Moral Reasoning Stages of Elementary School Students

Abstract

This study was designed to determine the elementary school students’ levels and stages of moral reasoning. Main objectives of the study were to measure the moral reasoning stages and to find out the gender differences in relation to moral reasoning. 200 students were selected as sample of the study. 100 students (50 boys, 50 girls) were selected from 5th and 8th grade from boys’ and girls’ schools. The responses of the students were interpreted to identify their stage of moral reasoning and it was found that, with a little variation, majority of the fifth graders, both male and female, was found to be at stage 2. While most of the students of class 8 were found at stage 4. No gender differences were found in moral reasoning among fifth and eighth grade students.