Efficacy of ethics training: An examination of attitudes, knowledge, and ability to solve ethical dilemmas among office professionals

The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of ethics training on the attitudes, knowledge-based scores, and the ability to solve ethical dilemmas among office professionals. A treatment (training) and control group design was used. The effects on these three variables were measured immediately after and 90 days after treatment-group participants completed a six-hour ethics training workshop. Demographic variables (age, job level, seniority) and open-ended questions related to ethics were analyzed. The sample population was comprised of 91 office professionals located at a large northeastern university. The training and control groups consisted of 71 and 20 individuals, respectively. Demographics were compared and no significance differences were noted in the composition of these two groups. Participants completed instruments containing 10 short ethical dilemma statements, 20 multiple-choice questions, and two short-answer vignettes and identified issues, actions, and decisions related to an ethical problem. Participants responded to open-ended questions related to ethical concerns, personal experiences, usefulness of the workshops, and to provide additional topics for ethics materials helpful to them. Data were obtained before, immediately after and 90 days following training. Procedures employed to analyze the data included Independent Samples t-Tests, General Linear Model one way analysis of variance, and qualitative analysis methods. Results indicate a statistically significant improvement in attitude scores for the training group immediately after training. Improvement in attitude scores for the training group was also apparent 90 days later. Knowledge-based content after scores improved for the training group. In short-answer responses, training participants showed an increased awareness of ethical issues and an ability to apply skills learned during the workshop. Furthermore, heightened awareness was reported immediately after training as an important element of the workshop, and 90 days later recognized by an even greater percentage by participants. Several responses not identified immediately after training were reported 90 days later. Participants recommended more ethics workshops be provided to others in the organization. The finding that ethical awareness increased once participants returned to the workplace suggests that, not only did learning occur during the workshops, but the learning was retained and transferred back to the employees work environment.