The ethic of care development: a longitudinal study of moral reasoning among practical-nursing, social-work and law-enforcement students.
The study investigated changes in care-based moral reasoning, in the context of justice development over the 2-year period among practical-nursing, bachelor-degree social-work and law-enforcement students (N = 59). Main measures were Skoe's Ethic of Care Interview and Colby et al.'s Moral Judgment Interview. Of the participants 34% progressed in care reasoning, and 48% in justice reasoning. Social-work and nursing students progressed in care reasoning, and all groups progressed in justice reasoning. One participant (1.7%) regressed in care reasoning. Care and justice reasoning were parallel in terms of internal consistency, and they were positively related to each other. Findings suggest that care reasoning follows a developmental sequence, involving three main and two transitional levels, as suggested by Gilligan (1982). Main levels include self-concern (Level 1), caring for others (Level 2), and balanced caring for self and others (Level 3).
Juujärvi
Soile
S
Laurea University of Applied Sciences, Finland. soile.juujarvi@laurea.fi
D000328:Adult; D000704:Analysis of Variance; D004517:Education, Professional; D004645:Empathy; D005260:Female; D005387:Finland; D006801:Humans; D008137:Longitudinal Studies; D008297:Male; D035863:Moral Development; D009743:Nursing, Practical / Q000193:education; D016495:Police / Q000193:education; D011582:Psychological Theory; D012044:Regression Analysis; D012935:Social Justice; D012947:Social Work / Q000193:education