Hrpyc81 Final Research Report 4805 - Moral Development In Adolescents 94%

UNIVERSITY OF SOUTH AFRICA


HRPYC81 - Research Report

Assignment 27




Factors Influencing Moral Development in South African Adolescents

, Factors Influencing Moral Development in South African Adolescents


ABSTRACT ..................................................................................................................................
INTRODUCTION: .................................................................................................................................... 5

LITERATURE REVIEW......................................................................................................................... 6

Moral Development ............................................................................................................... 6




Identity Development ............................................................................................................ 8




Parent-Adolescent Relationship .......................................................................................... 10
Ethical Values, Morality and Peer Group ........................................................................... 11
Research Rationale .............................................................................................................. 11

RESEARCH AIMS: ..................................................................................................................................12

Primary Research Aim ........................................................................................................ 12
Secondary Research aim ..................................................................................................... 12
Third Research Aim ............................................................................................................ 13
Research Hypotheses ........................................................................................................... 13

RESEARCH METHODOLOGY: ........................................................................................................14

Sample and Sample Strategy ............................................................................................... 14
Data Collection Procedure................................................................................................... 15
Measurement instrument ..................................................................................................... 15




Reliability and Validity of Data Collection ......................................................................... 18




Quantitative Section ............................................................................................................ 19
Qualitative Section .............................................................................................................. 20


ETHICAL CONSIDERATION: ...........................................................................................................21


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, Factors Influencing Moral Development in South African Adolescents


RESULTS:....................................................................................................................................................22

Quantitative Results ............................................................................................................ 22
7.1.1 Relationship between Gender and Moral Development in Adolescents……………….22




Qualitative Results: ............................................................................................................. 23

CONCLUSION: .........................................................................................................................................25

Discussion of Research Findings ........................................................................................ 26
Strenghts and Limitations of Study ..................................................................................... 27
Recommendations for future research ................................................................................. 28

REFERENCES: ..................................................................................................................................................29

APPENDIX A: SIGNED CONSENT FORMS ..........................................................................................31




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, Factors Influencing Moral Development in South African Adolescents




Title: Factors Influencing Moral Development in South African Adolescents
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Key words: Moral Development, Identity Development, Parent-Adolescent Relationship
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Abstract

Different factors influence moral development in an adolescent’s life namely, gender, identity
development and parenting styles. Some of which have little to no empirical research. This study was
conducted to establish the relationship between morality and (1) gender, (2) identity development,
(3) parent-adolescent relationship and (4) acceptance of friends’ values. Quantitative and qualitative
data were collected. The sample consisted of 1387 adolescents in South Africa. A questionnaire was
administered to participants to investigate (1) moral development score, (2) identity development
score, (3) relationship with parents, and (4) extent to which they accept friends’ values. The results
indicate that there is: (1) no significant difference in moral reasoning scores for females and males
(T=-1.94, P=.135, two tailed); (2) a significant medium positive relationship between identity
development and moral development (r=.311, N=1220, P<0.01), (2) a significant small negative
correlation between mother-adolescent relationship (N = 1326, r= -0.159, p = 0.001), (3) an
extremely small negative non-significant correlation with the father adolescent relationship (N =
1223, r = -0.014, p = 0.635), (5) a small positive relationship between adolescents who accept their
friend’s values and development score (r= 0.27, N=1365, P=.311). Qualitative research data was
obtained through structured interviews with adolescents to establish how is it to be an adolescent in
the 21st century and their thoughts on the morality of young people. The results found that it is
intermediate to be an adolescent, it not difficult but also not easy. They also feel that morality of
young people is getting worse due to substance-use and family problems.




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