Two interpretations are presented of the social dimensions of consumer education: the social/political interpretation and the personal/moral interpretation. Both contain a moral dimension involving questions of obligations and responsibilities to others. (MD)

Using step-wise multiple regression analyses, regression equations were generated for sixty school age subjects with choice and stage of moral reasoning on moral dilemmas as the dependent variables. The implications of the findings for further research and curriculum were discussed. (Editor/RK)

Ideology hinders compromise between proponents of character education and multicultural education. The future lies in seeking common ground, which will not be the same for all communities, must meet constitutional requirements, and will not please all stakeholders. (SK)

Adolescents were administered classical and practical moral dilemmas. They were asked to judge the actions of others (judgments), and to reach a personal decision and justify what they would do (deliberation). Stage of moral reasoning for deliberation on practical dilemmas was lower than moral judgment on classical dilemmas. (Author/RD)

This study examined a group of white middle class adolescents from a high school where there exists a significant sub-group who engages in activities whose purpose is to reform society and protest what they see as social or moral injustices. (Author/RK)

Explores reasons for the current ineffectiveness of moral education and offers an alternative perspective on the proper purpose and methods for moral education. This ideal moral education is based primarily on the belief that social interactions during childhood are highly significant in the development of morality and on the functionalist…

Reported research uses stepwise multiple regression analyses to generate regression equations for 60 school age subjects with choice of right action and stage of moral reasoning on moral dilemmas as the dependent variables. Age, IQ, socioeconomic status, awareness of consequences, empathy, and mean moral maturity scores were used as predictor…

Within the field of community services it is widely accepted that reflection is an important factor in personal and sociomoral development. The purpose of this research was to determine if a particular form of reflection-decision making with an emphasis on the ethical nature of community-has special value in achieving service-learning goals. (BF)

Interpretations from a body of research on the influence of social studies curriculum on socio-moral development are presented. Research areas in the socio-moral domain commonly focus on a moral dilemma discussion approach, classroom climate and controversial issues in the social studies, community service/social action, and cooperative learning.…

Based upon the theory of moral stages devised by educational psychologist Lawrence Kohlberg, this report examines the influence of the social situation on principled moral reasoning and on cheating. Research assessed the level of moral reasoning for 152 college juniors and seniors using Rest's Defining Issues Test (1976) in which levels of low,…

A total of 59 studies were reviewed, 33 focusing on values clarification and 26 on moral development. The research on values clarification indicated that little or no confidence is warranted regarding its potential curricular effectiveness. However, the research base for the moral development approach indicated that cautious optimism is…

Reviews research on the effect of school climate on the social development of early adolescents and on three curricular programs (values clarification, moral development, and cooperative learning). Concludes that schools can positively influence socio-moral development through non-traditional schooling, i.e., open and democratic environments,…

To show that there are crucial assumptions of the cognitive-developmental approach to moral education made about the nature of moral reasoning which may not be warranted, sixty public school students randomly selected from two middle schools and two high schools, were interviewed on twelve different dilemmas. Transcripts of the interviews,…

Argues that law-related education should move beyond teaching the mechanics and issues of government and include those concepts of civic virtue incorporated within democracy. Notes that students need philosophical and moral content as well as experiential learning. (MJP)