Development and Validation of a Behavioral Decision-based Measure for the Unethical Pro-organizational Behavior

Existing UPB scales lack context and ethical considerations, which make it hard to capture real-life scenarios. This study presents a behavioral decision-based measure for unethical pro-organizational behavior (UPB). It uses scenarios to simulate daily work situations in order that individuals’ choice preferences are more ecologically valid as compared to existing scales. Study 1 involved the development and initial validation of UPB decision scenarios, resulting in a seven-scenario version exhibiting content and ecological validity. Study 2 indicated that the simulated behavioral decision-based measure had good internal consistency reliability and construct validity. Additionally, the consistency of measure across gender and position was established. Study 3 showed a high association between the UPB scale and the behavioral decision-based measure, confirming the measure’s criterion validity. The test-retest reliability was also high, indicating that the behavioral decision-based measure is stable across time. The final study showed that individuals under the cognitive load conditions made UPB choices faster but with lower frequency, supporting the dual process theory of moral dilemma decision-making. The measure proves reliable, valid, and responsive to external factors, broadening our understanding of UPB. It offers a valuable tool to be applied to organizational ethics evaluations and interventions for both scholars and practitioners.