Kohlberg

Question 1

Kohlbergs aim

Answer 1

To provide research that would back up his theory of moral development as inspired by Piaget

Question 2

US sample

Answer 2

75 boys aged 10-16 until they were 22-28 (followed the same boys for 12 years)

Question 3

Procedure

Answer 3

1) Each boy presented with moral dilemmas every three years
2) Using the answers they were sorted into six categories, six being most morally developed
3) This formed his theory of stages of moral development

Question 4

How was the study longitudinal?

Answer 4

He followed a number of participants over an extended period of time

Question 5

How did Kohlberg decide which stage each participant was at?

Answer 5

If at least 50% of their responses to moral dilemmas fell into that stage

Question 6

Which countries did Kohlberg conduct the study in?

Answer 6

Taiwan, Turkey, Mexico, Malaysia, Canada, USA and the UK

Question 7

What were the three categories for the stages?

Answer 7

Pre-conventional (1&2)
Conventional (3&4)
Post-conventional (5&6)

Question 8

Stage one-obedience and punishment orientation

Answer 8

Child is responsive to cultural norms, but able to behave in an immoral way if an authority structure is missing

Question 9

Stage two-self-interest orientation

Answer 9

The child behaves in a self centred way

Question 10

Stage three-conformity to expectations and rules

Answer 10

Child is now seeking approval from others and begins to consider the intention of the act

Question 11

Stage four-authority and social order orientation

Answer 11

The child sees right behaviour as a duty to show respect and maintain social order

Question 12

Stage five-social contract orientation

Answer 12

Child now does what is right based on law and personal values/opinions. Sees laws as changeable

Question 13

Stage six-universal ethical principles

Answer 13

Child now bases judgement on universal human rights of justice, equality, reciprocity and respect for the individual

Question 14

Kohlbergs conclusions

Answer 14

-The stages follow an ‘invariant developmental sequence’
-‘All movement is forward in sequence, and does not skip steps’
-The nature of the sequence is universal
-Moral thought seems to behave like other thoughts-development with each one being a ‘better cognitive organisation than the one before’

Question 15

Internal reliability?

Answer 15

-Procedure standardised
-Each participant got the same dilemmas
-Ensured 50% of answers fit in the stage before allocating it

Question 16

External reliability?

Answer 16

-Large enough sample of 75, as well as samples from other countries

Question 17

Construct validity?

Answer 17

-Possible social desirability bias
-Possible demand characteristics
-Extraneous variables (education, upbringing, etc)
-The dilemmas may have been testing intelligence instead

Question 18

Population validity?

Answer 18

-Yes-study was carried out in multiple countries
-No-Study only done on males of a limited age group

Question 19

Ecological validity

Answer 19

-Hypothetical response may not be the same as a real life due to demand characteristics and real-life stress

Question 20

Ethnocentric?

Answer 20

-Yes-Initially assumed moral bias was the same for all based on US sample
-No-went on to do the study in other countries

Question 21

Ethical?

Answer 21

-No: PFH, potentially troubling dilemmas
-Yes:
Consent given by the boys
Could withdraw by not answering questions
Names kept confidential
Participants knew the study aim and weren’t lied to

Question 22

Advantages of cross-cultural studies

Answer 22

-Reduces ethnocentrism
-Makes study generalisable
-Comparisons can be made

Question 23

Disadvantages of cross-cultural studies

Answer 23

-Can be expensive to travel for research
-Time consuming/requires a lot of effort
-Practical issues-communication, etc
-Same procedure not always appropriate in every culture

Question 24

Advantages of longitudinal studies

Answer 24

-Allows you to see proper development in the same people
-Don’t need to get a new sample each time
-Less participant variables

Question 25

Disadvantages of longitudinal studies

Answer 25

-Participants may not still be available towards the end of the study
-Time consuming/long process
-Something could happen to participants-retention rate