Structural Definition but Atomistic Measurement? Aligning Theory and Method in Moral Competence Research

• In Event: Roundtable Session 41
  In Roundtable Session: Issues in Assessment and Definition of Goals of Moral Education

Abstract

When psychometric methods became available in moral psychological research, we hoped that this would advance empirical/scientific insights and education. Yet these very methods block progress because of the hidden psychological assumptions of classical test theory: First, as has been already shown, while morality is defined as acting in accordance with one’s internal moral orientations, test theory prescribes the use of external standards. Second, as I will argue here, while moral competence is defined as a structural property of behavior, test theory postulates that an isolated act reflects a personality trait like moral competence, and discards all structural pro¬perties of behavior as “measurement error.” Lind’s (1982) concept of Experimental Questionnaire aligns the theory and methodology of moral psychological research.

Author

• Georg Lind, University of Konstanz