Work in Progress: What is Ethical? A Mixed Methods Study Examining Student, Faculty, and Stakeholder Views on Professional Engineering Ethics

Bradley J. Sottile

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Conference: ASEE Zone 1 Conference - Spring 2023
Location: State College,, Pennsylvania
Publication Date: March 30, 2023
Start Date: March 30, 2023
End Date: April 12, 2023
Tagged Topic: Diversity
Page Count: 8
DOI: 10.18260/1-2--44711
Permanent URL: https://peer.asee.org/44711
Download Count: 186

Paper Authors

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Bradley J. Sottile The Pennsylvania State University orcid.org/0000-0002-8391-2974

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Brad Sottile is Lecturer in Computer Science and Engineering, and Aerospace Engineering in The Pennsylvania State University's College of Engineering, School of Electrical Engineering and Computer Science.

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Abstract

This research paper describes a survey-based mixed methods study in which State University (blinded pseudonym) engineering students and State University stakeholders such as faculty and industry advisory board members were solicited for their views on what ethics means in the present era. State University is a public, large, multi-campus research institution located in the northeast United States.

The safety and security of the public relies on the professionalism and ethical behavior of engineers. Engineers have been imprisoned or fined for ethical lapses, some of which have the potential to cause significant disruptions for the public at large.

In response to these concerns, professional licensure has been established in some engineering fields to assure that practicing engineers are suitably prepared for the responsibilities of professional engineering practice. Similarly, ABET program accreditation requires ethics training for undergraduate engineering students. Yet ethical considerations are culturally bound and can shift over time, and few studies have emerged re-examining such views in the aftermath of the seminal cultural event that was the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, other researchers have published papers observing and discussing changes that have been seen in engineering students in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the question of ethics training for engineering students is an ongoing issue ripe for re-examination.

In the Spring 2023 semester, a qualitatively and quantitatively based survey was administrated to State University engineering students, faculty, and associated stakeholders such industry advisory board members. The survey results were supplemented by sequential qualitative follow-up in the form of interviews and focus groups to contextualize and further explain the initial survey results. The results from this study therefore collectively seek to expose the current views of the subjects.

By better understanding the current state of knowledge and understanding of what ethics means for the present-day emerging engineer, interventions could be developed to better enhance engineering student preparation for the workforce. For example, the author is considering one such intervention through the development of a micro-credential in professional ethics for engineering students. Considerations for such a micro-credential, and other intervention approaches more broadly, will be discussed in view of the primary study findings.

Citation
Format

Sottile, B. J. (2023, March), Work in Progress: What is Ethical? A Mixed Methods Study Examining Student, Faculty, and Stakeholder Views on Professional Engineering Ethics Paper presented at ASEE Zone 1 Conference - Spring 2023, State College,, Pennsylvania. 10.18260/1-2--44711

TY - CPAPER
AB - This research paper describes a survey-based mixed methods study in which State University (blinded pseudonym) engineering students and State University stakeholders such as faculty and industry advisory board members were solicited for their views on what ethics means in the present era. State University is a public, large, multi-campus research institution located in the northeast United States.

The safety and security of the public relies on the professionalism and ethical behavior of engineers. Engineers have been imprisoned or fined for ethical lapses, some of which have the potential to cause significant disruptions for the public at large.

In response to these concerns, professional licensure has been established in some engineering fields to assure that practicing engineers are suitably prepared for the responsibilities of professional engineering practice. Similarly, ABET program accreditation requires ethics training for undergraduate engineering students. Yet ethical considerations are culturally bound and can shift over time, and few studies have emerged re-examining such views in the aftermath of the seminal cultural event that was the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, other researchers have published papers observing and discussing changes that have been seen in engineering students in the wake of the COVID-19 pandemic, so the question of ethics training for engineering students is an ongoing issue ripe for re-examination.

In the Spring 2023 semester, a qualitatively and quantitatively based survey was administrated to State University engineering students, faculty, and associated stakeholders such industry advisory board members. The survey results were supplemented by sequential qualitative follow-up in the form of interviews and focus groups to contextualize and further explain the initial survey results. The results from this study therefore collectively seek to expose the current views of the subjects.

By better understanding the current state of knowledge and understanding of what ethics means for the present-day emerging engineer, interventions could be developed to better enhance engineering student preparation for the workforce. For example, the author is considering one such intervention through the development of a micro-credential in professional ethics for engineering students. Considerations for such a micro-credential, and other intervention approaches more broadly, will be discussed in view of the primary study findings.
AU - Bradley J. Sottile
CY - State College,, Pennsylvania
DA - 2023/03/30
PB - ASEE Conferences
TI - Work in Progress: What is Ethical? A Mixed Methods Study Examining Student, Faculty, and Stakeholder Views on Professional Engineering Ethics
UR - https://peer.asee.org/44711
DO - 10.18260/1-2--44711
ER -