjon ble kalt «bedritent fittskinn» i de samme chattene.

• Gramvik, Simon; Dietrichson, Susanne & Bjørkelo, Brita (2026). – Politiet har et problem med ukulturer. [Internet]. Kilden. doi: https:/kjonnsforskning.no/nb/2025/12/politiet-har-et-problem-med-ukulturer-0. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Politiets utrykningsenhet har få kvinner. Lite tilrettelagt trening og trakassering er blant årsakene, ifølge forskere.

• Bjørkelo, Brita & Størdal, Tale Røijen (2025). UISH WP1 møte med samarbeidspartnere. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Størdal, Tale Røijen & Larsen, Birthe Oest (2025). UISH WP1. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita (2025). UISH symposium. doi: https:/sv-se.eu.invajo.com/events/tab/tabId/50a23c10-11f5-11ef-8bbb-619563c8a11c/id/483e46a0-11f5-11ef-9aa3-617831a2c222. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Parallell session 25: Sexual harassment in police, full thematic

• Bjørkelo, Brita & Størdal, Tale Røijen (2025). "Meld deg på!" Et dialogverktøy med fokus på tilskueres betydning ved seksuell trakassering. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ganapathy, Jaishankar; Leirvik, Mariann Stærkebye; Bjørkelo, Brita & Klatran, Henning Kaiser (2025). «Mangfoldsrekruttering i politiet er rekruttering av kompetanse – ikke kosmetikk». Politiforum. ISSN 1500-6921. doi: https:/www.politiforum.no/meninger/mangfoldsrekruttering-i-politiet-er-rekruttering-av-kompetanse-ikke-kosmetikk/285020. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Rekruttering av personer med innvandrerbakgrunn handler om å bygge et politi som speiler befolkningen det skal beskytte og tjene. Det er et spørsmål om kvalitet, legitimitet og demokrati – ikke om identitet eller symbolikk.

• Fladberg, Karin Lillian & Bjørkelo, Brita (2025). Skal lære av danskene for å bekjempe seksuell trakassering i politiet. [Journal]. Dagsavisen. doi: https:/www.dagsavisen.no/nyheter/skal-laere-av-danskene-for-a-bekjempe-seksuell-trakassering-i-politiet/10053357. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Hvordan kan du gjenkjenne seksuelle krenkelser på arbeidsplassen din, og gripe inn når det rammer en kollega? Det er kjernen i en dansk modell som skal prøves ut i norsk politi.

• Bjørkelo, Brita; Størdal, Tale Røijen; Langvik, Eva; Grønstad, Anniken & Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe (2025). Targeting sexual harassment to ensure sustainable work in the police. Finalizing and testing the effect of a police specific bystander intervention. doi: https:/sv-se.eu.invajo.com/events/getinvitationfile/eventId/483e46a0-11f5-11ef-9aa3-617831a2c222/docId/fb3a16f0-5cac-11f0-814a-3557b11c20ae. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Sunde, Nina; Kolke, Laura Vom & Bjørkelo, Brita (2025). Examining systemic sources of bias in interaction and communication within organisational culture. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  (Presentation was part of a panel) The second work package of the Clarus project examined patterns of interaction and communication across organisational, professional, and national boundaries through a hypothetical scenario. This enabled an in-depth analysis of misunderstandings, errors, and biases in a digital forensic environment. Building on the system and mental maps developed in Work Package 1, Work Package 2 implemented a case study involving focus groups in each Clarus partner country composed of practitioners from their law enforcement agencies and forensic institutes. Participants engaged with a scenario featuring an alleged crime where a smartphone serves as a key piece of evidence, containing digital, DNA, and fingerprint data. Representing distinct legal and professional systems, the participants outlined their typical procedures for handling digital evidence, detailing their reporting methods and interactions with other actors. This shed light on how forensic and law enforcement professionals collaborate within and across different jurisdictions and organisational frameworks. The focus groups also provided a platform for assessing organisational cultures in action and identifying potential sources of systemic bias. The findings, resulting from a comparative assessment of these biases and their impact on impartiality and objectivity, will be presented at this conference.

• Kolke, Laura Vom; Sunde, Nina & Bjørkelo, Brita (2025). The CLARUS Project – Building Clarity and Preventing Bias in Digital Forensic Examination, Interorganisational Communication and Interaction. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Lundgaard, Jenny Maria; Bjørkelo, Brita; Flinterud, Guro & Dahl, Johanne Yttri (2025). EDITORIAL: Knowledge, technologies and the police. Nordic Journal of Science and Technology Studies. ISSN 1894-4647. 13(1), s. 3–4. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Kolke, Laura Vom; Sunde, Nina & Bjørkelo, Brita (2025). System Bias in the Interorganisational Environment of Digital Forensics. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Ganapathy, Jaishankar; Egge, Marit; Bjørkelo, Brita & Bye, Hege Høivik (2025). Kom som du er, og bli som oss. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• D'Cruz, Premilla; Bjørkelo, Brita & Uys, Tina (2025). Whistleblowing at Work: Whither Sustainability... Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Ganapathy, Jaishankar & Bye, Hege Høivik (2025). Hovedfunn fra to studier av mangfold i politiet. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Siden tidlig 2000 tallet har politiet jobbet med rekruttering av mangfold til politiet. Forskergruppen Organisasjon og ledelse - Politihøgskolen har gjennom forskningsprosjektet Mangfold i utdanning og etat - Politihøgskolen undersøkt hverdagen til politistudenter og politiansatte. Professor i politivitenskap Brita Bjørkelo (PHS) vil kort presentere forskergruppa og forskningsprosjektet. Deretter vil førstelektor Jai Ganapathy (PHS) presentere «Rekruttering av politistudenter med innvandrerbakgrunn, og deres erfaringer med å representere mangfold i en uniformert etat» og førsteamanuensis Hege Høivik Bye (Universitetet i Bergen) presentere «Utsatthet for seksuell trakassering i politiet – et samspill mellom kjønn og seksuell orientering».

• Bjørkelo, Brita & Størdal, Tale Røijen (2024). UISH WP1 møte. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita & Størdal, Tale Røijen (2024). Status for UISH. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Lundgren, Silje; Wieslander, Malin; Steinþórsdóttir, Finnborg Salome; Pétursdóttir, Gyða Margrét & Axelsdottir, Laufey [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2024). Understanding and Intervening against Sexual Harassment at work (UISH). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  How sexual harassment (SH) is understood and intervened against in the police? SH is an intersectional phenomenon. Different forms of social inequality, oppression and discrimination interact in it and potentially hinder the development of a safe, inclusive and sustainable working life for police employees and others. Sexual harassment is approached in UISH from three perspectives: (1) bystanders, (2) harassed/exposed, and (3) harassers. The ‘bystander perspective’ (1) build upon the fact that most cases of SH (e.g., slurs, humour, and verbal comments) occur in a work group. The ‘harassed and exposed perspective’ (2) is based on already existing studies documenting intersectional differences (e.g., gender) in perceived and actual acts of SH within the police. UISH aims at developing “in-group forum” initiative to prevent and intervene against SH as well as mapping practices of receptivity and resistance to SH initiatives. The ‘perpetrator perspective’ (3) covers those who harass and expose others to harassment, as well as the human and structural factors enabling harassment and placing different levels of risk based on for instance age, gender, race, sexual orientation, and position on different employees in the police. Designing research with ‘perpetrator perspective’ is methodologically challenging.

• Bjørkelo, Brita (2024). Why Whistleblowing is Part of a Sustainable Working Life. Parrhesia Papers. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Vatne, Lauritz Rushfeldt & Bjørkelo, Brita (2024). Funn i politi-undersøkelse vekker bekymring. Resultatet av en omfattende undersøkelse blant politiansatte skaper sterke reaksjoner. [Internet]. Tv2.no. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Størdal, Tale Røijen; Bjørkelo, Brita; Langvik, Eva Oddrun; Grønstad, Anniken & Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe (2024). One size fits all? The development and evaluation of a bystander intervention on sexual harassment. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Størdal, Tale Røijen; Bjørkelo, Brita; Grønstad, Anniken; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe & Langvik, Eva Oddrun (2024). Piloting "Intervene-SH" in the Norwegian Police Service. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita (2024). Derfor er varsling en del av et bærekraftig arbeidsliv. Psykologisk.no – Scandinavian Psychologist. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Sunde, Nina; Kolke, Laura Vom & Wegorowski, Piotr (2024). WP2 – Exploring Cultures, communication and interaction. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rabbing, Lillis Marie-Louise Elisabeth; Bjørkelo, Brita & Langvik, Eva (2024). The role of physical activity in musculoskeletal pain conditions among police employees: methodological considerations. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita & Emsing, Mikael (2024). Mental health in the police: a call for a future research agenda. Nordic Journal of Studies in Policing (NJSP). 11(1). doi: 10.18261/njsp.11.1.5. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita (2024). Tilskuerbaserte intervensjoner mot seksuell trakassering på jobben. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita & Langvik, Eva (2024). Work engagement, mastery, stress, and mental health among police emergency dispatchers in Norway. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Stapinski, Piotr; Bjørkelo, Brita; D’Cruz, Premilla; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe & Gamian-Wilk, Malgorzata (2024). The role of leadership practices, frustration, and a hostile climate in the relationship between role stress and exposure to workplace bullying. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Grønstad, Anniken; Bjørkelo, Brita & Blenkinsopp, John (2024). An HR perspective on whistleblower well-being. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Lundgren, Silje; Wieslander, Malin; Hedin, Ulla-Carin; Lane, Linda & Nordberg, Tanja Haraldsdottir [Vis alle 10 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2024). That’s not sexual harassment, is it? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Lundgren, Silje; Wieslander, Malin; Steinþórsdóttir, Finnborg Salome; Pétursdóttir, Gyða Margrét & Axelsdottir, Laufey [Vis alle 7 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2023). Understanding and Intervening against Sexual Harassment at work (UISH). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Lane, Linda & Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe (2023). “Speak Up!”: A practice-oriented research project on the prevention of Sexual Harassment (SUSH). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita (2023). Tillitsskapende klarering: Kompetanse, mangfold og rettferdighet. Hvordan tolke PSTs trusselvurdering i praksis i politiet? Og hvordan vekte sikkerhet, kompetanse, mangfold og tillit i befolkningen opp mot hverandre? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita & Sunde, Nina (2023). Clarus WP 2:​ Exploring cultures, communication and interaction​. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rabbing, Lillis Marie-Louise Elisabeth; Lau, Bjørn; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Blenkinsopp, John & Bjørkelo, Brita (2023). Challenging and Demanding Work: A Study into Stress in the Police. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Walker, Heidi Haugland; Bjørkelo, Brita; Hole, Åse Storhaug & Blenkinsopp, John (2023). "I can't do this alone. The role of formal employee and safety representatives in whistleblowing in the Norwegian Correctional Services". Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Valland, Tatanya; Bjørkelo, Brita & Pedersen, Celine (2023). «Speak Up!»: A practice-oriented research project on the prevention of Sexual Harassment (SUSH) - Efforts and results. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Pedersen, Celine & Valland, Tatanya (2023). Intervening against sexual harassment in the police: Efforts and results. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Gamian-Wilk, Malgorzata; Bjørkelo, Brita; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe; Gasiorowska, Agata; Einarsen, Ståle Valvatne & D'Cruz, Premilla (2023). Vulnerability versus work environment in workplace bullying: Personality traits and organizational features as predictors or outcomes of being exposed to bullying in the workplace. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Valland, Tatanya Claudine Bianca Ducran; Pedersen, Celine & Bjørkelo, Brita (2023). Intervensjon mot seksuell trakassering i politiet. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rabbing, Lillis Marie-Louise Elisabeth; Lau, Bjørn; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Blenkinsopp, John & Bjørkelo, Brita (2023). Modern Policing and the Use of Police-Specific Measurements of Perceived Stress – Do We Get More Knowledge? Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita (2023). Varsling som et middel til å sikre organisasjonens legitime interesser. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Lundgren, Silje; Wieslander, Malin; Steinþórsdóttir, Finnborg Salome & Pétursdóttir, Gyða Margrét (2023). Understanding and Intervening against Sexual Harassment at work (UISH) - kick-off. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Valland, Tatanya; Nordberg, Tanja Haraldsdottir & Damen, Marie-Louise (2022). The need to belong: at work. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Hedin, Ulla-Carin; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe; Lane, Linda & Bjørkelo, Brita (2022). SUSH – Speak up against Sexual Harassment (SH) at work. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Stampe, Kristian Nielsen,; Pedersen, Celine; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe; Hedin, Ulla-Carin; Lane, Linda & Bjørkelo, Brita (2022). “Speak Up!” A practice-oriented research project on the prevention of Sexual Harassment (SUSH). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe; Hedin, Ulla-Carin & Lane, Linda (2022). “Speak Up!”:  A practice-oriented research project on the prevention of Sexual Harassment (SUSH). Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita (2022). Varslingssakene: På tide å kalle inn den tause majoritet. Forsvarets forum. ISSN 0809-845X. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Gamian-Wilk, Malgorzata; Bjørkelo, Brita; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe; D'Cruz, Premilla & Madeja-Bien, Kamila (2022). Workplace bullying: Individual hostility, poor work environment or both? Exploring multicausality in a single longitudinal study. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Aim A central focus of research and literature on workplace bullying is the importance of explanatory factors such as individual dispositions (i.e., the vulnerability hypothesis) and work environment factors (i.e., the work environment hypothesis). Although several studies address the importance of the two approaches, as well as their individual and combined effects, the unique contribution of each of the competing approaches remain unexplored in a single longitudinal study. Based on Affective Events Theory, the aim of the present study was to explore the independent and combined contribution of work environment and individual hostility in the occurrence of workplace bullying over time. Methods A complete two-wave panel design study, with a six-months time lapse, was conducted among 152 employees from seven private and public corporations, including working students of two large Polish universities. Workplace bullying was measured by 22 items from the Negative Acts Questionnaire (NAQ-R); hostility was measured by five scales from the Durkee-Buss Inventory of Aggression, and organizational risk factors for bullying were measured with the Organizational Bullying Risk Factors (OBRF) inventory (26 items). Structural equation modelling (SEM) analysis in AMOS was used to test and compare various competing models (causal, reversed causal, reciprocal models) to determine which of them fit the data best. Thus, we analysed the full two-wave panel design by simultaneously comparing the competing models for the relationship between exposure to bullying and hostility across time. Results Results confirmed that work environment factors predicted later exposure to bullying. Exposure to workplace bullying at T1 was also related to a poor work environment at T2. Results further showed that higher exposure to workplace bullying at T1 and T2 was related to higher levels of almost all aspects of individual hostility over time. Moreover, poor working conditions especially in T1 predicted individual hostility at T2. Conclusion The findings of the prospective study document the multicausality of workplace bullying. Poor work environments foster bullying; and when workplace bullying exists, this elicits hostility. Affective Events Theory provided a sound theoretical basis for investigating the multicausality of, and different pathways to, workplace bullying. Testing AET in a single model with longitudinal data, the study adds to theory and empirical research within the field of workplace bullying. The results points to addressing multicausality in both research and practice. Implications include a shift from individualized approaches of ‘either-or’ to multicausal and multilevel workplace efforts.

• Bjørkelo, Brita; Eckblad, Kjersti; Sandvik, Asle Makoto; Filstad, Cathrine; Hoel, Linda Antoniett & Boe, Ole [Vis alle 8 forfattere av denne artikkelen] (2022). Troen på en eller flere veier til læring. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Knutsen, Geir Gjerde; Hartmann, Mia Koss & Bjørkelo, Brita (2022). Are Investigation Plans at Risk of Becoming ‘The Emperor’s New Clothes’? Nordic Journal of Studies in Policing (NJSP). 9(1). doi: 10.18261/njsp.9.1.8. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  The rise in complexity and severity of crime calls for innovations in investigative approachesin law enforcement. Ideally, investigation plans (I-plans) are an important improvement inprocedural standards and hypothesis-driven methodology that ensures improved clear-uprates, notoriety of evidence and, ultimately, the legal rights of all actors involved. But thesepotentials are only realised if the expressed ideal behind the I-plan is put into practice. Basedon Knutsen’s (2020) critical examination of investigators’ reasoning of the use of I-plans inpractice, where Hartmann and Bjørkelo acted as supervisors, we question to what extent I-plans areactuallybeing used as intended or are at risk of becoming ‘The Emperor’s NewClothes’. After contextualising the expressed goals and intentions behind the implementa-tion of the I-plan, in the Norwegian Police Service (NPS), we present the study’s key insightsand implications for future consideration.

• Valland, Tatanya; Nordberg, Tanja & Bjørkelo, Brita (2022). Middle managers as gatekeepers of legal rights: Diversity and inclusion within the police organization. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Valland, Tatanya; Nordberg, Tanja Haraldsdottir & Bjørkelo, Brita (2022). Middle-Managers as gatekeepers of legal rights - Harassment within the police. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Description of the panel: Providing redress for maladministration is a key requirement of any legitimate system of public service delivery. This requirement holds particularly true for the police force, which is – by definition – an agency meant to enforce the law and investigate, in principle, any breach of law and order. If, however, this (alleged) wrongdoing involves members of the police, the investigating agency turns into an interested party. Through administrative practices, often informed by academic discourses, a densely populated universe of different shapes and guises of approaches to hold police officers accountable, process complaints, and handle allegations of police misconduct has emerged across national boundaries and over time. While some notions of accountability refer to formal and highly institutionalized forms of control (such as disciplinary powers or court proceedings), others highlight the informal nature of “accountability as a virtue” and rely on ethical standards and personal convictions as expressed in social control and peer group pressure, but also in acts of whistle blowing. On another spectrum of different elements of accountability and control, the variety ranges from instruments and mechanisms internal to the organization (such as oversight by supervisors and investigations by internal affair units), to arrangements that primarily lie outside of the organization (such external measure include parliamentary scrutiny, ombudspersons, citizen review boards, audit systems, but also investigative journalism and “citizen watch” initiatives. The proposed panel explores the variety of ways of holding police authorities accountable, particularly in light of their comparative advantages and disadvantages as well as their embeddedness in different systems of public administration. In doing so, the panel pursues research questions that are essentially comparative both over time and across national boundaries.

• Bjørkelo, Brita & Lau, Bjørn (2021). Politistudien: Setter fokus på arbeidsvilkår i politiet. Politiforum. ISSN 1500-6921. 112(8), s. 57–57. doi: https:/www.nb.no/items/ceb5e299a1e226f33c2b3844212d1c0c?page=0&searchText=seriestitleid%3A%22oai%3Anb.bibsys.no%3A999803452514702202%22. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Rabbing, Lillis; Bjørkelo, Brita; Fostervold, Knut Inge; Strømme, Hilde & Lau, Bjørn (2021). Stress in the police: Measurements and psychometric properties. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Holm, Ragnhild; Villman, Emma; Helgesen, Janne Henriette Ingarsdotter & Bjørkelo, Brita (2021). Police leadership education "Digital didactics, experienced learning outcomes and their effects". Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  Digital poster

• Hartmann, Mia Koss; Bjørkelo, Brita & Knutsen, Geir Gjerde (2021). Et verktøy som sikrer kvalitet og effektivitet, eller keiserens nye klær? Politiforum. ISSN 1500-6921. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv
• Bjørkelo, Brita & Langvik, Eva (2026). Arbeidsvilkår på operasjonssentralen (APO nasjonal): Resultater fra en nasjonal undersøkelse. Politihøgskolen. ISSN 9788278082393. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  APO nasjonal er en kartleggingsstudie av arbeidsvilkårene for ansatte på norske operasjonssentraler som bygger på APO, som var en pilotundersøkelse i et norsk politidistrikt (Bjørkelo et al., 2023). Studien gikk ut til alle (N=835) som på tidspunktet for undersøkelsen (27.11.2024 - 28.2.25) var ansatt ved eller som har en formell rolle knyttet til arbeidsmiljøet ved en operasjonssentral i ett av landets politidistrikt. Totalt 466 deltok og alle politidistrikt er representert. Majoriteten av de som deltok er nåværende ansatte og de fleste deltagerne jobber i en eller form for turnus og i full stilling (se fullstendig sammendrag i rapporten s. 6-7).

• Bjørkelo, Brita; Langvik, Eva; Myhrum, Marte & Grønstad, Anniken (2023). Arbeidsvilkår på operasjonssentralen (APO): Resultater fra en undersøkelse ved operasjonssentralen i Øst politidistrikt. Politihøgskolen. ISSN 9788278081884. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv Vis sammendrag

  APO har som formål å øke kunnskapen om arbeidsvilkår og helseutfordringer på operasjonssentralen. Datainnsamlingen startet i slutten av mai 2022 og ble avsluttet i månedsskiftet august/september 2022. Studien gikk ut til alle nåværende (n=88) og tidligere ansatte (n=74) ved operasjonssentralen i Øst politidistrikt (n=162). Av disse deltok totalt 79 (svarprosent=48.77 %), hvorav 59 var nåværende og 20 var tidligere ansatte. Hovedfunnene viser en klar utfordring knyttet til turnover, siden hovedandelen av de nåværende ansatte har jobbet ved operasjonssentralen (OPS’en) i mindre enn 5 år og rundt halvparten av disse vurderer å bytte jobb. De mest fremtredende fysiske plagene er knyttet til hørsel (enkeltfrekvenser og tinnitus), smerter i korsrygg og søvnproblemer. Hele 54 prosent oppfylte de diagnostiske kriteriene for Insomni, (søvnforstyrrelser) og det er en betydelig positiv sammenheng mellom Insomni og opplevd stress. Symptomer på depresjon var den mest fremtredende mentale plagen, og noe høyere enn i den generelle befolkningen. Deltagerne rapporterer høy arbeidsbelastning, og de som opplever støtte fra leder og kollegaer rapporterer i mindre grad symptomer på utbrenthet. Halvparten av de som har vært eller er sykemeldt oppgir at dette skyldes forhold ved jobben. Mange ønsker systematiske gjennomganger med leder og relevant hjelpepersonell etter hendelser (debrief/defuse) og mulighet for ventilering/defuse med kollegaer i hverdagen generelt. Forhold som oppleves som mest belastende er i all hovedsak knyttet til organisasjonsmessige forhold ved jobben (skiftarbeid, overtid, mangel på personale) og mangel på mulighet for restitusjon, og det hender de er for slitne til å utføre jobben på en kvalitativ god faglig måte på slutten av arbeidsdagen. Flere opplever at mangel på mulighet til å hente seg inn igjen (fysisk og mentalt) henger sammen med tinnitusplager. Ifølge deltagerne kan belastningene reduseres ved organisatoriske justeringer (bedre bemanning, sortering av arbeidsoppgaver oppimot andre aktører), autonomi (større mulighet til pauser, hente seg inn igjen med trening) og fysiske aspekter (støyfilter, lyd). I tillegg foreslås ergonomiske (bedre pulter, stoler) og hørselsrettede tilpasninger (individtilpassede hodetelefoner av god kvalitet). Samlet sett tyder funnene på at det er flere årsaker til at ansatte slutter. Avgjørende ressurser for å kunne stå i jobb (bærekraftig arbeidsliv) er, slik deltagerne ser det, av organisatorisk, fysisk, psykologisk og teknisk art. For å forhindre eskalering av den nåværende situasjonen med høy grad av turnover, dokumenterte tinnitusplager, høyt sykefravær og manglende mulighet til å hente seg inn igjen, er det viktig at forholdene gjøres noe med i tråd med systematisk helse-, miljø- og sikkerhets (HMS) arbeid.

• Bjørkelo, Brita; Mikkelsen, Eva Gemzøe; Lane, Linda; Hedin, Ulla-Carin; Nielsen, Kristian Stampe & Valland, Tatanya Ducran (2023). Report template for the Nordic Research Initiative on Sexual Harassment at Work. NIKK/Nordisk råd. Fulltekst i vitenarkiv

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