Measure Description
The measure is based on Eisenberg’s prosocial moral reasoning interview measure (Eisenberg, 1986) and Rest’s (Rest, 1986) Defining Issues Test (DIT) and is used to assess prosocial moral reasoning preferences. It takes approximately 20 -30 minutes to complete. There are seven stories and one sample story. Under each story, there are 3 behavioral choices listed as to what the character in the story should do (immediately under each PROM story dilemma), 6 reasons why the character should behave as specified, and a ranking of how important each reason was in making their decision (only in the adolescent version of the PROM).
Appropriate Demographics for Applying the PROM
The PROM was initially developed for administration to children as well as adults (ages 10-21+ years). Although we do not recommend administration of the PROM with children younger than 5th grade (see Carlo, Eisenberg, & Knight, 1992), the Portuguese -language version of the PROM was used successfully with 4th grade Brazilian children.
Languages the PROM is Available In
English, Hebrew, Portuguese, Spanish, Korean, and Tagalog (Phillipino), and Turkish
Sample Items
Lori wanted to buy a bike to go to school, but her parents had said that if she wanted to go to camping with her friends she needs to save her money. Lori really wanted her new bike because she was embarrassed about how her old one looked, but she also wanted to go with her friends camping.
Participants are asked to indicate whether Lori should (1) buy the bike, (2) go camping or, (3) not sure what Lori should do.
Participants are then asked to rate the importance of each of the reasoning items on why the protagonist should or should not help the needy other in the story(on a seven-point scale, 1= not at all, 7=greatly)
- It depends whether she can get the money for the bike from someone else
- It depends whether Lori thinks the bike is better or whether camping is better
- It depends on how much money Lori has
- It depends on what Lori’s parents would say
- Whether Lori would think its right to save money or not
- It depends on the feelings of Lori’s friends