Master's Theses

Document Type

Thesis - campus only access

Date of Award

Summer 1980

Degree Name

Master of Science (MS)

Department

Psychology

Advisor

Robert Markley

Abstract

Values and moral judgment clearly seem somehow linked and cannot be studied with total independence. No research found, however, empirically or experimentally examined this relationship. It was hypothesized that, specific human values should have different rankings as a function of differing levels of moral development. Volunteers, 31 male and 37 female, were given Rest's Defining Issues Test (DIT), and Rokeach's Value Survey, Form D, to determine the moral development level and the values considered most and/or least important by each subject. The original hypothesis was not general l y supported. Only three values, Inner harmony, a sense of accomplishment, and Social recognition, were significantly correlated (Pearson r) with DIT P scores. Four values, a sense of accomplishment, Inner harmony, Cheerful, and Courageous, jointly, were able to predict DIT P scores (R = .53). The total group (N=64) ranked Honest, Loving, and Responsible of greatest importance (x = 1 through 5), with Imaginative, Social recognition, and Obedient of least importance (x = 14 through 18). Male and female subject's DIT P scores were not significantly different, although males ranked A world at peace, Freedom, Courageous, and Polite of greater importance than females, while females ranked Inner harmony, True friendship, and Loving of greater importance than males ([alpha]<= .05). Subjects at the principled level of moral development tend to rank Inner harmony, and a sense of accomplishment of great importance, with Social recognition being ranked of least importance. The opposite tends to be true for subjects at the preconventional level of moral development. This study has layed a foundation for continued research into the relationship of moral development and human values.

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Rights

© 1980 Pam Hyde Kingsley

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