Investigation of Moral Reasoning among Prospective Teachers Enrolled in B.Ed Program; in the Light of Kohlberg’s Theory of Moral Development

Abstract

The qualitative paper idea was to explore the moral thought in students undertaking their studies at university level based on the stages provided by Kohlberg in the moral development theory. This study on emphasis on pre-conventional, conventional and post-conventional stages. This study will examine how this theory can be applied into practice in terms of teaching and theoretical understanding. Study population was all the B.Ed students of one state university of Lahore city. It had 50 B. Ed students volunteers who volunteered to provide data as long as they were over the age of nineteen. The study was conducted using one of the Kohlberg Dilemmas as its instrument. 10 questions were developed to find the reaction of the participants. The students are expected to provide a rationale as to why they say yes or no to a question. The answers were classified under the scheme provided by Kohlberg. Major findings were stunned that over 60 percent of students are at the stage of maintaining the social order which is the demanded level per Kohlberg to the adults aged above twenty years.  The rest 40% are yet to achieve this moral stage. Recommendations on key findings are provided. The results of this research demonstrate that the moral education interventions of sustained and theory-based and culturally-adapted interventions are needed to promote the ethical competence of the teacher preparation programs.