Development of Moral Reasoning in the Context of Intelligence and Socio-Economic Status Following Value Clarification

Abstract

In the present experimental study an attempt has been made to study the effect of Value Clarification Model on Moral Reasoning of Children in Relation to Socio Economic Status and Intelligence. The sample comprised 100 subjects studying in 9th class from Bahadurgarh and surrounding rural areas. Some standardized moral dilemmas by Raths, Kohlberg and others and adapted by the investigators were used to test moral reasoning among children. Treatment for one month was given to the subjects in each school to clarify their values with the help of some moral dilemmas which were different from the ones used in Pre-test. After the treatment was over the students were Post-tested on the moral dilemmas used in Pre-test to see the effect of training/treatment on development of moral reasoning. To obtain data on independent variables of the study like intelligence and socio-economic status standardized tools were used. Mean, S.D and t values were computed for testing the significant difference between students(Note 1) performance in pre and post test and the mean gain scores of the subjects. The following conclusions were drawn:-

•    Value Clarification technique has a positive significant effect on the development of moral reasoning of Children.

•   Socio economic status of children does not have a significant effect on the   development of moral reasoning as a result of value clarification.

•    Intelligence has a positive significant effect on the development of moral reasoning of children as a result of value clarification.