Factors That Impact The Ethical Behavior Of College Students

Abstract

This study examines factors impacting ethical behavior of 182 college students in the midwestern and northwestern United States. Ethical behavior of peers had the most significant impact on ethical behavior of students. Success (in terms of grade point average) of students, and gender of the respondents, also significantly impacted ethical behavior. Female students were significantly more ethical than their male counterparts. Race of the respondent did not have an impact on their ethical behavior. Overclaiming scales indicated that social desirability bias did significantly impact the results of our study. Implications of this study for researchers and practitioners are discussed.