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The Impact of Business Education on Moral Judgment Competence: An Empirical Study

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  • David Desplaces
  • David Melchar
  • Laura Beauvais
  • Susan Bosco

Abstract

This study uses theories of moral reasoning and moral competence to investigate how university codes of ethics, perceptions of ethical culture, academic pressure from significant others, and ethics pedagogy are related to the moral development of students. Results suggest that ethical codes and student perceptions of such codes affect their perceptions of the ethical nature of the cultures within these institutions. In addition, faculty and student discussion of ethics in business courses is significantly and positively related to moral competence among students. Our results point to the need to further examine the connections among academic institutional structures, ethics pedagogy, and students’ moral development. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media B.V. 2007

Suggested Citation

  • David Desplaces & David Melchar & Laura Beauvais & Susan Bosco, 2007. "The Impact of Business Education on Moral Judgment Competence: An Empirical Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 74(1), pages 73-87, August.
    • Handle: RePEc:kap:jbuset:v:74:y:2007:i:1:p:73-87
    DOI: 10.1007/s10551-006-9221-3
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    1. Treviño, Linda Klebe & Butterfield, Kenneth D. & McCabe, Donald L., 1998. "The Ethical Context in Organizations: Influences on Employee Attitudes and Behaviors," Business Ethics Quarterly, Cambridge University Press, vol. 8(3), pages 447-476, July.
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    Cited by:

    1. Florence Rodhain & Angélique Rodhain, 2012. "Pour une éthique des sciences du management : Formation à la connaissance de soi," Post-Print hal-01950450, HAL.
    2. Maité Laméris & Pierre-Guillaume Méon & Anne-Marie Van Prooijen, 2019. "What have we done? The impact of choosing and studying different academic disciplines on beliefs and values," Working Papers CEB 19-007, ULB -- Universite Libre de Bruxelles.
    3. Maite D. Laméris & Pierre-Guillaume Méon & Anne-Marie Prooijen, 2023. "What have we done?! The impact of economics on the beliefs and values of business students," Journal of Business Economics, Springer, vol. 93(3), pages 433-483, April.
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    5. Jacqueline C. Wisler, 2018. "U.S. CEOs of SBUs in Luxury Goods Organizations: A Mixed Methods Comparison of Ethical Decision-Making Profiles," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(2), pages 443-518, May.
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    8. David Jones, 2009. "A Novel Approach to Business Ethics Training: Improving Moral Reasoning in Just a Few Weeks," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 88(2), pages 367-379, August.
    9. Pablo Ruiz-Palomino & Ricardo Martínez-Cañas & Pedro Jiménez-Estévez, 2019. "Are Corporate Social Responsibility Courses Effective? A Longitudinal and Gender-Based Analysis in Undergraduate Students," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 11(21), pages 1-17, October.
    10. Pamsy P. Hui & Warren C. K. Chiu & Elvy Pang & John Coombes & Doreen Y. P. Tse, 2022. "Seeing Through and Breaking Through: The Role of Perspective Taking in the Relationship Between Creativity and Moral Reasoning," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 180(1), pages 57-69, September.
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    12. J. C. Blewitt & Joan M. Blewitt & Jack Ryan, 2018. "Business Forums Pave the Way to Ethical Decision Making: The Mediating Role of Self-Efficacy and Awareness of a Value-Based Educational Institution," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 149(1), pages 235-244, April.
    13. Oana Borcan & Nikita Grabher-Meyer & Stephanie Heger & Amrish Patel, 2023. "Right in the Middle: A Field Experiment On The Role Of Integrity Training And Norms In Combating Corruption," University of East Anglia School of Economics Working Paper Series 2023-05, School of Economics, University of East Anglia, Norwich, UK..
    14. Bahaudin G. Mujtaba & Arif Sikander & Naveed Akhtar & Talat Afza, 2012. "Business Ethics of Pakistanis in Islamabad and Lahore: Do Age, Gender and Data Collection Processes Make a Difference?," International Journal of Learning and Development, Macrothink Institute, vol. 2(3), pages 325-341, June.
    15. Daniella Juric & Brendan O’Connell & Michaela Rankin & Jacqueline Birt, 2018. "Determinants of the Severity of Legal and Employment Consequences for CPAs Named in SEC Accounting and Auditing Enforcement Releases," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 147(3), pages 545-563, February.
    16. Janette Brunstein & Silvia Bertossi Heidrich & Rubens de Araújo Amaro, 2016. "Competencies for a Fair Play in Organizations: a Phenomenographic Analysis of Managers' Conceptions," Brazilian Business Review, Fucape Business School, vol. 13(2), pages 105-134, March.
    17. Dariusz Turek & Agnieszka Wojtczuk-Turek, 2011. "Competence as a determinant of employees' unethical behavior (Kompetencyjne uwarunkowania nieetycznego zachowania pracownikow)," Problemy Zarzadzania, University of Warsaw, Faculty of Management, vol. 9(34a), pages 127-146.
    18. Wilhelm, William J. & Weber, Peter & Douglas, Kacey & Siepermann, Markus & Abuhamdieh, Ayman, 2021. "Moral reasoning and anti-immigrant bias: Experimental evidence from university students in Germany and the United States," Journal of Behavioral and Experimental Economics (formerly The Journal of Socio-Economics), Elsevier, vol. 90(C).
    19. Oliver Laasch & Dirk C. Moosmayer & Elena P. Antonacopoulou, 2023. "The Interdisciplinary Responsible Management Competence Framework: An Integrative Review of Ethics, Responsibility, and Sustainability Competences," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 187(4), pages 733-757, November.
    20. Natalia M. Mintchik & Timothy A. Farmer, 2009. "Associations Between Epistemological Beliefs and Moral Reasoning: Evidence from Accounting," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 84(2), pages 259-275, January.
    21. Brian Mayhew & Pamela Murphy, 2009. "The Impact of Ethics Education on Reporting Behavior," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 86(3), pages 397-416, May.
    22. Douglas May & Matthew Luth & Catherine Schwoerer, 2014. "The Influence of Business Ethics Education on Moral Efficacy, Moral Meaningfulness, and Moral Courage: A Quasi-experimental Study," Journal of Business Ethics, Springer, vol. 124(1), pages 67-80, September.

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