How Do Information Technology Students Stand on IT Ethical Issues and What Influences Their Decisions

This manuscript presents a review and analysis of how information technology ethical issues are viewed by current information technology students and examines influences on their deci-sions. The moral intensity influence is based on the work of Jones (1991) and Rest (1986) and attempts to determine which, if any, of the moral intensity factors influenced their decisions. Influences surveyed include five common moral intensity variables of Magnitude of Conse-quences, Social Consensus, Proximity of Effect, Concentration of Effect, and Temporal Imme-diacy. The findings first reveal that not all commonly regarded unethical IT situations are op-posed by students. Some are supported, some are opposed and others are neutral. Also al-though questionable moral situations were judged with varying levels of opposition or support, both gender and age affected ethical decisions. It was also found that the students are af-fected by different moral intensity variables in their moral decisions depending on the issue. Educators and practitioners can use these findings to tailor moral education and training ac-tivities to improve information technology ethical decision making