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The structure of personal values: a conical representation of multiple life areas
Author(s) -
SAGIE ABRAHAM,
ELIZUR DOV
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
journal of organizational behavior
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 3.938
H-Index - 177
eISSN - 1099-1379
pISSN - 0894-3796
DOI - 10.1002/(sici)1099-1379(199612)17:1+<573::aid-job824>3.0.co;2-7
Subject(s) - conical surface , representation (politics) , psychology , social psychology , mathematics , geometry , political science , law , politics
The objective of the present study was to analyze the structure of personal values. Based on previous investigations, we proposed a multifaceted definition of values from various life areas (or domains). Structural hypotheses concerning the relationships between the definitional framework and empirical observations were formulated. Using data obtained from two samples of Israeli respondents (153 business students and 146 computer personnel), the hypotheses were examined and supported. Two basic sets of components: life areas (work, religion, culture, sports, politics, and life in general which primarily concerns home and family) and modalities (material, affective, and cognitive), were distinguished and confirmed by means of factor analysis and facet analysis. A three‐dimensional conical representation of the personal values domain was revealed. The structural analysis reflected several differences among the attributes of life areas, such as the obligatory or optional nature of their activities. Theoretical implications as well as suggestions for further research are outlined.