Moral Competence Research Articles

Formalization of Ethical Decision Making

As automation in robotics and artificial intelligence is increasing, we will need to automate a growing amount of ethical decision making. However, ethical decision-making raises novel challenges for designers, engineers, ethicists, and policymakers, who will have to explore new ways to realize this task. For example, engineers building wearable robots should take into consideration privacy aspects and their different context-based scenarios when programming the decision-making procedures. This in turn requires ethical input in order to respect norms concerning privacy and informed consent. The presented work focuses on the development and formalization of models that aim at ensuring a correct ethical behavior of artificial intelligent agents, in a provable way, extending and implementing a logic-based proving calculus. This leads to a formal theoretical framework of moral competence that could be implemented in artificial intelligent systems in order to best formalize certain parameters of ethical decision-making to ensure safety and justified trust.

Moral Competence and Self-Control: The Moderating Role of Personality Traits

Moral Competence and Self-Control: The Moderating Role of Personality Traits

Global citizenship and social justice among speech-language pathologists: A scoping review

IntroductionThis scoping review outlines the literature findings that relate to global citizenship and the interconnection between social justice among health professionals, specifically speech-language pathologists. The review aims to provide a synthesis of the relevant literature and thorough thematic identification of common themes. MethodArksey and O'Malley's scoping review framework was used for the searching of critical databases, specifically CINAHL, Medline, the Cochrane Library and Google Scholar. Following the appraisal and synthesis process of the relevant literature, key themes were identified with particular reference to social justice among health professionals (especially speech-language pathologists). ResultsFour (4) key themes were identified, namely, (i) education and ongoing developmental support, (ii) ethical and moral obligations, (ii) cultural competency, and (iv) community engagement for intergroup empathy and helping. ConclusionThis review defines the parameters of a speech-language pathologists’ practice as a global citizen interconnected with social justice and the accountabilities to enable impactful changes creating culturally sustaining practice.

From EU Robotics and AI Governance to HRI Research: Implementing the Ethics Narrative

In recent years, the European Union has made considerable efforts to develop dedicated strategies and policies for the governance of robotics and AI. An important component of the EU’s approach is its emphasis on the need to mitigate the potential societal impacts of the expected rise in the interactive capacities of autonomous systems. In the quest to define and implement new policies addressing this issue, ethical notions have taken an increasingly central position. This paper presents a concise overview of the integration of this ethics narrative in the EU’s policy plans. It demonstrates how the ethics narrative aids the definition of policy issues and the establishment of new policy ideas. Crucially, in this context, robotics and AI are explicitly understood as emerging technologies. This implies many ambiguities about their actual future impact, which in turn results in uncertainty regarding effective implementation of policies that draw on the ethics narrative. In an effort to develop clearer pathways towards the further development of ethical notions in AI and robotics governance, this paper understands human-robot interaction (HRI) research as a field that can play an important role in the implementation of ethics. Four different complementary pathways towards ethics integration in (HRI) research are proposed, namely: providing insights for the improvement of ethical assessment, further research into the moral competence of artificial agents, engage in value-based design and implementation of robots, and participation in discussions on building ethical sociotechnical systems around robots.

Moral reasoning and moral competence as predictors of cooperative behavior in a social dilemma

The level of moral development may be crucial to understand behavior when people have to choose between prioritizing individual gains or pursuing general social benefits. This study evaluated whether two different psychological constructs, moral reasoning and moral competence, are associated with cooperative behavior in the context of the prisoner's dilemma game, a two-person social dilemma where individuals choose between cooperation or defection. One hundred and eighty-nine Mexican university students completed the Defining Issues Test (DIT-2; measuring moral reasoning) and the Moral Competence Test (MCT) and played an online version of the prisoner’s dilemma game, once against each participant in a group of 6–10 players. Our results indicate that cooperative behavior is strongly affected by the outcomes in previous rounds: Except when both participants cooperated, the probability of cooperation with other participants in subsequent rounds decreased. Both the DIT-2 and MCT independently moderated this effect of previous experiences, particularly in the case of sucker-outcomes. Individuals with high scores on both tests were not affected when in previous rounds the other player defected while they cooperated. Our findings suggest that more sophisticated moral reasoning and moral competence promote the maintenance of cooperative behaviors despite facing adverse situations.

Being a master of metaphors

Being a master of metaphors

Moral distress reduction using moral case deliberation in Japan: A mixed-methods study.

This study aims to develop and examine the effectiveness of a support program for reducing moral distress of nurses, based on the moral case deliberation methodology, and to study the feasibility of its implementation. Study design was an intervention study with pre/post-comparison. The support program included a short lecture and three moral case deliberation sessions for nurses working in an acute care hospital. The Measure of Moral Distress for Healthcare Professionals (MMD-HP) and the Euro-MCD (Moral Case Deliberation) 2.0 scale were used for pre/post-comparison, using the Wilcoxon's signed-rank test. Furthermore, post-intervention interviews were conducted with consenting participants to determine the reasons for changes in pre/post-intervention quantitative data. Of the 34 participants, 29 completed the post-questionnaire and were included in the quantitative data analysis, and 27 were included in the qualitative data analysis. The mean MMD-HP total scores increased from 147.5 ± 61.0 to 159.3 ± 66.7, but not significantly (p=.375). The mean score of moral competence, a sub-scale of the Euro-MCD 2.0, increased significantly from 15.4 ± 2.4 to 16.4 ± 2.8 after the intervention (p=.036). A qualitative analysis revealed increased moral sensitivity to ethically difficult situations and improved analytical skills as the reasons for change in scores pre/post-intervention. The results of the qualitative analysis suggested the effectiveness of the intervention. The moral distress score increased, although not significantly, and moral competence also increased, suggesting the participants' values changed after the intervention. It was found that the support program using MCD is expected to improve participants' moral competence.

Development and Validation of a Scale to Assess Moral Disengagement in High-Carbon Behavior

The reduction of individual carbon consumption could make an important contribution to the worldwide effort to limit global warming. Based on Bandura’s theory of moral disengagement, we hypothesized that the propensity to morally disengage concerning high-carbon behaviors (e.g., eating meat or traveling by plane) is one important factor that prevents individuals from reducing their carbon footprint. To measure the propensity to morally disengage in high-carbon-related behavior contexts, a questionnaire (MD-HCB) was developed and psychometrically validated in an online study with a German sample (N = 220). Confirmatory factor analyses revealed that the final nine-item scale had a one-dimensional structure, as intended. The internal consistency of the scale was excellent (Cronbach’s α = 0.94) and the scale interpretation had predictive validity for both past low-carbon consumption behavior and the intention to engage in such behavior in the future. Correlational analyses with relevant existing instruments confirmed the construct validity of the interpretations that can be drawn from the MD-HCB, as its resulting score is related to, yet separable from, the general tendency to morally disengage and is meaningfully connected to related constructs. A pre-study with a student sample (N = 89) not only helped to identify limitations in the study design but also showed a weak predictive ability of moral competence concerning high-carbon consumption behavior and intention to change. Based on our findings, future media campaigns designed to increase people’s intention to reduce high-carbon behavior could focus on the modification of common cognitive disengagement strategies.

Integrated Model of Development of Environmental Moral Competence of Students

The article deals with the step-by-step implementation of the development of environmental moral competence in students, the main difference between the concept of competence and other related concepts. The educational process will also cover the development of students' responsibility for the environment and ecological environment through environmental knowledge, skills and abilities.

Integrated Model of Development of Environmental Moral Competence of Students

The article deals with the step-by-step implementation of the development of environmental moral competence in students, the main difference between the concept of competence and other related concepts. The educational process will also cover the development of students' responsibility for the environment and ecological environment through environmental knowledge, skills and abilities.

Trusting the Moral Judgments of a Robot:Perceived Moral Competence and Humanlikeness of a GPT-3 Enabled AI

Trusting the Moral Judgments of a Robot:Perceived Moral Competence and Humanlikeness of a GPT-3 Enabled AI

Exploring the Challenges Encountered and Strategies Employed by Nurses when Confronted with Moral Decisions: Implication on Moral Competence

Background: The public perceived negative attitudes and poor performance by some nurses, implying low moral competence levels. To determine how nurses handle moral issues in nursing practice, this study explored the challenges encountered and strategies employed by nurses when confronted with moral decisions. Methods: This study employed a qualitative research design utilizing in-depth interviews conducted by twenty nurse informants from hospitals in Iligan City, Philippines, recruited through a purposive sampling technique. A researcher-made interview guide with open-ended questions was utilized. The interviews were recorded, transcribed, and thematically analyzed. Results: The emergent themes are “predicaments toward patient and family issues” with two sub-themes (patient/family non-conforming decisions and dealing with emotionally burdened family members), “recognition of own weaknesses and shortcomings” with four sub-themes (infrequent performance of emotional care, insufficient provision of comfort, interference with the patient’s privacy, and delays in care due to prioritization), and “conflict with superiors”. Several strategies were employed to effectively address the moral challenges encountered. Conclusion: Moral competence is inherent in nurses, as they exhibit moral judgment and skills in overcoming the moral challenges encountered. However, there are moral issues beyond control in patient care. Therefore, hospital administrators may conduct a program to enhance the nurses’ competence to handle moral challenges and prevent moral distress, which will improve nursing practice.

Constructivist Perspective on Developing a Multidimensional Blended Teaching Model Fostering Deep Learning

To promote high-quality development of higher education, it is imperative to facilitate students’ transition from surface learning to deep learning. Compared with surface learning that focuses on rote memorization, deep learning emphasizes meaningful learning based on understanding and transfer. It involves three progressively advanced cognitive stages of knowing: "learning for understanding," "learning for application," and "learning for innovation," which ultimately enable the internalization, transfer, and creative application of knowledge. How to foster deep learning in students has been an urgent issue of higher education. This study, grounded in constructivist learning theory, explores a multidimensional blended teaching model fostering deep learning. It also develops an evaluation system assessing learning outcomes from the perspectives of ideological, political and moral education, knowledge, and competencies. We conducted an empirical study to test the effectiveness of this multidimensional blended teaching model. Findings will provide theoretical and practical implications for teaching reforms of similar courses.

Developing and validation of recruitment model of faculty members in University of Farhangian with emphasis on upstream documents: A mixed study

The present study was conducted with the aim of developing the recruiting pattern for faculty members in University of Farhangian with emphasis on upstream documents and using the mixed method. In the qualitative part, the scope of the research includes the documents of Vision document 1404, the comprehensive scientific map of the country, the sixth development plan, the general policies of the Supreme Leader, the statement of the second step of the revolution, the document of fundamental transformation of education and training, higher education logistics document and all the documents and approvals that related to the discussion of recruitment in University of Farhangian. In the quantitative part, the statistical population included all the faculty members of University of Farhangian which 168 people were selected as a sample using stratified random sampling. The results showed that the attracting pattern for faculty members includes moral competencies, adherence to Islamic-Iranian principles and values, personal characteristics, creative and entrepreneurial, specialized and professional competencies, generating wealth and interacting with industry, spirit of service and cooperation, research ability, responsibility, team work and jihad spirit. Also, the findings showed that all observable and latent variables have an acceptable factor load on their corresponding latent variable In order to evaluate the whole model, goodness of fit (GOF) index was used that the results showed that the performance of the model is suitable.

THE MODERATOR ROLE OF TRUST IN THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN COOPETITION AND INCREMENTAL INNOVATION: EVIDENCE FROM TOURISM INDUSTRY

With the increasing importance of coopetition in recent days, coopetition has been adopted by companies in order to embark on the changing global market conditions. Cooperation is a variable that arises simultaneously from the concepts of “cooperation” and “competition” that has become increasingly popular in recent years. In cooperation, the attitude of the partners is important. During the competition process, the attitudes and behaviors of the partners towards each other should be within the framework of ethical and moral rules, competence, efficiency and goodwill. It is believed that the efficiency of the innovation process, which takes place together with the coopetition path, will be greater. It is aimed to improve the innovation performance of companies through strong cooperation between companies and synergy in the information of the parties. The element of trust is one of the important factors determining the direction of coopetition activities particular. For this, the trust factor between partners often comes into play. This research questions how innovative firms that conduct R&D and innovation studies affect trust in the relationship between coopetition efforts and incremental innovations in tourism industry. For this reason, it is aimed to examine the moderator effect of trust in the relationship between cooperation and incremental innovation. The analysis of the data collected in the study was tested by hierarchical regression analysis. The positive and significant impact of joint competitive activities on the hospitality industry was further strengthened by the moderator effect of the trust and supported by the results of the resulting field study. As a result, the study was finalized by supporting the assumption put forward.

Moral thinking and communication competencies of college students and graduates in Taiwan, the UK, and the US: a mixed-methods study

ABSTRACT Moral thinking and communication are critical competencies for confronting social dilemmas in a challenging world. We examined these moral competencies in 70 college students and graduates from Taiwan, the United Kingdom, and the United States. Participants were assessed through semi-structured written interviews, Facebook group discussions, and a questionnaire. In this paper, we describe the similarities and differences across cultural groupings in (1) the social issues of greatest importance to the participants; (2) the factors influencing their approaches to thinking about social issues and communicating with others; and (3) the characteristics of their moral functioning in terms of moral awareness, moral judgment, moral discourse, and moral decision-making.

The Concept of Zone of Proximal Development and its Derivatives: Problems and Prospects of Modern Interpretations

The study is devoted to the theoretical and methodological analysis of the concept of zone of proximal development, which is of great practical importance for education since it explains the mechanism of the influence of learning on the development of a student. Therefore, the purpose of the study is to analyse the current content and trends in the development of this concept and its derivatives. In this context, the classical ideas of L.S. Vygotsky on the zone of proximal development and the zone of present development, their indicators, and essential characteristics, including the evolution of the methodological status of the concept of zone of proximal development in psychology and pedagogy are analysed. Modern derivatives of the concept of zone of proximal development (scaffolding, zone of free movement, zone of prompted actions, zone of negative development, zone of variable development, zones of intermental development in the dialogue between teachers and students, etc.), its connections and correlation with these related and interrelated concepts are analysed. Based on the theoretical analysis, the psychological, didactic, and heuristic potential of the concept zone of proximal development is determined, in particular, its use as a methodological tool for developing projects in various fields of practice and branches of psychology. The latter is demonstrated by the example of student learning. The problem points and paradoxes of the modern understanding of the concept of zone of proximal development are also identified. The problem analysis is organised around the following subjects: the potential of the dual-plane zone of proximal development, the problem of its individualisation, the problem of social competence of interaction subjects that creates this zone, the zone of proximal development in the context of symmetrical-asymmetric learning and the quality of communication with peers in the group, the problem of the specific features of the zone of proximal development of an adult or an elderly person, the problem of moral competence and the inconsistency of the phenomenon of learning as a potential to change under external guidance. The obtained scientific results will be useful both for modern theorists of teaching and educating young people, and for teachers and psychologists working in educational institutions of various levels

A Concept Analysis of Moral Comfort in Nursing

Introduction: Nurses are the most trusted professional group in the United States. As such, examination and exploration of concepts or phenomena, either positively or negatively affecting nurses’ ethical decision-making and moral actions, are needed. While nursing literature is abundant on moral distress and its negative impact, literature on moral comfort (a positive phenomenon) is sparsely available. The purpose of this concept analysis is to explore MC within nursing literature and other disciplines to identify moral comfort’s defining attributes, antecedents, consequences, and empirical referents. Method: Walker and Avant’s eight-step concept analysis approach was used. Results: Six articles were included in this concept analysis. Two defining attributes emerged (the nurse’s willingness to take moral action despite personal consequences and peace of mind related to taking moral action. Antecedents included internal factors (moral commitment, moral competence and moral courage with nursing experience and expertise) and external factors (administrative support/empowerment, participation in decision-making, access to information and human/material resources, ethical climate, and role clarity/boundaries). The main consequence of moral comfort is nurses’ peace of mind. Empirical referents were: 1) nurses taking action by speaking out and questioning, 2) nurses’ verbalization of feelings of peace and/or satisfaction with their decisions and actions, 3) organizational ethical climate and support and 4) nurses’ individual moral qualities and expertise. Conclusion: Although the body of knowledge was limited, the results of this concept analysis provide a foundation for future exploration, examination, and expansion of our knowledge and understanding of moral comfort in nursing.

Practicing Transdisciplinarity and Trans-Domain Approaches in Education: Theory of and Communication in Values <em>and</em> Knowledge Education (V<em>a</em>KE)

(Academic) disciplines are a means to structure science and are not appropriate for epistemic discussions. Instead, it is proposed to use the concept of Trans-Domain Approaches (TDA). A TDA typically consists in a General Theory GT that integrates and transcends the Domain-Specific Theories (DTs) referring to a re-search topic. The constructivist teaching-learning tool Values <em>and </em>Knowledge Education (V<em>a</em>KE) is used as a prototype to an-alyze different features of a TDA. First, the theoretical frame-work of V<em>a</em>KE is analyzed under the perspective of TDA: V<em>a</em>KE integrates several constructivist theories, particularly about moral judgment competence, constructivist knowledge acquisi-tion, and social constructivism. Then, the communication be-tween stakeholders is analyzed more in detail, based on Shannon and Weaver's channel model. The analyses focus on communi-cation among researchers, between researchers and practitioners (teachers), between practitioners and students, and among stu-dents. Several conclusions with respect to TDA can be drawn.

Predicting moral intelligence in nursing students and its relationships with self-compassion, and cultural competence: a cross-sectional study

BackgroundIn the recent era, nursing needs employees with moral intelligence, cultural competence, and self-compassion skills more than ever. This study aimed to determine the predictors of moral intelligence and its relationship with self-compassion and cultural competence in nursing students.MethodsThis cross-sectional and multi-center descriptive study was conducted in 2022. With convenience sampling, 250 nursing students from three Iranian universities participated in this study. Data gathering included the Moral Intelligence Questionnaire, Self-Compassion Scale (short form), and Cultural Competency Questionnaire. The data were analyzed using descriptive statistics, the correlation between variables, and hierarchical regression.ResultsThe results showed that nursing students had good moral intelligence (72.63 ± 11.38), moderate self-compassion (37.19 ± 5.02), and poor cultural competence (50.06 ± 13.15). No statistically significant relationship was observed between self-compassion and cultural competence (r = 0.11, p = 0.07). Moral intelligence with marital status (r = 0.16, p = 0.01), academic year (r = 0.14, p = 0.03) and self-compassion (r = 0.33, p < 0.001) had a significant relationship in such a way that these variables explained 15% of moral intelligence and self-compassion had the highest impact (p < 0.001).ConclusionConsidering the moderate level of self-compassion and the poor level of cultural competence reported in the undergraduate nursing students, and also that self-compassion was known to be a predictive factor for moral intelligence, planners and educators must pay more attention to promoting self-compassion and cultural competency in the curriculum and conduct studies to find ways to improve them.