Kohlberg

• Methodology evaluation


  Interviews allowed Kohlberg to ask supplementary questions.Children cannot easily complete written self report methods and this method is susceptible to researcher bias.

  Hypothetical moral dilemmas: an artificial environment, what the boys think they’d do not what they’d actually do. Likely not relevant to the boys lives they cannot relate to the scenarios - eg Heinz scenario with stealing drug for his wife. However did allow an objective comparison across sample. Different moral dilemmas with different pps , different qs at different ages
• Methodology of Kohlberg


  Longitudinal study, interviews every 3 years over 10 years.
• Kohlberg Sample


  75 American boy aged 10-16. Were 22-28 by end of study

  pps also studied in GB Canada, Mexico, Taiwan and Turkey
• Kohlberg procedures

  • Every 3 years, boys presented with hypothetical moral dilemma
  • EG Is it better to save the life of one important person or a lot of unimportant people
  • Answers analysed and themes identified to create stage theory.
  • Boys stage of thought determined across 25 moral concepts
  • Some dilemmas altered to apply to different cultures
• Kohlberg findings

  • Moral development made up of 3 levels with 2 stages in them.
  • Not all pps progress to sage 6 but everyone went through stages in order
  • Middle class boys moved through quicker than lower class boys, but lower class boys quicker than ‘village boys’
  • Order of each stage is the same across cultures but slower in Mexico and Taiwan than USA
  • No difference between religions
• Kohlberg pre-conventional level


  stage 1- Oriented towards punishment and obedience

  Stage 2- Instrumental satisfaction of own needs.
• Kohlberg conventional level


  Stage 3- Good boy/good girl orientation, avoid disapproval and dislike

  Stage 4- Oriented towards authority, rules and maintaining social order.
• Kohlberg Post conventional level


  Stage 5- Social-contract orientation- human rights

  Stage 6- Oriented towards decisions of conscience and self chose ethical principles