Evidence map›Paper›PMID 25689521›Full record

Trial reportPloS one2015

Moral hypocrisy on the basis of construal level: to be a utilitarian personal decision maker or to be a moral advisor?

Wei Xiao, Qing Wu, Qun Yang, Liang Zhou, Yuan Jiang, Jiaxi Zhang, Danmin Miao, Jiaxi Peng

Abstract readRandomized Controlled Trial
In one paragraph

Trial report in PloS one, 2015. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.

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0citing papers in PubMed
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1 · What the graph read from it

What it found

Each row is one number read from the abstract, on the scale the paper reported it, with its interval. Left of the dashed line favours the treatment, right favours the comparator. Under each row is the sentence it came from. New to these charts? A ten-minute tutorial.

The abstract states no effect estimate the extractor could read, or names no intervention and outcome on the map, so this paper lights no cell and moves no belief. It is still indexed, cited and linked below.

2 · The registry

The trial behind it

Trials whose registry record cites this paper, or whose number appears in the abstract. A trial that started after this paper was published is citing it as background, not reporting it.

Neither the registry nor the abstract names a trial number. If this is a trial report, that itself is worth knowing.

3 · Its place in the literature

Who cites it

0 citing papers in PubMed.

No citing paper in PubMed yet.

4 · The record

Corrections and comments

PubMed lists nothing against this paper. Absence here is not a guarantee, only a check that was made.

5 · Who and what money

Authors and funding

8 authors.

Wei XiaoDepartment of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Qing WuDepartment of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China; Foreign Language Teaching and Researching Office of Basic Education Department, Chongqing Communication Institute, Chongqing, China.
Qun YangDepartment of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Liang ZhouDepartment of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Yuan JiangAstronaut Scientific Research Training Center of China, Beijing, China.
Jiaxi ZhangDepartment of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Danmin MiaoDepartment of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.
Jiaxi PengDepartment of Psychology, Fourth Military Medical University, Xi'an, China.

Funding

No grant is acknowledged in the PubMed record.

6 · The paper itself

Abstract

backgroundPeople encounter various moral issues that involve making decisions for others by giving advice.

objectiveThis study investigated the characteristics of providing suggestions for oneself versus providing suggestions for others in ethical decision-making and the differences between them based on Construal Level Theory (CLT).

methodsA total of 768 undergraduate students from three universities in China were randomly assigned to eight groups on the basis of a grid of two Construal Levels (self or others) by two different numbers of people saved (5 people or 15 people) by two problem situations (trolley problem vs. footbridge problem). The investigation examined participants' decisions to opt to take action or refrain from action that would have the consequence of saving more people.

resultsThe main effects of Construal Level (F1, 752 = 6.46, p = .011), saving number (F1, 752 = 35.81, p < .001), and problem situation type (F1, 752 = 330.55, p < .001) were all significant. The interaction of the problem situation and saving number (F1, 752 = 1.01, p = .31), and social distance and saving number (F1, 752 = 0.85, p = .36), and interaction of the three independent factors (F1, 752 = 0.47, p = .49) were not significant. However, the interaction of social distance and problem situation (F1, 752 = 9.46, p = .002) was significant. Results indicated the participants utilized a component of utilitarian reasoning in the decision-making, and their behaviors appeared more utilitarian at low Construal Levels (CLs) compared to high.

conclusionCLs, saving numbers, and problem situation significantly affected moral decision-making and exhibited significant interaction. Making decisions for oneself (low-construal) rather than giving advice to others (high-construal) was one important factor that determined whether the people were utilitarian or not. Utilitarian considerations are more relevant in impersonal dilemmas.

Indexed as

Decision MakingEthical TheoryInterpersonal RelationsMoralsProblem SolvingAdolescentAdultFemaleHumansMalePsychological DistanceYoung Adult

Identifiers

PMID25689521
PMCPMC4331369

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Read under generation 80e0d062 · epoch 390. Bibliography from PubMed, PubMed Central and OpenAlex; grants from NIH RePORTER; trial links from ClinicalTrials.gov; estimates, votes and beliefs from the OpenQuestion graph.