Reanalysing the factor structure of the moral foundations questionnaire.

Craig A Harper,Darren Rhodes

doi:10.1111/bjso.12452

Craig A Harper, Darren Rhodes

Open Access

https://doi.org/10.1111/bjso.12452

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Abstract

The moral foundations theory (MFT) is an influential multifactorial model that posits how decision-making in the moral context originates from a set of six intuitive moral foundations: care, fairness, authority, loyalty, purity, and liberty. The established measure of these foundations-the Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ)-has been used extensively in a range of empirical projects. However, recent analyses of its factor structure and the internal consistency of each of the foundation clusters have called its validity into question. In this paper, data from a large sample of British voters were used to re-examine the factor structure of the MFQ. As opposed to a 6-factor structure, only three meaningful clusters emerged in an exploratory principal factors analysis (Study 1; N=428): traditionalism, compassion, and liberty. This structure was broadly confirmed in an independent sample (Study 2; N=322). Concurrent validity was established via correlations with measures of 'social change' and 'systemic inequality' insecurities (Study 1) and voting behaviour and preferences (Study 2). Significant differences on each of the three factors of the revised MFQ (MFQ-r) were observed between the voters of different political parties (Study 1) and sides of the Brexit issue (Study 2). Implications for moral foundations theory and its measurement are discussed.

Highlights

Moral foundations theory (MFT; Haidt & Joseph, 2004) is a theoretical framework of moral decision-making
To summarize Study 1, we found that combining Iyer et al.’s (2012) liberty-related items with the existing Moral Foundations Questionnaire (MFQ) led to a 3-factor structure comprised on ‘Traditionalism’, ‘Compassion’, and ‘Liberty’ domains
Overview of key findings This paper has presented a reanalysis of the MFQ in response to criticisms about the measure’s unreliable factor structure (Davis et al, 2017; Iurino & Saucier, 2020; Kim et al, 2012; Kivikangas et al, 2017; Nilsson & Erlandsson, 2015; Yilmaz et al, 2016) and poor internal consistency at the foundation level (Graham et al, 2009, 2011, 2012; Harper & Hogue, 2019)

Summary

Introduction

Moral foundations theory (MFT; Haidt & Joseph, 2004) is a theoretical framework of moral decision-making. Liberals are said to endorse a ‘twochannel’ view of morality, with the focus in these individuals being on caring for the most vulnerable in society and acting fairly or equitably, whereas conservatives value all five of the original moral foundations at around the same level (see Graham et al, 2009, 2011, 2012; Johnson et al, 2017; Kugler, Jost, & Noorbaloochi, 2014; Rempala, Okdie, & Garvey, 2016) These high-level ideological differences are observable in self-reported voting preferences, with the leftward voting being predicted by higher levels of endorsement of ‘individualizing’ (care and fairness) foundations and rightward voting by endorsement of ‘binding’ (authority, loyalty, and purity) foundations (Franks & Scherr, 2015; Milesi, 2017). Instead of asking about loyalty to one’s country

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