4 paper to complete. see folder

Name: ________________________

MORAL REASONING INTERVIEW FOR A CHILD

Procedure: After you have obtained permission from the child's parents and explained the project, show or read the following moral dilemma to the child and ask the questions that follow.

Age of child _________ Sex of child _________

Kenny is walking to the store. It's his mother's birthday on Saturday. He's feeling bad because he hasn't been able to save up enough money to get her the present he'd like to give her. Then, on the sidewalk, he finds a wallet with $10 in it -- just what he needs to buy the present! But there's an identification card in the wallet telling the name and address of the owner.

1. What should Kenny do? Why?

2. What would be a good reason for Kenny to return the wallet? Can you think of any other reasons?

3. Would it be stealing to keep the money? Why is it wrong to steal?

4. What if the owner of the wallet were rich and greedy and wouldn't even give Kenny a reward for returning it -- should he return the wallet then?

MORAL REASONING INTERVIEW FOR AN ADULT

Procedure: Read the following dilemma to the adult. Then ask him or her the questions that follow.

Age of adult _________ Sex of adult _________

Sharon and Jill were best friends. One day they went shopping together. Jill tried on a sweater and then, to Sharon's surprise, walked out of the store wearing the sweater under her coat. A moment later, the store's security officer stopped Sharon and demanded that she tell him the name of the girl who had walked out. He told the storeowner he had seen the two girls together and was sure the one who left had been shoplifting. The storeowner said to Sharon, "Come on now, come clean. You could get into serious trouble if you don't give us your friend's name."

1. Should Sharon tell Jill's name to the security officer? Why?

2. Would it make any difference if Jill had recently done a big favor for Sharon?

3. Would it make a difference if they were not good friends?

4. What factors should Sharon consider in making her decision?

COMPARING MORAL REASONING

How did the responses of the child and the adult differ in terms of maturity of moral judgments? Were you surprised by anything they said?

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