Ethical Ideology Research Articles

Examining the influence of cultural and ethical ideology on consumers’ perceptions about the ethics of online retailers and its effects on their loyalty

The main purpose of this study was to develop and empirically test an integrated model that examines the antecedents and outcomes of consumers perceptions regarding online retailing ethics. A quantitative approach was utilised and the data were collected from 797 consumers. We used AMOS 22.0 for assessing the associations between the latent variables. The results of the analyses revealed that uncertainty avoidance and power distance are a key driver of idealism, while masculinity and individualism are a key predictor of egoism. Idealism was negatively related to consumers perceptions about e-retailing ethics, while egoism had a positive effect. Finally, customers perceptions about e-retailing ethics was positively related to customers loyalty. Implications for practitioners and academics were discussed.

‘해원상생’에서 ‘상생’의 존재론적 근거

In this article, I reveal the ontological basis or grounds of ‘Sangsaeng’ through the Heideggerian Thought by focusing on ‘HaewonSangsaeng’ in Daesoon Thought and Daesoon Jinrihoe. ‘Sangsaeng’ means ‘to live (well) with others.’ ‘Living’ in this context means not only humans living among humans, but also all beings that exist and are able to live well with each other. At this time, we can find the basis for ‘Sangsaeng’ in Daesoon Thought or Daesoon Jinrihoe through Heidegger’s ‘Geviert-Welt,’ ‘Gelassenheit,’ and ‘Wohnen.’ In other words, we can provide a basis for ‘Sangsaeng’ through ‘Geviert-Welt’ in which one of the ‘four’ of ‘earth, sky, divine things, and those who will die’ unfold in a mutually beneficent manner, and the human attitude of ‘Gelassenheit’ can enter ‘Geviert-Welt.’ Naturally, when limited to humans, this ‘Sangsaeng’ is achieved through ‘Wohnen,’ a way of being a human who enters the ‘Gevirt-Welt’ and lives while taking care of everything that exists. However, ‘Wohnen’ takes place in ‘Geiert-Welt.’ Therefore, in this article, I insist that the ethical ideology or guideline of Daesoon Thought or Daesoon Jinrihoe’s ‘Sangsaeng’ is already ideologically achieved through an ontological horizon such as ‘Gevier-Welt,’ ‘Gelassenheit,’ and ‘Wohnen.’ And under these circumstances, it can be revealed that ‘Haewon’ is already being resolved.

Explaining the boycott behavior: A conceptual model proposal and validation

AbstractThis study proposes a conceptual model with the capacity to substantially explain the boycott behavior. As a first step for the validation of the proposed model, an empirical study has been carried out, focusing on the boycott promoted towards the territory of Catalonia (Spain). Following the postulates of the theory of reasoned action, the effect that the intention to participate in the boycott will have on effective behavior is considered, but social influence, the importance given to brands and the perceived legitimacy of a boycott are also included. Concepts as the attitude towards boycotts as a measure of pressure to change actions and decisions, the perceived usefulness of the boycott and animosity towards the boycott object are included in the model as antecedents to the intention to participate in the boycott. Finally, it is postulated that the legitimacy given to boycott behavior and the ethical ideology based on idealism are explanatory factors for the attitude towards boycott behavior. The relevance of the study is established by the need to respond to boycotts in an appropriate way. This paper can be useful, by pointing out the main factors that cause an individual to take an active part in a boycott.

Use of offensive language in human-artificial intelligence chatbot interaction: The effects of ethical ideology, social competence, and perceived humanlikeness

This study examined the factors that affect artificial intelligence (AI) chatbot users' use of profanity and offensive words, employing the concepts of ethical ideology, social competence, and perceived humanlikeness of chatbot. The study also looked into users' liking of chatbots' responses to the users' utterance of profanity and offensive words. Using a national survey (N = 645), the study found that users' idealism orientation was a significant factor in explaining use of such offensive language. In addition, users with high idealism revealed liking of chatbots' active intervention, whereas those with high relativism displayed liking of chatbots' reactive responses. Moreover, users’ perceived humanlikeness of chatbot increased their likelihood of using offensive words targeting dislikable acquaintances, racial/ethnic groups, and political parties. These findings are expected to fill the gap between the current use of AI chatbots and the lack of empirical studies examining language use.

The effect of consumers' religiosity on consumer ethics: the mediating role of ethical ideology

PurposeReligious doctrines generally encourage people to behave ethically. However, in daily life, individuals notice inconsistencies between religious beliefs and behavior, leading them to ask, in the context of commerce, why religious consumers would behave unethically. The purpose of this study was to investigate the impact of consumers' intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity on their ethical behavior. Specifically, the moderating effect of ethical ideology on the relationship between Indonesian consumers' religiosity and their ethics was examined by means of a survey.Design/methodology/approachThe data derived from the questionnaire were complemented by convenience samples of Indonesians living in Daerah Istimewa Yogyakarta (DIY) in central Java. The researchers distributed 600 questionnaires in two major shopping malls and several housing areas in the region, of which 467 were completed and returned, for an overall response rate of 77.8%.FindingsThe results indicated that the participants' intrinsic religiosity negatively impacted their ethical beliefs and was mediated by their idealistic ethical ideology. The present study also found that idealism had negative effects on three of the four dimensions of the consumer ethics scale (CES) (actively benefiting, passively benefiting and questionable behavior), while relativism had positive effects on two of the dimensions (passively benefiting and questionable behavior.Research limitations/implicationsOne limitation of the present study was that the analysis did not distinguish among the religions practiced by the respondents to the questionnaire.Originality/valueThis is one of the first few studies investigating the mediating role of ethical ideology in a religious society. This study contributes to the literature on these issues in theoretical and managerial terms by extending the Hunt-Vitell theory (1986) to the context of consumer ethics.

Moving Into the Media World: The Moral Psychology of Emerging Adults in Journalism and Communication

A growing body of psychology-based scholarship identifies emerging adulthood as a distinct, transitional stage of life and work characterized by several features, wherein relatively little is known regarding moral development. This study is part of a 3-year, longitudinal project involving recent graduates across six U.S. universities who studied journalism and media-related fields. Guided by emerging adulthood, moral psychology, and media exemplar research, this study analyzes results for 110 graduates who completed an online survey regarding their personality traits, virtuous character, moral reasoning, and ethical ideology. It constitutes the first detailed portrait of moral identity of emerging adults in media-related fields.

The Impact of Ethical standards including Ethical Environment, Professional Commitment, Ethical Values and Ethical Ideology on Performance of Auditors.

The Impact of Ethical standards including Ethical Environment, Professional Commitment, Ethical Values and Ethical Ideology on Performance of Auditors.

Social justice in health system; a neglected component of academic nursing education: a qualitative study

BackgroundIn recent decades, increasing social and health inequalities all over the world has highlighted the importance of social justice as a core nursing value. Therefore, proper education of nursing students is necessary for preparing them to comply with social justice in health systems. This study is aimed to identify the main factors for teaching the concept of social justice in the nursing curriculum.MethodThis is a qualitative study, in which the conventional content analysis approach was employed to analyze a sample of 13 participants selected using purposive sampling method. Semi-structured interviews were conducted to collect and analyze the data.ResultsAnalysis of the interviews indicated that insufficient education content, incompetency of educators, and inappropriate education approaches made social justice a neglected component in the academic nursing education. These factors were the main sub-categories of the study and showed the negligence of social justice in academic nursing education.ConclusionResearch findings revealed the weaknesses in teaching the concept of social justice in the nursing education. Accordingly, it is necessary to modify the content of nursing curriculum and education approaches in order to convey this core value. Since nursing educators act as role models for students, especially in practical and ethical areas, more attention should be paid to competency of nursing educators, specially training in the area of ethical ideology and social justice.

Moral Resilience in Nursing Education: Exploring Undergraduate Nursing Students Perceptions of Resilience in Relation to Ethical Ideology.

IntroductionMoral resilience has recently been proposed as one strategy to address moral distress in nurses and nursing students. Central to nursing students’ capacity for moral resilience is how they understood and enact resilience with an element of realism, suggesting an ethical, ideological influence. Resilience is shown to differ significantly across students, and possibly because of a disconnect between a students’ perceived resilience and their ethical ideology. Yet, resilience seldom has been explored in relation to ethical ideology.ObjectiveThis study aims to explore self-reported resilience in relation to ethical ideology in undergraduate nursing students, compare differences in scores, and explore relationships between study variables and selected demographic characteristics.MethodsA descriptive cross-sectional research design was followed. An online encrypted survey was conducted among a convenient sample of nursing undergraduates who met the eligibility criteria and provided implied informed consent. This study complied with ethical principles outlined in the Canadian Tri-Council Policy Statement for research with human subjects. Ethical approval was secured from the University’s Research Ethics Board. Data were analyzed using mean scores, standard deviations, independent sample t-test, variance analysis with post hoc–testing, and Pearson correlation to explore differences in perceptions and associations between study and selected demographic variables.ResultsUndergraduate students have a high level of self-reported resilience. Statistically significant differences in self-reported resilience across selected demographic variables were observed. The association between resilience and ethical ideology was not significant. Ethical relativism was significantly correlated with age and year of study.ConclusionFindings suggest that faculty cultivating resilience in nursing students pays attention to gender’s influence discourses in students’ perceptions of resilience and ethical ideology and provides students with opportunities for ethical self-reflection and dialogue to critically examine their ethical ideological perspectives and the influence these may have on moral resilience development. Implications for future research are discussed.

The Effects of Different Types of Internal Controls on Self-Control

One reason companies implement internal controls is to reduce the likelihood of unethical behavior. Yet, ego depletion theory suggests that some controls may cause reductions in employees’ self-control, which could undermine the ability of controls to reduce unethical behavior. We examine whether various types of controls impact self-control and ethical judgments. Our results show that contrary to the ego depletion hypothesis, we find no significant relation between self-control and internal controls. Furthermore, we find that controls have no effect on ethical judgments or ethical ideology. Thus, our results suggest that internal controls do not differentially impact self-control and ethical decision-making.

Exploring the Hidden Struggle for Shari’a Compliance: Shari’a Advisors' Moral and Ethical Ideology, and its Effect on the Management Tactics for Fatwa Repositioning in their Favor, with the Mediatory Role of Demographic, External and Personal Factors

Shari’a scholars and managers of IFIs have divergent objectives, which creates incongruence of objectives at the strategic level. This study aims to explore the tension and latent struggle for Shari’a compliance, which has been termed as ‘Fatwa Repositioning’ by Ullah et. al. (2018). Fatwa Repositioning exhibits how managers and Shari’a scholars struggle to position the Shari’a compliance of their institutions to best serve their respective objectives. Ullah et. al. identified different codes based on the concepts derived from their exploratory work, based on the same conceptualization, we developed a theoretical framework explaining how the ideology of sharia advisors affect management actions towards fatwa repositioning. We hypothesized that different ideologies interact with different Demographic, External, and Personal Factors to form sharia compliance objectives of Shari’a advisors. These objectives would influence the ways management tends to reposition compliance in their favor. These Moral and ethical ideologies included 1. Social Welfare, 2. Secured Investment, 3. Fairness & Justice, 4. Philanthropy, 5. Profiteering, 6. Unity Principle, and 7. Conventional Reciprocity. Management tactics for Fatwa Repositioning included 1. Avoidance, 2. Coercion 3. Compromising, 4. Confrontation, and 5. Controlling, 6. Sharia board backing. Conditions mediating this relationship included demographic (Educational and Experience Disparity), personal (Eternal Reward, Self Interest, and Shariah Reputation Risk), and external (Depositor Expectation, External Shariah Scholar Pressure, and Regulatory Controls). Empirical validity was established by conducting a survey using a close-ended questionnaire. Data were collected from 100 respondents working in the Shari’a department and analyzed using confirmatory factor analysis and structured equation modeling. The results suggested that the ideology of conventional reciprocity leads to coercion as well as controlling strategy through hiring lenient advisors, this is mediated by shariah reputation risk. Coercion is also mediated by regulatory controls. Similarly, fairness & justice ideology also lead to coercion and controlling, mediated by eternal rewards. Whereas it leads to confrontation it mediated by depositors’ expectations. Similarly, philanthropy ideology also led to coercion and controlling mediated by depositor expectation and shariah reputation risk respectively. Philanthropy mediated by depositor expectation also leads towards confrontation. The ideology of ethical investment leads to a compromising strategy; this relationship is strengthening in case of educational disparity. Shari’a scholars’ that follow the ideology of profiteering (which is similar to the management philosophy) could also lead to confrontation and controlling if they are high expectations by the depositors about their deposit compliance with the Shari'ah. The concept of secured investment means the proper implementation of risk-sharing instruments, which can also lead to confrontation, coercion, shariah board backing, as well as controlling in case of higher depositors’ expectations. Coercion can also happen in case of a higher disparity of experience in Shari’a scholars. scholars who follow the principle of social welfare can lead to confrontation, coercion, and sometimes compromising tactics if they have higher educational disparity. They can also be controlled if shariah reputation risk is higher. The philosophy of unity principle suggested that everything in the world is God’s property and it should never be used in the exploitation of the people but rather, should be used for noble and good causes. Scholars following this ideology could also be subject to coercion, confrontation, as well as controlling, in case of higher depositor expectation, or if they are guided by either their self-interest or by the concept of eternal rewards making them mindful of what they declare Haram or Halal. The unity principle can also lead to avoidance tactics by the management in case of eternal reward, and self-interest. The unity principle can lead to shariah board backing in case of depositor expectation and eternal rewards.

Experiencing ethical retail ideology in the servicescape

ABSTRACT Studies of the ideological underpinnings of retail stores have improved our understanding of consumers’ retail experiences in brand and national ideology contexts. In retailing, ideology is manifested in retail spatial settings through tangible and intangible cues in servicescapes. This study expands our knowledge on ethical retail ideology by exploring how servicescapes convey cues that shape consumption experiences and foster ethical consumption. Data from an ethnographic study highlight how consumption experiences in physical retail spaces embedding a particular ethical ideology can be thematised as aesthetics, nostalgia and care. We show that the material and discursive aspects in servicescapes conveying an ethical ideology influence embodied consumption experiences. This study thus contributes to the understanding of retail ideologies and the connections between sustainable consumption and the servicescape.

Ethics education: the impact of ethics training engagement on unethical decision-making in the workplace

This study examined the impact of ethics training engagement (i.e., active learning vs. passive learning) on unethical decision-making in the workplace. Participants were randomly assigned to one of the two conditions. Next, a baseline measurement of ethical ideology was collected using the Ethics Position Questionnaire (EPQ) and participants then engaged in ethics training based on the condition to which they were randomly assigned. They then had the option to read along or listen to a hypothetical scenario about an employee faced with the opportunity to make an unethical decision, and completed the Unethical Decision Questionnaire (UDQ). Results showed that participants in the passive learning condition were significantly more likely to perceive an unethical situation as ethical compared to participants in the active learning ethics training condition. Additionally, participants in the passive learning condition were significantly more likely to engage in unethical decision-making than participants in the active learning condition. The current findings contribute to the existing literature by providing evidence that active learning in ethics training programs could reduce unethical decision-making within the workplace.

Perceived influence of corporate social responsibility on consumer loyalty: the role of ethical ideology

This study explored how different types of perceived corporate social responsibility serve to affect customer loyalty, and how consumer ethical ideologies affect perceived corporate social responsibility. The empirical research analysis reveals that respondents are more often characterised by an ethical ideology of idealism, and that they are most aware of any corporate social responsibility (CSR) that is consumer-orientated. In addition, it has been found that the perceived CSR, which focuses on the public, has a significantly lower impact, while the impact of the perceived employee-orientated CSR is statistically significant only in respect to repeat purchases.

Understanding guests’ behavior to visit green hotels: The role of ethical ideology and religiosity

• We investigated the determinants of guests’ behaviour to visit green hotels. • Theory of planed behavior (TPB) and the ethics theory explain well Green consumption. • Ethical ideology is a key driver of guests’ green decision-making process. The main aim of this study is to develop and test a model to understand guests’ behavior to visit green hotel by merging the theory of planed behavior (TPB) with theories of ethics and religiosity in a single model. Furthermore, it examines the moderating role of ethical ideology. This research utilized a quantitative method to assess the suggested conceptual framework. Data were gathered from 871 participants and analyzed through Structural Equation Modelling (SEM). According to the study results, the suggested model shows a favorable prediction level of guests’ behavior, which confirmed the superiority of the proposed model. Our study indicated that TPB and ethical theory adequately explain guests’ behavior to visit green hotel. Ethical ideology was found to be a key driver of guests’ green decision-making process. Our study makes several contributions to the practice and theory by providing useful insights on drivers of consumers’ behavior to visit green hotels in the Egyptian hospitality environment.

Investigating Stability in Ethical Ideologies as Moral Personalities: Understanding Ethical Shifts

Ethics Position Theory (EPT) (Forsyth, 1980) states that people have relatively stable implicit moral philosophies in terms degree of idealism and relativism. The present study hypothesizes that the complexity of a situation might lead to shift in their ethical ideologies. The level of complexity a situation poses is assessed based on centrality approach i.e. stakeholder centrality (self/other) and situational centrality (rational/emotional).The extent of shift in various ethical positions has been examined in detail in this study and individually assessed for all four Forysth's dimensions i.e. absolutists, exceptionists, situationists and subjectivists. A 2X2 between group experiment is designed and traces the shifting patterns of 224 professionals with a mean age of 24.4 years. The results show that mobility and retention of ethical moral personalities and states that individuals tend to anchor high idealism in rational situations when it directly impacts their selves. However when the situation impacts others, there is more reliance on relativism. The study also states that when emotions are involved in situations, people tend to anchor more towards high relativism.

On the Unique Justifying Functions of Mind Ethic Ideology

Considerable research and theory have pointed to the system-justifying function of Meritocratic Ideology (i.e., the belief that hard work leads to success), noting how useful it can be in justifying inequalities in material well-being (e.g., wealth). We propose that a distinct form of ideology, which we term “Mind Ethic,” has emerged to help people justify inequalities by advocating proper mental habit (e.g., thinking properly about the relevant desire) as a useful tool for goal achievement. Across four studies, we devise a measure to capture individual differences in Mind Ethic, and then demonstrate its unique predictive power. Studies 1a and 1b demonstrate that whereas both Meritocratic Ideology and Mind Ethic predict character derogation (vs. enhancement) of those who suffer (vs. those who are succeeding) in contexts of material well-being (e.g., attributing higher intelligence to a rich person), only Mind Ethic predicts such system-justifying tendencies in contexts of psychological well-being (e.g., attributing increased laziness to those who are unhappy). Studies 2 and 3 further examine Mind Ethic’s system-justifying function across two different domains (i.e., career and health) and show that Mind Ethic predicts justification of target persons’ unequal life outcomes when those are attributed to differences in the targets’ mental habits or mental effort (i.e., having negative thoughts vs. having positive thoughts in Study 2, only receiving radiation therapy vs. receiving additional meditation in Study 3), but not when the outcomes are attributed to differences in what the targets do about the relevant goals (i.e., not working hard vs. working hard in Study 2, only receiving radiation therapy vs. receiving additional chemotherapy in Study 3). This research suggests that Mind Ethic may provide a unique set of rationale for justification of unequal outcomes.

The effect of agency relationship and individual ethical ideology on decision duplication with regard to questionable accounting policy choice. An experimental study

Recent studies confirm that the principal-agent relationship adversely affects managers’ decisions. This study experimentally investigates willingness to copy a decision that is ethically suspect in both high and low adverse selection criteria. It revealed that when the agency problem was observed, the respondents were less eager to misuse accounting discretion within foreign currency. It showed that without adverse selection criteria, respondents behave unreflectively, duplicating a choice to the detriment of financial reporting. The findings were also compared with Forsyth’s taxonomy of personal moral philosophies, which show that most respondents represent the situationist and absolutist orientation, while situationists and exceptionists are less prone to misbehave. It suggests that individual moral orientation has an unex-pectedly small impact, whereas witnessing the agency relationship tends to make subjects duplicate the choice described in the scenario to a lesser degree. Idealists are more severe in ethical evaluation com-pared to relativists, although the majority of respondents, who did not observe adverse selection condi-tions, showed a high propensity to would duplicate the misconduct. The most important variable is the existence of adverse selection criteria, indicating that decision-making and the choice of professionals lie at the heart of accounting policy choice, and that further research should be considered.

PERSONALITY AND JOB OUTCOMES: MEDIATION OF ETHICAL IDEOLOGY

Purpose: This study aims to theorize new conceptual linkages between two popular paradigms of management research personality (Big Five Trait) and ethics (Ethical Ideology). Big Five personality traits and ethical ideology dimensions (idealism and relativism) relationship with job outcomes such as interpersonal conflict, workplace deviance, and Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) were proposed.
 Methodology: This study adopted a longitudinal field survey design. Data analysis for descriptive, regression, and correlation techniques, was done using SPSS v 17 whereas conduct Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) of study variables was done using AMOS v 16.
 Main Findings: Results revealed significant association of i) extraversion, conscientiousness, and agreeableness with OCB, ii) Agreeableness and neuroticism with workplace deviance and iii) agreeableness, openness to experience, neuroticism with interpersonal conflict. Moreover, agreeableness was a significant predictor of idealism ethical ideology, neuroticism and openness to experience were significant predictors of relativism ethical ideology. Idealism significantly predicted interpersonal conflict and OCB and relativism significantly predicted workplace deviance and interpersonal conflict. Idealism ethical ideology mediated between extraversion and interpersonal conflict, agreeableness and interpersonal conflict as well as OCB. On the other hand, relativism ethical ideology mediated between openness to experience and interpersonal conflict. Similarly, relativism also mediated between neuroticism and two job outcomes (interpersonal conflict, workplace deviance).
 Limitations/ Applications: Future research directions and implications for theory and practice are suggested.
 Novelty/Originality of this study: This study explained the conceptual mechanism that individual outcomes of the Big Five traits are determined through the ethical ideology of the respective personality trait; moreover, this study also added empirical evidence in existing OB literature from a unique cultural context i.e., Pakistan.

Ethical decision-making among professional accountants in Nigeria: the influence of ethical ideology, work sector, and types of professional membership

Purpose The purpose of this study is to examine the influence of ethical ideological orientation (moral idealism and moral relativism), work sector and types of professional membership on the ethical decision-making (EDM) process of professional accountants in Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach The study obtained primary data from 329 professional accountants with the aid of a structured questionnaire containing four scenarios of ethical dilemmas. The data were analysed using descriptive statistical analysis, independent sample t-test, Pearson correlation analysis and multiple regression techniques. Findings The results revealed both idealistic and relativistic moral orientation among the accountants surveyed with a higher mean score (>4.0) recorded for moral idealism. Moral idealism was found to have a positive influence, while moral relativism a negative influence on the three stages (ethical recognition, ethical judgement and ethical intention) of EDM examined. Professional accountants with idealistic orientation showed a higher disposition towards making ethical decisions in situations involving ethical dilemmas than those tending towards relativistic orientation. The results also revealed that work sector (private or public) and types of professional membership play significant roles in predicting the EDM process of professional accountants in Nigeria. Practical implications The study provides empirical evidence that could be used to support educational and legislative efforts in enhancing the moral ideological orientation of professional accountants, which will, in turn, enhance their EDM processes. The findings could be used to enhance ethics instructions and training of current and prospective professional accountants in educational settings, especially in countries such as Nigeria where there is yet to be a discrete ethics course in the curriculum for accounting undergraduate degree programmes. Professional accounting bodies in Nigeria and other developing countries could use the evidence in this study to strengthen the ethics code for professional accountants. Originality/value The study is unique in focussing on professional accountants in developing countries using Nigeria to represent developing countries with high corruption profile and weak institutions and governments and, as such, it contributes to the scarce research output on accounting ethics in developing countries.