Earlier Work

Development in judging moral issues. Rest, J. (1979)

Initial book on devising the DIT. Chapter 2 discusses the moral theory and stage definitions embodied in the DIT. Chapter 3 discusses the "stage" concept and the notion of "soft stages" as a model of development. Chapter 4 discusses issues in constructing a test of moral judgment (test stimuli, task, indexing, validation strategy). Chapters 5-8 discuss validity research (including cross-sectional and longitudinal age trends; correlates of moral judgment with attitudes, behavior, aptitude/IQ, personality tests, and other morality tests; internal structure).

(Initially published by University of Minnesota Press; now out of print but available from the Center in photocopy.)

"Morality." Rest, J. (1983)

Review of entire field of morality in which moral judgment is depicted as one of four major components in the production of moral behavior. The chapter not only reviews work in the cognitive developmental tradition of Piaget and Kohlberg, but also places in context the research on empathy, pro-social behavior, self-regulation skills, and Social Psychology. Discusses various ways that researchers have interconnected cognition, affect and behavior.

(Available as chapter in J. Flavell and E. Markman (Vol. Eds.), Cognitive development, Vol. III, in P. Mussen (General Editor), Handbook of Child Psychology, (pp. 556-629). NY: Wiley Press, and also available in photocopy from Center.)

Moral development: Advances in research and theory. Rest, J. with Barnett, R., Bebeau, M., Deemer, D., Getz, I., Moon, Y., Spickelmeier, J. Thoma, S., and Volker, J. (1986)

Integration of findings using the DIT from over 500 studies. Chapter 1 presents an overview of the Four Component Model. Chapter 2 reviews age/educational trend studies, including a 10-year longitudinal study in which life experiences are coded clinically in terms of enriching and supportive experiences. Chapter 3 reviews 50+ educational studies. Chapter 4 reviews group differences in terms of culture, sex, and religion. Chapter 5 focuses on behavioral studies, including Thoma's "Utilizer" moderator that improves prediction from DIT scores to behavior.

(Available as ISBN 0-275-02254-5 from Praeger Press, (203-226-3571), 88 Post Road West, P.O. Box 5007/ Westport, CT 06881).

Bibliography. (Center Staff.) [Recent updates in 1999 (See Postconventional Moral Thinking) and in 2003 revision of the Guide for DIT-2)].

Periodically these listings of studies and references using DIT-1 and DIT-2 is updated. Now totaling over 1,500 references, these bibliographies are included in the Manual and Guides (which accompany DIT orders). The 1994 book contains many references in the area of professional development and decision-making. Copyright laws do not allow the Center to supply copies of the individual articles. They must be obtained through the journals, book publishers, original authors, or University Microfilms.

(Bibliographic listings available from the Center. You are invited to visit the Center and personally use our collection of articles.)