Ho, M F C and Ng, C W V (2003) Quantity surveyors' background and training, and their ethical concepts, conceptions and interests considerations. Construction Management and Economics, 21(1), pp. 43-67. ISSN 01446193
Abstract
In this paper, general and specific hypotheses concerning quantity surveyors' ethical perceptions as well as their personal background and professional training are derived from previous research studies (Fan et al., 2001a, 2001b). More rigorous statistical tests, such as Multivariate ANalysis Of VAriance (MANOVA) and Hierarchical Regression Analysis (HRA), are used to test these hypotheses and thus verify findings of the previous research. Salient discrepancies in ethical perceptions of professional quantity surveyors are found to exist among professional quantity surveyors of different ages, membership levels and work experience. In predicting ethical perceptions, it is confirmed that the more experienced and the higher the education level of quantity surveyors, the more optimistic they are concerning recent declines in ethical standards. This group of quantity surveyors (QS) is more willing to sacrifice its self-interest when facing ethical dilemmas. However, results of this study show also that 'background' variables are indeed moderating each other, which are contingent upon the specific ethical perceptions concerned. As a first step for the development of a knowledge base for future professional training and socialization, findings of this study suggest two directions for further research study. Firstly, a case study approach would elicit decisions made in the face of ethical dilemmas. Secondly, extensive surveys in reconciling professional service quality with the expectations of clients and the general public will further enrich the field.
| Item Type: | Article |
|---|---|
| Uncontrolled Keywords: | ethical training; professional ethics; socialization |
| Index terms: | multivariate analysis, knowledge base, professional ethics, survey, face, professional service, statistical test, case study, quantity surveying, variance, regression analysis |
| Subjects: | psychology, ethical practice, profession, data collection methods, organization, measurement and scaling, statistical analysis, information systems |
| Topics: | Digital Applications, Organizational Design, Research Practice, Roles and Professions |
| Descriptive scope: | 4 PCEA |
N.B. Descriptive scope is a count of how many of the five facets of empirical research are indicated by the words used in title, abstract and keywords. It is not intended as a judgement on the research; merely a count of the kind of word we would expect to indicate Phenomenon, Concepts, Theoretical framing, Empirical techniques, Analytical techniques. If all five are present, then a code of “5 PCTEA” will indicate this. If you feel the coding for this record is questionable, we welcome discussion around the terms we matched or the way we categorized them. The facet you would expect may not be coded, or a facet may be coded inappropriately. This can also bear on a larger question, of which facets should be treated as defining in construction management research. Please get in touch, and we will look at it. More details here