A Meta-Analysis on Locus of Control and Ethical Compliance among Professional Auditors in Nigeria

Abstract

This study meta-analytically pooled and synthesized thirty studies related to ethical compliance and locus of control in the light of auditors’ independence and public and professional commitment. This was informed by the increasing corporate and audit failures recorded in the early 2000s despite existing professional ethics. Qualitative information were obtained from synthesized related studies and coded into quantitative data for analysis. The translated data were tested using OLS with the E-view 9 software for correlation and regression analyses. The regression analysis revealed a strong positive relationship between locus of control and ethical compliance, hence, the only hypothesis in the study was rejected, and the conclusion of the study is that, “ethical compliance is a function of an individual accountant or auditor’s locus of control”. Consequently, the study recommends that professional bodies and institutions should consider personality factors in the setting and implementation of professional ethics.