Effect of secular morality and religiosity on the corruptibility of undergraduate students

Abstract

This study examined the impact of secular morality and religiosity on corruptibility among undergraduate students at the University of Cape Coast (UCC) in Ghana. Using a cross-sectional survey design, 313 B.Ed. arts students were selected through proportionate random sampling. Data were collected via questionnaires and vignettes measuring secular morality, religiosity, and corruptibility. The instruments showed good internal consistency in pilot testing using the Cronbach alpha and the values obtained; SM (a = .863; 14 items), RE (a = .891; 20 items), and CO (a = .794; 30 items). Data analysis employed descriptive statistics and regression analyses using SPSS version 27. Results indicated high secular morality and religiosity levels among UCC undergraduates, with moderate overall corruptibility. Both secular morality and religiosity were found to have statistically significant effects on students' corruptibility, rejecting the null hypotheses. Based on these findings, the study recommends that university of Cape Coast should strengthen their Ethics Education programs, integrating both theoretical and practical components. This research contributes to understanding the relationship between moral values, religious beliefs, and susceptibility to corruption among university students in Ghana.