Draws on evidence from Alverno College's (Milwaukee, Wisconsin) longitudinal research to make the case that the Defining Issues Test (DIT) is best characterized as measuring growth in moral reasoning rather than a broader construct of moral development. Challenges current DIT theory, but is consistent with prevailing interpretations of growth on…

Examines the level of moral development and empathy in adult male sex offenders. Male sex offenders (n=21) and male physical assaulters (n=30) were assessed using the Defining Issues Test and the Interpersonal Reactivity Index. Results indicate significant differences between group means and norm group means on two dimensions of empathy. (JPS)

In both purpose and practice, general education in American higher education has experienced several recurring debates and national revivals. In a world with constantly evolving technology, students need a strong general education to be flexible and adaptable to the changes of the world. General education is an important component and requirement…

The relation of moral reasoning to moral behavior has been the subject of a substantial number of empirical studies; it may be more productive to employ a configuration of characteristics to predict moral behavior. To investigate the relation of moral reasoning and personality variables to moral behavior, 74 undergraduates, 30 males and 44…

Reports on a study of the effect of community service on 71 undergraduate students. Finds that community service work combined with discussion of relevant moral issues is an effective way of moving students into the postconventional stage of principled moral reasoning. Discusses other benefits of community service work. (CFR)

This paper discusses a cross-sectional study that assessed the moral development profiles of undergraduate pharmacy students (n=71) using Rest's Defining Issues Test. Analysis showed no significant difference in mean level of principled moral reasoning between first and fourth professional year undergraduate students. (GLR)

This study provides an independent assessment of the reliability, validity, and design of the Defining Issues Test. (Author/SB)

Six stages of moral development are outlined and the moral development of 16 ex-offenders living in a halfway house is examined. Usable Defining Issues Test profiles obtained from eight subjects suggest that discussion involving moral dilemmas is a fruitful area for counselors to explore with ex-offenders. (NRB)

Gifted adolescents who attended a one-month intensive summer institute were administered the Defining Issues Test, which measures levels of moral development. Results indicated that the students (n=167) received scores above the norm for their age range. (Author/JDD)

Replicates and extends to older adolescents previous findings of factorial independence between IQ and daydreaming in both gifted and average children and young adolescents. Also aims to relate to the development of moral reasoning ability research findings of a decline in guilt and fear-of-failure daydreams among children, adolescents, and…

Reports the results of an experiment in which 146 college freshmen were asked either to fake bad answers, fake good answers or record their own views on the Defining Issues Test. Findings indicated that students could not fake higher scores, but could fake bad scores. (SDH)

Fourteen moral judgment intervention studies, representing all those presently known to the author, were reviewed and evaluated. All used Rest's Defining Issues Test (DIT) to evaluate Kolhberg's stage theory of moral development. The DIT had been administered in programs for social studies and civics, general psychological development, and moral…

Multidimensional scaling and factor analysis were applied to Rest's objective test of Kohlbergian moral development. The responses of 160 junior high, senior high, college undergraduate, and graduate students were analyzed in order to investigate whether stage and item scores displayed a hierarchial sequential structure. (Author/SS)

A comparison of the two leading indices of moral development, the Defining Issues Test and the Moral Dilemma Interview, was made using 215 subjects ranging in age from 12 to 25. Correlation between the two tests was low when age, socioeconomic status, and intelligence variables were partialed out. (Author/SS)