Assessing the Efficacy of Business Ethics Instruction on Business Students’ Cognitive Moral Development in Faith-Based Institutions of Higher Learning in Tanzania

Abstract

The current study investigated the efficacy of business ethics instruction on business students' Cognitive Moral Development (CMD) in faith-based institutions of higher learning in Tanzania. The study employed demographic characteristics namely, age and work experience as moderating variables. The researchers collected responses from 304 business students. The study used a quantitative research design in order to critically analyse data. They tested two hypotheses. First, that business ethics instruction does not improve business students' CMD. Second, that age and working experience do not influence students' CMD. The results from the analyses revealed that business ethics instruction influences students' CMD. Age and work experience explained much of the variability of the influence. The results confirmed Kohlberg's theory that as persons mature they move to the higher level of moral development. The present study recommends for future research, among others, to study on the relationship between business students' CMD and their ethical behaviour.