美國的工程師組織會對大學工科應屆畢業生頒授意味著責任承擔的不繡鋼戒指，以提高畢業生們的道德意識。在台灣尚未有對這種儀式、典禮或人造物的有效性進行過探討。本論文的兩大主題是測定工程師戒指頒授的倫理效果以及徵求工程倫理教育工作者的實務意見。對前者，研究者與美國工程師組織的一位理事進行電郵通訊並對電文加以質性分析，同時也對該組織的成員做了問卷調查的量化研究；對後者，研究者曾對在台灣的教育工作者做了電話以及面對面訪談，可進行質化分析。研究結果顯示，美國工程師組織的這項提升工程倫理意識的做法是有效的；台灣目前沒有這種工程倫理促進措施，也意味著台灣有機會成立與美國工程師組織類似的機構。本研究只屬探索性質，建議後續研究者對可行性以及最佳執行方法進行較詳細的分析。

The effectiveness of rites of passages, ceremonies, and artifacts used by the Order of the Engineer, based in the United States, in the bestowal of stainless steel Engineer’s Rings in promoting ethics awareness for graduating engineering students in Taiwan has yet to be fully explored. The two major research themes are: the effectiveness of the Order of the Engineer and the engineering ethics educators’ views and practices. To achieve the objectives related to the first theme, both a qualitative analysis of an e-mail interview with a member of the Order of the Engineer Board of Governors and a quantitative analysis of survey data obtained Order of the Engineer member respondents were conducted. The objectives related to the second theme were met with a qualitative analysis of both a phone and in-person interview with two preeminent engineering ethics educators in Taiwan. The results revealed that the Order of the Engineer was effective for promoting engineering ethics awareness for graduating engineering students and that engineering ethics awareness promotion for graduating engineering students in Taiwan is nonexistent which means that there are opportunities for the implementation of an organization that is akin to the Order of the Engineers. Due to the exploratory nature of this study, a number of follow-up studies that would lead to a detailed feasibility analysis and optimal implementation plan are recommended.

Thesis Approval Sheet ii
Acknowledgement iii
Abstract (Chinese) iv
Abstract (English) v
Table of Contents vi
List of Figures viii
List of Tables ix
Chapter 1: Introduction 1
1.1 Research Focus 7
1.2 Overall Research Aim and Individual Research Objectives 8
1.3 Value of this Research 10
Chapter 2: Literature Review 12
2.1 Conceptual Frameworks for Rites of Passages, Ceremonies, and Artifacts 13
2.2 Efforts to Increase Ethics Awareness in Taiwan and Similar Countries 17
2.3 The Effectiveness of the Order of the Engineer 20
2.4 Emerging Issues and Need for Empirical Research 23
Chapter 3: Research Design/Methodology 25
3.1 Research Strategy 26
3.2 Data Collection 28
3.3 Framework for Data Analysis 32
3.4 Limitations and Potential Problems 34
Chapter 4: Findings/Comparisons 39
4.1 The Effectiveness of the Order of the Engineer 40
4.2 Engineering Ethics Educators’ Views and Practices 52
Chapter 5: Conclusions 61
5.1 Research Objectives: Summary of Findings and Conclusions 62
5.2 Recommendations 68
5.3 Self-Reflection 71
References 74
Appendix A: Reproduction of the Online Questionnaire 80
Appendix B: E-mail Interview with Ms. Leckland, P.E. 85
Appendix C: Phone Interview with Professor Leu 96
Appendix D: In-Person Interview with Dr. Lee 116
Appendix E: Reproduction of the Obligation Oath 156
Appendix F: Reproduction of Ceremony Preparations 157

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