Moral Intelligence in the Context of Its Questionnaire Psychometric Properties Verification and of Chosen Demographic Variables in the Slovak Environment

• Main Author: Lada Kaliská
• Format: Article
• Language: ces
• Published: University of Ostrava 2014-07-01
• Series: Psychology and its Contexts
• Subjects: moral intelligence; personal and social moral competences; MCI questionnaire; reliability; factor structure; gender; age; religion; adolescent youth
• Online Access: http://psychkont.osu.cz/fulltext/2014/Kaliska_2014_1.pdf

The interest in intelligence construct operationalization is reflected in construction upon new intelligence concepts analyzing it in a wider social context. This scientific study offers the theoretical and empirical analysis of a newly created construct of moral intelligence. Moral intelligence concept was founded in the Multiple Intelligence Theory of H. Gardner (1985), being followed by L. Kuckovsky, A. Dobrin, V. Di Norcia and others in historical-philosophical-evolution-theological context, by D. Lennick, F. Kiel, C. Veach and others in successful management context and by A. Hass, M. Borba, R. Coles, J. Bradshaw and others in school-counselling context. Subsequently moral intelligence is defined as an individual's ability to solve ethical problems ethically right. The application of ethical principles in successful business management formed a theoretical base for moral intelligence characterized by D. Lennick a F. Kiel (2008). They created also a self-report questionnaire Moral Competence Inventory (MCI) to assess personal moral competences as a base of moral intelligence. The study provides the results of psychometrical properties (factor structure and reliability in the sense of inner consistency and test-retest result stability) of the Slovak, the only available, questionnaire for moral intelligence assessment at a chosen adolescent research sample (N=209). It also analyses the differences in total moral intelligence level and two newly extracted factors (personal and social moral competences) in relation to gender, age and religious believes referring to the fact the MCI authors presupposed that there is no relation between moral competences and demographic factors (gender, age, nationality or religion, 2005). The findings prove the significant differences in the overall level of moral intelligence (p≤0,01) and in factors of personal (Standing up for what is right (Courage), p≤0,01) and social (Helping others (Service), p≤0,01 and Actively caring about others (Kindness and Friendliness), p≤0,001) moral competences in favor of girls and in personal moral factors (Telling the truth (Honesty), Standing up for what is right (Courage) and Keeping promises (Trustworthy), p≤0,01) in favor of older students (confirmed also by Cohen's effect size measure) assessed by the Slovak version of MCI questionnaire with its sufficient reliability (test-retest result stability (0,591≤R≤0,745) and inner consistency of two extracted factors (0,70≤α)). There were no significant differences between two groups of religious and non-religious ones in their moral competences, besides expected declared religious interest of believers in Recognizing spiritual needs (Faith and reverence) factor (p≤0,001). The study is being considered as a pilot study for further psychometrical property verification of the MCI Slovak version by other validating researches to prove the legitimacy of this questionnaire usage for psychological diagnostic purposes.