Influence of Age and Schooling on the Development of Moral Judgment

Authors

  • Bonifacio Barba Casillas Departamento de Educación Universidad Autónoma de Aguascalientes

Keywords:

Development of moral judgment, professionals, principled moral reasoning, teachers of basic education, Kohlberg.

Abstract

This article presents an evaluation of the moral development of 111 professionals, 84 of which work in basic education. J. Rest’s Defining Issues Test was applied, and mean differences were assessed with the t test (alpha = 0.05). A regression analysis was done. Using the arithmetic means of the moral stages and of the postconventional moral index (P index) the moral profile of all the subjects were described in relation to four variables. The relationship of the P index with schooling, age and teaching level was analyzed, and the adults were compared with middle school and high school students.

The professionals have a profile of moral development with a prominence of stage 4 of moral judgment, a feature shared with the students. The former have equilibrium in the use of Rest’s moral judgment schematics as well as a greater postconventional moral growth than do the latter. Among the professionals there are significant differences in the P index related with schooling, age and work level. The association between age and postgraduate study is the weightiest factor in postconventional moral growth.

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References

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Published

2002-11-01