Exploring Peer Influence in Moral Decision-Making: A Two-Phase Study on the Reliability of Focus Groups with Children

The present study investigates the reliability of qualitative data gathered through focus groups, particularly when a research project involves children aged 12 to 13. While this data collection method usually provides valuable insights into participant perspectives, it is often criticized for its susceptibility to subjectivity and the potential influence of group dynamics on individual responses. Given these concerns, we employed a rigorous two-phase data collection methodology. The first phase involved two focus group discussions with nine middle school students, followed by individual interviews in the second phase to cross-check the consistency of responses. By using dilemmas based on common school situations in Morocco, such as cheating during an exam, the study focused on children’s moral decision-making and reasoning through Kohlberg’s theory of moral development. The results revealed that many participants changed their moral decisions between the two phases of the research. More importantly, the data highlighted what we termed the 'peer-centered orientation,' in moral reasoning, a shift influenced by peer pressure and the focus group dynamics, which suggests a potential refinement to Kohlberg’s original framework. The study, therefore, emphasizes the need for a reliable approach when conducting moral research with children, and it presents an opportunity to extend Kohlberg's theory to include peer-driven moral decision-making among kids. Keywords: Children's moral reasoning; focus groups; peer influence; moral development theory; sequential research designs