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The relationship of organizational corruption with organizational culture, attitude towards work and work ethics: a search on Turkish high school teachers

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Abstract

The aim of this study is to analyse organizational corruption and to determine its level of relation to attitude towards work, work ethics and organizational culture. The data in study have been collected from 441 public high school teachers employed in the central districts of Ankara in the school year of 2008–2009. Data have been collected through ‘Scale for Organizational Corruption’, ‘Scale for Attitude towards Work’, ‘Scale for Work Ethics’ and ‘Scale for Organizational Culture’, all of which were developed by the researchers in this study. Correlation and regression analysis techniques have been used in analysing the data. It is concluded from the study that there is a significant, though at an average level, relation between organizational corruption, organizational culture and work ethics and that there is a negative significant relation, though at a low level, between organizational corruption and attitude towards work. It is also concluded that the variables for attitude towards work, work ethics and organizational culture explain 38% of the variation in organizational corruption.

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Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Educational Administration and Policy, Faculty of Educational Sciences, Ankara University, Cebeci Kampusü, Ankara, Turkey

    Ali Balcı

  2. Department of Educational Sciences, Faculty of Art, Çankırı Karatekin University, Fatih Mah, TOKİ Konutları, Kıbrıs Sok. No: 3, Çankırı, Turkey

    Murat Özdemir

  3. Faculty of Education, Akdeniz University, Dumlupinar Bulvari, Kampus, 07058, Antalya, Turkey

    Çiğdem Apaydın

  4. Ministry of National Education, Beşevler Kampusü, Ankara, Turkey

    Fatmanur Özen

Authors
  1. Ali Balcı
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  2. Murat Özdemir
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  3. Çiğdem Apaydın
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  4. Fatmanur Özen
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Murat Özdemir.

Appendix

Appendix

22-Item version of the scale for organizational corruption

1 = Strongly disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Agree some; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly agree.

In this school,

  1. 1.

    There is favouritism towards acquaintances

  2. 2.

    Works are not done according to the rules

  3. 3.

    Employees take bribes to perform their duties

  4. 4.

    There is misconduct in office

  5. 5.

    Employees use public authority for their self-interests

  6. 6.

    Employees use public properties for their self-interests

  7. 7.

    Superiors mistreat subordinates

  8. 8.

    Sources are not distributed equally among employees

  9. 9.

    Duties are not distributed equally among employees

  10. 10.

    Employees are joked for their deficiency

  11. 11.

    Students are forced to choose specific private school

  12. 12.

    Teachers give private lesson to their students for money

  13. 13.

    Absenteeism is common among employees

  14. 14.

    Teachers go to classrooms late

  15. 15.

    Teachers attend the lessons without making preparation

  16. 16.

    Cheating and plagiarism are common

  17. 17.

    Administrators and teachers do not spend proper time for their students

  18. 18.

    Students are not treated fairly

  19. 19.

    Students do not have equal opportunities for being chosen for specific school activities

  20. 20.

    Teachers are not treated equally according to their gender

  21. 21.

    Teachers do not effort to improve their professional knowledge

  22. 22.

    Administrators charge unskilled workers with an important duties

13-Item version of scale for attitude towards work

1 = Strongly disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Agree some; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly agree

  1. 1.

    I do not think that I work for an important work

  2. 2.

    I do not think that I get enough money in return for my effort

  3. 3.

    I have an opportunity to promote in my job

  4. 4.

    Working conditions in this workplace are the best for me

  5. 5.

    My superiors show interest in me

  6. 6.

    I want to work at this workplace until I retire

  7. 7.

    I consider my workplace problems as if they are my own problems

  8. 8.

    I do not think to be out of my job

  9. 9.

    I would change my job in case I was offered for a better job

  10. 10.

    The most important thing in my life is my job

  11. 11.

    If I had come to the world again, I would prefer the same work

  12. 12.

    I prefer to continue working even the working hours end

  13. 13.

    My work is my life

19-Item version of scale for work ethics

1 = Strongly disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Agree some; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly agree

In this school,

  1. 1.

    There is a transparent administration

  2. 2.

    Administrative works are clear and achievable

  3. 3.

    Necessary information is open for everyone

  4. 4.

    Administrators are responsible towards teachers and school

  5. 5.

    Accountability is a way of life

  6. 6.

    There is no stealing

  7. 7.

    There is no forgery

  8. 8.

    The relationship between administrators and teachers is based on trust

  9. 9.

    Complaint of parents and teachers is taken into consideration

  10. 10.

    Employees are appreciated for their works

  11. 11.

    Employees keep their words

  12. 12.

    Documents are true and complete

  13. 13.

    Documents are licit

  14. 14.

    Employees obey the school’s goals and policies

  15. 15.

    There is not giving or taking present improperly

  16. 16.

    Gender, ethnicity, language and religion are perceived as a richness

  17. 17.

    Employees show respect to secrets of private life

  18. 18.

    There is no favouritism

  19. 19.

    Different opinions are supported

22-Item version of scale for organizational corruption culture

1 = Strongly disagree; 2 = Disagree; 3 = Agree some; 4 = Agree; 5 = Strongly agree

In this school,

  1. 1.

    Employees do not expect individualistic benefit in return for their efforts

  2. 2.

    Illegal practices of administration are always interrogated

  3. 3.

    It is generally thought in this workplace that administrators are always right

  4. 4.

    It is thought that employees can use public goods for their individualistic goals

  5. 5.

    It is not welcomed to use school possessions for individual goals out of school

  6. 6.

    Falsification is common

  7. 7.

    Grant and aid are not accepted

  8. 8.

    Different ethnicities are treated equally

  9. 9.

    Those who have different beliefs are treated equally

  10. 10.

    It is thought that women and men are equally successful and competent

  11. 11.

    Sectionalism is not welcomed

  12. 12.

    Those administrators use initiation except legal regulation is not supported

  13. 13.

    Participation of teachers to school governing bodies is not considered as if they interlope the school administrators

  14. 14.

    All employees are honoured for being human

  15. 15.

    Problems of the school are not leaked outside

  16. 16.

    It is our common problem when any of us has individual problem

  17. 17.

    Duties are not assigned to employees who are competent on that specific duties

  18. 18.

    Friends and acquaintances are not treated privileged

  19. 19.

    All kinds of corruption are rejected

  20. 20.

    Administrators do not use their public authority for their individualistic benefits

  21. 21.

    Exploitation is not welcomed

  22. 22.

    Idleness and failure are not accepted

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Balcı, A., Özdemir, M., Apaydın, Ç. et al. The relationship of organizational corruption with organizational culture, attitude towards work and work ethics: a search on Turkish high school teachers. Asia Pacific Educ. Rev. 13, 137–146 (2012). https://doi.org/10.1007/s12564-011-9183-8

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