Differences between Values of Australian Aboriginal and Non-Aboriginal Students

Abstract

In this study, the Values Questionnaire developed by Schwartz and Bilsky was used to examine differences in the values held by a group of Aboriginal university students and a group of non-Aboriginal students studying at an Australian university. Results indicated that the Aboriginal group placed greater emphasis on values associated with Tradition, Conformity, and Security and significantly less emphasis on values associated with Achievement, Self-direction, Stimulation, Hedonism, and Benevolence. These data, in conjunction with a separate analysis of the ten highest ranked values for each group, support the view that the main differences between the groups lie in values serving collective (Aboriginal) as opposed to individual (non-Aboriginal) interests. These findings are consistent with previous research on the worldview of traditional Aboriginal people, and they suggest that even among younger, more Westernised representatives of this culture collective values are likely to be strong determinants of behaviour.