Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Defining Issues Test (DIT)
What are the differences between the versions of the Defining Issues Test (DIT)? Which DIT should I use?
The DIT2 is the most current and commonly used version and is provided only with the Center’s scoring service (the DIT2 cannot be scored by the researcher). The DIT2 is an updated version of the original DIT, consists of five ethical dilemmas and may be administered online (using survey software) or as a paper test.
The DIT1 is the original version, consists of six ethical dilemmas and may be administered online (using survey software) or as a paper test. The DIT1 may be scored using the Center’s scoring service, however there is also an option for researchers to calculate the Pscore themselves using the instructions in the DIT1 scoring manual available for purchase from the Center for a fee of $50.00. Note that the manual only includes instructions for the Pscore, not the other scores included with the Center’s scoring service. This option is intended to provide students and researchers with limited resources a less expensive way to use the DIT in their research.
The bDIT, or behavioral Defining Issues Test, is a recent modification of the DIT and was developed for use in behavioral and neuroimaging studies. The bDIT is not intended for use when examination of the development of moral reasoning is the primary purpose of a study. The bDIT does not provide full information regarding moral development (e.g., N2 score). More information is available on the bDIT page on the Center website.
I want to use the DIT in my research, how do I obtain the measure?
First decide which version you would like to use, then determine how you will administer the measure (either online using survey software or in paper/pencil format). Use this information to complete and submit the online order form through our website.
What if I don't know how large my sample size will be?
For online administration, you do not need to specify your sample size at the time you place the order and request the measure, as there are no charges until data is submitted for scoring. After you are finished collecting data and submit your data file to be scored, the scoring fee is calculated based on the number of cases in your file.
For paper administration, you must specify the quantity of tests you wish to order based on your estimated projected sample size since tests and Scantron forms are shipped prior to data collection.
What if I’ve already collected DIT data and am ready to submit my data to be scored?
If you are not requesting the measure, have already administered the DIT and are ready to submit your data to be scored, after providing the necessary information about your study on the order form, go to the first DIT section labeled “For Existing Online DIT Users” and select “Data Submission Only (For Scoring Service)”, then proceed to the end of the form to enter the information necessary to create your invoice. After you submit the order form, you will be invited via email to upload your data to a secure Dropbox folder. Once your data is uploaded you will receive an invoice for the scoring fee based on the number of cases in your file.
Do I need to prepare my online data before I submit it to be scored?
With most survey software platforms, data can be directly exported to an Excel file; we accept data files in either Excel or SPSS format and the data must in numerical format (as opposed to text). It is the researcher’s responsibility to ensure that data is accurate and exported properly.
Since the scoring fee is calculated according to the number of cases in the data file, we recommend that blank lines, test cases and incomplete cases be deleted before sending the file. We do not delete cases from another researcher’s data file even if they appear to be blank. In order for valid and reliable DIT scores to be calculated, participants must respond to at least three scenarios.
How long does it take to complete the DIT?
The original six-story DIT-1 takes about 40-50 minutes to complete, and the DIT-2 takes about 30-45 minutes. It is possible to use a "short form" of the DIT (version 1 or 2), which uses only 3 of the stories, which reduces the time for completion to about 20-35 minutes. Shortening the test generally lowers the reliability and power of validity trends reducing reliability by about 10 points (Cronbach’s alpha), and correlations with external variables by about 10 points. To minimize this trade off, certain combinations of stories are recommended. The traditional short form of the DIT-1 consists of the first three stories; the recommended combination for short form use with the DIT-2 is stories 1, 2 and 4, however other combinations are occasionally used depending on the nature of the research. Further information related to DIT can be found on the About DIT on our website.
What if some of my participants did not respond to all of the items for each story?
For the full version of the DIT, some missing data is acceptable however participants must respond to at least three scenarios in order for valid and reliable DIT scores to be calculated.
Can the DIT be used as a pre and post test?
Many researchers use the DIT as a pre and post test to measure changes in moral reasoning over time and/or to assess potential changes associated with interventions or programs.
We recommend that you use the same version of the DIT for both the pre and post testing since using different forms adds measurement error. There is little evidence of a practice effect in that exposure to the DIT in the pre test will consequently contribute to higher scores for the post test, especially over the course of a semester.
Will I be able to identify individual results in my scored data files and summary?
Scores are organized according to the ID variable in a given set of data files. For paper administration, participants enter an ID in the designated area on the formatted Scantron answer sheet. For online administration, unless you request that a different variable be used, the default ID assigned by the survey software will be used. Typically, the default ID consists of a random string of letters and numbers and does not contain any identifying information about the participant.
Will I be able to connect individual pre and post test results?
You will only be able to connect individual pre and post test results if you assign participants a unique identifier and request that this unique identifier is used as the ID variable.
How do I administer the DIT online?
The steps for ordering and administering the DIT using online survey software can be found on the ordering information page of our website. This page also includes information about scoring fee pricing.
How do I administer the DIT on paper?
The steps for ordering and administering the DIT as a paper and pencil test (using Scantron forms) can be found on our ordering information page of our website. This page also includes information about pricing.
How much does it cost to use the DIT?
The standard scoring fee for the DIT is $5.50 for each participant in a given sample.
Which files are provided with the scoring service?
For each file submitted for scoring, four files are returned: a large data file with all of the variables in the original file and all of the (300+) variables used to calculate the DIT scores, a smaller file (labeled “scored”) which consists of only the (~20) variables included in the summary report (these variables appear in the first larger file as well), a pdf summary report and an SPSS output file which is essentially the same as the pdf summary but can be edited in SPSS. Data files are returned in SPSS format unless Microsoft Excel format is requested. For more information about the scores provided with our scoring service, please visit our About the DIT page.
The DIT2 is the most current and commonly used version and is provided only with the Center’s scoring service (the DIT2 cannot be scored by the researcher). The DIT2 is an updated version of the original DIT, consists of five ethical dilemmas and may be administered online (using survey software) or as a paper test.
The DIT1 is the original version, consists of six ethical dilemmas and may be administered online (using survey software) or as a paper test. The DIT1 may be scored using the Center’s scoring service, however there is also an option for researchers to calculate the Pscore themselves using the instructions in the DIT1 scoring manual available for purchase from the Center for a fee of $50.00. Note that the manual only includes instructions for the Pscore, not the other scores included with the Center’s scoring service. This option is intended to provide students and researchers with limited resources a less expensive way to use the DIT in their research.
The bDIT, or behavioral Defining Issues Test, is a recent modification of the DIT and was developed for use in behavioral and neuroimaging studies. The bDIT is not intended for use when examination of the development of moral reasoning is the primary purpose of a study. The bDIT does not provide full information regarding moral development (e.g., N2 score). More information is available on the bDIT page on the Center website.
I want to use the DIT in my research, how do I obtain the measure?
First decide which version you would like to use, then determine how you will administer the measure (either online using survey software or in paper/pencil format). Use this information to complete and submit the online order form through our website.
What if I don't know how large my sample size will be?
For online administration, you do not need to specify your sample size at the time you place the order and request the measure, as there are no charges until data is submitted for scoring. After you are finished collecting data and submit your data file to be scored, the scoring fee is calculated based on the number of cases in your file.
For paper administration, you must specify the quantity of tests you wish to order based on your estimated projected sample size since tests and Scantron forms are shipped prior to data collection.
What if I’ve already collected DIT data and am ready to submit my data to be scored?
If you are not requesting the measure, have already administered the DIT and are ready to submit your data to be scored, after providing the necessary information about your study on the order form, go to the first DIT section labeled “For Existing Online DIT Users” and select “Data Submission Only (For Scoring Service)”, then proceed to the end of the form to enter the information necessary to create your invoice. After you submit the order form, you will be invited via email to upload your data to a secure Dropbox folder. Once your data is uploaded you will receive an invoice for the scoring fee based on the number of cases in your file.
Do I need to prepare my online data before I submit it to be scored?
With most survey software platforms, data can be directly exported to an Excel file; we accept data files in either Excel or SPSS format and the data must in numerical format (as opposed to text). It is the researcher’s responsibility to ensure that data is accurate and exported properly.
Since the scoring fee is calculated according to the number of cases in the data file, we recommend that blank lines, test cases and incomplete cases be deleted before sending the file. We do not delete cases from another researcher’s data file even if they appear to be blank. In order for valid and reliable DIT scores to be calculated, participants must respond to at least three scenarios.
How long does it take to complete the DIT?
The original six-story DIT-1 takes about 40-50 minutes to complete, and the DIT-2 takes about 30-45 minutes. It is possible to use a "short form" of the DIT (version 1 or 2), which uses only 3 of the stories, which reduces the time for completion to about 20-35 minutes. Shortening the test generally lowers the reliability and power of validity trends reducing reliability by about 10 points (Cronbach’s alpha), and correlations with external variables by about 10 points. To minimize this trade off, certain combinations of stories are recommended. The traditional short form of the DIT-1 consists of the first three stories; the recommended combination for short form use with the DIT-2 is stories 1, 2 and 4, however other combinations are occasionally used depending on the nature of the research. Further information related to DIT can be found on the About DIT on our website.
What if some of my participants did not respond to all of the items for each story?
For the full version of the DIT, some missing data is acceptable however participants must respond to at least three scenarios in order for valid and reliable DIT scores to be calculated.
Can the DIT be used as a pre and post test?
Many researchers use the DIT as a pre and post test to measure changes in moral reasoning over time and/or to assess potential changes associated with interventions or programs.
We recommend that you use the same version of the DIT for both the pre and post testing since using different forms adds measurement error. There is little evidence of a practice effect in that exposure to the DIT in the pre test will consequently contribute to higher scores for the post test, especially over the course of a semester.
Will I be able to identify individual results in my scored data files and summary?
Scores are organized according to the ID variable in a given set of data files. For paper administration, participants enter an ID in the designated area on the formatted Scantron answer sheet. For online administration, unless you request that a different variable be used, the default ID assigned by the survey software will be used. Typically, the default ID consists of a random string of letters and numbers and does not contain any identifying information about the participant.
Will I be able to connect individual pre and post test results?
You will only be able to connect individual pre and post test results if you assign participants a unique identifier and request that this unique identifier is used as the ID variable.
How do I administer the DIT online?
The steps for ordering and administering the DIT using online survey software can be found on the ordering information page of our website. This page also includes information about scoring fee pricing.
How do I administer the DIT on paper?
The steps for ordering and administering the DIT as a paper and pencil test (using Scantron forms) can be found on our ordering information page of our website. This page also includes information about pricing.
How much does it cost to use the DIT?
The standard scoring fee for the DIT is $5.50 for each participant in a given sample.
Which files are provided with the scoring service?
For each file submitted for scoring, four files are returned: a large data file with all of the variables in the original file and all of the (300+) variables used to calculate the DIT scores, a smaller file (labeled “scored”) which consists of only the (~20) variables included in the summary report (these variables appear in the first larger file as well), a pdf summary report and an SPSS output file which is essentially the same as the pdf summary but can be edited in SPSS. Data files are returned in SPSS format unless Microsoft Excel format is requested. For more information about the scores provided with our scoring service, please visit our About the DIT page.