Student-instructor relationships and ethics education: examining student perceptions of the integrative ethical education model

Abstract

The National Communication Association has positioned ethics education as a key student learning outcome for those graduating with a degree in communication. However, as central as this learning outcome is, few studies, within communication and across disciplines investigating teaching/learning, have explored specific instructor behaviors that promote students’ ethical development. This study explores how instructor behaviors are recognized by students as fulfilling the integrative ethical education (IEE) model. A relationally based approach, the tenets of the IEE model propose pedagogical practices that can be implemented in order to promote student learning and ethical development. Conducting a thematic analysis of focus group and interview data, we identified specific instructor communication behaviors students connected to the IEE model. Further, our findings suggest that central to implementing the IEE model are the development of a strong student-instructor relationship and classroom community. Implications for ethics education in communication and future research directions are discussed.