ERIC Number: EJ1055231
Record Type: Journal
Publication Date: 2015
Pages: 17
Abstractor: As Provided
ISBN: N/A
ISSN: ISSN-0305-7240
EISSN: N/A
Cognitive Underpinnings of Moral Reasoning in Adolescence: The Contribution of Executive Functions
Vera-Estay, E.; Dooley, J. J.; Beauchamp, M. H.
Journal of Moral Education, v44 n1 p17-33 2015
Adolescence is a developmental period characterized by intense changes, which impact the interaction between individuals and their environments. Moral reasoning (MR) is an important skill during adolescence because it guides social decisions between right and wrong. Identifying the cognitive underpinnings of MR is essential to understanding the development of this function. The aim of this study was to explore predictors of MR in typically developing adolescents (n = 92, 33 males, M = 16.3 years, SD = 2.2 years) and the specific contribution of higher order cognitive processing using an innovative visual MR assessment tool and measures of executive functioning and intelligence. MR maturity was correlated with four executive functions (cognitive flexibility, feedback utilization, conceptual reasoning, verbal fluency) and was predicted by four variables: age, intelligence, nonverbal flexibility and verbal fluency. Overall, these results contribute to a better understanding of MR during adolescence and highlight the importance of using innovative tools to measure social cognition.
Descriptors: Moral Values, Moral Development, Developmental Stages, Adolescents, Age, Intelligence, Nonverbal Ability, Verbal Ability, Decision Making, Predictor Variables, Executive Function, Visual Stimuli, Correlation, Intelligence Tests, Measures (Individuals), Social Cognition, Innovation, Measurement, Maturity (Individuals), Foreign Countries, Statistical Analysis
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Publication Type: Journal Articles; Reports - Research
Education Level: N/A
Audience: N/A
Language: English
Sponsor: N/A
Authoring Institution: N/A
Identifiers - Location: Canada
Identifiers - Assessments and Surveys: Trail Making Test
Grant or Contract Numbers: N/A