Structural pattern of factors affecting the attitude of urban peripheral women towards the police (Case: West Region of Isfahan City)

Introduction
Over the past few decades, researchers from diverse fields like political science, psychology, sociology, behavioral studies, law, and criminology have studied the relationship between the police and society. Each researcher has a unique perspective on the topic. In recent decades, television, the internet, and virtual media have played an increasingly significant role in the lives of families and citizens, particularly among younger generations. The impact of these technologies, both positive and negative, is profound. According to Dowler (2003), individuals more fearful of crime tend to perceive the police's performance as lacking, thus influencing their attitude toward law enforcement. Fear of crime is a significant factor affecting people's perception of the police and is a primary concern for law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, experiencing crime victimization is another factor that predicts one's attitude toward the police. According to Dowler (2003), individuals more fearful of crime tend to perceive the police's performance as lacking, thus influencing their attitude toward law enforcement. Fear of crime is a significant factor affecting people's perception of the police and is a major concern for law enforcement agencies.
Additionally, experiencing crime victimization is another factor that predicts one's attitude toward the police. The young population constitutes a significant portion of the country. However, their lack of experience and impressionability at this age makes them more vulnerable to harm. Their thoughts, attitudes, and activities play a crucial role in shaping the country's future for several decades, influencing the society's fate. It is observed that a large number of young people have enrolled in universities in recent years, especially after the Islamic Revolution. The university provides a platform for shaping their personality and thoughts. It is one of the essential bases for societal growth and development on various issues. The university heavily relies on students as its primary support system. This research aimed to investigate the perceptions of female students residing in the western peri-urban regions of Isfahan regarding the police, as well as the factors that impact their viewpoints. It is important to note that this study solely targeted female students.
 
Methodology
For this study, we used a descriptive and survey-analytical research method with an applied purpose. We analyzed the data we collected using SPSS and PLS software. The statistical population of this research was female students (all levels and universities) living in the western peri-urban regions of Isfahan. For this study, we utilized a simple random sampling method to gather information that was based on the sample size. This research determined the sample size using Cochran's formula, which estimated that 291 students would be needed, even without knowledge of the population size. A questionnaire created by the researcher was used to collect information based on a 5-point Likert scale (0- not at all, 5- completely). The questionnaire's reliability was found to be appropriate, as an alpha coefficient higher than 0.7 is acceptable for humanities research.
 
Results and discussion
Based on the descriptive statistics of demographic variables, it was discovered that the majority of female students (43.3%) fell within the age range of 20 to 24 years. Additionally, 65.6% of them held a bachelor's degree, and 68.4% were single. The majority were locals of Isfahan City (71.1%), and 30.9% were from technical and engineering fields. Furthermore, it was found that there is a significant difference between the age of the students and their attitude towards the police, with a significance level of less than 5%. Based on the Duncan test, it was discovered that students who are under 20 years old generally have a more positive attitude toward the police.
In comparison, students over 35 tend to have the lowest attitude toward them. All hypotheses were confirmed due to the significance level of less than 5% and the t-statistic being greater than 1.96 in absolute value. This helped determine the relationship between fear of crime and crime victims. It was found that female students negatively correlated with their attitude toward the police. However, there is a positive and significant correlation between mass media and students' attitudes toward the police.
 
Conclusion
After analyzing the data, we have confirmed that our conceptual model's assumptions are valid and significant. This means that the independent variables we included in the model are reliable predictors of female students' attitudes toward the police. Additionally, our model has proven to be a good fit based on various fit indices. It was also discovered that being a victim of a crime has a negative and significant impact on female students' attitudes towards the police, which is consistent with findings from other researchers such as Wu et al. (2009), Wu and Sun (2010), and Chu (2011). The study found that the fear of crime significantly negatively impacts students' attitudes toward the police. This aligns with previous research by Cao et al. (1996), Wu and Sun (2010), and Sihan and Wells (2010).
Additionally, the media plays a significant role in shaping female students' attitudes toward the police. If the media portrays a positive image of the police, people's fear of crime decreases, and their view of the police becomes positive. Conversely, negative media portrayals of the police increase people's fear of crime and negatively impact their attitudes toward law enforcement. This finding is consistent with Weitzer's (2002) and Dowler and Zawilski's (2007) research.