Ethical Standards in Business

Friday 03 October 2003

Research undertaken by MORI has highlighted the public's key concerns with respect to the ethical practices of business. The findings are set to be published in a new guide from the Institute of British Ethics.

The research addressed issues such as the perceived changes in the general ethical behaviour of British business, as well as the specific areas that most need addressing to raise company standards.

Topline Results

• MORI interviewed a nationally representative sample of 2,016 adults aged 15+
• Interviews were carried out face-to-face, in home across 190 sampling points in Great Britain. No incentives were offered to respondents
• All interviews were conducted between 25–30 September 2003
• Data were weighted to match known population profile
• Where figures do not sum to 100 percent, this may be due to computer rounding, multiple codes or the exclusion of 'Don't know'
• represents a figure greater than zero but less than 0.5%

Q1 There is a lot of discussion these days about how ethically business is behaving — that is, how far its behaviour and decisions follow good principles.
How ethically do you think British business generally behaves?

Base: All (2,016)

Q2 How do you think British business is behaving compared to a year ago — is it behaving more ethically than a year ago, less ethically, or the same?

Base: All (2,016)

Q3 In your view of company standards, which two or three of these issues most need addressing?

Base: All (2,016)