It strikes me that the longstanding debate about this issue does not include (at least to my knowledge) a comparison of the responses given by adults with social experience vs. children. The results of such a study may have bearing on Singer's (2005) conclusion that we shoud simply jettison our moral intuitions about this problem as the biological residue of our evolutionary history.
At the present moment, I'm not aware of, but I would suggest you to see the works of Nancy Eisenberg, of Gustavo Carlo, and of Joshua Greene. Perhaps Georg Linz too... Good luck!
Is there evidence of responses in adults depending on their profession? I think that would be equally interesting, given we sometimes expect different character traits of different professionals.
I liked your question, but do not have any answer. I would like to know more about developmental changes in responses to the trolley question with adolescence. It strikes me that fat people might react differently to the fat person thrown off the bridge.
I look forward to you performing this study; as I hope the responses of only-slightly tampered minds will put the vile myth of utilitarianism to rest once and for all. As a surgeon, treating an increasing number of obese patients, it is personally and professionally disgusting to see the way the trolley problem question is framed. It us equivalent of using any discriminatory criteria to "choose" death. There are an innumerable number of variables from a medical/physicist perspective such that I would cherish the novel ideas of children, if the question was worded positively. I would never, even hypothetically wish to ask a child if they would sacrifice one life for 100; leave alone introducing any discriminatory ideas to a child. I would give them the scenario of chocolates or fruit which will get crushed by the trolley and then sit back and listen to how they would "naturally" wish to work out schemes to save all 6! Philosophers have a responsibility in what they say and indeed, ask. At least if they do no good, they must ensure they do not introduce thoughts of harm, albeit subconsciously. I believe the term for what I am describing is nudging, by encouraging people to think of things within the constraints of presumed Hobson's choices. I cherish and look forward to meeting adults - 25% I understand - who provide "different", alternative responses.
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