More on the Acceptability of Workplace Behaviors of a Dubious Ethical Nature

Abstract

Research on business ethics is often characterized by a lack of continuity in the measures used in empirical studies. In other words, many investigators develop unique measures rather than use existing ones, a process which has produced a series of measures about which relatively little is known. This paper further explores an existing measure of ten survey items assessing the perceived acceptability of workplace behaviors of a dubious ethical nature. Self-report surveys were administered to two diverse samples of North American respondents (total N = 308). The acceptability scale continued to display adequate α reliability. Respondents who regarded the questionable activities described in the survey items as relatively acceptable tended also to score Machiavellian, to display an “entitled” pattern of equity sensitivity, and to report the existence of relatively little ethical conflict. The paper concluded by affirming the relevance and utility of both the acceptability measure and the ethical conflict scale. Researchers may wish to consider using existing scales when appropriate rather than creating their own measures.

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