Identifying patterns of ethical sensitivity in TV news viewers: An assessment of some critical viewing skills

Taking the First Step Toward a Moral Action: A Review of Moral Sensitivity Measurement Across Domains

“…The current definition now includes dimensions such as interpreting others' reactions and feelings (Brabeck et al, 2000;Rest et al, 1999;Sadler, 2004), having empathy and roletaking ability (Sadler), understanding how one's actions can affect the welfare and expectations of both oneself and others (Butterfield, Trevino, & Weaver, 2000;Rest et al, 1999), and making inferences from others' behavior and responding appropriately to their reactions Rest et al, 1999). This multidimensional definition is now the most well-represented definition in the literature (e.g., Bebeau et al, 1985;Brabeck et al;Butterfield et al;Erwin, 2000;Lind, Swenson-Lepper, & Rarick, 1998;Myyry & Helkama, 2002;Sadler). Downloaded by [Oakland University] at 18:25 19 November 2014 Jordan 327 In support of Rest and others' expanded definition of moral sensitivity, evidence suggests that empathy and perspective taking are related to moral cognition and prosocial behavior (e.g., Eisenberg, Cumberland, Guthrie, Murphy, & Shepard, 2005;Eisenberg-Berg & Hand, 1979).…”

“…In addition, nine media experts viewed each scenario and reported the ethical issues that they identified. Lind et al (1998) used these reports to confirm the presence of multiple ethical issues but did not explicitly use them in generating the coding scheme (R. A. Lind, personal communication, May 19, 2006).…”

“…Other researchers used a similar methodology (e.g., Owhoso, 2002;Reynolds, 2006b;Shaub et al, 1993;Sparks & Hunt, 1998). Others asked experts to either confirm the presence of preidentified ethical issues (e.g., Sparks & Hunt) or generate the relevant ethical issues or stimulus vignettes (e.g., Lind et al, 1998;Owhoso, 2002;Sparks & Hunt) prior to testing. The final use of experts for supporting content validity involved the explicit comparison of experts' responses with participants' responses to the stimulus vignettes (e.g., Erwin, 2000).…”

“…For example, in the DEST (Bebeau & Rest, 1982), respondents know that moral issues are embedded in the vignette and are told that their role is to Downloaded by [Oakland University] at 18:25 19 November 2014 identify and differentiate them from the competing interests (Bebeau et al, 1985). In contrast, other measures provide no indication that there is a moral-related nature to the measure or that respondents should identify moral issues (e.g., Butterfield et al, 2000;Clarkeburn, 2002;Erwin, 2000;Karcher, 1996;Lind et al, 1998;Owhoso, 2002;Sadler, 2004;Shaub et al, 1993;Sparks & Hunt, 1998).…”

“I would never post that”: Children, moral sensitivity and online disclosure

“…More particularly, drawing upon the field of moral psychology and ethics, we take the notion of moral sensitivity as our point of departure to explore the moral underpinnings of children's online disclosure. Within media and communication studies, the concept of moral sensitivity has been used only in connection with adult television viewers (Lind, Swenson-Lepper, and Rarick, 1998) and marketing professionals (Sparks and Hunt, 1998). Research interest in young people's moral considerations about their internet use has predominantly focused on 'older' youth: adolescents and young adults and typically a group that is often discussed from a broader public concern about their (lack of) moral values (Critcher, 2006).…”