Kohlberg

Question 1

What category of psychology does Kohlberg’s research fall under?

Answer 1

Developmental psychology

Question 2

What is the sample of Kohlberg’s research?

Answer 2

Kohlberg initially used 75 American boys aged 10-16.

Longitudinal study over 12 years. By the end of the research, the boys were aged 22-28.

Took additional samples from Great Britain, Canada, Taiwan, Turkey and Mexico.

Question 3

How many participants were used in the original study?

Answer 3

75 American boys

Question 4

How old were the boys at the start of the study?

Answer 4

10-16

Question 5

How long was the study?

Answer 5

12 years (longitudinal)

Question 6

What other countries did Kohlberg sample?

Answer 6

Great Britain, Canada, Taiwan, Turkey and Mexico.

Question 7

What dilemma did Kohlberg use?

Answer 7

Heinz dilemma

Question 8

What were the procedures of Kohlberg’s research ?

Answer 8

1. Kohlberg used interviews to assess the moral reasoning of the boys.
2. Kohlberg created nine hypothetical moral dilemmas (such as the Heinz dilemma).
3. Each participant was asked to discuss three moral dilemmas by answering a set of 10 open 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)”
4. Each boy was re-interviewed every three years.

Question 9

What is the first step in Kohlberg’s procedures?

Answer 9

Kohlberg used interviews to assess the moral reasoning of the boys.

Question 10

What is the second step in Kohlberg’s procedures?

Answer 10

Kohlberg created nine hypothetical moral dilemmas (such as the Heinz dilemma).

Question 11

What is the third step in Kohlberg’s procedures?

Answer 11

Each participant was asked to discuss three moral dilemmas by answering a set of 10 open 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)”

Question 12

What is the fourth step in Kohlberg’s procedures?

Answer 12

Each boy was re-interviewed every three years.

Question 13

What were the findings of Kohlberg?

Answer 13

There are three levels of morality: the pre-conventional level, the conventional level and the post conventional level.

Question 14

What is the pre-conventional level of morality?

Answer 14

Making decisions based on punishments and rewards. (Stage 1 and 2)

Question 15

What is the conventional level of morality?

Answer 15

Making decisions based on social norms and laws. (Stage 3 and 4)

Question 16

What is the post-conventional level of morality?

Answer 16

Making decisions based on their own personal beliefs. (Stage 5 and 6)

Question 17

What were the conclusions of Kohlberg?

Answer 17

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.