Consumer Ethics Research: Review, Synthesis and Suggestions for the Future
This manuscript reviews and synthesizes most of the major research studies in the area of consumer ethics that have appeared since 1990. It examines both conceptual and empirical works with an objective of encouraging researchers to pursue research in the consumer ethics area. Toward this end, the paper also suggests directions for future research.
Key text - review of literature post 1990. Looks at all the important study from th context of the Hunt-Vitell model. Explains things very clearly.
Useful point of reference for the whole development of the field.
Need to list and collate the articles.
Monday, 9 July 2007
Swaidan 2003
Consumer Ethics: Determinants of Ethical Beliefs of African Americans
This study explores the ethical ideol-ogies and ethical beliefs of African American consumers using the Forsyth ethical position questionnaire (EPQ) and the Muncy-Vitell consumer ethics questionnaire (MVQ). The two dimensions of the EPQ (i.e., idealism and relativism) were the independent constructs and the four dimensions of the MVQ (i.e., illegal, active, passive and no harm) were the dependent variables. In addition, this paper explores the consumer ethics of African Americans across four demographic factors (i.e., age, education, gender, and marital status). A sample of 315 African American consumers was used to explore these relationships. Results confirmed that consumers who score high on the idealism scale are more likely to reject questionable consumer activities, but there was no relationship between relativism and consumers' rejection of questionable activities. Older, more educated and married consumers rejected questionable activities more than younger, less educated and single consumers. Gender did not have any significant relationship to consumers' ethical orientation.
Excellent article - very in-depth explanations of concepts - EPQ/MVQ - explains why I might need to look at both.
The variable in this study in Afro-Amerians, whereas my study will be about ethical tourists, I guess.
Strong leads to other articles.
Need to get down to real brass-tacks. Do I want to test for ehtical ideology as well as how consumers would react in different situations?
By going one step deeper - ethical ideology - relativism vs idealism - I can hurdle some of the issues surrounding the diversity of my sample group.
This study explores the ethical ideol-ogies and ethical beliefs of African American consumers using the Forsyth ethical position questionnaire (EPQ) and the Muncy-Vitell consumer ethics questionnaire (MVQ). The two dimensions of the EPQ (i.e., idealism and relativism) were the independent constructs and the four dimensions of the MVQ (i.e., illegal, active, passive and no harm) were the dependent variables. In addition, this paper explores the consumer ethics of African Americans across four demographic factors (i.e., age, education, gender, and marital status). A sample of 315 African American consumers was used to explore these relationships. Results confirmed that consumers who score high on the idealism scale are more likely to reject questionable consumer activities, but there was no relationship between relativism and consumers' rejection of questionable activities. Older, more educated and married consumers rejected questionable activities more than younger, less educated and single consumers. Gender did not have any significant relationship to consumers' ethical orientation.
Excellent article - very in-depth explanations of concepts - EPQ/MVQ - explains why I might need to look at both.
The variable in this study in Afro-Amerians, whereas my study will be about ethical tourists, I guess.
Strong leads to other articles.
Need to get down to real brass-tacks. Do I want to test for ehtical ideology as well as how consumers would react in different situations?
By going one step deeper - ethical ideology - relativism vs idealism - I can hurdle some of the issues surrounding the diversity of my sample group.
vitell 1997
Ethical Decision Making in Marketing: A Synthesis and Evaluation of Scales Measuring the Various Components of Decision Making in Ethical Situations
The authors present a comprehensive synthesis and evaluation of the published scales measuring the components of the decision making process in ethical situations using the Hunt-Vitell (1993) theory of ethics as a framework to guide the research. Suggestions for future scale development are also provided.
I need to go into this a bit deeper - provides a comprehensive overview of all articles 1981-1993 in ethics-related journals.
Gives an opportunity to delve into some of the literature, but the danger is that a lot of this is not relevant. eg. business related or not consumer specific.
need to go through and pick up terms not familiar with.
The authors present a comprehensive synthesis and evaluation of the published scales measuring the components of the decision making process in ethical situations using the Hunt-Vitell (1993) theory of ethics as a framework to guide the research. Suggestions for future scale development are also provided.
I need to go into this a bit deeper - provides a comprehensive overview of all articles 1981-1993 in ethics-related journals.
Gives an opportunity to delve into some of the literature, but the danger is that a lot of this is not relevant. eg. business related or not consumer specific.
need to go through and pick up terms not familiar with.
Rallapalli 1994
Consumer ethical beliefs and personality traits: An exploratory analysis
The present study examines the relationships between consumers' ethical beliefs and personality traits. Based on a survey of 295 undergraduate business students, the authors found that individuals with high needs for autonomy, innovation, and aggression, as well as individuals with a high propensity for taking risks tend to have "less ethical" beliefs concerning possible consumer actions. Individuals with a high need for social desirability and individuals with a strong problem solving coping style tend to have "more ethical" beliefs concerning possible consumer actions. The needs for achievement, affiliation, complexity and an emotion solving coping style were not significantly correlated with consumer ethical beliefs.
Does not add a great deal to previous Vitell work - gives another good review of literature - with particular focus on Wilkes (1978)
Brings in Personality Traits as a variable - but probably not something I would want to look at.
Perhaps need to consider the statistical side of things when digesting these articles.
The present study examines the relationships between consumers' ethical beliefs and personality traits. Based on a survey of 295 undergraduate business students, the authors found that individuals with high needs for autonomy, innovation, and aggression, as well as individuals with a high propensity for taking risks tend to have "less ethical" beliefs concerning possible consumer actions. Individuals with a high need for social desirability and individuals with a strong problem solving coping style tend to have "more ethical" beliefs concerning possible consumer actions. The needs for achievement, affiliation, complexity and an emotion solving coping style were not significantly correlated with consumer ethical beliefs.
Does not add a great deal to previous Vitell work - gives another good review of literature - with particular focus on Wilkes (1978)
Brings in Personality Traits as a variable - but probably not something I would want to look at.
Perhaps need to consider the statistical side of things when digesting these articles.
Vitell 1992
Consumer ethics: An empirical investigation of factors influencing ethical judgments of the final consumer
Business and marketing ethics have come to the forefront in recent years. While consumers have been surveyed regarding their perceptions of ethical business and marketing practices, research has been minimal with regard to their ethical beliefs and ideologies. This research investigates general attitudes of consumers relative to business, government and people in general, and compares these attitudes to their beliefs concerning various questionable consumer practices. The results show that consumers' ethical beliefs are determined, in part, by who is at fault in the unethical behavior (the seller or the buyer). The results also indicate that those with a more positive attitude toward business are less likely to engage in questionable consumer practices, but one's attitudes toward salespeople, the government and people in general arenot related to the consumer's ethical beliefs.
Think this is the initial development of the MVQ. Offers a good review of literature to date and how this study builds on it with a braoder scope and scale. Also introduces attitude towards certain things (gov, business) to add complexity to the work.
Good acknowledgment of the limitations of the work at the end.
Business and marketing ethics have come to the forefront in recent years. While consumers have been surveyed regarding their perceptions of ethical business and marketing practices, research has been minimal with regard to their ethical beliefs and ideologies. This research investigates general attitudes of consumers relative to business, government and people in general, and compares these attitudes to their beliefs concerning various questionable consumer practices. The results show that consumers' ethical beliefs are determined, in part, by who is at fault in the unethical behavior (the seller or the buyer). The results also indicate that those with a more positive attitude toward business are less likely to engage in questionable consumer practices, but one's attitudes toward salespeople, the government and people in general arenot related to the consumer's ethical beliefs.
Think this is the initial development of the MVQ. Offers a good review of literature to date and how this study builds on it with a braoder scope and scale. Also introduces attitude towards certain things (gov, business) to add complexity to the work.
Good acknowledgment of the limitations of the work at the end.
Vitell 1991
Consumer ethics: An investigation of the ethical beliefs of elderly consumers
Business and especially marketing ethics have come to the forefront in recent years. While consumers have been surveyed regarding their perceptions of ethical business and marketing practices, research has been minimal with regard to their perceptions of ethical consumer practices. In addition, few studies have examined the ethical beliefs of elderly consumers even though they are an important and rapidly growing segment. This research investigates the relationship between Machiavellianism, ethical ideology and ethical beliefs for elderly consumers. The results indicate that elderly consumers, while generally being more ethical than younger consumers, are diverse in their eithical beliefs.
Uses 3 different scales - looks at Machiavellianism using MACH scale
EPQ - ethical position questionnaire - Forsyth - to look at typologies - a scale measuring idealism and relativism - produces 4 types depending on high or low on the two scales. high on ideals and relatism is 'Situationist'. high ideals, low relativist is absolutist, high relativist low ideals is subjectivist, low both is exceptionist.
MVQ is used in its usual way with different situations.
The sample were then put into their 4 types.
Trends were sought.
Conc - older people tended to be more ethical, but by no means uniform. They showed as more Machiavellian -contrary to popular belief.
Business and especially marketing ethics have come to the forefront in recent years. While consumers have been surveyed regarding their perceptions of ethical business and marketing practices, research has been minimal with regard to their perceptions of ethical consumer practices. In addition, few studies have examined the ethical beliefs of elderly consumers even though they are an important and rapidly growing segment. This research investigates the relationship between Machiavellianism, ethical ideology and ethical beliefs for elderly consumers. The results indicate that elderly consumers, while generally being more ethical than younger consumers, are diverse in their eithical beliefs.
Uses 3 different scales - looks at Machiavellianism using MACH scale
EPQ - ethical position questionnaire - Forsyth - to look at typologies - a scale measuring idealism and relativism - produces 4 types depending on high or low on the two scales. high on ideals and relatism is 'Situationist'. high ideals, low relativist is absolutist, high relativist low ideals is subjectivist, low both is exceptionist.
MVQ is used in its usual way with different situations.
The sample were then put into their 4 types.
Trends were sought.
Conc - older people tended to be more ethical, but by no means uniform. They showed as more Machiavellian -contrary to popular belief.
Monday, 2 July 2007
Post-conference update
Friday 29th June I made my first conference presentation - at the Leeds Met student conference. I presented on my work so far. I think the presentation went well. I was consciously trying to make it accessible to the audience and think I was successful. It would be quite different in a more serious conference and with more solid findings.
Very useful none-the-less. Difficult to guage how honest peoples' feedback was, but it was all good, so I guess they can't all be liars.
The interesting points raised were regarding ethics of what I was doing. the consent from the companies and the University could be an issue.
And also the role of tour leaders was raised by Jakomijn van Wijk - I think this will have to be integrated into the research.
All-in-all very happy with how things went.
Very useful none-the-less. Difficult to guage how honest peoples' feedback was, but it was all good, so I guess they can't all be liars.
The interesting points raised were regarding ethics of what I was doing. the consent from the companies and the University could be an issue.
And also the role of tour leaders was raised by Jakomijn van Wijk - I think this will have to be integrated into the research.
All-in-all very happy with how things went.
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