December 21, 1998
Values Remain High Among College Students, Study Finds
Contact:
Jane Finalborgo
(516) 287 8313
Fax: (516) 283 4081
- According to a survey of 169 business students from three colleges -- Southampton
College of Long Island University, SUNY/Stony Brook, and Dominican College
in Orangeburg, NY -- the values college students profess are lofty despite
the examples set by the country's current leadership.
The study, headed by C. Michael Drexel, a business professor at Southampton
College of Long Island University, found that most students feel that living
a moral and ethical life is more important than material success.
"The study lends a note of optimism in these times of continual moral crisis,"
said Dr. Drexel. "There was strong agreement that ethical behavior is an
important ingredient in achieving material success."
When asked about behavior in the business world, most students felt that
although their expectations of acceptable behavior in the business world
have not declined this year, they feel that most people have lower standards
in business than they do in their personal lives.
The students would reverse that priority. Lying, even though it may not
hurt someone, is wrong, most feel. Still while the respondents said lying
to protect company profits is unacceptable, most said lying to protect one's
family is acceptable. The students were more lenient on the subject of sexual
behavior. Most said they wouldn't care if an executive with whom they worked
were having an affair with a subordinate. The students were not as lenient
on stealing. Most said they would turn in a co-worker whom they caught stealing.
When asked to rank the ethical standing of selected professions, the results
from highest to lowest were: college professors, doctors, corporate executives,
lawyers, newspaper reporters and politicians.
Dr. Drexel will present his findings at a conference of the American Society
of Business and Behavioral Sciences in Las Vegas this February.
