Moral Dilemma and Gender Differences

ABSTRACT

Moral differences and different outlooks in particular situations are pervasive. Several past investigations have shown that men and women react to situations of moral dilemmas very differently. While men focus on doing what is right for the general society, women try to maintain their relationships and ensure that no harm comes to people near them. This study was focused on determining whether there are differences in public attitudes towards moral dilemmas based on gender. Survey methodology was employed to conduct this study, and the data were analysed through STATA software package. The null hypothesis was accepted during the current study, which states that there are significant differences in attitudes towards moral dilemmas between male and female. For those seeking management dissertation help, understanding these nuanced perspectives can be crucial in organizational ethics and decision-making processes.

INTRODUCTION

A moral dilemma can be defined as a situation in which the concerned individual(s) have to make a difficult choice. In modern society, the issue of moral dilemma is a very common one and tends to have a significant impact on individuals. According to Walter et al. (2012), the aspect of moral dilemma is increasing at a rapid pace in these modern times. In recent some years, the public attitude towards moral dilemma has changed significantly. On the one hand, the public has acknowledged that it is a significant issue in the modern world; while on the other hand, they have also understood that there are vast differences in attitude between individuals from both the genders.

Various past studies have shown that this change in attitude and perceptions of the public marks a significant change in societal structures where moral dilemmas are considered to be a significant social issue that needs to be addressed as soon as possible. In the current report, the emphasis is on determining whether there is any difference between public attitude towards moral dilemma based on gender. To conduct this study questionnaire survey has been carried out, and the data has been analysed through STATA Software Package.

METHODS

Participants

In total, 578 participants took part in the research process. However, after the process, the data to clean for computation and electronic input errors, data for 576 participants were considered for the analysis.

Design

Survey methodology was used in the current study. Herein non-probability convenience sampling technique was put to use. The main reason for selecting this sampling technique was because the researcher could not collect the data through the random sampling method. Due to the nature of the topic being studied collecting primary data by randomly asking people to participate in the study and answering the questions would have been challenging for the researcher, along with being time-consuming and expensive. Through convenience sampling technique, the researcher was able to collect the required data quickly. With regards to maintaining the safety of the surveyors and researchers, they performed a survey during the daytime only. This way, the safety of both, participants as well as the researchers were maintained.

Materials

To collect data, the researcher relied on using surveys. In this method, six types of questionnaires out of which each participant had to complete only one of the questionnaires. Through these questionnaires, the researcher aimed at exploring different aspects of public attitude towards the moral dilemma between both the genders. The participants were given an information sheet as well through which they were informed about the purpose of the study and also about their rights and risks associated with the data they provided by answering the questionnaires. It highlighted that participation was voluntary, and the participants were free to leave the research at any time. Further, it also explained that anonymity will be maintained and that no personal information about them would be shared during the study. The information sheet further explained all responses of the participants would be kept safe as per the Data Protection Act, and no access will be given to any unauthorised personnel.

Procedure

There were six questionnaires, for questionnaire A to D, participants had filled the total agreed while for Questionnaire E and F participants selected whether they agree or not with the given option, which was later converted into several options for which participants were agreed. This was done in order to implement the item count method. Now it was found whether there was a significant difference between different questionnaires to decide whether to merge the data of all the questionnaires into one. Since there are more than 2 independent groups, ANOVA was applied to test the null hypothesis that there is a statistically significant difference in item count between the questionnaires, the result of which is presented below.

As Per ANOVA, F(5, 570) = 9.47; p = 0.000. Since the p-value is less than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it shows that there is a statistically significant difference in mean count between the questionnaires. Now Bartlett’s test was performed to find out which questionnaires can be merged. Bartlett’s test shows that Questionnaires A, B, C, and D can be merged and form Group 1 and questionnaire E and F can be merged and formed Group 2.

Data Analysis

As the ANOVA result above shows that Questionnaires A, B, C, and D can be merged and form Group 1 and questionnaire E and F can be merged and formed Group 2, Independent t-test were performed for Group 1 and Group 2 to determine difference in attitudes towards moral dilemmas between male and female. Independent t-test is appropriate for Group 1 and Group 2 because for both the groups, there are only two independent groups, that is, male and female.

In order to test the following hypothesis, two different independent t-tests were performed. In the first test, data for questionnaire A, B, C, and D were merged, and in second t-test, data for questionnaire E and F were merged.

Null Hypothesis: There is no statistically significant difference in attitudes towards moral dilemmas between male and female

Alternative Hypothesis: There is a statistically significant difference in attitudes towards moral dilemmas between male and female

As per independent t-test, the mean number agreed for female was 4.18, and that of the male was 4.11. Further, t(382) = 0.5213; p = 0.6025. As the p-value is greater than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it shows that there is no statistically significant difference in attitudes towards moral dilemmas between male and female. That is, the null hypothesis is accepted.

As per independent t-test, the mean number agreed for female was 3.41, and that of the male was 3.49. Further, t(190) = -0.3987; p = 0.6906. As the p-value is greater than the critical alpha value of 0.05, it shows that there is no statistically significant difference in attitudes towards moral dilemmas between male and female. That is, the null hypothesis is accepted.

DISCUSSION

According to Armstrong et al. (2018), several factors determine as well as influence the way people react to different situations. Herein the role of gender of the concerned individuals is the most critical factor. It has been observed that women, generally are much less likely to put others in danger while trying to maximise the overall outcomes. Based on this, it can be said that women care about others and will try to do anything to prevent any wrongdoing, even if it puts other people at great risks. In a moral dilemma situation, thus women would try to prevent or avoid any wrong action or implications on others, even if it is a single person who is involved in the whole situation.

Goethem & Raaijmakers (2012) argued in their study, there is a vast difference in the attitude of the public towards moral dilemma mainly because of differences in their genders. They found that while men try to focus more on the overall well-being and safety of the people around them; while on the other hand, women would focus more on general aversion than performing any action. Results of the current study support the findings of Goethem & Raaijmakers (2012) because the current results accept the null hypothesis that there is a significant difference in attitudes towards moral dilemmas between male and female. Herein it can be said that individuals from both the genders would react to situations of moral dilemmas differently.

Rothbart et al. (2016) found that men are likely to view moral dilemmas in terms of justice and individual rights. While on the other hand, women, in such situations, will focus more on the aspects of care and relationships with other people. Women would try to safeguard and preserve relations with people around them. However, men will focus on doing things that are right for all, thereby focusing on the overall growth and development of every person.

Given Paciello & Fida (2013), moral dilemmas are deeply rooted in emotions. People will take decisions to find a solution for a moral dilemma based on their emotions, i.e. their feelings. They found that women will have an adverse reaction, i.e. they would try to avoid any kind of such situations that could bring harm to an individual; but men will not experience several difficulties, as their emotional response is lower to doing harm if it brings out any good for the general society. Current results support the findings of Christensen (2014) and O’Connell (2015) who found that there are vast differences in the attitude of men and women in a moral dilemma situation. They would act and react to such situations very differently. Through this study and the discussion, it is clear that there is a significant difference in the public attitude of men and women to situations of a moral dilemma. Both the individuals react to such situations very differently as their focal points, during such scenarios are entirely different from one another. The current results confirm past findings that people from both the genders have very different outlooks when they are faced with situations where they are morally stuck.

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REFERENCES

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