Title
Perceptions of Work-Related Stress and Ethical Misconduct Amongst Non-tenured Researchers in Italy.
Abstract
The relationship between stress and unethical behaviour amongst non-tenured research staff in academia is a relatively unexplored phenomenon. The research reported herein was therefore carried out with the aim of exploring the relationship(s) between stress, the socio-organisational factors which contribute to it, job satisfaction, perceptions of job instability, and the occurrence of unethical behaviour in research. 793 Italian researchers participated in the research-all of whom were working on fixed-term contracts-after being individually requested to complete an online questionnaire. The data indicate that unethical behaviours occur with alarming frequency. The stress level reported is quite high, as is the level of perceived job insecurity, both of which impact upon levels of job satisfaction. Perceived stress levels also seem to play a role in the commission of unethical behaviours, but this relationship is irrelevant when one considers the role of social and organisational factors that are known to induce it. Indeed, it seems that there are various socio-organisational determinants of stress that have an obvious direct negative influence on the commission of unethical behaviours more than the stress level per se. This research paints a worrying picture in relation to the psycho-physical state of non-tenured researchers as a result of the working conditions in which they find themselves in Italian universities.
Year
DOI
Venue
2020
10.1007/s11948-019-00091-6
Science and engineering ethics
Keywords
Field
DocType
Ethical misconduct,Job insecurity,Job satisfaction,Perceived stress,Research ethics,Socio-organisational factors
Research ethics,Social psychology,Commission,Public relations,Sociology,As is,Computer-assisted web interviewing,Misconduct,Job satisfaction,Phenomenon,Perception
Journal
Volume
Issue
ISSN
26
1
1471-5546
Citations 
PageRank 
References 
1
0.36
3
Authors
5
Name
Order
Citations
PageRank
Oronzo Parlangeli1436.83
Stefano Guidi231.43
Enrica Marchigiani3515.67
Margherita Bracci410.70
Paul M. Liston531.86