Cultural validity trouble in measuring value concept: A study on validity of Schwartz Value Survey in Turkish culture

Abstract

The purpose of this study is to test construct validity of Schwartz Value Survey in Turkish culture. Participants of the research comprise 389 teachers selected through cluster sampling method. The research is performed under five stages: (i) English to Turkish translation validity, (ii) language and meaning validity in Turkish language, (iii) content validity, (iv) confirmatory factor analysis (CFA), and (v) exploratory factor analysis (EFA). The findings reveal that SVS is deprived of construct validity in Turkish cultural context. When CFA results are interpreted, it is clear that original factor structure of SVS does not maintain the same factor structure for Turkish culture. The goodness-of-fit indices indicated that variance and covariance of the survey were not explained by the model. EFA results reveal that all items congregated on 12 factors and some factors are overlapping or loaded under different factors.

Keywords:

• value
• Schwartz Value Survey
• validity
• cultural adaptation

PUBLIC INTEREST STATEMENT

Values have indispensable roles on shaping human attitudes and behaviors. Although for decades, researchers were interested in values concept, no theory focusing on values as comprehensive as Schwartz’s emerged. His theory describes human values as well as universal structure of values. Specifically, 10 value types are mentioned in the theory as the basic human values of people in any culture. Even different cultures can be compared on generalizable grounds, we believe that measuring values is peculiar to a specific culture. The current study explores the validity of Schwartz Value Survey in Turkish culture. As expected, the results of the study showed that Schwartz Value Survey lacks construct validity. Culture specific concepts need to be considered while measuring values since value types may be expressed differently within different cultures. Further research is required to make cultural-related modifications to the survey or develop instruments for measuring value preferences adjusted to Turkish culture.

Additional information

Funding

This work was supported by the Turkish Academy of Sciences’ The Young Scientists Awards (GEBIP).

Notes on contributors

Engin Karadag

Engin Karadag is a full professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Akdeniz University. His research interests focus on social research methodological characteristics, meta-analysis, international comparison educational research (student achievement, TIMSS, PISA), organizational behavior, organizational culture and leadership.

Gökhan Kılıçoğlu

Gökhan Kılıçoğlu is an assistant professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Eskişehir Osmangazi University. His research interests focus on organizational behavior, organizational culture and leadership.

Derya Yılmaz-Kılıçoğlu

Derya Yılmaz-Kılıçoğlu is an assistant professor of Educational Leadership and Policy Studies at Eskişehir Osmangazi University. Her research interests focus on organizational behavior, organizational culture and leadership.