Abstracts Category : Other

Exploring thediscourse construction of the Basic Human Values Theory acrossSouth African Racial Groups

by Louise Coetzee

Shalom Schwartz invented the theory of Basic HumanValues in 1987 based on a study in which the quantitative data hecollected, had been organised within an obscure manner. His theoryhas been validated and positioned as the universal way allindividuals organise their values on a personal and cultural level,and has been researched in over 70 countries. South Africanresearchers have however found significant challenges inreplicating Schwartz's model within this multi-cultural society,and have ascribed the difficulties to unintended item biases'within Schwartz's measurement instruments. This has been observedwhen utilising two different measurement instruments, as well aswhen further assessing finer' sub-value types. A viablequantitative trend in utilising non-verbal assessment techniqueshas emerged, but has not been adapted for adults yet. In addition,Schwartz's theory has largely only been explored from aquantitative perspective, since its inception in 1987. Only fourqualitative studies could be traced within Values-research whichall highlighted a different way values were constructed andordered, through utilising psycho-lexical research methodology.This type of research methodology does not necessarily highlightthe effect of socio-economic and educational disparities within itsparticipant's constructions, which Schwartz' highlighted a possibleeffect within South African research efforts. This study utilised aSocial Constructionist approach known as Foucauldian DiscourseAnalysis to assist in deconstructing the ecology of values-talkfrom South African participants' linguistic expressions. Four focusgroup discussions were conducted across four different racialgroups (White; Black; Indian and Coloured), as a means forunlocking the different discourses which govern the different waysin which South Africans talk' about personal values. The analysisuncovered five different discourses which were activated andreplicated throughout discussions when constructing values whichembraced participants socio-economic and educational positions.These discourses seemed to function in a complimentary and opposingnature at times, depending on the value being discussed. Theseconstructions were compared to Schwartz's Basic Human Values model,and similarities and differences in constructions were discussed.In addition, the research findings were scrutinised to see how theycould inform future qualitative research efforts to further explorehow Schwartz's Basic Human Values model is lived'. Finally, thestudy discusses its limitations and various considerationsresearchers would need to employ, when considering applyingnon-verbal assessment methodology within an abstract topic likevalues.Advisors/Committee Members: Meiring, Deon (advisor).