Outsider ‘whistleblowers’: Conceptualizing and distinguishing ‘bell-ringing’ behavior

Abstract

Precision is important in definitions of human behaviors, for practical reasons and also to allow careful empirical research comparing and contrasting these behaviors. Empirical research on whistleblowers typically relies on a widely used definition (King 1997), namely, that ‘whistle-blowers are organization members (including former members and job applicants) who disclose illegal, immoral, or illegitimate practices (including omissions) under the control of their employers, to persons or organizations who may be able to effect action’ (Near and Miceli 1985: 4). The use of a standard definition by most researchers has allowed empirical investigation of differences between whistleblowers and..