Moral Reasoning Intervention on Moral Justification Abilities

Not Applicable

Active, not recruiting

• Conditions: Moral Development; Moral Dilemma; Healthy Controls; Moral Justification

• Registration Number: NCT06735989
• Lead Sponsor: IRCCS San Raffaele

Brief Summary

The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the short (immediate) and mid-term (one month) impact of moral (vs non-moral) reasoning interventions on the moral justification abilities in non-expert subjects. Such an impact will be assessed by observing quantitative changes (on 1 to 4 points scale) of qualitative variables in the moral justification expressed by the subjects.

Detailed Description

The aim of this study is to test wether a single intervention on moral reasoning can have short and/or mid-term effects on the justification of moral judgements about a problematic moral case. Focusing on justification allows to assess reasonable improvement by referring to a procedural standard, that is, without assuming any substantive normative view; namely, without evaluating a "betterment" on the basis of the content of moral judgements, but rather on the satisfaction of formal, procedural conditions in their justification. Our standard for a good moral justification consists in a set of procedural features, such as logical, empirical, and conceptual competence, openness to revision, sympathetic imagination, and bias avoidance.

Once enrolled, participants will be randomized through random.org software in the two experimental groups: 1) the moral and 2) the non-moral condition. Allocation concealment will be carried out through closed and opaque mails by a blind operator. Subjects will undergo a neuropsychological assessment and a (optional) task-based fMRI at study entry. Furthermore, during the day of the intervention (seminar: moral or logical reasoning), participants will undergo a pre-test (before the intervention) and a post-test (after the intervention) on a morally problematic case. The same test will be repeated by all participants one month after the intervention.

Study Timeline

• Study Start: 2022-11-18
• Primary Completion: 2024-02-19
• Study First Submitted: 2024-07-31
• Status Verified: 2024-12
• Study First Submitted QC: 2024-12-13
• Last Update Submitted: 2024-12-13
• Study First Posted: 2024-12-16
• Last Update Posted: 2024-12-16
• Study Completion: 2025-02-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: ACTIVE_NOT_RECRUITING
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 150

Inclusion Criteria

• University students (other than Philosophy) within the first 3 years
• Aged between 18 and 26 years old
• Italian speakers
• Oral and written informed consent to study participation

Exclusion Criteria

• A current psychiatric condition
• Contraindications to MRI study (cardiac pacemakers; metal splinters or fragments; metal protheses not compatible with the magnetic field; claustrophobia; women who are pregnant or intending to become pregnant during the study; breastfeeding women).

Study & Design

• Study Type: INTERVENTIONAL
• Study Design: PARALLEL

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Short and mid-term (one month) impact of moral vs non-moral reasoning interventions on moral justification abilities in non-expert subjects when performing a moral dilemma.	Baseline, 5 weeks	The primary aim of this study is to evaluate the short (immediate) and mid-term (one month) impact of moral (vs non-moral) reasoning interventions on the moral justification abilities in non-expert subjects. Such an impact will be assessed by observing quantitative changes (on a 0 to 3 points scale) in the moral justifications expressed by the subjects in six domains: empirical competence, conceptual competence, logical coherence, sympathetic imagination, bias reduction, openness to revision of opinions.

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Relationship between brain BOLD activity during task-based fMRI and confidence post-intervention.	Baseline, 5 weeks	To investigate the relationship between pre-intervention subjects' brain BOLD activity during a task-based functional MRI (fMRI), using a moral reasoning paradigm, and confidence post-intervention assessed by using 0-3 point scales.
Relationship between brain BOLD activity during task-based fMRI and changes in moral justification abilities.	Baseline, 5 weeks	To investigate the relationship between pre-intervention subjects' brain BOLD activity during a task-based functional MRI (fMRI), using a moral reasoning paradigm, and changes in moral justification abilities in six domains (empirical competence, conceptual competence, logical coherence, sympathetic imagination, bias reduction, openness to revision of opinions) assessed using a 0-3 point scale.
Relationship between brain BOLD activity during task-based fMRI and agreement with moral statements.	Baseline, 5 weeks	To investigate the relationship between pre-intervention subjects' brain BOLD activity during a task-based functional MRI (fMRI), using a moral reasoning paradigm, and agreement with moral statements assessed using a 0-3 point scale.

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

IRCCS San Raffaele; 🇮🇹 Milan, Italy