Toward Refining the Theory of Basic Human Values

Abstract

The theory of basic human values (Schwartz, 1992) specifies 10 broad values that are ordered in a circular motivational structure. Methodological studies have tested the discriminant validity of the 10 values, their reliability, and the structure of relations among them (e.g., Davidov, Schmidt, and Schwartz, 2008; Knoppen and Saris, 2009; Perrinjaquet, Furrer, Usunier, Cestre, and Valette-Florence, 2007; Schwartz and Boehnke, 2004). In studies using multidimensional scaling, the items that operationalize each value typically form a separate region in a two- dimensional space, and these regions are arrayed in a circular order that supports the theorized structure (e.g., Bilsky, Janik, and Schwartz, 2010; Schwartz, 1992, 2006). Studies using confirmatory factor analysis typically reveal that some values exhibit low internal reliability and that some pairs of adjacent values (e.g., power and achievement) cannot be discriminated clearly from one another (e.g., Davidov et al., 2008).