Whistleblowing and the Control of Organizational Misconduct*

In: Sociological inquiry: the quarterly journal of the International Sociology Honor Society, Band 64, Heft 3, S. 322-347

Abstract

The current study reviews the literature on whistleblowing and examines its role in detecting and controlling organizational misconduct. We begin with a definition of this concept, show how micro‐level theories of "deviance" explain whistleblowing, summarize evidence on its prevalence and correlates, and examine the legal protection of whistleblowers against organizational retaliation. The effectiveness of whistleblowing legislation in encouraging the reporting of organizational misconduct is also discussed. The article concludes with a discussion of the relative costs and benefits of whistleblowing as a method of social control of organizational misconduct.