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A comparison of college student moral reasoning and tendency toward choosing service learning courses

Author

Abigail M. Nathanson, University of the Pacific

Date of Award

2006

Document Type

Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted

Degree Name

Master of Arts (M.A.)

Department

Educational Administration and Leadership

First Advisor

Joanna Royce-Davis

First Committee Member

Robert Broderick

Second Committee Member

Sandy Mahoney

Abstract

This study compared moral reasoning of first year college students who chose to take the service learning section of a required general education course with students who took the non service learning section of the same course using the Visions of Morality Scale. This study hypothesized that students who chose to take the service learning section of the course would have a higher level of moral reasoning compared to those students who chose to take the non service section. Data was collected from 24 respondents via the Visions of Morality instrument and was joined to data from the Cooperative Institutional Research Program (CIRP). The study found that students in the service learning sections of the course scored lower on the Visions of Morality Scale than those in the non service learning sections. Based on CIRP data taken from respondents at the beginning of their freshman year, this study also found a statistically significant difference between students who chose service learning courses and those who chose the non service learning courses in respondent desire to participate in community based action programs. The implications for this study include insight into the reasons why students decide to participate in service courses and subsequently, why some service courses might be more effective than others.

Pages

48

Recommended Citation

Nathanson, Abigail M.. (2006). A comparison of college student moral reasoning and tendency toward choosing service learning courses. University of the Pacific, Thesis - Pacific Access Restricted. https://scholarlycommons.pacific.edu/uop_etds/637