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Analysis of Moral Argumentation in Newspaper Editorial Contents with Kohlberg's Moral Development Model

Feng, Yayu
http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1416916265

Abstract Details

2014, Master of Science (MS), Ohio University, Journalism (Communication).
This study evaluates reasoning stages addressed in newspaper editorial contents based on Lawrence Kohlberg's moral development model. Ten editorial pieces from two newspapers in Athens, Ohio,--The Post, a student newspaper and The Athens News, a local newspaper--were analyzed with regard to two local incidents involving rape culture. To facilitate the analysis, a chart was developed to connect moral argumentations in the editorials to the model's abstract description of moral reasoning stages. A Critical Discourse Analysis of the sample revealed that The Post mainly addressed reasoning stages 2, 3, and 4, while The Athens News presented higher level reasoning on stages 3, 4, and 6. The study details the different patterns of moral reasoning stages addressed in the two newspapers and offers a relevant case study of editorials’ performance as moral educators. The analytical system developed in this study also contributes a new approach to investigating moral media messages.
Bernhard Debatin (Advisor)
Aimee Edmondson (Committee Member)
Ellen Gerl (Committee Member)
127 p.
Communication; Developmental Psychology; Ethics; Journalism; Mass Communications; Mass Media
media ethics; moral reasoning stages; Kohlberg moral development model; newspaper editorials; rape culture; moral argumentation

Recommended Citations

Citations

  • Feng, Y. (2014). Analysis of Moral Argumentation in Newspaper Editorial Contents with Kohlberg's Moral Development Model [Master's thesis, Ohio University]. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1416916265

    APA Style (7th edition)

  • Feng, Yayu. Analysis of Moral Argumentation in Newspaper Editorial Contents with Kohlberg's Moral Development Model. 2014. Ohio University, Master's thesis. OhioLINK Electronic Theses and Dissertations Center, http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1416916265.

    MLA Style (8th edition)

  • Feng, Yayu. "Analysis of Moral Argumentation in Newspaper Editorial Contents with Kohlberg's Moral Development Model." Master's thesis, Ohio University, 2014. http://rave.ohiolink.edu/etdc/view?acc_num=ohiou1416916265

    Chicago Manual of Style (17th edition)

ohiou1416916265
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This open access ETD is published by Ohio University and OhioLINK.