Can the PVQ21 Measure Schwartz’s Refined Values?

Since its inception, the European Social Survey (ESS) has recognized the importance of studying human values because of their potential to contribute to our understanding of individuals and societies. All ESS rounds have included a shortened 21-item version of the Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ21) for measuring the 10 values of Schwartz’s original theory and the underlying 4 higher-order dimensions. This scale has seen widespread use in value studies, not limited to those based on the ESS. In 2012, Schwartz and colleagues proposed a refinement of the theory that identified 19 narrower values derived from the original 10. This theory has been cited in thousands of studies. The present research explores whether single items of the PVQ21 can be used to properly measure the 19 values of Schwartz’s refined theory. A sample of 645 Italian adults (56.1% females, Mage=34.66) completed the PVQ21 and the PVQ-RR, an instrument developed to measure the refined values. We examined the correspondence between each PVQ21 item and the refined values on both theoretical and empirical grounds. Results suggested that the PVQ21 allows researchers to effectively capture most refined values. We discuss findings regarding their implications, possibilities, and limitations for measuring the refined values in the ESS.