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Memorable Moral Messages and Moral Position among Collegiate Students
Authors: Keishalyn Caye R. Balano1 , Jaycelle Mae C. Tabilin2 , Racidon P. Bernarte3
Number of views: 550
Moral development plays an important role in shaping life decisions including moral
positions. Different moral positions are results of individual perspectives of right and wrong. In Kohlberg’s
Moral Development theory, parents are considered to have more time and authority to teach their younger
children of what is good and bad, but as part of child’s growth and development, moral maturity occurs.
Thus, this study is about the relationship of moral messages recalled by 395 selected tertiary students from
their parents and their moral position on selected moral issues. Specifically, the study aimed to know the
moral messages recalled by the students, primary source of their moral messages among their parents,
their moral positions on selected issues, and the relationship between memorable moral messages and
moral positions. Moral messages were categorized into five moral domains namely: Relational Ethics, Selfhonoring
behavior, Honesty/Fraudulence, Harmful Acts, and Respecting Higher Authority while selected
moral issues are Abortion, Homosexuality, Premarital Sex, and Substance Abuse. These moral messages
and moral issues were identified through related literatures and Focus Group Discussion (FGD). Then, it
was used in modifying the survey, parallel to Philippine culture. Interestingly, the findings of the study
show that there are only few moral messages related to the moral position of the respondents. Therefore,
this was concluded that other sources that could be significant with the respondents moral position on
selected moral issues.