Kohlberg 1968- The child as moral philosopher

Question 1

Main features of the sample?

Answer 1

• 75 american boys
• At start: between 10-16
• At end: 22-28
• 12 year study
• Additional sample from great britian, canada, taiwan, mexico and turkey

Question 2

Number of participants

Answer 2

75

Question 3

age of participants at the start

Answer 3

10-16

Question 4

age of participants at the end

Answer 4

22-28

Question 5

Where was the additional sample from?

Answer 5

Great Britain, Mexico, Canada, Turkey, Taiwan

Question 6

How long was the study?

Answer 6

12 years

Question 7

Why were only boys used in the study and not girls?

Answer 7

• Easier to study due to females menstrual cycles which cause hormonal imbalances at different parts of their cycle
• could affect their morals
• removes any gender differences which may arise

Question 8

Evaluate the sample

Answer 8

• little knowledge of the stages of moral development before the age of 10
• unable to generalize to females
• females morality may differ from males morality
• reduce gender differences
• main findings based on american boys
• little known about the participants from other countries and their findings

Question 9

Why did he interview additional samples from other countries?

Answer 9

In order to gain cross-cultural comparison

Question 10

What methodology was used?

Answer 10

Case study

Question 11

features of the methodology used

Answer 11

• longitudinal study (12 years)
• in depth investigation
• descriptive analysis

Question 12

Describe the methodology

Answer 12

• longitudinal study followed same boys for 12 years
• use of interviews to assess moral reasoning

Question 13

Evaluate the use of interviews

Answer 13

• ability to ask follow up questions if needed
• as it includes children, they may be unable to complete other methods such as questionnaires
• more susceptible to researcher bias- body language etc.

Question 14

evaluate the use of hypothetical moral dilemmas

Answer 14

• examines what they say they would do not actually what they would do
• not relevant to participant
• different dilemmas for different participants
• Different questions with children of different ages

Question 15

4 issues with validity

Answer 15

• researcher bias
• use of hypothetical moral dilemmas
• investigator bias
• population validity

Question 16

investigator bias

Answer 16

• when interpreting responses in interviews

Question 17

researcher bias

Answer 17

• use of interviews
• social desirability bias
• kolhberg’s own cultural views impacting his perception of the participants responses

Question 18

How was kohlbergs study unethical

Answer 18

worked with vulnerable individuals

Question 19

How were the participants vulnerable

Answer 19

under 16

Question 20

Possible ethical issues considering they were under 16

Answer 20

• valid consent
• risk of stress, humiliation, anxiety and pain
• confidentiality
• use of ethical guidelines

Question 21

What were the stages of moral development which he identified?

Answer 21

1- pre- convectional
2- convectional
3- post-convectional

Question 22

How regularly were they interviewed?

Answer 22

Every 3 years

Question 23

androcentric

Answer 23

focused on men- more important than women