Kohlberg 1968 Study

Question 1

Briefly outline Kohlbergs methodology and procedure

Answer 1

• examined moral development in 72 working and middle class boys from Chicago in three year intervals from early adolescence to young manhood
• created a number of hypothetical dilemmas that presented conflict between moral issues
  —> develop 3 stage theory of moral development

Question 2

Advantages of Kohlbergs study

Answer 2

• cross cultural validity as tested across many cultures and successfully applied by Berk
• longitudinal study so could see clear changes in moral development over time
• multiple interviewers
  —> able to clarify questions which could increase internal validity
• detailed qualitative data

Question 3

Disadvantages of Kohlbergs study

Answer 3

• lacks ecological validity as hypothetical dilemmas used that also weren’t applicable to boys of that age ie marriage and children
• social desirability bias very possible in boys answers - poor research design
• sample is andocentric as all male and ethnocentric as all American
  —> it is likely it’d vastly differ between cultures and genders
  —> male definition of morality
• ethics: vulnerable age, consent?, harm?
• qualitative data hard to analyse

Question 4

Methodology used by Kohlberg

Answer 4

Case study
- longitudinal

Question 5

3 moral levels Kohlberg used to assess Ps

Answer 5

• pre conventional, conventional, post conventional

Question 6

Procedure of kohlberg

Answer 6

• nine hypothetical moral dilemmas
• conflict between 2 moral issues
• semi-structured interview
• analysed and general themes identified
• findings compared with other culturws