Early Determinants of Ethical Decision-Making

Early Determinants of Ethical Decision-MakingStephen MurphyCenter for Applied Social ResearchUniversity of OklahomaORI ConferenceTampa Bay, FL12/02/06Collaborative EffortProfessors:Dr. Michael MumfordDr. Lynn DevenportGraduate Students:Ethan WaplesAlison AntesDr. Shane ConnellyDr. Ryan BrownJason HillAlso like to acknowledge the National Institutes of Health and Office of Research Integrity for funding this researchDecision-Making in Ethical DilemmasDecision-making in ethical dilemmas is a complex process:Competing values, causes, and goalsEmotions are at playSituational cues often conflictOutcomes are uncertainChoices in ethical decision-making:An illustrative exampleFinal action follows a sequence of choicesMay have a number of different influencesCauses of Misconduct:Organizational Climate versus Career ExperiencesIndividual factorsOrganizational Climate:Shared perceptions of the organizationExpectations of social interactionsCareer Experiences:Direct specific experiences or incidentsExperiences provide informationMethodParticipants:102 first-year doctoral studentsSampled from 3 graduate sciences:SocialBiologicalHealthMeasures:Organizational Climate inventoryCareer Experiences measureEthical decision-makingOrganizational Climate SurveyExample items:A wide variety of viewpoints are expressed hereDistribution of rewards and credits is fair hereFactor Analysis:EquityInterpersonal ConflictOccupational EngagementWork CommitmentCareer Experiences MeasureExample Items:How often has a professor asked you a question about class readings that you were unable to answer?How often has your group challenged itself to develop unique research ideas or products?Factor Analysis:Professional LeadershipPoor CopingLack of RewardsLimited Competitive PressurePoor Career DirectionEthical Decision-Making MeasureLow-fidelity work simulationTaxonomy of four broad domains of misconduct:Data managementStudy conductProfessional practicesBusiness practicesScored on ethicalityHigh (3) Moderate (2) Low (1)Ethical Decision-Making MeasureDuring graduate school, Langston developed a new methodological approach for analyzing data, with guidance from his advisor. He trained several graduate students on the use of this approach before he graduated. At a recent professional conference, Langston heard a student present preliminary results from her Master’s thesis in which she used the data analytic approach. He noticed a potentially serious error in the interpretation of the data, attributable to improper use of the approach. He mentions this possibility after the presentation.Ethical Decision-Making MeasureA month after the conference, one of Langston’s colleagues shows him a manuscript written by the student and Langston’s former advisor. It has been submitted for publication and contains the same information and errors he observed at the conference. He tells his former advisor that he’s sure the analytic approach was applied improperly and can demonstrate this. What should Langston’s former advisor do? Choose twofrom the following:(H) Retract the submitted manuscript(M) Submit new analyses and interpretations indicating that the wrong version of the manuscript was submitted(L) Wait for reviews and do additional analyses if indicatedResultsBlock OneDataβStudy ConductβProfessional PracticesβBusiness PracticesβEquity-.06.07-.02-.09Interpersonal Conflict-.13-.03-.22*-.29*Occupational Engagement.11.01.14.19Work Commitment.02.19.07.24*R.20.24.31*.37*Note: * sig. p<.05ResultsBlock OneDataβStudy ConductβProfessional PracticesβBusiness PracticesβProfessional Leadership.12.00.14-.02Poor Coping-.28*.01-.12-.05Lack of Rewards-.16-.13-.34*-.03Limited Competitive Pressure.09-.16.18.10Poor Career Direction.04.16.11.25*R.37*.27.47*.33*Note: * sig. p<.05ResultsBlock OneDataβStudy ConductβProfessional PracticesβBusiness PracticesβEquity-.08.07-.16-.02Interpersonal Conflict.02.05-.06-.20Occupational Engagement.06.05.14-.17Work Commitment.00.18.04.23*Block TwoProfessional Leadership.14-.05.13-.02Poor Coping-.33*.00-.18-.05Lack of Rewards-.15-.10-.35*.03Limited Competitive Pressure.08.11.14.04Poor Career Direction-.07.16.04.17R.40*.33.51*.43*SummaryCompelling evidence for the influence of Organizational Climate and Career Experience on the choices people makeEarly influences on Ethical Decision-making:Organizational Climate:•Influence of interpersonal conflictCareer experience:•Impact of poor coping and lack of rewardsDiscussionOrganizational Climate remains critical, but…More attention focusing on experiences in the work environmentStudy the relationship between direct experiences and perceptions of organizational climate