A Comparative Study of the Value Priorities of Australians,Australian Baha'is,and Expatriate Iranian Baha'is

Abstract

This research examines value differences in three samples: expatriate Iranian Baha'is (35 males, 30 females) resident in Australia, 59 Australian Baha'is (22 males, 37 females), and 66 unselected Australians (35 males, 31 females). Subjects rated a set of 30 terminal values and 26 instrumental values for importance, using the Schwartz Value Survey. Values were classified into domains in terms of the Schwartz and Bilsky (1987) analysis of their universal content and structure. The results showed that the two Baha'i groups rated values concerned with restrictive conformity, tradition, and spirituality as relatively more important and values concerned with hedonism, self-direction, and stimulation as relatively less important, when compared with the unselected Australian sample. Other group differences in value priorities were also obtained when groups were compared two at a time. Men assigned more relative importance than women to values from the hedonism, achievement, power, and stimulation domains. Women rated values from the benevolence and spirituality domains as relatively more important.

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