Dissociating the Multiple Psychological Processes in Everyday Moral Decision-Making with the CAN Algorithm

Round 1

Reviewer 1 Report

Article Type: Research Article

Full Title: Social Isolation and Altruistic Tendency in Everyday Moral Decision-making: A Moderated Mediation Model from Restoring Social Connectedness Perspective

Objective: The present study aimed to explore the relationship between people’s altruistic and egoistic tendencies in everyday moral decision-making. The findings indicated that social isolation directly predicts altruistic tendency. Distress disclosure partially mediates the relationship between social isolation and altruistic tendency. Further, the association between distress disclosure and altruistic tendency is moderated by the state of intimate relationship.

The manuscript needs more work and effort in each section:

The does not clearly describe the purpose of the study. Further, please revise the abstract by focusing on purpose, methodology and major findings. You do not introduce purpose of the study and mention about study 1 in the abstract.

After Introduction, there should be a theoretical framework section where consolidates theoretical background and related studies with the research’s design and model. Currently, the manuscript does not provide any theoretical framework. A specific sub-section for theoretical background is needed, titled correspondingly. The authors must connect between their theoretical background and their hypotheses. Specifically, they should identify more literature that is (more) relevant for their research variables. Also, hypotheses need a specific section, titled correspondingly. Each hypothesis, specifically moderating relationships, should be developed based on theory and logic one by one.

The 24-item scenarios of Everyday Moral Decision-making were developed by the first study. Since this is a scale development study or the author(s) developed a new measure for Everyday Moral Decision-making through the study, an Exploratory Factor Analysis (EFA) should be conducted in the first study. Reliability, construct validity results along with Descriptive Statistics (i.e., Skewness, Kurtosis) for each dimension should be reported. Next, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) should be conducted by using a different data set in the second study. The CFA should be conducted to test the measurement model. Model fit estimates including χ2/DF, GFI, AGFI, CFI, TLI, IFI, RMSEA [LO90, HI90], SRMR should be reported.

The original version of the 12-item Distress Disclosure Index and six-item Friendship scale were in English but translated into Chinese under the guidance of an English teacher through the study. Therefore, a Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA) should be conducted to test the measurement models. Convergent and discriminant validity should be tested. CR and AVE values should also be reported in the matrix to test convergent and discriminant validity. Reliability of the scales obtained in the present study should be reported.

Revise Figure 1 showing the hypothesized relationships (use TIFF images with minimum 300 dpi).

The results should include Std. β, β, S.E., t, and p (only t values and p level were provided).

Direct, indirect, and total effects obtained from mediation analysis with bootstrapping technique should be reported (Estimate, S.E., LCL, UCL, and p-value).

Author(s) need to modify the discussion by considering the above-mentioned points and modifying the results.

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Reviewer 2 Report

See annotations in attached document for comments.

Comments for author File: Comments.pdf

Author Response

Please see the attachment.

Author Response File: Author Response.docx

Round 2

Reviewer 1 Report

The authors have addressed all of my comments/concerns.