Below you’ll find my MA dissertation. This one has been a long time coming! The central question is: Can extrinsic rewards be used to induce intrinsic motivation for virtuous behaviour? I first wrote about this controversial question in the final essay of my PGCE in 2022, and then in the first, second, third, and fifth […]
Evaluating the lure hypothesis in the classroom Read More »
Below you’ll find one of two abstracts submitted for presentation at the Phronesis in Theory and Practice conference at the University of Gdańsk. Both were accepted. I chose to present this one, as it drew explicitly on my proposed PhD research. This abstract essentially offers a critical book review. In Phronesis: Retrieving Practical Wisdom in Psychology, Philosophy, and
Phronesis and the gappiness problem Read More »
Below you’ll find one of two abstracts submitted for presentation at the Phronesis in Theory and Practice conference at the University of Gdańsk. Both were accepted. I chose to present this one, as it drew explicitly on my proposed PhD research. You can find my presentation slides below, too. (You can read the other accepted
Phronesis and virtue internalisation Read More »
Below you’ll find an abstract based on the sixth essay I wrote for my MA in Character Education (2022-25). The abstract was accepted for presentation at the European Character and Virtue Association’s (ECVA) 2024 annual conference in Rome. Alas, due to teaching commitments, I was unable to attend. However, I later submitted it as one
Rewards and justice Read More »
My thinking regarding my PhD research often changes. I will use this post to chronicle those changes, starting with my most recent thoughts. As of 26th September 2025: The following is an abstract I wrote for my student profile: Character development involves internalising virtues such as honesty, kindness, and bravery; and a virtue is internalised
The role of reflection in character development Read More »
Below you’ll find the sixth essay I wrote for my MA in Character Education (2022-25). I struggled with this one. I had an idea that I wanted to explore – something I’d touched on in a previous assignment. I wanted to investigate the effect that rewards have on onlookers (i.e., non-recipients), an important issue given
Rewards, justice, and dialogue Read More »
For the fourth module of my MA in Character Education (2022-25), I returned to the idea that rewards can be used to lure otherwise unmotivated children into developing intrinsic (or more autonomous) motivation for virtuous behaviours (see Key concepts). In a previous essay, I outlined how this “lure” hypothesis might be tested in a controlled
Testing the lure hypothesis in school Read More »
Below you’ll find the fourth essay I wrote for my MA in Character Education (2022-25). This one was a bit different – it was for a History and Politics module, very much outside my comfort zone! I decided to explore the issue of equity, which is a constant area of focus at my school, serving
How much character development is enough? Read More »
Below you’ll find the third essay I wrote for my MA in Character Education (2022-25). In my previous essay, I explored the idea that rewards might be used to kickstart intrinsic motivation for virtuous behaviours, arguing that the hypothesis was at least theoretically plausible. In this essay, I take a step further – designing an
Intrinsic via extrinsic motivation: A possible test Read More »
Below you’ll find a draft article based on the second essay I wrote for my MA in Character Education (2022-25). My tutor was impressed with the essay and suggested I try to get it published. After expanding it into an article, I submitted it to the Journal of Character Education. This was my first experience
Can rewards lead to virtue? Read More »
