1. Experimental Task

2. Instructions:
You will now review the same scenarios from the morality test
you have already taken. You will have 30 seconds to review
each scenario. After you have reviewed each scenario, you will
then be shown a number of advice statements suggesting
alternative ways of considering the moral issues described in
the scenario, in order to improve your test performance. Each
advice statement has been endorsed by another student, who
has also taken the same test. You will have nine seconds to
view each advice statement, along with the advisor’s score.
After viewing each advice statement, your job will then be to
assess the utility of each statement, and indicate your
assessment on the scoring sheet provided. You will not have a
chance to review any statements for which you did not provide
a response. Be sure to think carefully about each statement
before scoring. Some statements appear more than once.
Inconsistent assessments of repeated statements may
significantly reduce your compensation for participating.

3. +

4. Scenario 1: “Student Club”
It is recruitment time for my student club.
All new members must be approved by a
vote of 90% of the membership. I have
been a member for one year and I am
considered being groomed for a leadership
position. My roommate wants to join.
After the introduction party where
members meet those who want to join, I
heard several older members making fun
of my roommate.

5. +

6. Statement # 1:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“No one should influence others in
voting.”

7. +

8. Statement # 2:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Most would agree we are entitled to our
own opinions.”

9. +

10. Statement # 3:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“Every man has a right to free opinion and
choice.”

11. +

12. Statement # 4:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Freedom of expression can’t be taken
away from anyone.”

13. +

14. Statement # 5:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“The most competent individuals will
overcome the opposition.”

15. +

16. Statement # 6:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“Tampering with any kind of regulated
election is always wrong.”

17. +

18. Statement # 7:
Advisor’s Score:
97
“Disrupting the process may hurt your own
status.”

19. +

20. Statement # 8:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“We all prefer to be judged based on our
merits.”

21. +

22. Statement # 9:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“Elections and selections must always be
unbiased.”

23. +

24. Statement # 10:
Advisor’s Score:
97
“Biased selection leads to selecting the
wrong people as leaders.”

25. +

26. Statement # 11:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“Don’t let relationships undermine your
adherence to the rules.”

27. +

28. Statement # 12:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“Every man has a right to free opinion and
choice.”

29. +

30. Statement # 13:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“Better decisions are made when they’re
not emotionally charged.”

31. +

32. Please take one minute to briefly
describe on your answer sheet any
difficulties you may have
experienced during this section.
Otherwise, you may wait for the
next section to begin.

33. +

34. Scenario 2: “Plagiarism”
I work for the student newspaper and have
labored for several weeks on a series of
articles on violence and the media. My articles
are due to be published in two weeks. This
morning I saw my roommate’s term paper on
the kitchen table. As I glanced through the
paper, I recognized parts of it and realized that
my roommate had copied word for word a
sizable portion of my article. If my articles are
published, my roommate’s plagiarism will be
discovered and his/her graduation will be
jeopardized.

35. +

36. Statement # 14:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“I did the work, I deserve the credit.”

37. +

38. Statement # 15:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“It can be hard to stay objective with our
friends.”

39. +

40. Statement # 16:
Advisor’s Score:
49
“People must be accountable for their
actions.”

41. +

42. Statement # 17:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Holding others responsible is sometimes
in their best interest.”

43. +

44. Statement # 18:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“The Roommate is the one who made the
mistake.”

45. +

46. Statement # 19:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“If we don’t hold others accountable, they
may repeat their mistakes.”

47. +

48. Statement # 20:
Advisor’s Score:
97
“When YOU make a mistake, YOU are
responsible for it.”

49. +

50. Statement # 21:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Don’t others often hold you responsible
for your actions?”

51. +

52. Statement # 22:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“It’s fair to hold everyone to the same
code of honor.”

53. +

54. Statement # 23:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Everyone is expected to do their own
work.”

55. +

56. Statement # 24:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Holding others responsible is sometimes
in their best interest.”

57. +

58. Statement # 25:
Advisor’s Score:
39
“Plagiarism and cheating are never
justified.”

59. +

60. Statement # 26:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“Principles are meant to be followed.”

61. +

62. Statement # 27:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Most people allow their principles to
guide them.”

63. +

64. Statement # 28:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“My roommate has broken the chord of
friendship and trust.”

65. +

66. Statement # 29:
Advisor’s Score:
39
“The roommate must have had reasons,
but this is still not just.”

67. +

68. Statement # 30:
Advisor’s Score:
91
“My roommate is wrong, and I am not.”

69. +

70. Please take one minute to briefly
describe on your answer sheet any
difficulties you may have
experienced during this section.
Otherwise, you may wait for the
next section to begin.

71. +

72. Scenario 3: “Karen”
My friend Karen and I are in a class together.
This class is required for graduation, and this is
the only time it is being offered this year.
Karen flunked the first test, but made an “A”
on her paper and midterm. I have been
working very hard in this class but have made
only “Bs” so far. Last night Karen confided in
me that the professor had taken a “personal
interest” in her and that he had asked her to
spend the night with him in exchange for an
“A” in the class.

73. +

74. Statement # 31:
Advisor’s Score:
97
“If you don’t get involved, you’re a bad
friend.”

75. +

76. Statement # 32:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Resolving a conflict may mean taking
difficult action.”

77. +

78. Statement # 33:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“Here’s an idea: mind your own business.”

79. +

80. Statement # 34:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Consider the difference between
disagreeing, and intervening.”

81. +

82. Statement # 35:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Faculty must be held to a high standard.”

83. +

84. Statement # 36:
Advisor’s Score:
49
“Nobody should win by breaking the
rules.”

85. +

86. Statement # 37:
Advisor’s Score:
97
“Immoral faculty may ruin a naïve
student’s life.”

87. +

88. Statement # 38:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Taking advantage of a student's weakness
is wrong.”

89. +

90. Statement # 39:
Advisor’s Score:
39
“Violating rules undermines hard work and
fair play.”

91. +

92. Statement # 40:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“The professor should be given a chance to
correct his ways.”

93. +

94. Statement # 41:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“Everyone expects to have the right to do
what they want.”

95. +

96. Statement # 42:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“They can do whatever they want as long
as it doesn't hurt anyone else.”

97. +

98. Statement # 43:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Is it right to combine pleasure with
business?”

99. +

100. Statement # 44:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Resolving a conflict may mean taking
difficult action.”

101. +

102. Statement # 45:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Consider who’s rights are most
important.”

103. +

104. Please take one minute to briefly
describe on your answer sheet any
difficulties you may have
experienced during this section.
Otherwise, you may wait for the
next section to begin.

105. +

106. Scenario 4: “Morgan”
I have been married to Morgan for two years. We are both
in college and do not have children. Three months ago
Morgan was diagnosed as having cancer. The recommended
treatment was intensive chemotherapy. Luckily, our
insurance covers the medical bills. Morgan has asked me
not to tell his/her parents about the cancer because
Morgan feels that they would interfere with the course of
treatment and demand that Morgan move home. I
promised not to tell Morgan’s parents but the treatments
are creating changes that are very hard to deal with.
Morgan’s parents are perplexed by Morgan’s recent
demeanor and blame it on our marriage, of which they
were never very supportive.

107. +

108. Statement # 46:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“It is best to stick to your promise.”

109. +

110. Statement # 47:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“You simply must weigh the interests of
your wife and her parents.”

111. +

112. Statement # 48:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“You're not married to her parents.”

113. +

114. Statement # 49:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Break your promise and watch things go
from bad to worse.”

115. +

116. Statement # 50:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Morgan is wrong to keep this from her
parents.”

117. +

118. Statement # 51:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“It is best to stick to your promise.”

119. +

120. Statement # 52:
Advisor’s Score:
49
“If the treatment fails, how will the
parents react to not knowing?”

121. +

122. Statement # 53:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Morgan may have misjudged her parents'
reactions. ”

123. +

124. Statement # 54:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Forget the parents, they don't like you
anyway.”

125. +

126. Please take one minute to briefly
describe on your answer sheet any
difficulties you may have
experienced during this section.
Otherwise, you may wait for the
next section to begin.

127. +

128. Scenario 5: “Administrator”
As the editor of the college newspaper, I decide
which stories are published. One of our reporters
has just turned in a story about a university
administrator who has been diverting student
fees for his own personal use. I assume that the
story is accurate. I called the administrator’s
house to speak with him about the discovery and
to tell him we were going public with the story.
His wife informed me that he was at the hospital
with their child who is terminally ill. The deadline
to run the story is midnight.

129. +

130. Statement # 55:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Right is right, wrong is wrong.”

131. +

132. Statement # 56:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“It is never wrong to stick to your
principles.”

133. +

134. Statement # 57:
Advisor’s Score:
39
“If you tell, then the kid may die.”

135. +

136. Statement # 58:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“The scope of issue has changed now that
the child is involved.”

137. +

138. Statement # 59:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“You still don't know what he was doing
with the money.”

139. +

140. Statement # 60:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“Would it be OK if everyone did this kind
of thing?”

141. +

142. Statement # 61:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Right is right, wrong is wrong.”

143. +

144. Statement # 62:
Advisor’s Score:
91
“This is bigger than you, so just keep
quiet.”

145. +

146. Statement # 63:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“It would be wrong to report the story
without saying what the money was
for.”

147. +

148. Please take one minute to briefly
describe on your answer sheet any
difficulties you may have
experienced during this section.
Otherwise, you may wait for the
next section to begin.

149. +

150. Scenario 6: “Richard”
My brother Richard has been dating Amy for
two years. They have talked casually about
getting married after college. We all go to
the same college and see each other
frequently. Early this morning I saw Amy
kissing my neighbor Michael as she was
leaving his apartment. Obviously Amy had
spent the night at his place.

151. +

152. Statement # 64:
Advisor’s Score:
97
“Treat your siblings as you wish to be
treated.”

153. +

154. Statement # 65:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“If your brother didn’t look out for your
interests, who would?”

155. +

156. Statement # 66:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“Friends before girls.”

157. +

158. Statement # 67:
Advisor’s Score:
97
“Put yourself in your brother’s place.”

159. +

160. Statement # 68:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Would you be hurt if someone didn’t
warn you?”

161. +

162. Statement # 69:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“If your brother didn’t look out for your
interests, who would?”

163. +

164. Statement # 70:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“You should always put the feelings of
your relatives first.”

165. +

166. Statement # 71:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“If this is an open relationship, you need
not intervene.”

167. +

168. Statement # 72:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“Anyone cheated in a relationship
deserves to know.”

169. +

170. Statement # 73:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“A relationship should be fair to both
people involved.”

171. +

172. Statement # 74:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“It’s only fair when everyone involved
knows everything important.”

173. +

174. Statement # 75:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“He should know the truth even if it makes
him angry.”

175. +

176. Statement # 76:
Advisor’s Score:
39
“The truth must come out.”

177. +

178. Statement # 77:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Consider the importance of knowledge
versus protection.”

179. +

180. Statement # 78:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“Trust Richard and Amy to work out their
own relationship.”

181. +

182. Statement # 79:
Advisor’s Score:
49
“Ask Amy to inform Richard of the
circumstances.”

183. +

184. Statement # 80:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“It is wrong to cheat on a loved one.”

185. +

186. Please take one minute to briefly
describe on your answer sheet any
difficulties you may have
experienced during this section.
Otherwise, you may wait for the
next section to begin.

187. +

188. Scenario 7: “Parents”
My parents, after 30 years of a somewhat
rocky marriage, are going through a divorce.
My mother has been involved with another
man for several years and has decided to
leave the marriage. She seems very happy
with her decision. Each of my parents wants
me to spend semester break at his or her
particular home, but my father will be very
upset if I go to my mother’s because her
“friend” will be there.

189. +

190. Statement # 81:
Advisor’s Score:
97
“What if your father was the one seeing
someone else?”

191. +

192. Statement # 82:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“Dad should get over it.”

193. +

194. Statement # 83:
Advisor’s Score:
49
“You need both parents in your life.”

195. +

196. Statement # 84:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Kids should not be forced to choose.”

197. +

198. Statement # 85:
Advisor’s Score:
84
“You should help your father to
understand.”

199. +

200. Statement # 86:
Advisor’s Score:
55
“You're not replacing your father.”

201. +

202. Statement # 87:
Advisor’s Score:
95
“Shouldn't the mother be allowed to
date?”

203. +

204. Statement # 88:
Advisor’s Score:
81
“There is no reason to be ashamed of
either parent.”

205. +

206. Statement # 89:
Advisor’s Score:
49
“You need to choose a side.”

207. +

208. Statement # 90:
Advisor’s Score:
91
“Talk to your dad and he will understand.”

209. +

210. Please take one minute to briefly
describe on your answer sheet any
difficulties you may have
experienced during this section.
Otherwise, you may wait for the
next section to begin.

211. +

212. This concludes the task.
Thank you for your participation.