Reinventing the universal structure of human values: development of a new holistic values scale to measure Indian values

Abstract

This article investigates the universal values scale, Schwartz Value Survey (SVS) for its applicability to measure cultural context-specific values. The study establishes a need to construct a new scale by identifying and incorporating Indian culture-specific values in SVS. Deriving data using self-assessment questionnaires from 709 respondents in 2 studies and analysing them using principal component analysis and structural equation modelling, the article reconceptualizes Schwartz’s Portrait Values Questionnaire (PVQ) and the 10 motivational value factors and develops a new 76-item Holistic Values Scale (HVS) to measure Indian values using well-established scale development methods. The article further presents the research and policy implications and future research areas in this domain.