Doctoral Dissertations

Date of Award

8-1992

Degree Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Philosophy

Major

Education

Major Professor

A. Paul Wishart, Glenn C. Graber

Committee Members

Rem B. Edwards, Ed Roeske

Abstract

The legal and ethical issues generated from the changing public attitudes, law, and decision-making regarding life and death was the focus of this research study. The primary purpose of the study was to examine the perceptual differences of educators, physicians, and ethicists concerning five life-taking or life-giving issues

abortion

capital punishment

euthanasia

artificial procreation, and right to die/advance directives

The comparative study attempted to conclude two major determinants:

(1) Was there a significant difference between the normative philosophical position of leading ethicists and the perceptions of educators and physicians regarding these issues; and

(2) How consistent was the philosophical value of the educator's and physician's belief system?

Fundamentally the purpose of this research study was to understand in as many domains as possible what people meant and what they felt when they favored or opposed life and death issues.

The project was designed to develop a survey instrument for assessing the perceptions of three groups in a parallel study: (1) an expert sample group of leading ethicists, (2) a random sample of instructional staff from Knox County School System, and (3) a random sample of physicians from the Knoxville Academy of Medicine.

Data for the research were collected utilizing a self-administered, self-report sixty item questionnaire through a mail survey. The data were analyzed via item analysis and concept analysis applying t-tests, Pearson's Product Moment Correlation, MANOVA, ANOVAS, Factor Analysis of Variance, and Discriminant Analysis.

Results of the study were based on a response rate of : (1) 24 ethicists (83%), (2) 371 physicians (72%), and (3) 238 educators (70.4%). Analysis of the data provided substantial evidence for the following conclusions:

(1) The bioethics survey instrument developed was a useful quantitative index of reasoning about life-taking and life-giving issues.

2) A significant difference existed between the normative philosophical position of leading ethicists and the perceptions of educators and physicians regarding these issues (p < 0.05).

3) The intercorrelation matrix provided evidence to support the consistency of the philosophical value of the sample populations' belief system.

Evidence was also provided that identified areas of consensual agreement and that inferred the issues due to scientific advancements were too complex to attempt to assess through single item inquiry. However, the citizenry when enlightened could understand the aspects surrounding the issues adequately to actively participate in the decision-making process to shape public policy.

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