Table 3 Euro-MCD domains and items (2014) – Arguments for adaptation, reformulation or deletion

 1. Enhances possibility to share difficult emotions and thoughts with co-workers

Needs reconsideration, was important for respondents but might have been misinterpreted by respondents as it does not correlate with other items from the domain Emotional Support.

Rewritten as item #10 in revised domain ‘Moral Teamwork’: We feel secure to share emotions in ethically difficult situations

 2. Strengthens my self-confidence when managing ethically difficult situations

Good item but seems to belong to Moral Attitude rather than to Emotional Support

Included in item #6 in revised domain ‘Moral Competence’: I speak up in ethically difficult situations

 3. Enables me to better manage the stress caused by ethically difficult situations

Needs adaptation or deletion, too vague, might have been misinterpreted by respondents and managing stress might not be a necessary outcome of MCD at all

Deleted

 4. Increased awareness of my own emotions regarding ethically difficult situations

Good item but seems to belong to Moral Attitude rather than to Emotional Support

Not included because of item reduction, as other items in revised domain ‘Moral Competence’ were determined as being closely related concept

 5. I feel more secure to express doubts or uncertainty regarding ethically difficult situations

Needs reconsideration as it does not seem to be important according to respondents and does not seem to correlate with other items from Emotional Support and it might be too similar to items 2 and 5.

Rewritten as a group-related outcome, item #10 in revised domain ‘Moral Teamwork’: We feel secure to share emotions in ethically difficult situations

 6. Greater opportunity for everyone to have their say

Good and important item

Included as item #8 in revised domain ‘Moral Teamwork’:

We all have opportunities to express our viewpoint on ethically difficult situations

 7. Better mutual understanding of each other’s reasoning and acting

Good and important item, but might need reconsideration as it correlates with both individual items (5 and 19) and group items (6,8 and 10) indicating various possible interpretations.

Deleted because of item reduction as it was considered to be covered by other items

 8. Enhanced mutual respect amongst co-workers

Good item but might need reconsideration as it also seems to correlate with items from Moral Attitude.

Rewritten as item #9 in revised domain ‘Moral Teamwork’: We respect different viewpoints when discussing ethically difficult situations

 9. I and my co-workers manage disagreements more constructively

Needs reconsideration or deletion as it does not seem to be important or experienced according to respondents indicating that it might not be an outcome of MCD at all.

Deletion

 10. More open communication among co-workers

Good and important item

Included as item #7 in revised domain ‘Moral Teamwork’: We openly express our viewpoints in ethically difficult situations

 11. Develops my skills to analyse ethically difficult situations

Needs reconsideration – might be too general and already covered by other items

Deleted because of item reduction as it was considered to be covered by other items

 12. Increases my awareness of the complexity of ethically difficult situations

Good and important item

Rewritten as item #1 in revised domain ‘Moral Competence’: I recognize a situation as being ethically difficult

 13. Develops my ability to identify the core ethical question in the difficult situations

Needs reconsideration or deletion as it does not seem to be important according to respondents and it might be too similar to other items from Moral Reflexivity.

Changed and rewritten as item #3 in revised domain ‘Moral Competence’: I can identify the different values at stake in ethically difficult situations

 14. I see the ethically difficult situations from different perspectives

Good and important item

Included as item #2 in revised domain ‘Moral Competence’: I am aware of others’ perspectives in ethically difficult situations

 15. Enhances my understanding of ethical theories (ethical principles, values and norms)

Needs adaptation or deletion, as it might not be an outcome of MCD at all

Deleted as it was not considered to be relevant/intended outcome of MCD

 16. I become more aware of my preconceived notions

Good item but might be too general considering the correlations with many other items and possible social desirability in its formulation

Deleted because of item reduction, not considered to be a clear outcome of MCD.

 17. I gain more clarity about my own responsibility in the ethically difficult situations

Needs reconsideration or deletion as it might have been misinterpreted as shown by the lack of correlations with other items in the perceived importance-data.

Deleted as it was not considered to be a clear outcome of MCD

 18. I listen more seriously to others’ opinions

Good item but might need reconsideration as it seems to become important for respondents only after participation in MCD.

Rewritten as item #7 in revised domain ‘Moral Competence’: I listen with an open mind to others when discussing an ethically difficult situation

 19. Gives me more courage to express my ethical standpoint

Needs reconsideration as it does not seem to be important according to respondents and it might be too similar to items 2 and 5.

Deleted because item about self-confidence was considered as same outcome, item #6 in revised domain ‘Moral Competence’: I speak up in ethically difficult situations

 20. I understand better what it means to be a good professional

Good item but might be too general considering the correlations with many other items and possible social desirability in its formulation

Deleted because of item reduction, too vague and general formulation

 21. I and my co-workers become more aware of recurring ethically difficult situations

Needs reconsideration since the item seems to be about moral reflexivity than the organizational level regarding the correlations with items from the Moral Reflexivity domain.

Deleted because of item reduction and too vague to apply to experience before MCD participation.

 22. Contributes to the development of practice/policy in the workplace

Needs adaptation or deletion, might have been misinterpreted by respondents or developing policies might not be an outcome of MCD at all

Deleted, not necessarily an outcome of MCD

 23. I and my co-workers examine more critically the existing practice/policies in the workplace/organization

Needs reconsideration or deletion as it does not seem to be important or experienced according to respondents indicating that it might not be an outcome of MCD at all.

Deleted because of item reduction and too vague to apply to experience before MCD participation.

 24. Find more courses of actions to manage the ethically difficult situations

Needs reconsideration, seems to be important for respondents but might have been misinterpreted by respondents as it does not seem to correlate with other items from the domain Concrete Results.

Included as item #4 in revised domain of ‘Moral Competence’: I can formulate arguments in favor of and against different courses of action in ethically difficult situations

 25. Consensus is gained amongst co-workers in how to manage the ethically difficult situations

Needs adaptation or deletion, too vague as it does not seem to belong to domain of concrete results

Deleted due to item reduction and being too vague

 26. Enables me and my co-workers to decide on concrete actions in order to manage the ethically difficult situations

Good and important item

Included as item #12 in revised domain of ‘Moral Action’: ‘We make decisions on how to act in ethically difficult situations’