Razonamiento moral entre estudiantes de Ingeniería en Sistemas: conflictos éticos sobre Tecnologías de la Información

Andrés M. Mora-Ortiz; Pablo A. Rivas-Franco; Marie-France Merlyn-Sacoto

doi:10.24310/espsiescpsi.v13i2.12410

Moral reasoning among Systems Engineering students: ethical conflicts over Information Technology

Authors

Andrés M. Mora-Ortiz https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1038-8008
Pablo A. Rivas-Franco
Marie-France Merlyn-Sacoto Pontifical Catholic University of Ecuador https://orcid.org/0000-0001-6171-2691

DOI:

https://doi.org/10.24310/espsiescpsi.v13i2.12410

Keywords:

Moral reasoning, Information Technology, Ethics

Abstract

This study investigated the relationship between the processes of moral reasoning (emotional and rational) and the way ethical conflicts were solved in relation to Information Technology (IT). To this end, a sample of 177 Systems Engineering students (83% men, 17% women) aged 17 to 26 years completed the 'Ethical IT Survey' and a questionnaire to measure moral reasoning. The results show differences in the scores obtained for the four categories of scenarios analyzed, placing the responses to the topics of Privacy and Property in the ethically questionable category and those of Precision and Accessibility within the unethical category. The dominant type of reasoning was emotional. Furthermore, more than half of the participants reported having engaged in unethical behavior regarding the categories of Property and Accessibility, suggesting a discrepancy between the cognitive appreciation of the ethical conflict and engaging in behaviors related to these issues. In conclusion, we suggest that the training of such students should emphasize the relevance of ethics regarding IT-related issues.

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Published

2020-12-31

Dimensions

PlumX

Issue

Vol. 13 No. 2 (2020)

Section

Research Reports

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How to Cite

Moral reasoning among Systems Engineering students: ethical conflicts over Information Technology. (2020). Escritos De Psicología - Psychological Writings, 13(2), 60-70. https://doi.org/10.24310/espsiescpsi.v13i2.12410