Merit-Based Justice Reasoning

No consistent evidence of merit-based justice reasoning in daily contexts

• Does not demonstrate merit-based justice reasoning behaviours
• Relies entirely on adult direction for related tasks

Beginning to show merit-based justice reasoning with significant support

• Inconsistent merit-based justice reasoning; needs adult prompting
• Partial performance in familiar, structured settings

Demonstrates merit-based justice reasoning consistently in familiar contexts

• Applies merit-based justice reasoning reliably in routine situations
• Requires prompting to transfer to new or demanding contexts

Understands that fairness involves accounting for effort and need, not only equal distribution.

• Demonstrates merit-based justice reasoning independently across varied contexts
• Sustains performance without adult support or reminders

Applies merit-based justice reasoning flexibly; can articulate and model it for others

• Articulates own process when applying merit-based justice reasoning
• Transfers skill spontaneously to novel domains