TY - JOUR
T1 - Modeling information ethics
T2 - The joint moderating role of locus of control and job insecurity
AU - Lin, Chieh-Peng
AU - Ding, Cherng G.
PY - 2003/12
Y1 - 2003/12
N2 - Information unethical behavior is concerned with ethical behavioural conflicts in the use of information, information technologies, and information systems (Kuo and Hsu, 2001). This study examines the combination of locus of control (LOC) and job insecurity (JI) as a joint moderator on the decision making process for information ethical behavioral intentions. A conceptual model is proposed to see the joint moderating role of LOC and JI. In the model, ethical behavioral intentions are influenced directly by ethical attitude, personal values, and perceived behavioural control. Simultaneously, personal values also indirectly influence ethical behavioral intentions through the mediation of ethical attitude. The causal relationships are moderated by the joint moderator. Notably, the moderating effects were simultaneously examined using data from undergraduates in the MIS department of a college. The influences of the ethical attitude and personal values on ethical behavioral intentions are found to be similar for those with external locus of control and insecurity perception (Confusionists) and those with internal locus of control and security perception (Controlists). Furthermore, the influences of personal values on ethical attitude, and of perceived behavioural control on ethical behavioral intentions, are both greater for Controlists than Confusionists. Implications of the empirical findings are discussed.
AB - Information unethical behavior is concerned with ethical behavioural conflicts in the use of information, information technologies, and information systems (Kuo and Hsu, 2001). This study examines the combination of locus of control (LOC) and job insecurity (JI) as a joint moderator on the decision making process for information ethical behavioral intentions. A conceptual model is proposed to see the joint moderating role of LOC and JI. In the model, ethical behavioral intentions are influenced directly by ethical attitude, personal values, and perceived behavioural control. Simultaneously, personal values also indirectly influence ethical behavioral intentions through the mediation of ethical attitude. The causal relationships are moderated by the joint moderator. Notably, the moderating effects were simultaneously examined using data from undergraduates in the MIS department of a college. The influences of the ethical attitude and personal values on ethical behavioral intentions are found to be similar for those with external locus of control and insecurity perception (Confusionists) and those with internal locus of control and security perception (Controlists). Furthermore, the influences of personal values on ethical attitude, and of perceived behavioural control on ethical behavioral intentions, are both greater for Controlists than Confusionists. Implications of the empirical findings are discussed.
KW - Ethical attitude
KW - Ethical behavioral intentions
KW - Locus of control
KW - Perceived behavioral control
KW - Personal values
UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=3843070789&partnerID=8YFLogxK
U2 - 10.1023/B:BUSI.0000005745.63324.79
DO - 10.1023/B:BUSI.0000005745.63324.79
M3 - Article
AN - SCOPUS:3843070789
SN - 0167-4544
VL - 48
SP - 335
EP - 346
JO - Journal of Business Ethics
JF - Journal of Business Ethics
IS - 4
ER -