Tyler Yap Young, Daniel Wigfield, Kathleen Rodenburg

Abstract: Using the context of Canadian sport organizations, this study aims to demonstrate the necessity of identifying and adapting a valid and reliable ethical orientation scale to enable individuals in the sports community to recognize their heuristic ethical theories and those of others. Existing literature lacked suitable ethical orientation scales for sports. Qualitative interviews with 21 Canadian sport organizations unearthed a variety of ethical dilemmas being faced by sport organizations. Themes from interview transcripts were extracted using Leximancer™. The themes addressed sports ethics aspects like Team and High-Performance Selection; Organizational Administration and Decision Making; Health and Safety; Relationships and Power; Gamesmanship; and Race, Religion, and Culture. The authors note the need for future research to establish the reliability and validity of a new scale. By understanding these inclinations and how they may influence diverse and biased decisions during ethical dilemmas, individuals can bring objectivity and a broader range of perspectives to the decision-making process, thereby enhancing outcomes.

Citation: Young, T. Y., Wigfield, D., & Rodenburg, K. (2024). Establishing the need for a multi-dimensional scale for ethical decision-making in sport. International Journal of Sport Management, 25(3), 287-315.

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