""Studies in the Nature of Character"" (Volume 1) is a landmark empirical investigation into the development and consistency of moral behavior. Conducted by the Character Education Inquiry, this work focuses specifically on the scientific measurement of deceit and integrity. By employing rigorous experimental methods, the study examines how children respond to opportunities for dishonesty, such as cheating, stealing, and lying, across various social and educational settings.
The work represents a pivotal moment in educational psychology and social science, challenging traditional assumptions about character as a unified, stable trait. Instead, it offers evidence for the situational nature of conduct, suggesting that moral behavior is often heavily influenced by environment and specific circumstances rather than being solely an inherent personal quality. As an influential piece of early 20th-century research, this volume provides deep insights into the methodologies used to quantify human behavior and the ethical frameworks that shaped modern moral education. This study remains an essential reference for researchers in developmental psychology, sociology, and ethics, offering a foundational look at the complexities of human integrity and the factors that drive moral decision-making.
This work has been selected by scholars as being culturally important, and is part of the knowledge base of civilization as we know it. This work was reproduced from the original artifact, and remains as true to the original work as possible. Therefore, you may see the original copyright references, library stamps (as most of these works have been housed in our most important libraries around the world), and other notations in the work.
This work is in the public domain in the United States of America, and possibly other nations. Within the United States, you may freely copy and distribute this work, as no entity (individual or corporate) has a copyright on the body of the work.
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