IP Outreach Research > IP Crime
Reference
| Title: | Shaping of Moral Intensity Regarding Software Piracy: A Comparison between Thailand and U.S. Students |
| Author: | Ranjan B Kini [Indiana University Northwest], Hindupur V Ramakrishna [University of Redlands], Bindiganavale S Vijayaraman [The University of Akron] |
| Source: | Journal of Business Ethics 49, no. 1: 91-104 |
| Year: | 2004 |
Details
| Subject/Type: | Piracy |
| Focus: | Software |
| Country/Territory: | Thailand, United States of America |
| Objective: | To study the similarities and differences in development of moral intensity regarding software piracy among university students in Thailand and the United States. |
| Sample: | Undergraduate and graduate business students from two US universities (843) and one Thai university (663) |
| Methodology: | Voluntary and anonymous questionnaire |
Main Findings
Comparing Thai and US students, the study found significant differences in their moral intensity towards software piracy (the "magnitude of an unethical act" [as defined on proprofs.com], e.g. software copying), with US students having higher mean scores " a finding consistent with the higher software piracy incidence in Thailand, relative to the United States. In both countries, male students had higher moral intensity regarding software piracy relative to their female peers. Again in both countries, age did not seem to have any effect.
In both countries, respondents" (self-perception of) moral intensity regarding software piracy was influenced most significantly by (that of) their fellow students. Other university employees had some influence on students, and faculty members almost none.
In view of their study's findings, the authors recommend "student-to-student" and "university employee-to-student" teaching of ethical principles and practices relating to software.
[Date Added: Aug 12, 2008 ]