Moral development : an objective measure of moral judgement in college student personnel administrators

The major purpose of this study was to ascertain if there were differences in moral reasoning among administrative levels of college student personnel administrators (CSPA). The study further examined four corollary questions related to demographics of CSPA: age, education, sex and race.

The Defining Issues Test (DIT) was used to assess the moral judgment development of CSPA. Data were collected from 479 subjects through a nationwide survey in 1981-1982. A five-way analysis of variance was used in conjunction with the Scheffe Multiple Range Test as a follow-up procedure for significant one-way differences among the administrative levels.

The principle findings in this study are as follows:

1. There were statistically significant differences between the administrative levels of responsibility and moral reasoning assessment of CSPA on the DIT P and D scores. The P score results revealed that chief (1st level) and assistant (3rd level) reasoned at a higher level than associate (2nd level) CSPA. In contrast, the D score / results revealed that associates and assistants rather than chief CSPA reasoned at higher levels.

2. There were no statistically significant differences between the age groups and levels of moral reasoning in CSPA on either DIT P and D scores.

3. There were statistically significant differences between the educational levels and moral reasoning of CSPA on the D score; whereas, the P score showed no difference, the CSPA who held the doctorate degree reasoned at a higher level than did the master's degreed administrators.

4. There were statistically significant differences between the sex and moral reasoning of CSPA on the D score; whereas, the P score showed no difference. The CSPA who were males rather than females reasoned at a higher level.

5. There were statistically significant differences between the race and moral reasoning of CSPA on the D score; whereas, the P score showed no difference. The CSPA who were black rather than those who were white reasoned at a higher level.