The effect of moral intensity on ethical decision process: An empirical study of accounting professionals in Vietnam

The effect of moral intensity on ethical decision process: An empirical study of accounting professionals in Vietnam

Nguyen Thi Thao(Nguyen Thi Thao)

指導教授 ： 蘇淑惠

義守大學/管理學院/管理碩博士班/碩士(2017年)

摘要

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關鍵字

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並列摘要

The purpose of the study is to investigate the relationship between moral intensity and ethical decision making within the field of accounting. The hypotheses were based on Jones’s (1991) issue-contingent model which identifies six components of moral intensity that influence individual ethical decision-making. To examine the difference in perceived moral intensity and ethical decision process, this research analyzes the perception of moral intensity, moral recognition, moral judgment and moral intention as dependent variables by different accounting issues as an independent variable. Additionally, the research also examined whether a relationship existed between moral intensity and demographic factors related to ethical decisionmaking such as age, gender, education background and working experrience.
By adapting four scenarios involving accounting ethical dilemma from the study of Flory et al (1992), a survey was administered to the sample, accountants in business organizations in Vietnam. The results of this study supported the finding of Leitsch (2004) that the perception of moral intensity and the specific stages of the ethical decision-making process were affected by ethical issue. In addition, the result showed significant differences in the responses to the characteristics of ethical dilemmas exist with respect to demographic variables. The results of the study implied that accountants with higher education background tend to make ethical decision. The results implied that the male accountants tended to agree unethical decision; while, the research found the younger accountants or accountants with short term working experience tended to be easier to perceive the unethical situation. This study is expected to provide a further understanding of the effect of the characteristics of moral issues on the process of ethical decision-making and the relationships among the factors that affect the ethical decision-making of accounting professionals.

並列關鍵字

accounting ethics ； moral intensity ； moral recognition ； moral judgment ； moral intension

參考文獻

Geoffrey Weed, (2016). Why Are Ethics Important in Accounting? http://www.ehow.com/how-does_4571925_why-ethics-important-accounting.html

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Barnett, T.: (2004) Dimensions of Moral Intensity and Ethical Decision Making: An Empirical Study. Journal of Applied Social Psychology 31(5), 1038–1057

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