Similarity of values systems within the same nation: Evidence from australia and papua new guinea

Average value systems involving the Rokeach terminal and instrumental values were available for 13 samples of young Australians and Papua New Guineans tested over a 10‐year time period. Most samples had ranked the values in each set in their order of importance for self but some had ranked them in their perceived order of importance for the other group (either for Australians or for Papua New Guineans). The 26 average value systems for the 18 terminal values, with sex of respondent (male value systems, female value systems) taken into account, were intercorrelated and factor analysed. Four factors emerged accounting for 90.9% of the total variance and, following varimax rotation, they were identified as an Australian own values factor, a Papua New Guinean own values factor, a Papua New Guinean perceived Australian values factor, and an Australian perceived Papua New Guinean values factor. The same four factors emerged from analysis of the average value systems for the 18 instrumental values, and these four factors accounted for 89.8% of the total variance. There was no evidence for separate male and female factors and the results of each factor‐analysis indicated that the value systems of the other group were not perceived accurately. The distinctive characteristics of the value systems of young Australians and Papua New Guineans were described and discussed. 1980 Australian Psychological Society