Background
Research on values has increased with the rise of moral and positive psychology (Lan et al., 2008; Smallenbroek et al., 2016). Tension often arises between conflicting values, especially in morally-charged situations. However, traditional methodologies (e.g. Likert scales) cannot measure individual nuanced value-balancing because someone could rate all or many values quite equally. In contrast, q-sort analysis, a person-oriented methodological approach, investigates various patterns of value clusters to better understand how people prioritize and organize their values simultaneously.
Hypotheses/Research Questions
We investigated how people prioritize personal values. We hypothesized that unique overarching profiles/patterns of values would emerge across participants.
Sample Characteristics and Sample size
Participants were 193 university freshmen and transfer students (89.1% female, 56% white) who took part in a larger study.
Design
Participants were asked to rank each of Schwartz’s (2011) 10 basic human values according to how similar they were to the participant. Scores ranged from –2 (least like me) to +2 (most like me). Respondents were forced to form a “normal curve” with the majority of values being 0 (neither like nor dislike me).
Results
A q-sort principal components factor analysis revealed four distinct profiles. Profile one (Hedonic Self-Transcendence; 34.2%) was marked by high hedonism, benevolence, and universalism and low achievement, tradition, and power. Profile two (Self-Transcendent Self-Directors; 34.7%) included high self-direction, benevolence, and universalism with low power, tradition, and conformity. Profile three (Eudaimonic Self-Transcendence; 20.7%) comprised high universalism and benevolence with low hedonism and achievement. Profile four (Benevolent Conservationists; 10.4%) encompassed high benevolence, security, and achievement with low hedonism, power, and stimulation.
Scientific contribution
Q-sorts provide a unique measurement opportunity to reduce social desirability biases that often emerge in positive psychology. Furthermore, q-sorts may have higher predictive/ecological validity for how people act in the real world with combinations of values.