In a 2014 paper in "Theory and Research in Education," Howard Curzer and colleagues critique the Defining Issues Test of moral judgment development according to eight criteria that are described as difficulties any measure of educational outcomes must address. This article highlights how Curzer et al. do not consult existing empirical…

Theories of legal socialization can be classified as either content or process models. The present paper suggests that the latter suffer from two major misconceptions: a lack of interest in the behavioral consequences of legal judgments, and the assumption that judgments are the causes of action. (MS)

Addresses whether value change over the life course is a result of period shifts or individual maturation and differences in values among age strata are a function of cohort experience or individual maturation. Shows that on only one of the four dependent measures was aging directly implicated. (Author)

This paper focuses on crime in American society, with emphasis on the causes of crime and delinquent behavior. A brief overview of numerous theories which have been advanced to explain causes of crime begins the paper. Among the theories discussed are those based on alcoholism, poverty, and perceived social injustice. Maintaining that these…

This review examines research in moral and spiritual development during the adolescent years, with a primary focus on Piaget's and Kohlberg's theories. It begins by presenting definitions of morality and then discusses theories of moral development set forth by Piaget, Elkind, and Kohlberg. Theories of Piaget and Kohlberg are briefly compared.…

This book discusses the moral development theories of Piaget and Kohlberg and presents practical applications of these theories for teachers and parents. The author's purpose in writing the book is to present an exposition of the work of these men to the general reading public. Chapter titles are Introduction to Developmental Theories, presenting…

Psychology as a discipline can support claims for the objectivity and necessity of values as well as point to some effective modes of values transmission. The problem today in higher education is size, lack of consensus in ideals, and conflicting purposes. The solution is to form small groups within the mass. (JMD)

An original purpose of higher education in the United States was personal development through acculturation to the classics and to moral principles. Other purposes, those of economics, political orientation, and service, have frequently overshadowed that original goal. It may be that higher education institutions have neglected personal…

Research on the values clarification and moral development approaches to values education is reviewed. The purpose of the research, sample, treatment duration, instrumentation, effects of treatment, internal and external validity problems, major strengths and weaknesses, and confidence in researcher's claims are provided for each study. Further…

Various approaches to educational philosophy and developmental psychology are described. The purpose of the monograph was to review educational philosophy and developmental psychology in relation to educational methodology. The paper is presented in five sections. Section one, the introduction, explains the role of schools in transmitting social…

Four theoretical approaches to moral/citizenship education are described and compared. Positive and negative aspects of the cognitive-decision, developmental, prosocial, and values approaches are discussed and ways of relating the four approaches to each other are suggested. The first approach, cognitive-decision, is distinctive for its…

This document examines some of the major theoretical considerations and pedagogical applications of values education. In six chapters, the author reviews relevant developmental psychology literature and explores the major sociological dimensions of values education. "The Development of Values as an Educational Objective" summarizes…

Methodology related to Lawrence Kohlberg's theory of moral development has been continuously refined by creation and evaluation of additional research instruments. Instruments have been tested at summer scoring workshops presented by Kohlberg and his staff at the Center for Moral Education, Harvard University, in 1972, 1973, and 1976. Instruments…

The document examines underlying issues related to moral philosophy and points out recent trends in moral education. The main purpose of the document is to provide background information for classroom educators in Australia as they develop moral education programs. The booklet is presented in eight chapters. Chapter I introduces the controversy…