Date of Award

8-1-1995

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Master of Arts (MA)

Department

Psychology

First Advisor

Dr. Lisa Scherer

Second Advisor

Dr. James Thomas

Abstract

Whistle-blowing--the disclosure of illegal, immoral, or illegitimate organizational practices--has received increased attention in recent years as a possible method for organizations to prevent loss due to theft, injury, law suits, etc. Few studies to date have examined this topic from more than a descriptive or correlational perspective. A new emphasis on controlled studies may shed more light on the topic. This study used a 3 x 2 x 2 design to examine the causal influences of three levels of perceived identifiability of the potential whistle-blower and the effects of the gender of both the potential whistle-blower and the authority to whom the whistle-blower might reveal information. Results concerning identifiability were insignificant but in the hypothesized direction. Results concerning the gender hypothesis were also insignificant but point to the potentially important role of the authority figure's gender upon the subjects' propensity to blow the whistle.

Comments

A Thesis Presented to the Department of Psychology and the Faculty of the Graduate College University of Nebraska In Partial Fulfillment of the Requirements for the Degree Master of Arts University of Nebraska at Omaha. Copyright 1995, John Johanson

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