Workplace Dishonesty (Ariely-style behavioural measure)
Ethics & CSRReliability: behavioural; not alpha-based3 sample items
About this scale
A behavioural paradigm and self-report scale for measuring everyday dishonesty at work — minor cheating, expense padding, time theft, and inflated reporting. Adapted from Ariely's lab paradigms to organizational contexts.
Sample item(s)
“I sometimes claim hours I did not actually work.”
“I sometimes inflate my expense reports.”
“I sometimes take credit for work my colleagues did.”
Reliability
Reported internal consistency: behavioural; not alpha-based. As a rule of thumb, Cronbach’s α ≥ .70 is considered acceptable, ≥ .80 good, and ≥ .90 excellent for established measures.
Notes
Use behavioural lab paradigms when self-report is at risk of social desirability.
Source & citation
Mazar, N., Amir, O., & Ariely, D. (2008): The dishonesty of honest people: A theory of self-concept maintenance. Journal of Marketing Research, Vol. 45, No. 6, pp. 633–644.
Mazar, Amir & Ariely (2008): The dishonesty of honest people. JMR, 45(6), 633–644.
Source. Scale details are summarised from the publication cited above. Always consult the original source for the full item set, scoring, and permission to use.
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