Conceptualizing and measuring social and emotional learning: A systematic review and meta-analysis of moral reasoning and academic achievement, religiosity, political orientation, personality

Responsible decision-making is a sub-domain of social emotional competence and develops through the educational process of social and emotional learning (SEL). The current review examines responsible decision-making and explores, specifically, the relationship between moral reasoning (MR) and academic achievement (N = 6,992, 18), MR and religiosity (N = 3,441, 15), MR and political orientation (N = 12,960, 15) and MR and personality (N = 1,659, 8). Forty-three studies qualified for inclusion and analysis. The results indicated a positive effect between MR and academic achievement (ES = + 0.24). Interestingly, small negative effects were found between MR and political orientation (ES = - 0.06). Results also indicated small non-significant effects between MR and religiosity (ES = - 0.00, p = .94), and MR and personality (ES = + 0.01, p = .92). Possible interpretations of these findings are discussed with reference to the literature.