Are Students Ethical Human Business Communicative Agents? Analysis Between A Six Year Period

Abstract

The growth in graduates indicates that those professionals are now shaping the ethical climate of our society (Birtch, Chiang, & T, 2014). Ten scenarios were created to test students’ ability to act as ethical human communicative agents (Ballard et al., 2014). Data was collected from undergraduates, 2009 and then in 2016, in various degree programs and geographic locations in the United States, but predominately a Northeastern university. Two scenarios illustrated significance differences. This does not necessarily indicate less or more ethical behavior, but it does illustrate a difference between participants. Additional indications for business communication ethics literacy will be discussed.