INTERNATIONAL JOURNAL OF RESEARCH AND INNOVATION IN SOCIAL SCIENCE (IJRISS)
ISSN No. 2454-6186 | DOI: 10.47772/IJRISS | Volume IX Issue XI November 2025
contradictions or pressures, auditor performance remains stable and unaffected in a meaningful way. This finding
appears to contradict several theoretical frameworks, particularly role theory, which suggests that conflicting
expectations create stress and tension, potentially decreasing job performance (Kahn et al., 1964). Indeed, many
studies have found that role conflict negatively and significantly impacts auditor performance by causing stress,
reducing motivation, increasing role tension, and disrupting focus (Sangkala, 2024; Anggraeni, 2024; Sijabat &
Martanto, 2024). However, this result can also be seen as a positive outcome for auditors. It suggests they are
resilient and adaptable, possessing coping mechanisms that neutralize the negative effects of role conflict. These
mechanisms could include strong ethical standards, professional training, or effective time management. In
practice, this resilience suggests that recruitment processes should prioritize candidates who demonstrate high
adaptability and the ability to navigate ambiguous instructions during behavioral interviews. Furthermore, some
research notes that role conflict can sometimes be positively related or even serve as a motivator under specific
conditions, pushing auditors to resolve ambiguities or manage responsibilities more effectively (Sesa, 2023).
This could help explain the non-significant or positive effects observed in certain contexts. The finding therefore
highlights the complexity of role conflict, suggesting its effects are not uniform. Instead of always being harmful,
certain types of conflict may even spur problem-solving or adaptive behavior, ultimately not diminishing but
potentially enhancing an auditor's performance.
The significant positive effect of self-efficacy on auditor performance means that auditors who strongly believe
in their capability to execute audit tasks tend to perform better. This results in higher quality, more accurate, and
more confident audit outcomes. This relationship aligns with established psychological and organizational
theories and has been verified in diverse empirical studies across various auditing contexts. This finding is
grounded in Bandura’s social cognitive theory, which posits that an individual’s belief in their ability to succeed
in specific tasks influences their motivation, persistence, effort, and ultimately, their actual performance
(Bandura, 1997). This theory helps explain why auditors with high self-efficacy would approach complex audit
judgments and risk assessments with confidence and resilience, leading to better decision-making and stricter
adherence to professional standards. Recognizing self-efficacy as a key driver of performance highlights the
importance of building an auditor's confidence through training, mentoring, and support, which reliably enhances
audit outcomes. For instance, audit firms might restructure their training programs to include not just technical
skill drills but also mentorship tracks where senior partners actively validate the decision-making of junior staff
to build this critical self-belief. The result is both theoretically consistent and empirically supported, indicating
a clear pathway by which cognitive beliefs translate into greater effort, persistence, and quality judgments.
Furthermore, emphasizing self-efficacy encourages professional growth and resilience in auditors, which is
highly beneficial for long-term audit quality and organizational success.
The result that ethical sensitivity does not significantly affect auditor performance means that, in the data
analyzed, an auditor's ability to recognize and respond to ethical issues does not translate into a statistically
measurable impact on their overall job performance. While this outcome may seem counterintuitive given the
theoretical importance of ethics in auditing, it aligns with some nuanced perspectives in existing research.
Theoretically, a higher level of ethical sensitivity should enhance an auditor's performance by promoting
adherence to professional ethical standards, reducing misconduct, and improving audit quality (Forsyth, 1980;
Ismail & Rasheed, 2019). However, several factors may explain why this relationship isn't always significant.
One of these factors is that ethical dilemmas in auditing often require balancing conflicting interests and making
complex judgments under uncertainty. The presence of high ethical sensitivity may create awareness but not
directly lead to performance improvements without the support of clear organizational standards or decision-
making frameworks (Ismail & Rasheed, 2019; Gusti et al., 2018). Consequently, firms should focus on creating
distinct channels for ethical consultation, ensuring that an auditor’s sensitivity is supported by a robust
infrastructure that allows them to act on their awareness without disrupting their workflow. Moreover, ethical
sensitivity is a complex, multi-dimensional concept that can be challenging to measure precisely. Survey or
experimental measures may not fully capture its effects or reflect real-world ethical dilemmas that impact
performance (Dharmadiaksa, 2022). This outcome, therefore, acknowledges that simply having an awareness of
ethical issues does not automatically translate into better performance, especially given the many competing
pressures and complex realities that auditors face.
Intellectual intelligence does not weaken the negative relationship between role conflict and auditor performance
means that despite auditors' cognitive abilities and intellectual capacity, these do not significantly buffer or
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