kohlberg Flashcards
(12 cards)
sample
75 American boys were used – at the beginning of the research they
were between the ages of 10 and 16.
2. By the end of the period of research, the boys were between 22 and 28.
3. Additional samples from a number of other countries (Great Britain,
Canada, Taiwan, Mexico and Turkey) were also interviewed to gain a
cross-cultural comparison.
methodology
- A longitudinal study was used which followed the development of the
same 75 American boys for 12 years. - Kohlberg used interviews to assess the moral reasoning of the boys.
what did these interviews produce (methodology)
- These interviews produced qualitative data.
what did kohlberg do (methodology 2)
- Kohlberg created nine hypothetical moral dilemmas (such as the Heinz
dilemma), with each dilemma presenting a conflict between two moral
issues.
what did each participant do (methodology)
- Each participant was asked to discuss three of these dilemmas,
prompted by a set of ten or more open-ended questions such as:
* Should Heinz steal the drug? (Why or why not?)
* Does Heinz have a duty or obligation to steal the drug? (Why or
why not?)
* Is it important for people to do everything they can to save
another’s life? (Why or why not?)
what happened after (methodology)
- Following an analysis of the boys’ answers, common themes were
identified which led to a stage theory being constructed. - Each boy was re-interviewed every three years.
kohlberg’s three levels
preconventional
conventional
post conventional
kohlberg’s stages of moral development (preconventional level)
PRECONVENTIONAL
LEVEL
+ Stage 1: The punishment and obedience
orientation.
+ Stage 2: The instrumental purpose orientation.
kohlberg’s stages of moral development (conventional level)
THE CONVENTIONAL
LEVEL
+ Stage 3: Interpersonal cooperation.
+ Stage 4: The social order maintaining orientation.
kohlberg’s stages of moral development (post conventional level)
THE POST
CONVENTIONAL
LEVEL
+ Stage 5: The social contract orientation.
+ Stage 6: The universal ethical principles orientation
findings
F - Kohlberg found that the younger children thought at the pre-conventional level
and as they got older their reasons for moral decision became less focused on
themselves and more focused on doing well because relations with others are viewed
as important.
F - The results in Mexico and Taiwan were the same except that development was a
little slower.
conclusions
Stages are invariant and universal, meaning that people world-wide go through the
same stages in the same order.
* Each new stage represents a more equilibrated form of moral understanding which
results in a more logically consistent and morally mature form of understanding.
C - Moral discussion classes can help children develop their moral thinking, and
discussions with children at stages 3 and 4 result in the child moving forwards.
