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Dissertation
Exploring Relationships between Moral Judgment and Responsible Conduct of Research
University of West Florida Libraries
Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida
2011
Abstract
Martinson, Anderson, and de Vries (2005) determined that as much as 33% of researchers have committed some level of questionable research practices during a three year period. To describe influences impacting research behaviors Steneck (2006) suggests that there are two areas of consideration: (a) research ethics, which is behavior based on moral principles; and (b) research integrity, which is behavior based on professional standards. Tate and Denecke (2006) suggest that these two areas should be included in graduate curriculum to provide the students with wide breath of knowledge concerning responsible conduct of research. The author of this ex post facto study focused on the construct of moral judgment as a predictor of responsible conduct of research. A conceptual framework was established using the open systems model (Katz & Kahn, 1966, 1971), two decision-making theories (Beach, 1990; Fishbein & Ajzen, 1975), the four-component model of moral development (Rest, 1979, 1986), and the nine cores areas of responsible conduct of research (Steneck, 2007). Two instruments were used in the study: the Defining Issues Test, version 2 (DIT-2) and a Responsible Conduct of Research Measure (Wester, Willse, & Davis, 2008). The DIT-2 measures the activation of three schemata: personal interest, maintaining norms, and postconventional thinking. The Responsible Conduct of Research Measure determines the propensity to conduct responsible research. The two instruments were sent to all faculty members with terminal degrees, doctoral students and recent graduates of a doctoral program. All participants (N = 166) were from a single doctoral university. A Pearson Product- Moment Correlation procedure was used to examine relationships between each schema and the propensity to conduct responsible research. The results of the study indicated that there are no significant relationships between the schemata of moral judgment and propensity to conduct responsible research. Based on the findings, moral judgment does not have an impact on research behaviors as previously posited. The results may indicate a need to keep graduate studies focused on established research policies and procedures for the specific disciplines instead of applying resources to moral education.
Details
- Title
- Exploring Relationships between Moral Judgment and Responsible Conduct of Research
- Resource Type
- Dissertation
- Publisher
- University of West Florida Libraries
- Format
- pdf
- Number of pages
- 120
- Copyright
- © 2011 Hamett Quincy Brown
- Identifiers
- 99380090756506600
- Academic Unit
- School of Education
- Language
- English
- Awarding Institution
- University of West Florida; Doctor of Education (EDD)
- Theses and Dissertations
- Doctor of Education (EDD), University of West Florida