Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
Test Bank
Chapter 13: Leadership Ethics
Multiple Choice
1. The ethical issues presented in the leadership ethics chapter ______.
A. provide a model of ethical leadership theory
B. provide a guide to ethical issues in leadership situations
C. constitute a leadership ethics theory
D. are clear prescriptions for leading ethically
2. The study of theoretical formulations of leadership ethics ______.
A. has existed for centuries
B. is described by Kohlberg
C. is a new topic of scholarly research
D. was started by Greek philosophers
3. What did the group of leadership scholars from the W. K. Kellogg Foundation
examine?
A. how leadership theory and practice could be used to build a more just society
B. how leadership ethical theory correlates with virtuousness
C. how moral dilemmas are different from ethical temptations
D. how ethical dilemmas are different from moral temptations
4. The set of rules or principles that guides us in making decisions about right or wrong
is called ______.
A. moral theory
B. ethical dilemmas
C. ethical decision-making process
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D. ethical theory
5. Which scholar described how people think about moral issues in terms of stages of
development?
A. Heifetz
B. Kohlberg
C. Plato
D. Crain
6. In which level of moral development is an individual who judges morality actions by
their direct consequences?
A. pre-conventional morality
B. conventional morality
C. post-conventional morality
D. universal morality
7. How many stages are there in the conventional morality level of Kohlberg’s Stages of
Moral Development?
A. 1
B. 2
C. 3
D. 6
8. I make a moral decision based on whether or not I will be punished. I am at what
stage of moral development?
A. Stage 1
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B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 4
9. I want to do what is best for myself, and I am willing to bargain with others for favors
that I offer to provide in return in the future. I am at what stage of moral development?
A. obedience and punishment stage
B. conventional morality stage
C. interpersonal accord and conformity stage
D. individualism and exchange stage
10. Group norms affect my moral decisions because I want to be seen as “good.” I am
at what stage of moral development?
A. social contract and individual rights stage
B. individualism and exchange stage
C. interpersonal accord and conformity stage
D. maintaining social order stage
11. I adhere to the laws and rules of the organizational community at work. I make
decisions based on my concern for the society and our organization as a whole. I am at
what stage of moral development?
A. Stage 1
B. Stage 2
C. Stage 3
D. Stage 4
12. I make moral decisions based on my views of what a good society should be like.
This good society means I support the values of society like fair procedures for
changing laws while recognizing that groups differ and we should agree on these laws.
Which stages are in the post-conventional level?
A. maintaining the social order
B. interpersonal accord and conformity
C. social contract and individual rights
D. individualism and exchange
13. Kohlberg’s Model of Moral Development has been criticized for ______.
A. focusing exclusively on individualistic viewpoints of moral development
B. focusing on moral development, which is not ethical development
C. the non-inclusive subject sample used in developing the model
D. the authoritative nature of the stages
14. Which level of Kohlberg’s Model of Moral Development demonstrates reasoning
based on conscience and creating a just society?
A. Level 1
B. Level 2
C. Level 3
D. Level 4
15. When studying ethics and leadership, ethical theories fall into which two broad
domains?
A. conduct and behavior
B. behavior and traits
C. character and conduct
D. character and traits
16. Character is described as an ethical theory domain that ______.
A. includes ethical egoism
B. is focused on virtue
C. emphasizes what people do
D. is a teleological theory
17. Which conduct domain ethical approach is most closely related to transactional
leadership theories?
A. virtue-based
B. utilitarianism
C. altruism
D. ethical egoism
18. My health care insurance company puts small co–payment fees on drugs that many
people use and much higher fees for experimental drugs that only rarely are needed by
individuals on our health care insurance plan. My company is applying which ethical
theory?
A. ethical egoism
B. deontological theory
C. virtue-based theory
D. utilitarianism
19. I base my corporate decisions on what creates the greatest good for the greatest
number of people. I am applying which ethical theory?
A. utilitarianism
B. duty-based theory
C. virtue-based theory
D. ethical egoism
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20. When I approach decisions and take action based on what is in the best interest of
others, I am applying which ethical theory?
A. utilitarianism
B. altruism
C. virtue-based theory
D. ethical egoism
21. The teleological ethical theories are grouped together because “what is right?” is
answered by looking at ______.
A. character
B. rules
C. Duty
D. outcomes
22. I consistently tell the truth and am fair with my employees. Furthermore, I feel a
strong moral obligation to make decisions that do not infringe on the rights of my staff. I
am applying the concepts of which ethical theory?
A. deontological
B. teleological
C. altruism
D. virtue-based
23. Which group of ethical theories focuses on who the leaders are as people?
A. deontological
B. teleological
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C. altruism
D. virtue-based
24. Ethics is central to leadership because of ______.
A. the goals dimension of leadership in which the leader decides group goals
B. the nature of leadership being leader centered
C. the egoism necessary in leaders to make moral decisions
D. the influence dimension of leadership which has an impact on the lives of followers
25. Heifetz’s perspective on ethical leadership is ______.
A. values-based
B. duty-based
C. charisma-based
D. philosophy-based
26. The Heifetz perspective of ethical leadership suggests that it is up to the leader to
provide a trusting, empathic “holding environment” for followers to feel safe while
confronting difficult problems. This concept is also part of which leadership theory?
A. leader-MEMBER EXCHANGE
B. path-goal
C. adaptive
D. servant
27. Burns’s perspective on ethical leadership stems from his work in which other
theory?
A. leader–member exchange
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B. transformational
C. adaptive
D. servant
28. The “dark side” of leadership presented in the ethics chapter of the text is closely
related to which component of transformational leadership?
A. transactional
B. individualized consideration
C. pseudotransformational
D. management by exception-passive
29. Schyns and Schilling found destructive leadership is strongly correlated to ______.
A. followers behaviors becoming toxic
B. collaborative teams being unproductive
C. other leaders in the organization developing toxic behaviors
D. negative follower attitudes toward their jobs and organizations
30. The toxic triangle by Padilla et al. describes the interrelationships between ______.
A. destructive leaders, susceptible followers, and conducive environments
B. destructive leaders, conforming followers, and stable environments
C. conforming leaders, destructive followers, and unstable environments
D. colluding followers, destructive leaders, and stable environments
31. I am smart to use my natural appeal on my followers so that I advance my personal
agenda. I would be considered ______.
A. a collaborative leader
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B. an ethical altruistic leader
C. a destructive leader
D. a utilitarian leader
32. Destructive leadership thrives in environments that are ______.
A. stable
B. ethical
C. utilitarian
D. unstable
33. Which of the following is not a principle of ethical leadership?
A. service
B. sociability
C. justice
D. community
34. Which ethical leadership principle is described as being the leaders’ duty to treat
others as ends in themselves and never as means to an end?
A. serves others
B. builds community
C. shows justice
D. respects others
35. Which ethical leadership principle is a clear example of altruism?
A. serves others
B. builds community
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C. shows justice
D. respects others
36. In which ethical leadership principle does the leader place issues of fairness at the
center of their decision making?
A. manifests honesty
B. builds community
C. shows justice
D. respects others
37. Which ethical leadership principle is about telling the truth and being open with
others to represent reality as fully and completely as possible?
A. serves others
B. manifests honesty
C. shows justice
D. respects others
38. Having a common goal that both the leader and followers agree on is central to
which ethical leadership principle?
A. serves others
B. builds community
C. shows JUSTICE
D. respects others
39. As a leader, I listen closely to my followers’ beliefs, values, and attitudes and allow
them to use their creativity as I nurture their work. I am using which ethical leadership
principle?
A. respects others
B. builds community
C. shows justice
D. manifests honesty
40. My followers are foremost in the plans I make for our team. I am often seen
mentoring my followers and using citizenship behaviors that benefit all of my followers. I
am using which ethical leadership principle?
A. respects others
B. serve others
C. shows justice
D. manifests honesty
41. Which ethical leadership principle resembles the main focus of the servant
leadership approach?
A. respects others
B. builds community
C. serves others
D. manifests honesty
42. One of my employees works harder and logs more overtime and consistently works
weekends when needed compared with any of the other staff in our department. If I
choose to promote her instead of her coworkers based on her hard work, I am using
which principle of distributive justice?
A. according to individual need
B. according to societal contribution
C. according to personal rights
D. according to individual effort
Northouse, Leadership 8e
SAGE Publications, 2019
43. People want to view their leaders as ethical, fair, and just, especially with the public
failing of high-level leaders in the past decade. This is ______.
A. a criticism of ethical leadership
B. a strength of ethical leadership
C. a failure of ethical leadership
D. an unreasonable public view
44. Which of the following is a criticism of ethical leadership?
A. It contains research on a topic that is timely in the public’s eye.
B. It is unreasonable to expect high levels of ethics in our leaders.
C. There is substantial recent research on ethics and leadership.
D. The ethics and leadership writings come from only a few scholars.
45. Ethical leadership involves influence that is central to the leadership process. This
means ______.
A. the ethics of the leader are the ethics of followers
B. the process of leadership happens in a one-way environment
C. ethical organizations can maintain good outcomes with a few unethical leaders
D. leaders have enormous ethical responsibility for how they affect others
46. Teleological theories include all of the following except ______.
A. ethical egoism
B. utilitarianism
C. altruism
D. ethical egalitarianism
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47. Greenleaf’s theory of servant leadership ______.
A. says leaders should be concerned with society’s “have–nots”
B. was based on studies of university professors and students
C. requires a strict delineation of servant–leader roles
D. was influenced by the writings of Ronald Heifetz
48. A leader’s respect for others is not shown by ______.
A. listening closely to subordinates
B being empathic
C. being tolerant of opposing points of view
D. being apathetic
49. Altruistic service behaviors are not observed in ______.
A. mentoring
B. self-promoting
C. empowering
D. team building
50. Burns contends all of the following except ______.
A. leadership has a moral dimension
B. leaders should put their values ahead of their followers to reach goals
C. leaders should move followers to a higher level of morality
D. leaders should be involved in followers‘ personal struggles with conflicting issues