Why compare the technology acceptance of teachers and police officers? Because behind the vastly different daily realities of a classroom and a patrol car lies the same fundamental obstacle: massive, rigid, and deeply entrenched bureaucratic cultures.

In our latest open-access research published in Education and Information Technologies, we put this unexpected comparison to the test.

Educators often view themselves as adaptable innovators, yet our findings indicate that when faced with adopting new technologies, their resistance mirrors the institutional inertia typically associated with law enforcement. The phrase "old habits die hard" isn't just an idiom; it is a measurable, behavioral barrier that dictates how public servants interact with technological change.

We cannot just throw new software at teachers or police officers and expect a digital transformation. If we do not dismantle the occupational subcultures and psychological barriers embedded in these professions, every new tool will fail at the integration stage.

If you are researching educational technology, public policy, or organizational psychology, you need to look at this comparative data. Read the full paper to understand why systemic technological change requires rewiring the culture, not just upgrading the hardware.