Examines children's conceptions of parental authority. A total of 120 children were interviewed and asked to evaluate social events (stealing, family chores, friendship choice) pertaining to restraint of behavior and maintenance of parental rule systems. Results suggest that children's notions of authority are heterogeneous with respect to the…

University of Arizona employees (N=182) participated in studies of the valuation of fringe benefits. Findings include a lack of employee knowledge regarding employer cost and market value of the studied benefit and undervaluation of the benefit by employees. Findings are consistent with the hypothesis that employee benefit valuations anchor on…

Examines the ethical complexity of practical problems encountered in counseling. Two processes--critical reflection and dialogue--working together in continuing development of professional responsibleness, are shown to heighten ethical sensitivity and enhance moral judgment making. (Author/BL)

Since designers and artists use stochastic processes in making aesthetic decisions, computers operating in a random generate-and-test mode may be useful to simulate and enhance human creative endeavor. (RM)

Explores situational and cognitive-developmental factors affecting 223 high-school and college students' moral thinking and moral decision-making about a hypothetical dilemma. (MP)

A continuing problem in the study of creativity is the identification of valid criteria for creativity. The model proposes the criteria for the creative product and person. The model is of value in discussions of the extent to which children are or can be creative. (Author/TLJ)

Two studies used a modification of the weakly interpretive scoring method of Langford and D'Cruz to examine judicial and legislative reasoning. Findings were in accord with modified versions of Piaget's and Kohlberg's views and contradicted Gibbs' theory. There were three stages of legislative reasoning between 7 and 21 years: heteronomy or…

Lists arguments for using corporal punishment in educational institutions and considers some advantages of its use. Asks when it should be used, who should be empowered to administer it, and why there are increasingly strong feelings against corporal punishment in some societies while others continue to use it. (BT)

Notes that technical communicators have developed different methodologies for evaluating the effectiveness of their work, such as editing, usability testing, and determining the value added. Explains that at least three broad value systems underlie the assessment practices: characteristic-based, task-based, and results-based. Concludes that the…

Children's moral judgments, attributions of emotion, and their associations were examined in hypothetical, prototypical situations and situations of provocation and peer retaliation. Children judged prototypical and provoked moral transgressions (hitting and teasing). Hypothetical moral transgressions were judged to be more serious and deserving…

Discusses the cognitive aspect of moral judgment. Considers the reductionist position that a judgment must conform to the canons of deductive logic to have epistemological value. Argues that moral thinking follows a different logic, requires other kinds of knowing, and demands a different type of rationality. (DMM)

Argues that the moral quality of rhetorical forms interpenetrates a social order. Explores these new notions of criticism and morality in an example, traces the grounds for the perspective in contemporary American rhetorical studies, discusses imperatives for the implied critical program, and considers the character of the involved rhetorical…

Examined relationship between Batson's (1976) three religious orientations (Means, End, Quest) and level of moral judgment. Graduate students (N=64) completed the Religious Life Inventory; the Gladding, Lewis, and Adkins Scale of Religiosity; and the Defining Issues Test. Findings support Batson's contention that Quest orientation defines more…

A study of youths (n=38) placed at a rural boys' ranch examined the relationship between their background and level of moral reasoning. Although no demonstrated relationships were noted among factors evaluated, documentation for the need of moral education resulted. (Author/JOW)

Compared the moral reasoning of 1,230 Finnish adolescents with that of 428 adolescents of the same age who grew up in Estonia during Soviet socialism with collectivist educational practices. Two levels of moral reasoning, a set of universal standards and a set for personal applications, were more likely to be found among Estonians. (SLD)