Journal of Organization and Human Behaviour

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Influence of Job Autonomy on Ethical Behaviour of Nurses in South Eastern Nigeria


Affiliations
1 Department of Psychology Caritas University, Enugu, Nigeria
2 Department of Psychology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria
     

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The study investigated the influence of job autonomy on ethical behaviour of nurses (181 unmarried and 105 married) from Bishop Shannahan Hospital Nsukka and Niger Foundation Enugu. The Job Autonomy Scale developed by Breaugh and Becker (1987), Breaugh (1999), and the Ethical Behaviour Questionnaire developed by the researchers were used for collecting the data. The hypothesis states that job autonomy will not significantly influence the ethical behaviour of nurses. Regression analysis was used to test the significance of the hypothesis. Job autonomy was not found to be a significant predictor of ethical behaviour. It does not significantly influence the ethical behaviour of nurses (ß = 0.09, ns). The findings and implications were discussed based on the theoretical and empirical back ground and on the Nigerian sociocultural realities. Limitations of the study were stated and suggestions made for further research.

Keywords

Work Method, Work Schedule, Work Criteria, Work Autonomy, Ethical Behaviour, Nurses and South Eastern Nigeria
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  • Influence of Job Autonomy on Ethical Behaviour of Nurses in South Eastern Nigeria

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Authors

Barnabas E. Nwankwo
Department of Psychology Caritas University, Enugu, Nigeria
Gabriel C. Kanu
Department of Psychology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria
Tobias C. Obi
Department of Psychology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria
James U. Aboh
Department of Psychology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria
Soloman A. Agu
Department of Psychology, Enugu State University of Science and Technology, Enugu, Nigeria

Abstract


The study investigated the influence of job autonomy on ethical behaviour of nurses (181 unmarried and 105 married) from Bishop Shannahan Hospital Nsukka and Niger Foundation Enugu. The Job Autonomy Scale developed by Breaugh and Becker (1987), Breaugh (1999), and the Ethical Behaviour Questionnaire developed by the researchers were used for collecting the data. The hypothesis states that job autonomy will not significantly influence the ethical behaviour of nurses. Regression analysis was used to test the significance of the hypothesis. Job autonomy was not found to be a significant predictor of ethical behaviour. It does not significantly influence the ethical behaviour of nurses (ß = 0.09, ns). The findings and implications were discussed based on the theoretical and empirical back ground and on the Nigerian sociocultural realities. Limitations of the study were stated and suggestions made for further research.

Keywords


Work Method, Work Schedule, Work Criteria, Work Autonomy, Ethical Behaviour, Nurses and South Eastern Nigeria

References