A study of values among adolescents: Assessing terminal and instrumental value systems and orientations

The aim of this study was to examine the structure of adolescents' terminal and instrumental values by using modified Rokeach Value Survey. The investigation was carried out with a sample of 311 fourteen-year-old adolescents. The subjects rated the importance of each value on a seven point scale, and they also chose the first five most important values. Both techniques provided similar results in terms of ordering the relative importance of value choices. The ratings of 18 terminal and 18 instrumental values were subjected to factor analyses. Instrumental values reflecting morality/self-restriction, competence, independence and benevolence were identified. Terminal values were comprised of hedonism/gratification, social/security and self-actualization value factors. Based on the factor solutions, terminal and instrumental values subscales were constructed and their correlations with measures of intelligence, school achievement and prosocial behaviour were examined. The findings suggest that value types differ in the extent to which they endorse interpersonal or other-directed focus in comparison to self-directed or achievement-oriented focus.