Assessment of Growth of Moral Development in Children Through Literature

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to determine the effect of children’s literature on moral growth in 3rd grade students. Twenty-eight 3rd graders from a suburban western New York school were examined, including 11 boys and 17 girls ages 8-9. The researcher uses a student survey to gauge initial student opinions/attitudes about honesty and respect. Students then undergo an 11 day classroom program in which they focus on those values through children’s literature. Results were mixed, with some students expressing confusion over survey questions, however, 31% of subjects showed an increase in their moral development, versus 8% who showed a decrease. Fifty-four percent of children showed both increases and decreases, leading the researcher to conclude that their moral development did not change, while 8% of children showed no increases or decreases. Implications for future research include studying a larger population, conducting the study over a longer-period of time, and the correlation between moral development and the specific value taught.