Hostname: page-component-cd9895bd7-q99xh Total loading time: 0 Render date: 2024-12-25T20:35:25.935Z Has data issue: false hasContentIssue false

Experimental Approaches to Studying Ethical-Unethical Behavior in Organizations

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  23 January 2015

Abstract

The social scientific study of ethical-unethical behavior in work organizations is in an early stage of development. This paper discusses some of the problems of conducting social scientific research in this area and explores the potential contribution of experimental research approaches. Both laboratory and field experimentation allow the investigator to test theory-based hypotheses and to study causal relations. Examples are provided of investigations that have applied these methods to the study of business ethics.

Type
Articles
Copyright
Copyright © Society for Business Ethics 1992

Access options

Get access to the full version of this content by using one of the access options below. (Log in options will check for institutional or personal access. Content may require purchase if you do not have access.)

References

Alexander, C. & Becker, H. (1978). The use of vignettes in survey research. Public Opinion Quarterly, 42, 93104.Google Scholar
Babbie, E. (1986). The practice of social research. (4th Ed.) Belmont, CA: Wadsworth, Inc.Google Scholar
Bandura, A. (1971). Social learning theory. Morristown, NJ: General Learning Press.Google Scholar
Baumhart, R.C. (1961). How ethical are businessmen? Harvard Business Review, 39 (4), 68.Google Scholar
Baumrind, D. (1964). Some thoughts on ethics of research: After reading Milgram's “Behavioral study of obedience.” American Psychologist, 19, 421423.Google Scholar
Braithwaite, R. (1955). Scientific Explanation. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.Google Scholar
Brass, D.J. & Oldham, G.R. (1976). Validating an in-basket test using an alternative set of leadership scoring dimensions. Journal of Applied Psychology, 61, 652657.Google Scholar
Campbell, J.P. (1986) Labs, fields, and straw issues. In Locke, E.A. (Ed.) Generalizing from laboratory to field settings (pp. 269279). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Campbell, D. & Stanley, J. (1963) Experimental and quasi-experimental designs for research. Chicago: Rand McNally.Google Scholar
Carroll, A.B. (1978) Linking business ethics to behavior in organizations. SAM Advanced Management Journal, 43, 411.Google Scholar
Derry, R. (1987). Moral reasoning in work-related conflicts. In Frederick, W.C. and Preston, L. (Eds.) Research in corporate social performance and policy (pp. 2550). Greenwich, Conn: JAI Press.Google Scholar
Dipboye, R.L. & Flanagan, M.F. (1979) Research settings in industrial and organizational psychology: are findings in the field more generalizable than in the laboratory? American Psychologist, 34, 141150.Google Scholar
Dukerich, J.M., Nichols, M.L., Elm, D.R. & Vollrath, D.A. (1990) Moral reasoning in groups: leaders make a difference. Human Relations, 43, 473493.Google Scholar
Fisher, C. D. (1984). Laboratory experimentation. In Bateman, T. & Ferris, G. (Eds.) Method and Analysis in Organizational Research (pp. 169185). Reston, VA: Reston Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Fritzsche, E.J. & Becker, H. (1984) Linking management behavior to ethical philosophy—an empirical investigation. Academy of Management Journal, 27, 166175.Google Scholar
Gaertner, K. (in press). The effect of ethical climate on managers’ decisions. In Coughlin, R.M. (Ed.) Morality, rationality, and efficiency: perspectives on socioeconomics 1990. Armonk, NY: M.E. Sharpe.Google Scholar
Greenberg, Jerald (1990). Employee theft as a reaction to underpayment inequity: The hidden cost of pay cuts. Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, 561568.Google Scholar
Grover, S. (in press). Why professionals lie: The impact of professional role conflict on reporting accuracy. Organizational Behavior and Human\Deci-sion Processes.Google Scholar
Haney, C.Banks, W.C. & Zimbardo, P.G. (1973). Interpersonal dynamics in a simulated prison. International Journal of Criminology and Penology, 1, 6997.Google Scholar
Hegarty, W.H. & Sims, H.P. Jr., (1978). Some determinants of unethical decision behavior; an experiment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 63, 451457.Google Scholar
Hegarty, W.H. & Sims, H.P. Jr., (1979). Organizational philosophy, policies, and objectives related to unethical decision behavior; a laboratory experiment. Journal of Applied Psychology, 64, 331338.Google Scholar
Hessing, D.J. Elffers, & Weigel (1988) Exploring the limits of self-reports and reasoned action: an investigation of the psychology of tax evasion behavior. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 54, 405413.Google Scholar
Ilgen, D.R. (1986). Laboratory research: a question of when, not if. In Locke, E.A., (Ed.) Generalizing from laboratory to field settings (pp. 257267). Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
Jackall, R. (1988) Moral mazes; The world of corporate managers. NY: Oxford University Press.Google Scholar
Jick, T. (1979) Mixing qualitative and quantitative methods: triangulation in action. Administrative Science Quarterly, 24, 602611.Google Scholar
Jones, T. (1991) Ethical decision making by individuals in organizations; An issue contingent model. Academy of Management Review, 16, 366395.Google Scholar
Kaplan, A. (1964). The conduct of inquiry. San Francisco: Chandler.Google Scholar
Kelman, H.C. & Hamilton, V.L.Crimes of obedience.. New Haven: Yale University Press.Google Scholar
Kerlinger, F.N. (1986). Foundations of behavioral research. 3rd Ed. NY: CBS College Publishing.Google Scholar
Kohlberg, L. (1969) Stage and sequence: the cognitive-developmental approach to socialization. In Goslin, D.A. (Ed.) Handbook of socialization theory and research (pp. 347480). Chicago: Rand McNally.Google Scholar
Lincoln, D.J., Pressley, M.M., & Little, T. (1982) Ethical beliefs and personal values of top executives. Journal of Business Research, 10, 475487.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Locke, E.A. (1986). Generalizing from laboratory to field settings. Lexington, MA: Lexington Books.Google Scholar
McCall, M.W. & Lombardo, M. (1978). Looking Glass, Inc.: An organizational simulation. Technical Report No. 12, Greensboro, N.C.: Center for Creative Leadership.Google Scholar
McCall, M.W. Jr., & Lombardo, M. (1984). Using simulation for leadership and management research: through the looking glass. In Batemen, T.S. and Ferris, G.R., (Eds.) Method and Analysis in Organizational Research (pp. 201221). Reston, VA: Reston Publishing Co.Google Scholar
Milgram, S. (1974). Obedience to authority: An experimental view. NY: Harper & Row.Google Scholar
Mook, D.G. (1983). In defense of external invalidity. American Psychologist, 38, 379387.Google Scholar
Orne, M.T. (1959). The nature of hypnosis: artifact and essence. Journal of Abnormal Social Psychology, 58, 277279.Google Scholar
Orne, M.T. (1962). On the social psychology of the pscyhological experiment: with particular reference to demand characteristics and their implications. American Psychologist 17, 776783.Google Scholar
Payne, S.L. & Giacolone, R.A. (1990). Social psychological approaches to the perception of ethical dilemmas. Human Relations, 43, 649665.Google Scholar
Randall, D.M. & Fernandes, M.F. (1990). Social desirability response bias in ethics research: Its impact and measurement. Best papers proceedings. Fiftieth Annual Meeting of the Academy of Management, San Francisco.Google Scholar
Randall, D.M. & Gibson, A.M. (1990). Methodology in business ethics research: A review and critical assessment. Journal of Business Ethics, 9, 457471.Google Scholar
Rest, J.R. (1979) Revised manual for the defining issues test: an objective test of moral judgment development. Minneapolis: Minnesota Moral Research Project.Google Scholar
Rosenberg, M.J. (1969) The conditions and consequences of evaluation apprehension. In Rosenthal, R. & Rosnow, R.L., (Eds.) Artifact in behavioral research, pp. 280350. New York: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Rotter, J.B. (1966) Generalized expectanices for internal versus external control of reinforcement. Psychological monographs: general and applied, 80, 128.Google Scholar
Runkel, P.J. & McGrath, J.E. (1972). Research on human behavior: A systematic guide to method. NY: Holt, Rhinehart & Winston.Google Scholar
Schuler, H. (1982) Ethical problems in psychological research. NY: Academic Press.Google Scholar
Skinner, B.F. (1969) Contingencies of reinforcement. NY: Appleton-Century Crofts.Google Scholar
Stone, E.F. (1978). Research methods in organizational behavior. Santa Monica, California: Goodyear Publishing.Google Scholar
Toffler, B. L. (1986). Tough choices; Managers talk ethics. NY: John Wiley.Google Scholar
Trevino, L.K. (1986). Ethical decision-making in organizations; a person-situation interactionist model. Academy of Management Review, 11, 601617.Google Scholar
Trevino, L.K. & Victor, B. (1992). Peer reporting of unethical behavior: Asocial context perspective. Academy of Management Journal, 35, 3864.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Trevino, L.K. & Weaver, G. (in press). Business ETHICS/BUSINESS Ethics: One Field Or Two? Business Ethics Quarterly.Google Scholar
Trevino, L.K. & Youngblood, S.A. (1990). Bad apples in bad barrels: a causal analysis of ethical decision making behavior. Journal of Applied Psychology, 75, 378385.CrossRefGoogle Scholar
Victor, B. & Cullen, J. (1988). The organizational bases of ethical work climates. Administrative Science Quarterly, 33, 101125.Google Scholar
Waters, J.A., Bird, F. & Chant, P.D. (1986). Everyday moral issues experienced by managers. Journal of Business Ethics, 5, 373384.Google Scholar
Webb, E. (1966). Unobtrusive measures: nonreactive research in the social sciences. Chicago: Rand McNally.Google Scholar
Weber, J. (1990). Managers’ moral reasoning: assessing their responses to three moral dilemmas. Human Relations, 43, 687702.Google Scholar
Zedeck, S. (1986). A process analysis of the assessment center method. In Staw, B.M. & Cummings, L.L. (Eds.) Research in organizational behavior (Vol. 8) (pp. 269296). NY: JAI Press.Google Scholar
Zemke, R. (1986) Employee theft: How to cut your losses. Training, May, 7478.Google Scholar