The role of individualism and collectivism as predictors of attributions for unethical work behavior: An empirical examination across two culturally diverse groups

Ana Lucia B Azevedo, Florida International University

Abstract

This dissertation addresses how the cultural dimensions of individualism and collectivism affect the attributions people make for unethical behavior at work. The moderating effect of ethnicity is also examined by considering two culturally diverse groups: Hispanics and Anglos. The sample for this study is a group of business graduate students from two universities in the Southeast. A 20-minute survey was distributed to master's degree students at their classroom and later on returned to the researcher. Individualism and collectivism were operationalized as by a set of attitude items, while unethical work behavior was introduced in the form of hypothetical descriptions or scenarios. Data analysis employed multiple group confirmatory factor analysis for both independent and dependent variables, and subsequently multiple group LISREL models, in order to test predictions. Results confirmed the expected link between cultural variables and attribution responses, although the role of independent variables shifted, due to the moderating effect of ethnicity, and to the nuances of each particular situation.

Subject Area

Management|Social psychology|Cognitive therapy

Recommended Citation

Azevedo, Ana Lucia B, "The role of individualism and collectivism as predictors of attributions for unethical work behavior: An empirical examination across two culturally diverse groups" (1997). ProQuest ETD Collection for FIU. AAI9807494.
https://digitalcommons.fiu.edu/dissertations/AAI9807494

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