Component 2: Lee et al (Developmental)

Question 1

What is the background to Lee et al.s study?

Answer 1

Previous research into children’s moral judgement were often conducted in Western cultures. Therefore, little is known about how moral judgement develops cross-culturally. Kholberg conducted cross-cultural research, but did not consider lie-telling as part of moral reasoning.

Question 2

What was the aim of Lee et al’s study?

Answer 2

To investigate if Chinese and Canadian children would rate truth and lie-telling differently in pro-social settings and share similar ratings in anti-social settings.

Question 3

What was the research method of Lee et al’s study?

Answer 3

Lab Experiment (IVs - Chinese or Candadian, the age 7.8 or 11 and the type of story, social or physical)
(DV - the rating given to the story characters deed/what the character said. Both rated on the scale very very good to very very naughty)
Repeated measures design - each child asked to read 4 scenarios and apply the same rating scale

Question 4

Describe the sample of Lee et al’s study?

Answer 4

120 Chinese children (unknown socio-economic status) - 40 7 year olds, 40 9 year olds and 40 11 year olds - equal gender in each - 60 assigned to social story condition, 60 to physical story condition.
108 Canadian children (middle class) - 36 7 year olds. 40 9 year olds and 32 11 year olds - mixed gender - 56 assigned tio social story condition, 52 to physical story condition
Both were recruited from elementary schools and randomly allocated.

Question 5

Describe the procedure of Lee et als study?

Answer 5

1. Each participant was tested individually
2. Participants was first instructed about the meanings of words and symbols on the 7 point rating chart
3. Participants read either 4 social or 4 physical stories
4. The rating given to the story characters deed was always given first, then the rating of what was said
5. The meaning of each symbol was repeated every time a question was asked
6. Order effects - order of tasks may impact performance - counterbalance was used by randomly allocating stories one of two orders. Half the children did each order.

Question 6

What were the results of Lee et al’s study?

Question 7

What were the conclusions of Lee et al’s study?

Answer 7

1. There are significant differences in moral perception of telling the truth (or lie) in pro-anti social situations between collectivist (China) and individualist (Canada) cultures.
2. Moral development depends on cultural and social norms