Enhancing Perception in Ethical Decision Making: A Method to Address Ill-Defined Training Domains

A mixed-method research approach was developed to address description, definition, and measurement in ill-defined training domains. A series of research efforts were conducted to demonstrate the approach and assess its viability. The ill-defined domain that served as the vehicle for this effort was the sense-making (perceptual and interpretive) process of the ethical decision making experience among United States Military Academy Cadets. Here, we empirically derived a thematic model of the ethical decision making experience based on a sample of written accounts. Using the thematic model, the Ethical Perceptions Scale (EPS) was developed to measure individual and group perceptual/interpretive preferences for ethical decision making with respect to military specific ethical dilemmas. A confirmatory factor analysis supported that the Ethical Perception Scale is measuring in accord with the thematic model. We also tested the reliability and construct validity of the scale; reliability was good and construct validity indicated that the scale measures in the correct conceptual domain. The model and scale are applicable to Professional Military Ethics training for Officer Cadets and newly commissioned junior officers to cover ROTC, OCS, and USMA. The research method demonstrated may be applied to address other ill-defined domains in Army, and other, research and training contexts.