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Public service motivation and ethical behavior: Evidence from three experiments

Author

Listed:
  • Robert K. Christensen

    (Brigham Young University)

  • Bradley E. Wright

    (University of Georgia)

Abstract

Public service motivation (PSM) research has grown rapidly in the last several decades, largely focused on the role of PSM in employment decisions and employee performance. More recently, researchers have raised the possibility that PSM may play a role in workplace ethical behavior. In this study we sought to empirically articulate this link with evidence from three experimental studies. Across three experiments our research fails to confirm the relationship between PSM and ethics. We measured ethics both attitudinally and observationally. We conclude that even if the null findings are due to sample characteristics or weaknesses in the priming intervention, the three studies reported here raise concerns regarding the ease with which one can influence behavior by “priming” PSM. PSM may increase ethical behavior but not always in ways that public managers and organizations can easily influence.

Suggested Citation

  • Robert K. Christensen & Bradley E. Wright, 2018. "Public service motivation and ethical behavior: Evidence from three experiments," Journal of Behavioral Public Administration, Center for Experimental and Behavioral Public Administration, vol. 1(1).
    • Handle: RePEc:bpd:articl:v:1:y:2018:i:1:jbpa.11.18
    DOI: 10.30636/jbpa.11.18
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    Citations

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    Cited by:

    1. Zhanyu Liu & Zishu Ma & Yuqiong Lei, 2023. "Prospects of Mortality Salience for Promoting Sustainable Public Sector Management: A Survey Experiment on Public Service Motivation," Sustainability, MDPI, vol. 15(13), pages 1-18, July.
    2. Kroll, Alexander & Vogel, Dominik, 2021. "Why Public Employees Manipulate Performance Data: Prosocial Impact, Job Stress, and Red Tape," SocArXiv eyjh3, Center for Open Science.

    More about this item

    Keywords

    Public service motivation; Ethics; Prosocial priming;
    All these keywords.

    JEL classification:

    • D91 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - Role and Effects of Psychological, Emotional, Social, and Cognitive Factors on Decision Making
    • J28 - Labor and Demographic Economics - - Demand and Supply of Labor - - - Safety; Job Satisfaction; Related Public Policy
    • Z00 - Other Special Topics - - General - - - General
    • D90 - Microeconomics - - Micro-Based Behavioral Economics - - - General

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