Assessing Unethical Behavior in Organizations: Validity Evidence of Two Measurement Scales: https://doi.org/10.5935/rpot/e26497

Marília Mesquita Resende; Luisa  Nogueira Guimarães; Juliana Barreiros Porto

Assessing Unethical Behavior in Organizations: Validity Evidence of Two Measurement Scales

https://doi.org/10.5935/rpot/e26497

Authors

Marília Mesquita Resende University Center of Brasília (UniCEUB), Brasília, Distrito Federal (DF), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5905-4538
Luisa Nogueira Guimarães Federal University of Minas Gerais (UFMG), Belo Horizonte, Minas Gerais (MG), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0002-4895-9718
Juliana Barreiros Porto University of Brasilia (UnB), Brasilia, Distrito Federal (DF), Brazil https://orcid.org/0000-0001-9164-2719

Keywords:

unethical behavior, unethical pro-organizational behavior, organizational ethics, validity evidence

Abstract

Ethical behavior in organizations refers to actions aligned with social norms that guide appropriate conduct in the workplace. Unethical behavior, on the other hand, can have negative impacts on both employees and the organization, and therefore must be strategically and continuously identified, monitored, and addressed by managers. This study aimed to find validity evidence for the Brazilian Portuguese versions of two instruments: the Observed Unethical Behavior in Organizations Scale (7 items) and the Unethical Pro-Organizational Behavior Scale (6 items). The instruments were administered online to a sample of 1,219 employees (628 men; mean age = 41.59 years, SD = 13.05). Exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses supported the original one-factor structure of each scale, with satisfactory internal consistency. These instruments can assist managers in tracking unethical behaviors in the workplace and in developing strategies to address them.

Downloads

Published

2026-02-26

Issue

Vol. 26 No. contínuo (2026): rPOT N. contínuo/2026

Section

Empirical Research Reports

License

All opinions expressed in the manuscripts are the sole responsibility of the authors.

The authors retain the copyright to the published articles and grant the journal *Psicologia: Organizações e Trabalho* (rPOT) the right of first publication.

Articles are published under the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license, allowing for their sharing, distribution, reproduction, and adaptation, provided that the original publication in rPOT is properly cited.

All published articles receive a permanent digital identifier (DOI).

Manuscripts must adhere to the principles of scientific integrity and originality. The reproduction of excerpts, figures, tables, or other previously published materials must comply with copyright laws and citation standards and, when necessary, be accompanied by authorization from the respective rights holders.