Study On Moral Reasoning Of Social Events In Elementary And Secondary School Students

In the recent years, alarming social events, such as Penyu Case, occurred frequently. These social events keep reminding the educators and administrators to take actions in the construction of social morality. And while the elementary and secondary school students stay in the key period of their moral character formation, their moral quality has impressionable plasticity. Therefore, it is of great significance to strengthen the moral construction of elementary and secondary school students. As an important part of moral thinking, moral reasoning has a direct impact on the moral behaviors of elementary and secondary school students. Thus, studying on the development of moral reasoning of elementary and secondary school students is significant not just for the enrichment of relevant theories, but also for the enhancement of student's moral character.In this study, in-depth interviews with elementary and secondary school students are conducted in the way of qualitative research. Through further investigation on moral reasoning, this study aims to reveal the current situation and characteristics of moral reasoning among elementary and secondary school students, and to put forward relevant countermeasure in the moral education of elementary and secondary school students. The study selects four frequently-occurring social events as the dilemma situations of pro-social behavior, to examine how the subjects make moral judgment and undertake the process of moral reasoning. In the study, a semi-structured interview was carried out among 15 students of grade 5,14 students of grade 8 and 14 students of grade 11. Through the generalization and analysis of interview materials, the author finally reached several conclusions as follows:Firstly, the findings show that students have possessed a relatively stable moral sense ever since grade 5. Their moral reasoning resembled in four selected situations, which indicates that the students are able to recognize the significance of value of life as well as the consciousness to fulfill social obligations.Moreover, level of moral reasoning among elementary and secondary school students is found to improve with the increase of grades.In terms of different grade levels, students of grade 5 showed a relatively obvious consciousness to help others, while students of grade 8 indicated a comparatively specific awareness of responsibility and students of grade 11 further presented more interiorized moral values, signifying a tremendous progress in student's moral reasoning and internalization of moral values.Additionally, the study revealed that the development level of moral reasoning of elementary and secondary school students are largely in line with Kohlberg's theory and in the stage of custom of Kohlberg's moral development level. Nevertheless, under the specific background of China's culture and school environment, there are several characteristics cannot be ignored:Students of grade 5 place greater emphasis on the consciousness to help others. In their opinion, in face of people in need, there should not be hesitation to lead a helping hand.Students of grade 8 have already integrated the quality of respecting the old and caring for the young into their personal values, which fully embodies of the profound influence of traditional Chinese virtue upon moral development.Students of grade 11 showed much more explicit social orientation in their moral reasoning, with an emphasis on social obligations and relationships as well as greater concerns on others.