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A Study of Moral Decision-Making: Business Majors Versus Non-Business Majors

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  • A. S. MacKewn
  • K. W. VanVuren

Abstract

In the field of psychology there is a theory of ethical grounding that distinguishes between people on the basis of idealism versus relativism. An idealistic person is one who believes in absolute truths, values, and rules. A relativistic person, on the other hand, believes that truth is relative to some context; and for them there are no, nor should there be, any absolute values or rigid ethical rules of conduct. This study surveyed undergraduate business and non-business students at a mid-sized southern university to examine whether business majors differed from non-business majors on idealism/relativism and moral decision-making. This research question has important implications not only for pedagogical purposes but also practical implications in the hiring of persons by employers. The results of the study produced evidence that on theoretical terms business students are more relativistic than non-business students but when presented with practical real-world situations in which to apply relativistic thinking, the two groups were not significantly different.

Suggested Citation

  • A. S. MacKewn & K. W. VanVuren, 2007. "A Study of Moral Decision-Making: Business Majors Versus Non-Business Majors," Global Journal of Business Research, The Institute for Business and Finance Research, vol. 1(1), pages 139-146.
    • Handle: RePEc:ibf:gjbres:v:1:y:2007:i:1:p:139-146
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    Cited by:

    1. Mun, Seongjae & Han, Seung Hun & Seo, Dongwook, 2020. "The impact of CEO educational background on corporate cash holdings and value of excess cash," Pacific-Basin Finance Journal, Elsevier, vol. 61(C).
    2. Lydia Segal & Mark Lehrer, 2013. "The Conflict of Ethos and Ethics: A Sociological Theory of Business People’s Ethical Values," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 114(3), pages 513-528, May.

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