Article Version of Record

The Value Structure in Socioeconomically Less Developed European Countries Still Remains an Ellipse

Author(s) / Creator(s)

Strack, Micha
Dobewall, Henrik

Abstract / Description

Based on the 21-item Human Values Scale of the European Social Survey (ESS, 2002–2006), Bilsky, Janik, and Schwartz (2011) concluded that the quasi-circular model of Schwartz’s value theory “fits somewhat less well in less developed societies” (p. 16). This article focuses on their mitigating quantifier “somewhat” and proposes an impartial measure to evaluate Schwartz’s universality claim. European Social Survey data of four rounds 2002–2008 (33 countries, 98 samples) were analysed. Applying restricted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), we partitioned the 21 items’ variance into an acquiescence part and the two diagonal axes of growth-protection and social-personal focused values. The variance in the growth–protection axis varied between 22.0% (Austria, in 2002) and 2.0% (samples from Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia remain below 5%). Within rounds across countries (respective df = 94), the growth–protection axis’ variance strongly correlates (r = .76) with an index of socioeconomic development, aggregated from five indicators adopted from the World Bank. It also strongly correlates (r = .81) with a sample’s mean member’s location on the growth vs. protection value dimension. We interpret these results as a strong effect and conclude that in socioeconomically less developed countries the value structure remains elliptical or even one-dimensional. The discussion relates the results to Klages’ value synthesis theory.

Keyword(s)

universality of the value structure European Social Survey (ESS) Restricted Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)

Persistent Identifier

Date of first publication

2012-11-30

Journal title

Europe's Journal of Psychology

Volume

8

Issue

4

Page numbers

587–602

Publisher

PsychOpen GOLD

Publication status

publishedVersion

Review status

peerReviewed

Is version of

Citation

Strack, M., & Dobewall, H. (2012). The Value Structure in Socioeconomically Less Developed European Countries Still Remains an Ellipse. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 8(4), 587–602. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v8i4.505
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Strack, Micha
  • Author(s) / Creator(s)
    Dobewall, Henrik
  • PsychArchives acquisition timestamp
    2018-11-21T10:00:48Z
  • Made available on
    2018-11-21T10:00:48Z
  • Date of first publication
    2012-11-30
  • Abstract / Description
    Based on the 21-item Human Values Scale of the European Social Survey (ESS, 2002–2006), Bilsky, Janik, and Schwartz (2011) concluded that the quasi-circular model of Schwartz’s value theory “fits somewhat less well in less developed societies” (p. 16). This article focuses on their mitigating quantifier “somewhat” and proposes an impartial measure to evaluate Schwartz’s universality claim. European Social Survey data of four rounds 2002–2008 (33 countries, 98 samples) were analysed. Applying restricted confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), we partitioned the 21 items’ variance into an acquiescence part and the two diagonal axes of growth-protection and social-personal focused values. The variance in the growth–protection axis varied between 22.0% (Austria, in 2002) and 2.0% (samples from Romania, Turkey, Ukraine, Hungary, and Slovakia remain below 5%). Within rounds across countries (respective df = 94), the growth–protection axis’ variance strongly correlates (r = .76) with an index of socioeconomic development, aggregated from five indicators adopted from the World Bank. It also strongly correlates (r = .81) with a sample’s mean member’s location on the growth vs. protection value dimension. We interpret these results as a strong effect and conclude that in socioeconomically less developed countries the value structure remains elliptical or even one-dimensional. The discussion relates the results to Klages’ value synthesis theory.
    en_US
  • Publication status
    publishedVersion
  • Review status
    peerReviewed
  • Citation
    Strack, M., & Dobewall, H. (2012). The Value Structure in Socioeconomically Less Developed European Countries Still Remains an Ellipse. Europe's Journal of Psychology, 8(4), 587–602. https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v8i4.505
  • ISSN
    1841-0413
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://hdl.handle.net/20.500.12034/1161
  • Persistent Identifier
    https://doi.org/10.23668/psycharchives.1353
  • Language of content
    eng
  • Publisher
    PsychOpen GOLD
  • Is version of
    https://doi.org/10.5964/ejop.v8i4.505
  • Keyword(s)
    universality of the value structure
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    European Social Survey (ESS)
    en_US
  • Keyword(s)
    Restricted Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA)
    en_US
  • Dewey Decimal Classification number(s)
    150
  • Title
    The Value Structure in Socioeconomically Less Developed European Countries Still Remains an Ellipse
    en_US
  • DRO type
    article
  • Issue
    4
  • Journal title
    Europe's Journal of Psychology
  • Page numbers
    587–602
  • Volume
    8
  • Visible tag(s)
    Version of Record