THE UNIVERSAL RELEVANCE OF LOCUS OF CONTROL IN ETHICAL DECISION MAKING: A MULTI-COUNTRY EXAMINATION

Research has shown that Locus of Control (LOC) is a personality variable possessing potential explanatory power in the study of ethical decision making. Diverse results have been reported in the literature. Whenever differences on the LOC variable are indicated by the research, individuals with an Internal LOC report the more ethical responses. This study extends the examination of the universal relevance of the LOC variable to ethical decision making of university students. Using an instrument designed to elicit responses to questionable academic behaviors, this research analyzes ethical responses of university students (n= 1,657) from seven countries to examine the universal nature of LOC differences. The behaviors examined are of an individualist nature. The students were asked to indicate their beliefs about ethicality concerning the academic behaviors. Results indicate considerable support for the universal nature of LOC differences in the ethical responses of the students. [PUBLICATION ABSTRACT]