kohlberg - how people change morals as they get older

Question 1

METHOD

Answer 1

• interviews
• cross cultural
• longitudinal

Question 2

PARTICIPANTS

Answer 2

• 75 american boys
• 10-16 and again at 22 + 28
• from britain, canada, taiwan, mexico and turkey

Question 3

PROCEDURE

Answer 3

• 9 hypothetical moral dilemmas
• each discuss 3 dilemmas with 10 open ended questions
• answers analysed + common themes found = stage theory
• reinterviewed every 3 years

Question 4

FINDINGS

Answer 4

• moral reasoning less focused on themselves as older/more on doing good for relationships
• mexico/taiwan same results but slower

Question 5

CONC

Answer 5

• stages = universal (people everywhere go through same stages in same order)
• each new stage = more logical/consistent/mature understanding

Question 6

EVALUATION: METHOD

Answer 6

✅ longitudinal = see clear changes in moral development
❌longitudinal = attrition = bias samples (certain people continue)
❌most dilemmas = unexperienced = no ecological validity

Question 7

EVALUATION: VALIDITY

Answer 7

❌lacks ecological validity = narrows morality and removes real life context
❌social desirability bias (look moral) + demand characteristics (act in way researcher wants them)

Question 8

EVALUATION: SAMPLE

Answer 8

✅large + results compared to other cultures = population validity
❌androcentric (white upper class boys)
suggested girls lack moral reasoning
gilligan - new study with boys and girls = girls emphasised care, relationships and context more instead of abstract rules

Question 9

EVALUATION: ETHICS

Answer 9

✅no deception = clear tasks and p’s aware
✅informed consent by all boys and parents
✅can withdraw (no pressure/distress)