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The Relationship Among Knowledge, Opportunity, and Ethical Perceptions: A Cross-National Investigation

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Teaching Business Ethics

Abstract

The focus of this paper was to study the effectof prior knowledge and situationalopportunities on ethically questionablebehaviors among students of differentnationalities. A study was conducted toinvestigate the role and impact of thepredictor variables (knowledge and opportunity)on ethical perceptions toward copyrightviolations. The study also examined thedirect and the moderating effects of age,nationality, ethnic identity, gender, andeducation major. The research was conducted ona sample of 160 students of an Americanuniversity located on the U.S.–Mexican border. The results indicate that the predictorvariables, knowledge and opportunity,significantly affect ethical perceptions. Demographic variables like age, nationality,gender, and education major had no directeffects ethical perceptions. Different ethnicidentities, however, exhibited significantdifferences in their ethical perceptions. Onexamining moderating effects of the demographicvariables, younger respondents weresignificantly different from older respondents. Differences between the ethnic identityconstruct and nationality are highlighted. Implications of prior student knowledge aboutethical standards and expectations arediscussed.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Department of Management and Marketing, Texas A&M International University, Laredo, TX, 78041-1900

    Jyotsna Mukherji & Ananda Mukheji

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  1. Jyotsna Mukherji
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  2. Ananda Mukheji
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Mukherji, J., Mukheji, A. The Relationship Among Knowledge, Opportunity, and Ethical Perceptions: A Cross-National Investigation. Teaching Business Ethics 6, 219–243 (2002). https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1015267427021

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