The Theory of Individual Values in the Chinese Population: Psychometric Examination Based on the Revised Portrait Value Questionnaire

Abstract

This study aims to assess the validity of the Revised Portrait Value Questionnaire (PVQ-RR) within the Chinese population to examine the applicability of the 19-factor Theory of Individual Values in the Chinese cultural context. A sample of 9590 Chinese participants (age range: 11–60; 4360 males) completed the Chinese version of the PVQ-RR. Psychometric analyses indicated that the Chinese version of the PVQ-RR consistently measures 19 basic values and 4 higher-order values. Multidimensional scaling results showed that the circular structure of individual values among Chinese generally aligns with the Theory of Individual Values, but the positions of some values among the 19 basic individual values exhibit strong cultural characteristics. The findings also revealed that the most valued among Chinese people is security-societal, while the least valued are power-resources and power-dominance. This study reaffirms the cross-cultural consistency of the Theory of Individual Values and provides a reliable tool for assessing individual values among Chinese people.

Keywords

individual values / measurement invariance / multidimensional scaling / psychometric examination / the Chinese version of Revised Portrait Value Questionnaire

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2025 The Author(s). PsyCh Journal published by Institute of Psychology, Chinese Academy of Sciences and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.