A CONCEPTUAL ANALYSIS OF COGNITIVE MORAL DEVELOPMENT AND VOICE BEHAVIOR IN AN ORGANIZATION

Katelin Barron

University of Texas of the Permian Basin 

ABSTRACT

This study used Kohlberg’s (1966, 1969) cognitive moral development theory to analyze the relationship between an individual’s moral development level and his/her voice behavior. But the analysis of this study takes a deeper look into voice behavior in the context of cognitive moral development. Therefore, this study depicts a theoretical framework suggesting that individuals existing at a pre-conventional moral development stage will exhibit no to minimal levels of voice behavior within an organization. It is also proposed that individuals existing at a post- conventional level of moral development will exhibit average to high levels of voice behavior within an organization. Employee voice behavior has been linked to increasing organizational outcomes and is a vital antecedent of Organizational Citizenship Behavior (OCB) which has been linked to increasing organizational effectiveness. Given the importance of voice behavior, the analysis seeks to provide future implications for theory and future managerial practices.