The stance of individuals in Saudi society towards Reporting Suspicions of Financial and Administrative Corruption and the Consequences for the Whistleblower (A Practical Study on a Sample of Individuals from the Saudi Society)

Abstract

This study aimed to identify the attitudes of individuals in Saudi society toward reporting suspicions of financial and administrative corruption, as well as the impact on the informant and the relationship of these attitudes with certain demographic variables, such as age, gender, educational level, monthly income, and geographic region. The study adopted the social survey method using the sample approach and employed a questionnaire to collect data from a random sample of 800 individuals across all regions of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia. The findings revealed several results. Of these is that the general attitude towards reporting suspicions of financial and administrative corruption was moderately favorable. However, the level of agreement was high concerning the perceived effects on the informant, according to the sample’s views. Additionally, a statistically significant relationship was found between age, educational level, and monthly income, and both the act of reporting suspicions of financial and administrative corruption and the resulting impact on the informant. The study presented several recommendations, such as encouraging individuals to report suspicions of financial and administrative corruption and assuring them of complete confidentiality regarding their identities; and providing encouraging rewards and incentives to encourage reporting, Another recommendation is to raise awareness of the dangers of financial and administrative corruption to the state and citizens through relevant official bodies, including the Anti-Corruption Authority and various state sectors, ministries, and government agencies.