The effect of organizational justice and professional ethics on motivation: Example of police motorcycle teams in Ankara

This study aims to examine the organizational and ethical factors influencing public service motivation among motorcycle police units operating in Ankara, Turkey. In particular, it analyzes how perceptions of organizational justice and adherence to professional ethics affect the motivation levels of public employees who serve in high-risk and high-responsibility environments. The research focuses on understanding how both visible operational challenges and invisible psychosocial pressures impact the motivational structures of law enforcement officers. Designed with a quantitative research approach, the study utilized three main data collection instruments: the Organizational Justice Scale, the Unethical Professional Behavior Scale, and the Public Service Motivation Scale. The sample consisted of 260 motorcycle police officers selected through a simple random sampling method. The data were analyzed using SPSS software, employing descriptive statistics, independent samples t-tests, Pearson correlation, and stepwise regression analyses. Findings indicate that both organizational justice and professional ethics significantly predict public service motivation. Furthermore, demographic variables such as duty status (officer vs. subordinate) and marital status also have meaningful effects on motivation levels. The results reveal that personnel working in high-stress and psychosocially demanding tasks demonstrate higher levels of motivation in environments characterized by justice, transparency, and ethical values. Accordingly, it is recommended that public institutions, particularly in the field of law enforcement, implement merit-based management systems, regular ethics training, and comprehensive psychological support structures to enhance motivation and well-being among their employees.. KEYWORDS: Motivation, Justice, Organizational Justice, Ethics, Morality, Professional Ethics, Psychosocial Factors