Lists of children’s traits for measuring parental values: from the perspective of Schwartz's typology

Abstract

This article examines techniques for measuring parental values in key studies from the 1920s to the 2010s. Lists of prompts with desired qualities of children offered to respondents for selection or evaluation are analyzed in termsof Schwartz's value typology, which includes dimensions of conservation –openness to change and self-enhancement – self-transcendence. It is found that questionnaires tend to detail socially oriented values more than individualistic values, with a stronger emphasis on hierarchical sociality qualities such as obedience, neatness, good manners, and less emphasis on altruistic behaviors. Individualistic values of autonomy, self-enhancement and hedonism are not always adequately reflected in the questionnaires, which may be due to the restrictive nature of values for others compared to values for oneself.