SENSITIVITI MORAL MELALUI INTERAKSI PELAJAR PELBAGAI BUDAYA [MORAL SENSITIVITY THROUGH THE INTERACTION OF STUDENTS FROM DIFFERENT CULTURES IN SCHOOL]
The purpose of this research was to examine the moral sensitivity on the interaction between different cultures among secondary school students in Sabah. This qualitative study utilized interviews, document analysis and observation to collect data from its respondents. There were 15 form four students who were selected from diverse ethnic backgrounds in the district of Keningau through purposive sampling technique. In order to examine the characteristics of moral sensitivity on the interaction between different cultures, the researcher adapted an instrument known as Ethical Sensitivity Scale Questionnaire (ESSQ) by Darcia Narvaez. The findings of this study used to address three objectives. The first one was to analyse the characteristics of moral sensitivity among school students of different cultures. The second objective was to identify the presence of moral sensitivity among the different cultures in the selected school. The final objective was to determine to what extent students’ moral sensitivity influenced their moral decisions. The analysis of the findings revealed that concern about others, compassion and adherence to moral values were the three most obvious traits in the interaction between different cultures in Sabah secondary schools. The presence of this moral sensitivity derived from two processes and these were teamwork in accomplishing common goals and cultural assimilation which refers to understanding other cultures to the degree of accepting their values and norms that could be practiced universally. The analysis of this research indicated that moral sensitivity could help students make rational and proper moral decisions with compassion on others regardless of their races. It could help reduce their bias or prejudice in making ethical decisions by putting moral values as their main principle. This study implied how essential moral sensitivity is in the interaction of different cultures and the growth of cultural interaction directly influences the number of elements in moral sensitivity that can be integrated in schools. Moral sensitivity is not just limited to moral education, but it also can be seen in various aspects of languages and religions.