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On measuring ethical judgments

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Abstract

We critique a series of recent papers in which Reidenbach and Robin developed a multidimensional ethics scale. Our critique raises four problems for the scale. First, it is not clear what the scale measures. Second, the semantic differential items used in the scale seem problematic. Third, the scale omits several important ethical rationales. Finally, no caveats accompany the scale to alert managers about its proper and improper use.

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Authors and Affiliations

  1. Philosophy Department, Southwest Texas State University, 78666, San Marcos, TX, USA

    Robert Skipper & Michael R. Hyman

  2. Department of Business Economics, Limburgs Universitair Centrum, Diepenbeck, Belgium

    Robert Skipper & Michael R. Hyman

Authors
  1. Robert Skipper
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  2. Michael R. Hyman
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Additional information

Dr. Robert Skipper teaches philosophy at Southwest Texas State University. His interests include the ontological and ethical aspects of marketing theory and the empirical aspects of moral theory. His articles have appeared inJournal of Marketing andBusiness Horizon.

Dr. Michael R. Hyman is on research sabbatical. His interests include marketing theory, advertising, ethics, and the application of philosophical analyses in marketing. His work has appeared inJournal of Business Ethics, Journal of Marketing, Journal of Business Research, Journal of Retailing, Journal of Advertising, International Journal of Advertising, Current Issues and Research in Advertising, andBusiness Horizons.

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Skipper, R., Hyman, M.R. On measuring ethical judgments. J Bus Ethics 12, 535–545 (1993). https://doi.org/10.1007/BF00872376

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