No description available.

No description available.

Marriage continues to be one of the most important relationships to today's Americans (Fowers, 2000), generating numerous studies on the physical, emotional, mental and financial outcomes of marriage (Waite & Gallagher, 2000). Yet, little research has been done to explore the moral outcomes of marriage. Examining how marriage may contribute to individual spouses' moral development is compatible with recent studies on marital virtues that aim to provide a more complete as well as less individualistic view of marriage (Hawkins, Fowers, Carroll, & Yang, 2007). This study adopts a moral personality approach to examine marriage's role in adult moral development. Taking a moral personality approach when studying marriage's influence allows for a broader understanding of moral development that includes character virtues and identity constructs. In order to examine how marriage may exert such a moral influence, it is necessary to focus on aspects of marriage that are characteristically different from those of other relationships. Commitment is one aspect of marriage thought to set it apart as distinct from other relationships (Adams & Jones, 1997). This study examines how commitment may play a role in the moral development of individual spouses themselves. The purpose of the present study was to examine, using qualitative methods, how married individuals experience commitment and how that commitment may be associated with a greater motivation to be moral. Couples were interviewed on how they experience commitment in their marriages. Interviews were recorded, transcribed and analyzed using grounded theory methods. Themes that emerged were organized into the following seven categories: (1) What marriage means; (2) What commitment in marriage means; (3) Examples of the influence of marriage; (4) Moral traits and the influence of spouses; (5) Themes relating to identity; (6) Commitment, challenges, and personal growth; and (7) Other influences on moral development. Themes are discussed in terms of their relation to past literature and how they might be integrated into a conceptual model. Implications for practitioners and suggestions for future research are given.

The purpose of this thesis is to examine the effects that Montessori and public school environments have on the moral cognition of children and to assess the differences using modified moral dilemma stories. Through the analysis of these children's responses on moral dilemma stories this thesis reveals that there are stark and statistically significant differences in the children's responses on two of the three stories. The Montessori children scored higher on the morality level and the answers reflected altruism over authority on story one and story three. Through these results the researcher surmised that school environment can have an impact on moral cognition of children and that further research needs to be done in this field.

No description available.

No description available.

No description available.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate selected psychometric characteristics of the Ethical Judgment Scale (EJS). Specifically, to determine (a) content validity, (b) internal consistency reliability, (c) correlations of the Likert-type, stage 5, and panel scoring methods; and, assess (d) the relationship of certain demographic factors of community college counselors and EJS scores. A survey research design, employing the EJS with modified instructions, requested an actual and ideal response for each of 25 hypothetical incidents that represented various ethical dilemmas in the counseling field. Ninety-one community college counselors in the state of Virginia participated in the final study. A nonrespondent survey also was completed. The results suggested that content validity of the EJS was supported by expert ratings of the hypothetical incidents; however, an evaluation of the response choices indicated that 20 of the incidents had at least two inappropriate response options. An examination of internal consistency reliability of the EJS, using Cronbach’s <b>alpha </b> and KR-20 statistical procedures, indicated unsatisfactory to lower than desirable correlations for the three scoring methods employed in this study. Similarly poor correlations were obtained for the relationships of the scoring methods. Scale discrepancies and the unreliable scoring methods prevented firm conclusions regarding the association of EJS scores and selected demographic characteristics of the study sample. Findings of the study suggested that a lack of confidence with the measurement instrument may be justified. Suggestions for further research were offered and included the further evaluation and possible revision of the scale. / Ed. D. / incomplete_metadata

The purpose of this research is to investigate the effect of cognitive moral development on ethical judgments, intentions, and behavior. In particular, the question is addressed as to whether cognitive moral development plays a moderating role in the Hunt-Vitell (1986, 1991) model between the situational factors and teleological evaluation. A 2 x 2 x 2 factorial experimental design involving cognitive moral development, desirability of perceived consequences to self, and desirability of perceived consequences to other, was operationalized through the use of specific scenarios designed to elicit ethical decision making. The population used in this study were a sample of purchasing managers from the Carolinas-Virginia chapter of the National Association of Purchasing Managers. Pretesting was conducted to refine the scenarios used in the final study, and to assess subject reactions. The results provided some support to several of the links proposed by Hunt and Vitell. However, the central role of cognitive moral development in the model was not strongly supported. Limitations of the study, future research, and managerial implications of the findings are discussed. / Ph. D.

In this hermeneutic phenomenological study, a purposive sample of 12 religious women considered their experiences of religiosity with their mothers and larger family systems. Adult daughters reflected on the significance and meaning of religion in their lives and relationships, particularly the interaction of mothers and adult daughters concerning spirituality, beliefs, and experiences including intergenerational transmission of religiosity. Adult daughters were queried regarding maternal religious influence and the challenges of being women. Data were collected to saturation and analyzed to consider individual narratives about families into the development of three themes: Family Connections, Religious Consciousness, and Encountering Community. Gilligan's theory of moral development, including the ethic of caretaking, is employed to consider religiosity in the adult daughter-mother relationship. Limitations, clinical implications, and future directions are explored. In summary, spheroids increase anti-inflammatory potential of eBMSCs and are practical for clinical use. Increased anti-inflammatory efficacy was demonstrated in a model of in vivo inflammation. This dissertation provides an understanding of the anti-inflammatory activities of eBMSC spheroids that can be used to develop an OA therapy. / Ph. D.