Integrating Instruction in Ethical Reasoning into Undergraduate Business Courses

William J. Wilhelm

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Integrating Instruction in Ethical Reasoning into Undergraduate Business Courses

William J. Wilhelm

Indiana State University, USA

Volume 5: 2008, pp. 5-34: ABSTRACT

This article presents findings from a series of research studies designed to identify classroom teaching practices that can enhance moral reasoning of undergraduate students in business foundational courses. The research, conducted over five semesters at a Midwestern university, resulted in the development of teaching methods and materials that can, when properly sequenced and integrated into undergraduate business courses, increase levels of student moral reasoning as measured by the revised version of the Defining Issues Test (DIT-2). Findings in this research demonstrate that faculty members who are not specialists in business ethics can effect positive increases in student moral reasoning in non-ethics business courses. However, significant time and effort must be invested in case-based moral decision making, and grade incentives for students to engage the use of an ethical decision-making framework are required.