This U.S.-Poland research project on "Ethical Reasoning Among Public Administrators in the New Local Governments in Poland: A Study of Two Provinces" between Drs. Debra W. Stewart and Norman A. Sprinthall of the State University in Raleigh and Dr. Renata Siemienska of the University of Warsaw will investigate ethical decision making among local public administrators in two provinces in Poland. The study aims to understand: 1. how non-elected public officials in the new Poland exercise discretion inherent in the public administrative role when they confront ethical dilemmas; 2. the variables associated with the exercise of alternative models of ethical reasoning among this group; 3. the organizational, contextual, demographic and attitudinal correlates of principled reasoning among these officials. Working collaboratively with investigators in Poland, Dr. Stewart will survey 300 local public administrators and conduct in-depth interviews with 20 of these civil servants in five towns within each of two provinces in Poland. As power increasingly devolves to local government, it is important to know how new managers are using their newly sanctioned discretion and how the ethical models they employ shape that action. Data generated in this study will lead to a comparison of modes of ethical response across U.S. and Polish government officials. This project in sociology fulfills the program objective of advancing scientific knowledge by enabling leading experts in the United States and Eastern Europe to combine complementary talents and pool resources in areas of strong mutual interest and competence.
