Construction and Validation of a Simplified, Group-administerable Equivalent to the Moral Judgment Interview

Abstract

GIBBS, JOHN C.; WIDAMAN, KEITH F.; and COLBY, ANNE. Construction and Validation of a Simplified, Group-administerable Equivalent to the Moral Judgment Interview. CHILD DEVELOPMENT, 1982, 53, 895-910. A group-administerable version of Kohlberg's Moral Judgment Interview (MJI) was psychometrically evaluated. The results showed that the Sociomoral Reflection Measure (SRM) has acceptable concurrent validity with the MJI as well as high levels of construct validity and reliability (interrater, test-retest, parallel form, and internal consistency). Regarding construct validity, the SRM positively correlated with relevant summary variables (age, SES, grade level), distinguished delinquents from nondelinquents, and detected significant sociomoral reasoning gains by experimental subjects who had participated in sociomoral enhancement intervention projects. It was also found that reliable SRM assessment skill can be self-taught (workshop tutoring is usually required for the MJI assessment). It was concluded that the SRM, with its reduced time, financial, and personnel requirements, should facilitate research in sociomoral development.