Kohlberg's "The Child as Moral Philosopher"

Example exam questions: Describe the methodology and procedures [of the study] (10 marks) Describe the findings + conclusions [of the study] (10 marks) Evaluate the methodology [of the study] (10 marks) "Kohlberg investigated the development of moral reasoning in children...""In Kohlbergs study of development of moral reasoning of children he found that ....""As a result of this, Kohlberg was able to conclude that .."

Methodology Longitudinal study over a period of 40 years Collected qualitative data through interviews Made cross-culture comparisons Study involved 75 American Boys Asked between the ages of 10 - 16 years and then again between 22 - 28 years Used the same proceedure in multiple countries including GB

Procedure 9 hypothetical moral dilemmas Heinz Dilemma - Mans wife has cancer, steals drug from pharmacist The dilemmas were discussed, prompted with 10+ open questions Answers analysed and common themes developed Re interviewed participants every 3 years

Findings: 3 Levels of Morality, each with two distinct stages in each Stages are moved through at various speeds, people may stop at any stage but no stages are skipped Younger children are typically at the preconventional level and progress through as they grow up Benefit of moral conversations Similarities between other cultures Preconventional Level Well behaved Accept rules Actions are judged by their consequences Decisions fulfill their needs Conventional LevelStill conforming to rules but for social approvalPost-conventional Level Autonomous moral principles Laws are more flexible and relative

Conclusions: Everyone goes through the same stages Each stage is better cognitively organised than the stage before it People who engage in moral conversation are encouraged to move up to higher levels of thinking "The man who understands justice is more likely to practice it"