Understanding the Moral Values of Young People and the Key Influences on their Character Development

The aim of the paper is to explore young people’s perceptions of moral values and the kind of influences that shape their behaviour. The study is based on the perceptions of 1,997 children in England at the point of transition from primary to secondary school. Data was collected from interviews, questionnaire surveys, and documentary analysis. The findings suggest that young people have a good understanding of moral values. Future research could examine how teachers’ behaviour can influence young people’s concept of morality.