Abstract
In this article, we outline the results of a narrative exploration of beliefs and attitudes towards research ethics among graduate students in two South-Central African countries, Zambia and Malawi. The participants were mid-career professionals in Africa, studying graduate business programs delivered in-country, but in partnership with a British University. By understanding the cultural underpinnings of African ethical philosophy, we aim to reconcile research practices in the region with the ethical compliance requirements and processes explicit in Western graduate research. We conducted semi-structured, in-depth interviews with 11 students to ascertain their views on ethics generally, the influences that contribute to their ethical perspective, and in particular the relationship between these and the processes and procedures taught in their course. Participants indicated several factors were important to their beliefs and attitudes regarding research ethics including close social groups which impacted ethical beliefs, traditional historical ethics re-enforced through storytelling, religion, location (urban or rural), and beliefs about professionalism.