Date Awarded

2008

Document Type

Dissertation

Degree Name

Doctor of Education (Ed.D.)

Department

Education

Abstract

Male perpetrated sexual aggression has long been recognized as a serious problem on college campuses. The purpose of this Multiple Regression Correlation research design study was to assess the relationship between levels of moral development (measured by the Defining Issues Test) and the degree to which first year college men (N = 161) ascribed to rape supportive attitudes. Rape supportive attitudes, for the purposes of this study, included assessed levels of rape myth endorsements (measured by the Illinois Rape Myth Acceptance Scale [IRMA]) and hypermasculinity (measured by the Hypermasculinity Inventory). Respondents completed three research instruments and a demographic questionnaire prior to the beginning of the fall semester. Analysis of whether there was a significant relationship between (a) levels of rape myth endorsements and moral development, (b) hypermasculinity and moral development, and (c) the extent that rape myths, hypermasculinity, and SAT verbal/quantitative scores predicted moral development levels was conducted. Pearson correlations indicated that there was a significant (p < .01) relationship between rape myth acceptance and moral development. There was not a significant (p = .241) relationship between hypermasculinity and moral development. Stepwise multiple regression analysis indicated that rape myths and SAT verbal scores accounted for 9% of moral development variance. Additional stepwise analysis suggested that the IRMA subscale, It wasn't really rape, in combination with SAT verbal scores, accounted for approximately 10% of moral development variance. Exploratory analysis on demographic characteristics was also conducted. Implications for practitioners and research suggestions are provided.

DOI

https://dx.doi.org/doi:10.25774/w4-4203-g198

Rights

© The Author

Download

Share Feedback

Share

COinS