Online "Ethics" Questionnaire

Instructions: In Chapter One, ethics is defined as "a set of standards for judging the moral correctness of communication behavior." Being mindful of ethics is an important part of being a competent communicator. Interestingly, many people have a hard time defining exactly what their ethical standards are. For example, do you make decisions based on what you think is right or "fair, " or do you prefer to make decisions based on "caring" and compassion? Your preference may tell you quite a bit about yourself.

Go to Loyola Marymount's Ethics and Business site (http://www.ethicsandbusiness.org/stylequiz.htm) and take their survey on ethics. Click through all the screens to find out your score and see what it means.

Did your score surprise you? Did your score match up with Carol Gilligan's research on gender and ethics? After completing the questionnaire, do you think you have a better understanding of how people can interpret the same event in different ways?

In summary: You should now have a better idea of the structure that makes up your ethical framework. You should also have an appreciation for how other people make moral choices. Being mindful of your own ethics is important, but so is being aware of another's point of view. The competent communicator seeks opportunities for collaboration and cooperation, especially in the world of ethics.