The effects of a structured educational human sexuality program on moral development and self-concept and the interrelationships between moral development and self concept

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Authors
Whitacre, Janice Jean
Advisor
Donn, Patsy A.
Issue Date
1982
Keyword
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Thesis (Ph. D.)
Department
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Abstract

The purposes of this study were to investigate the effects of a structured educational human sexuality program on moral development and self-concept as well as the interrelationships between moral development and self-concept. The null hypotheses referred to the differences and gains in moral judgment and self-concept between treatment and control groups with sex as a mediator variable. Moral judgment and self-concept were measured by the Defining Issues Test and Tennessee Self-Concept Scale, respectively.The subjects were undergraduate students at Ball State University enrolled for CPSY 220 Interrelational Aspects of Human Sexuality (treatment) and NR 101 Introduction to Natural Resources (control). Seventy-four subjects completed the pre- and post testing measures and their results were subjected to statistical analysis.The treatment group was a structured educational human sexuality program consisting of cognitive, emotional and social components. The control group was a general studies course on natural resources. Both classes met during the Winter quarter, 1981-1982. Pre- and posttesting was done during the first and tenth week, respectively. The evaluators entered the classes during these times and administered the DIT and TSCS as measures of moral judgment and self-concept.A 2 x 2 repeated multivariate analysis of variance with significance considered at x.05 level was applied in the analysis of the data. Multivariate F's indicated no significant differences or significant gains as a function of treatment or sex on the DIT and/or TSCS. Practical significance was reported for all groups on the DIT P index except for females in the treatment condition. All of the three null hypotheses failed to be rejected. No significant posttest differences or significant gains were obtained. The structured educational human sexuality program did not have any significant impact upon moral judgment or selfconcept as compared to the control group.Pre- and post-Pearson r one-tail correlations were obtained on the DIT and TSCS. Positive relationships had been speculated to exist. The correlations were low indicating the two tests are generally unrelated.Descriptive analysis was done with religion and birth order to all the dependent variables on the DIT and TSCS. General findings were non-significant.