Moral reasoning regarding socioscientific issues: argumentation of science teachers in training about euthanasia

Abstract

The objective of this work was to identify the extent of argumentative skills and establish the possible presence of levels of moral reasoning in the arguments produced by science teachers in training regarding Euthanasia as a socioscientific issue (SSI). Socioscientific issues are characterized by controversial topics, generating discussions involving values, moral reasoning and decision-making. To carry out this research, we used the focus group as a method of data collection. The focus group proved to be adequate for this research, since we sought to analyze the statements that emerged during the discussion among the participants. To analyze the data, we used Toulmin's argumentative methodological approach to build the argumentative layouts of each survey participant. In a second moment, each of these layouts was analyzed according to Kohlberg's taxonomy of moral reasoning. As results we found that the science teachers in training were able to build arguments, and that the levels of moral reasoning show us that few people rely on laws to make up their moral reasoning in the process of decision-making on euthanasia.

Keywords

• questões sociocientíficas
• argumentação
• eutanásia, toulmin