Presenter:  Terri Robinett
Presentation type:  Poster
Presentation date/time:  7/26  5:30-6:30
 
Mathematical Support for Kohlberg's Moral Stage Theory: Applying a Model of Hierarchical Complexity and Rasch Analysis
 
Terri Robinett, College of the Desert
 
Studies based on Kohlberg's moral development stages have concluded that political liberals tend to operate within higher principled stages of moral reasoning while conservatives operate at lower conventional levels. Critics argue that Kohlberg's concept of developmental stage is invalid as well as the instruments used to measure it. In order to support the notion of developmental stages, this study utilized the Model of Hierarchical Complexity (MHC) to relate an individual's performance on multiple measures of moral reasoning to a mathematical order of hierarchical complexity. Moral dilemma test items from various standardized performance-based tests which are typically scored using predetermined subjective criteria were used. A mathematical order of hierarchical complexity was applied to each item and then the results were analyzed using the Rasch analysis. Overall results indicated that with a few specific exceptions, there was no relationship between the order of hierarchical complexity and political identification. These findings are in opposition to earlier studies however they do provide objective, empirical support for Kohlberg's moral stage theory. Future research is needed to compare the results of traditional moral reasoning tests with the hierarchical methodology used in this study. Hierarchical complexity may prove to be a valuable tool to objectively measure individual differences in other realms of social science.