Political identification and the defining issues test: reevaluating an old hypothesis

Area of Science:

• Psychology
• Political Science
• Moral Development

Background:

• Research indicates a relationship between moral judgment development and political attitudes.
• The Defining Issues Test (DIT) is a common measure for moral judgment.
• Debate exists whether DIT scores reflect moral development or political identity.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the relationship between DIT-2 scores and political identification.
• To determine if DIT-2 scores predict attitudes toward human rights and civil liberties independently of political identity.

Main Methods:

• Utilized the Defining Issues Test, Version 2 (DIT-2).
• Compared DIT-2 scores with concrete measures of political identification.
• Employed regression analyses to predict attitudes toward human rights and civil liberties.

Main Results:

• DIT-2 scores and political identification were significant predictors in most analyses.
• Both moral judgment development and political identity contribute to attitudes on human rights and civil liberties.

Conclusions:

• The Defining Issues Test, Version 2 (DIT-2) measures aspects of moral development beyond mere political identity.
• Moral judgment development and political identification are distinct yet related constructs influencing social and political attitudes.