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Methodology in Business Ethics Research: A Review and Critical Assessment

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Citation Classics from the Journal of Business Ethics

Part of the book series: Advances in Business Ethics Research ((ABER,volume 2))

Abstract

Using 94 published empirical articles in academic journals as a data base, this paper provides a critical review of the methodology employed in the study of ethical beliefs and behavior of organizational members. The review revealed that full methodological detail was provided in less than one half of the articles. Further, the majority of empirical research articles expressed no concern for the reliability or validity of measures, were characterized by low response rates, used convenience samples, and did not offer a theoretic framework, hypotheses, or a definition of ethics. Several recommendations, including a reviewer rating form addressing methodological decisions and inclusion of methodologists on the review panel, are offered to improve methodological rigor in published ethics research.

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Acknowledgement

The authors wish to thank J. Scott Armstrong for his comments on an earlier version of the manuscript.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Albion College, Albion, MI, 49224-1831, USA

    Donna M. Randall (Office of the President)

  2. School of Business, Andrews University, Berrien Springs, MI, 49104, USA

    Annetta M. Gibson

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  1. Donna M. Randall
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  2. Annetta M. Gibson
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Correspondence to Donna M. Randall .

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Editors and Affiliations

  1. , Faculty of Arts, Brandon University, 18th Street 270, Brandon, R7A 6A9, Manitoba, Canada

    Alex C. Michalos

  2. Office of the President, Brandon University, 18th Street 270, Brandon, R7A 6A9, Manitoba, Canada

    Deborah C. Poff

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Notes

1.Because the search was not exhaustive, no argument is made that all empirical research articles on ethical beliefs and behavior have been included. For instance, research on business ethics appearing in books, book chapters, and conference papers have not been analyzed. The data gathering procedure also suffers from whatever limitations may be said to accompany the publication decisions of the journals incorporated within the data bases.

2.Limited empirical investigation of ethical beliefs and behavior has taken place (Trevino 1986). Most articles approach ethics from a nonempirical perspective, e.g., developing theoretic models of ethical decision-making (e.g., Trevino 1986; Bommer et al. 1987), specifying taxonomies of moral rules (e.g., Forsyth 1980), or providing practical guidance to managers (e.g., Laczniak 1983).

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Randall, D.M., Gibson, A.M. (2013). Methodology in Business Ethics Research: A Review and Critical Assessment. In: Michalos, A., Poff, D. (eds) Citation Classics from the Journal of Business Ethics. Advances in Business Ethics Research, vol 2. Springer, Dordrecht. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-94-007-4126-3_10

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