2.5.2 Kohlberg: Methodology & Procedures

Question 1

what is the aim of kohlbergs study

Answer 1

To show adolescents move through distinct stages of moral development

Question 2

what was the sample used in Kohleberg

Answer 2

• 75 American boys from chicago
• ages tracked: 10-16years old and again at 22-28 years old

Question 3

what type of study was kohlbergs and how was data collected

Answer 3

• longitudinal study
• data collected through interveiws

Question 4

what were the 5 cross cultural comparison locations

Answer 4

1. Great Britain
2. Canada
3. Taiwan
4. Mexico
5. Turkey

Question 5

what was the procedure of Kohlberg

Answer 5

• he created 9 hypothetical moral dilemas
  > each presented conflict between 2 moral principles
• each participant discussed 3 dilemmas, prompted by 10+ open-ended questions

Question 6

give one moral dilemma example

Answer 6

Heinz:
- Heinz’s wife is dying from cancer; a drug might save her but hte chemist is charging 10x og cost

• Heinz cant afford it, even with help
• chemist refuses to reduce price or delay payment
• Heinz eventually steals the drug to save her life

Question 7

what were the follow up questions for Heinz

Answer 7

1. should Heinz steal the drug? why or why not?
2. if he doesn’t love his wife, should he still steal it?
3. does love change the moral decision?
4. what if the dying person is a stranger?

Question 8

what were the interview timings and format like

Answer 8

• interviews happened every 3 years
• each interview lasted 2hrs
• the same interview format was used cross-culturally