Raising data ethical awareness: Measuring and increasing data ethical awareness using a behaviour change intervention in organisations
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2022-07-30
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en
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Abstract
This study aimed to identify, the influence of, increasing knowledge about data ethics
(through a behavioural intervention) on data ethical awareness. Data ethical awareness:
awareness of human ethical decision making affecting (the outcome of) data projects. For this
study, 17 employees of a Dutch government organisation were asked to identify ethical
considerations in cases portraying lifelike situations. One case contained a situation involving
data, the other one did not. After this test the participants were shown a knowledge clip with
information about data ethics. This information was presented in such a way that it was easy
to remember and required active participation of the employees. Behaviour change techniques
were used to stimulate participants’ behavioural intention. Several weeks after seeing the clip
they received two new cases and again identified ethical considerations in the cases. Their
scores were compared using a repeated measures ANOVA. No significant effect was found.
The knowledge clip did not improve the number of ethical considerations participants
mentioned on the data cases or the non-data cases. Secondly, a repeated measures MANOVA
combined the variables age-cohort, education and three personality factors (agreeableness,
conscientiousness and extraversion) to see whether this affected the relationship between nondata
and data cases over time. Again, none of the variables were significant. Lastly, a content
and frequency analysis gave insight into what people considered an ethical consideration
rather than the number of considerations they mentioned. This showed some change in which
topics participants mentioned on the data-case in the post-test compared to the pre-test.
Keywords: ethical awareness, moral sensitivity, data ethics, increasing knowledge, behaviour
change
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Faculteit der Sociale Wetenschappen