Date of Award
Spring 2026
Document Type
Dissertation
Degree Name
Doctor of Education (EdD)
Committee Chair
Dale S. Lamb
Abstract
This study explored the ethical culture, policy integration, and ethics-related practices at Central Heights State University (CHSU) to identify gaps and develop a comprehensive ethics integration plan. Guided by Getzels and Guba's (1957) Social Systems Model and Argyris’s (1977) Double-Loop Learning Theory, the study employed a convergent parallel mixed methods design that included document analysis and a staff survey. Quantitative and qualitative data were collected concurrently, analyzed independently, and given equal priority, and the results were merged during interpretation to examine convergence, divergence, and complementarity across data sources. The document analysis examined the visibility, accessibility, and quality of ethics-related artifacts, while the survey assessed staff perceptions of ethical culture, leadership, training, and value alignment. Findings revealed that although ethical structures and policies exist, they are fragmented, inconsistently accessible, and not fully integrated into daily organizational practices. Staff demonstrated strong personal ethical values; however, perceptions of leadership consistency, training effectiveness, and institutional accountability varied. The integrated results indicated a misalignment between institutional structures and individual values, as well as a reliance on compliance-based approaches rather than reflective, systemic learning. The study concludes that CHSU must adopt a more integrated and accessible approach to ethics, emphasizing continuous training, leadership development, and alignment of organizational practices with shared values. The resulting ethics integration plan provides a strategic framework to enhance ethical culture through systemic alignment, improved accessibility, and ongoing organizational learning.
Recommended Citation
Seawright, Tiffany D., "Filling in the Gaps: A Mixed Methods Convergent Parallel Study to Enhance Ethical Standards and Policy Integration in Higher Education" (2026). Doctor of Education Dissertations. 285.
https://digitalcommons.gardner-webb.edu/education-dissertations/285
Creative Commons License
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-Noncommercial 4.0 License