To beckon or not to beckon: Testing a causal-evaluative modelling approach to moral judgment: A registered report

McHugh, Cillian; Francis, Kathryn B.; Everett, Jim A.C.; Timmons, Shane

Abstract

Moral judgments are increasingly being understood as showing context dependent variability. A growing literature has identified a range of specific contextual factors (e.g., emotions, intentions) that can influence moral judgments in predictable ways. Integrating these diverse influences into a unified approach to understanding moral judgments remains a challenge. Recent work by Railton (2017) attempted to address this with a causal-evaluative modelling approach to moral judgment. In support of this model Railton presents evidence from novel variations of classic trolley type dilemmas. We present results from a pre-registered pilot study that highlight a significant confound and demonstrate that it likely influenced Railton's results. Building on this, our registered report presents a replication-extension of Railton's study, using larger more diverse samples, and more rigorous methods and materials, specifically controlling for potential confounds. We found that participants' judgments in sacrificial dilemmas are influenced by both direct personal force, and by whether harm occurs as a means or as a side-effect of action. We also show the relationship between a range of individual difference variables and responses to sacrificial moral dilemmas. Our results provide novel insights into the factors that influence people's moral judgments, and contribute to ongoing theoretical debates in moral psychology.

Citation

McHugh, C., Francis, K. B., Everett, J. A., & Timmons, S. (2024). To beckon or not to beckon: Testing a causal-evaluative modelling approach to moral judgment: A registered report. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology, 113, Article 104616. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2024.104616

• Journal Article Type: Article
• Acceptance Date: Mar 21, 2024
• Online Publication Date: Apr 8, 2024
• Publication Date: 2024-07
• Deposit Date: May 15, 2024
• Journal: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology
• Print ISSN: 0022-1031
• Electronic ISSN: 1096-0465
• Publisher: Elsevier
• Peer Reviewed: Peer Reviewed
• Volume: 113
• Article Number: 104616
• DOI: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2024.104616
• Keywords: Moral judgment; Causal evaluative modelling; Means vs side-effect; Trolley problems; Contextual influences; Deontology; Utilitarianism
• Public URL: https://keele-repository.worktribe.com/output/828193
• Publisher URL: https://www.sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0022103124000283?via%3Dihub
• Additional Information: This article is maintained by: Elsevier; Article Title: To beckon or not to beckon: Testing a causal-evaluative modelling approach to moral judgment: A registered report; Journal Title: Journal of Experimental Social Psychology; CrossRef DOI link to publisher maintained version: https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jesp.2024.104616; Content Type: article; Copyright: © 2024 The Author(s). Published by Elsevier Inc.