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Fri, Nov 2, 3:00 - 3:25, Ellwood 1 Paper (refereed)

Recommended Citation: Peslak, A R. How Do Information Technology Students Stand on IT Ethical Issues and What Influences Their Decisions. In The Proceedings of the Information Systems Education Conference 2007, v 24 (Pittsburgh): §2514. ISSN: 1542-7382.

How Do Information Technology Students Stand on IT Ethical Issues and What Influences Their Decisions

Refereed

12 pages

Alan R. Peslak    [a1] [a2]
Information Sciences and Technology
The Pennsylvania State University    [u1] [u2]
Dunmore, Pennsylvania, USA    [c1] [c2]

This manuscript presents a review and analysis of how information technology ethical issues are viewed by current information technology students and examines influences on their decisions. The moral intensity influence is based on the work of Jones (1991) and Rest (1986) and attempts to determine which, if any, of the moral intensity factors influenced their decisions. Influences surveyed include five common moral intensity variables of Magnitude of Consequences, Social Consensus, Proximity of Effect, Concentration of Effect, and Temporal Immediacy. The findings first reveal that not all commonly regarded unethical IT situations are opposed by students. Some are supported, some are opposed and others are neutral. Also although questionable moral situations were judged with varying levels of opposition or support, both gender and age affected ethical decisions. It was also found that the students are affected by different moral intensity variables in their moral decisions depending on the issue. Educators and practitioners can use these findings to tailor moral education and training activities to improve information technology ethical decision making.

Keywords: ethics, ethical decision making, information technology, moral intensity, students

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