Moral identity and moral arguments: Moving beyond the yes/no paradigm in bilinguals’ moral decision-making research

Aims: This study investigated the role of moral identity in bilinguals’ moral judgements and emotions in their first (L1) and second language (L2) and the reasons underlying their moral choices.Methodology: An embedded mixed-methods design was used to obtain the data. Ninety Chinese–English bilinguals read a series of moral dilemmas, provided a moral decision, and described their emotions and the reasons underlying their moral choices. They also completed measures of moral identity and language proficiency. The study was pre-registered prior to data collection and analysis.Data Analysis: The data obtained was analysed by means of mixed effects logistic regression models, Chi-squared tests, and content analysis. Findings: The results cast doubt on the robustness of the moral foreign language effect. Having a strong moral self led to stronger emotions regardless of the language used. Moreover, a strong moral self was linked to a greater self-reported willingness to return the money found in a lost wallet. Qualitative analysis of moral arguments suggested honesty, trust, integrity, fairness, and conflict avoidance were some of the moral principles that our participants prioritised. This analysis further highlighted the role of causal attributions and anticipation mechanisms in determining moral choices. Originality: This is the first study that analyses moral arguments in response to both realistic and unrealistic dilemmas, and among the very few that address moral identity in bilinguals’ moral choices. Implications: Attempts to quantify L1 and L2 (moral) reasoning via yes/no or Likert-type responses may not be enough. The mechanisms underlying (moral) decision-making may be best discovered by asking people to explain their emotions and moral choices. Therefore, this study highlights the need to accommodate more qualitative approaches in the study of the moral foreign language effect.