An analysis of high school students' moral judgment levels across selected variables

ABSTRACT ÖZTÜRK, Ebru. "An Analysis of High School Students' Moral Judgment Levels Across Selected Variables" Yüksek Lisans Tezi, Malatya, 2025. This study aims to examine the moral judgment levels of high school students in relation to various socio-educational variables. The research was conducted with 257 students from 9th and 12th grades attending four different types of high schools—Science High School, Anatolian Imam Hatip High School, Vocational and Technical Anatolian High School, and Sports High School—within the province of Batman during the 2024–2025 academic year. The study employed a descriptive survey model and used the Moral Judgment Test (MUT), developed by George Lind and adapted into Turkish by Nermin Çiftçi (2001), to collect data on students' moral reasoning. A Personal Information Form was also administered to gather demographic and educational background data. Non-parametric statistical methods (Mann-Whitney U and Kruskal-Wallis H tests) were used in the data analysis. The findings revealed that students' average moral judgment C-score was 27.76, indicating a moderate level of moral reasoning. While no statistically significant differences were found across variables such as age, gender, grade level, school type, residential background, parental education level, or number of siblings, a significant difference emerged in relation to family income. Students from lower-income families demonstrated higher moral judgment levels than their peers in higher-income groups. The results underscore the complex and multifaceted nature of moral development and highlight that moral reasoning cannot be attributed solely to economic status or demographic categories. Based on the findings, the study recommends restructuring values education in schools to address diverse socio-educational needs, enhancing collaboration between families and school guidance services, and revisiting the content and delivery methods of religious education courses. Keywords: Moral,Moral judgment ,Moral Judgment Test (Moralischer–Urteil–Test- MUT), Moral Development