Lee et al. (1997)

Question 1

Background and Theory

Answer 1

Children’s moral judgements about lying and truth telling primarily rely on the extent to which a verbal statement di ers from factuality and whether or not the lie is punished. Not until around 11 years of age do children begin to use the protagonist’s intention as the key factor of their moral judgements (Piaget 1932/1965).

Question 2

Aim

Answer 2

To test the posited effect of culture on children’s moral evaluations of lying and truth telling by comparing the moral judgements of Canadian and Chinese children in situations in which pro- and antisocial situations were denied or acknowledged.

Question 3

Sample

Answer 3

• 108 Canadian children and 120 Chinese children
• aged 7,9 or 11 yrs.
• both males and females.
• Chinese children recruited from elementary schools in Hangzhou
• Canadian children where from middle class families and were also recruited from elementary schools.

Question 4

Procedure

Answer 4

1. The children were read aloud 4 different stories written so they were familiar to school children of both cultures.
2. They were given a 7 point rating chart from very, very good to very, very naughty with an option of neither good or naughty.
3. The questions were repeated after the second part of the story involving lie or truth telling were read.

Question 5

Findings

Answer 5

1. There is a close relationship between socio-cultural practices and moral judgement concerned with lying and truth telling, e.g. The Chinese children rated truth telling less positively and lie telling as more positively in pro-social settings, compared to Canadian children, indicating that the emphasis on modesty in Chinese culture overrides evaluations of lying in pro-social situations.
2. Both Chinese and Canadian children show similar moral evaluations of lie telling and truth telling related to antisocial behaviours, this is because across all cultures we have the same view that hurtful behaviours are wrong.
3. Specific social and cultural norms have an impact on children’s developing moral judgement, which in turn, are modified by age and experience in a particular culture, e.g. Overall, negative ratings increased with age, irrespective of culture.