The Assessment of Moral Autonomy within a Multidimensional Approach to the Development of Moral Reasoning

Abstract

Abstract Four studies are reported using both a questionnaire and an interview focussed on the questionnaire items to assess the development of moral autonomy in a total of 720 respondents from 12 to 21 years of age. The studies were intended to extend the analysis of the development of moral autonomy offered by an existing multidimensional model of the development of moral reasoning. Results showed the need to add a dimension of individual differences to the single dimension currently used to describe autonomy‐related developmental changes in the content of judgements. A further dimension, indexing individual differences in use of justification types was also identified. It was found that justifications for moral judgements were more theoretical than in a Kohlberg‐style interview. A content‐related categorisation of justifications revealed a substantial connection between justification and judgement content.