MEASURING PROFESSIONAL MORAL JUDGMENT IN HONG KONG CONSTRUCTION INDUSTRY

The public expects professionals in the society have high level of ethical standards. They are willing to accept social responsibility. Previous research findings indicate that construction professionals recognize their responsibility to the public but they often make professional judgment based on law and regulations (Fan et al. 2007). Moral judgment is a critical factor affecting one's ethical decision (Rest 1979). The Defining Issues Test (DIT) developed by Rest (1979) is a recognized measuring tool of moral judgment. Various professions have been used the DIT for moral judgment research. The DIT is used as an instrument to investigate moral judgment of construction professionals. This paper aims to present the study of construction professionals' moral judgment and the specific objective is to examine how construction professionals can move a step forwards to consider social responsibility and public interest when they make professional decision. It is believed that the work will help to narrow any discrepancy between construction professions and the general public in professional judgment.