CORVALLIS, Ore., Jan. 6 (UPI) -- Oregon State University and Texas A&M University researchers say role models influence ethical behavior in college students.
The researchers examined the ethical behavior of college students -- particularly students' behavior in negotiations.
"Negotiation is defined as the attempt to find an acceptable solution to a conflict between two or more parties," said Greg Perry, an agricultural economist in OSU's College of Agricultural Sciences.
Perry and Clair Nixon from Texas A&M University surveyed more than 1,600 undergraduates in Texas, Oregon and Michigan to learn what influence different role models have on the ethical attitudes.
The researchers found that students whose role models included clergy, Boy Scout leaders, friends and college advisers exhibited less willingness to adopt questionably ethical behavior in negotiation situations -- while those whose role models were journalists and coaches tended to be more accepting of questionable ethical behavior.
The findings were published in the Journal of Business Ethics.
