Suggests a dilemma confronts sociologists in the review and publication of their works. Claims that relying on peer review impedes the practice of open and fair judgments because social networks bind people to one another. Observes that peer review can limit new and critical thinking. Urges that manuscripts be judged on their own merits. (NL)

Assessed the moral reasoning of Israeli third and sixth graders living in a city or a kibbutz. Kibbutz children's direct reciprocity reasoning increased, while pragmatic reasoning increased with age only for kibbutz children. (Author/BB)

Addresses the role of comparison processes in the persistence of the gender wage gap, its toleration by those disadvantaged by it, and resistance to comparable worth as a corrective strategy. Argues that gender segregation and undercompensation for women's jobs leads women to use different comparison standards when evaluating what they deserve.…

Investigates the development of a perception of values in childhood. Perception of values is defined as being different than those of morality and conventions. Responses to seven scenarios are analyzed. Concludes that there is a distinct concept of values among children and that the instinct for this increases with age. (KO)

The headmaster of a private school contends that computer technology is being heralded as the savior of education. The time students spend with computer technologies is time they are not devoting to learning how to become ethically, morally, culturally, and functionally literate. (MLF)

This study investigated the levels of moral reasoning, ego identity formation, and gender role socialization among 167 gifted and talented high school seniors. No significant gender differences were found, but different ethnic groups were more variable on the Defining Issues test than on other measures. Students in general endorsed either…

Found that early adolescents use various models to make moral decisions. These include care (wishing others not to suffer), justice (decisions made according to principles), and narrowly concerned or selfish. Males and females used all three modes, with males being more likely to choose the narrowly concerned mode. (RJM)

Examined whether adolescents of authoritative parents exhibit a greater preference for postconventional moral reasoning than do adolescents of permissive or authoritarian parents. Subjects (75 high school and 67 undergraduate students) completed Rest's Defining Issues Test and Schaefer's Child Report of Parental Behavior Inventory. Results…

Reviews a book which describes the Sociomoral Reflection Measure-Short Form. Compares the test to that of Lawrence Kohlberg, pointing out benefits and drawbacks of the test, and concludes the test represents a notable advance in the measurement of Kohlberg's first four stages of moral development. (TM)

The Piagetian conceptualization of autonomy as the ability to decide between right and wrong in the moral sense and between truth and falsehood in the intellectual sense is considered as the aim of education. The implications of the goal of autonomy are discussed for school psychologists. (SLD)

Analysis of scholastic test information and scores on the Defining Issues Test (DIT) of moral judgment for 122 eighth graders found a wide variation in DIT scores among high cognitive ability subjects, but no high scores among low ability subjects, suggesting that high cognitive ability is necessary but not sufficient for high moral judgment. (DB)

Interviews 46 British children, ages 8 to 11, to test their understanding of showing off. Confirms prediction that younger childrens' understanding of motivation for showing off is based on psychological determinants and that 11-year-olds' understanding focuses on interpersonal determinants. Also discusses children's understanding of emotional…

Discusses libraries' participation in consortia, cooperatives, or networks to help cope with the financial pressures created by more available materials and less money. Reasons for participating are examined, factors to determine the value of belonging are suggested, cost factors are considered, and cooperative collection development is described.…

Assessed the relationship between a measure of consolidation and transition in moral-judgment development and utility of moral concepts in sociomoral decision making in multiple cross-sectional and longitudinal samples. Found that participants' reliance on a Kohlbergian moral framework was highest during periods of consolidation and lowest during…

Investigates the attitudes and values that children and adolescents hold with respect to nature and the patterns of reasoning with which they are expressed. Outlines current positions in environmental ethics, discusses difficulties in applying contemporary theories of moral development to the problem, and summarizes preliminary results of the…