Portrait Values Questionnaire (40-item ver)
Name: ______________________________________________ Date of birth: ___________________
This is a self-report questionnaire that measures an individual's values based on Schwartz’s 10 basic
values.
Please answer the following questions truthfully and accurately, it is important to remember that these
are subjective questions with no right or wrong answer. In each case, make your choice in terms of
how you feel right now on average, not what you have felt in the past or would like to feel.
There is 6 possible responses to each of the items in the questionnaire:
(1) Not at all like me; (2) Not like me; (3) A little like me; (4) Somewhat like me;
(5) Like me; (6) Very much like me
Note that this is the masculine version, for the feminine version, change all pronouns to
she/her.
Below some people are briefly described. Please read each description and think about how much
each person is or is not like you. Tick the box to the right that matches how much person in the
description is like you.
Statement 1 2 3 4 5 6
1. Thinking up new ideas and being creative is important to
him. He likes to do things in his own original way.
2. It is important to him to be rich. He wants to have a lot of
money and expensive things.
3. He thinks it is important that every person in the world be
treated equally. He believes everyone should have equal
opportunities in life.
4. It’s very important to him to show his abilities. He wants
people to admire what he does.
5. It is important to him to live in secure surroundings. He
avoids anything that might endanger his safety.
6. He thinks it is important to do lots of different things in life.
He always looks for new things to try.
7. He believes that people should do what they’re told. He
thinks people should follow rules at all times‚ even when
no one is watching.
8. It is important to him to listen to people who are different
from him. Even when he disagrees with them‚ he still
wants to understand them.
9. He thinks it’s important not to ask for more than what you
have. He believes that people should be satisfied with
what they have.
10. He seeks every chance he can to have fun. It is
important to him to do things that give him pleasure.
11. It is important to him to make his own decisions about
what he does. He likes to be free to plan and to choose
his activities for himself.
Statement 1 2 3 4 5 6
12. It’s very important to him to help the people around him.
He wants to care for their well-being.
13. Being very successful is important to him. He likes to
impress other people.
14. It is very important to him that his country be safe. He
thinks the state must be on watch against threats from
within and without.
15. He likes to take risks. He is always looking for
adventures.
16. It is important to him to always behave properly. He
wants to avoid doing anything people would say is wrong.
17. It is important to him to be in charge and tell others what
to do. He wants people to do what he says.
18. It is important to him to be loyal to his friends. He wants
to devote himself to people close to him.
19. He strongly believes that people should care for nature.
20. Religious belief is important to him. He tries hard to do
what his religion requires.
21. It is important to him that things be organized and clean.
He really does not like things to be a mess.
22. He thinks it’s important to be interested in things. He
likes to be curious and to try to understand all sorts of
things.
23. He believes all the world’s people should live in harmony.
Promoting peace among all groups in the world is
important to him.
24. He thinks it is important to be ambitious. He wants to
show how capable he is.
25. He thinks it is best to do things in traditional ways. It is
important to him to keep up the customs he has learned.
26. Enjoying life’s pleasures is important to him. He likes to
spoil himself.
27. It is important to him to respond to the needs of others.
He tries to support those he knows.
[Link] believes he should always show respect to his
parents and to older people. It is important to him to be
obedient.
29. He wants everyone to be treated justly‚ even people he
doesn’t know. It is important to him to protect the weak in
society.
30. He likes surprises. It is important to him to have an
exciting life.
Statement 1 2 3 4 5 6
31. He tries hard to avoid getting sick. Staying healthy is
very important to him.
32. Getting ahead in life is important to him. He strives to do
better than others.
33. Forgiving people who have hurt him is important to him.
He tries to see what is good in them and not to hold a
grudge.
34. It is important to him to be independent. He likes to rely
on himself.
35. Having a stable government is important to him. He is
concerned that the social order be protected.
36. It is important to him to be polite to other people all the
time. He tries never to disturb or irritate others.
37. He really wants to enjoy life. Having a good time is very
important to him.
38. It is important to him to be humble and modest. He tries
not to draw attention to himself.
39. He always wants to be the one who makes the
decisions. He likes to be the leader.
40. It is important to him to adapt to nature and to fit into it.
He believes that people should not change nature.
Scoring: The items representing each of the 10 values are represented below. The score for each
value is the mean of the raw ratings given to the items listed for that value
Value Items Mean score
1. Universalism 3, 8, 19, 23, 29, 40
2. Benevolence 12, 18, 27, 33
3. Tradition 9, 20, 25, 38
4. Conformity 7, 16, 28, 36
5. Security 5, 14, 21, 31, 35
6. Power 2, 17, 39
7. Achievement 4, 13, 24, 32
8. Hedonism 10, 26, 37
9. Stimulation 6, 15, 30
10. Self-direction 1, 11, 22, 34
Overall mean score (Mean of all 40-items):
To adjust for response bias: Subtract the overall mean score from the value men
Value Mean score
1. Universalism
2. Benevolence
3. Tradition
4. Conformity
5. Security
6. Power
7. Achievement
8. Hedonism
9. Stimulation
10. Self-direction
Score for four higher order values (sum the means for following values):
Higher order values Values
1. Self transcendence Universalism and benevolence.
2. Self-enhancement Achievement and power.
3. Openness to change Hedonism, Self-direction and stimulation.
4. Conservative Conformity, tradition and security.
Schwartz‚ S. H.‚ Melech‚ G.‚ Lehmann‚ A.‚ Burgess‚ S.‚ Harris‚ M.‚ & Owens‚ V. (2001). Extending the
cross-cultural validity of the basic human values with a different method of measurement. Journal of
Cross-Cultural Psychology‚ 32‚ 519–542
