The perceptions of morality of secondary school learners: a cross-cultural study
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Date
2005
Authors
Coetzee, J.
Louw, D. A.
Jooste, J. C.
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Faculty of Theology, University of the Free State
Abstract
English: The focus of this research is to determine the perceptions of morality among a group
of young South Africans. More specifically, the possible role that gender, culture,
lifestyle, religion and sexual practices in these perceptions of morality may play will
be investigated. To date, no studies have attempted to measure the youth’s perceptions
of morality. Consequently, little South African literature is available. While many
variables are believed to influence the development and expression of morality, the
variables that were measured in this study included gender, culture, lifestyle, sexual
experience and religion, as found in literature. Seven schools were involved in this
study. They were classified as being high, average and below average with regards to
academic performance. After statistical analysis, the variable found to have the greatest
influence on the perception of morality was gender. A core finding of this study was
that the female learner’s responses point towards a higher level of morality than the
male learners do. This study also found cultural differences with regard to morality.
Frequency of religious practices was also found to have an influence on moral
expression. The study also indicated that past sexual experience has an effect on the
perception and expression of morality. Lifestyle was not found to be a significant
factor in the perception of morality in this study. The results of the research will
help to give clearer understanding of the youth’s perception of morality, which
could then be incorporated into combating immorality, for example, through developing
programmes in this regard. For future and especially comparative purposes,
the findings of this study could also serve as a base-line measurement of the perceptions
of morality among the South African youth, should one wish to determine to
what extent these perceptions are static or dynamic.
Description
Keywords
Morality, Adolescents, Cross-cultural
Citation
Coetzee, J., Louw, D.A. & Jooste, J.C. (2005). The perceptions of morality of secondary school learners: a cross-cultural study. Acta Theologica, 25(1), 1-27.