Rokich's method "Value orientations": interpretation and processing of results

In the twentieth century there lived such a famous American psychologist as Milton Rokić. Almost all his career he devoted to the study of public and personal values. Although Milton started as a psychiatrist. But he is known as a developer of a unique concept of value orientations of the individual. And this method of Rokich is very popular throughout the world. Like a test based on it. However, everything in order.

General Provisions

Rokich's method is based around the idea that the value is a firm belief in the fundamental preference for something concrete (world outlook, mode of existence, purpose of life, etc.). However, the psychologist also suggests that there are not so many of them.

All of them Milton divided into two types - terminal and instrumental. The first are beliefs that the ultimate goal of the existence of each person is really worth it to try to achieve it.

The second type of values is called instrumental. This, in turn, is a belief that a certain property of the person or the image of her actions always remains a priority in any situation.

That is, the first type affects the goals of individual existence, and the second - the methods of their achievement and patterns of action.

Specificity

Rokich's method also implies the analysis of values and their division into groups, which is logical, since all beliefs concern certain life spheres. Accordingly, there are values of personal life and professional self-realization, financial (material) and spiritual. The above mentioned instrumental type includes beliefs concerning communication, ethics, business, altruism, self-affirmation, and other people.

The method of Rokich, as practice shows, is interesting and effective. Its dignity lies in its universality, economy and convenience. "Survey" a person with it can be very easy, as well as process the results. And lists of values (otherwise called stimuli) can be varied, and instructions to change.

True, some identify and drawbacks. These include social undesirability and the likelihood that the person who agrees to the test will be insincere.

How is the research conducted?

So, what is the method of M. Rokich is clear. How does the test itself go?

A person is offered two lists, in which values are indicated (instrumental and terminal). By 18 in each. In what form, in principle, it does not matter. Usually they are provided on A4 sheets in the form of a list or on cards.

When a person receives the material, they give him the task of assigning a number to each value. First he needs to deal with the terminal list, and then with the instrumental.

Psychologists, who usually conduct such tests, can ask questions that bring them closer to the system of preferences of the subject. Often they are interested in how much the values in his life are realized. Respond, usually in percent. Still can ask, as the person of a card would arrange 5 or 10 years ago. Or how they would be distributed by people close to him. Questions may entail other, more personal ones, because it is very important that testing be voluntary and, preferably, a tete-a-tete should be conducted.

List No. 1

Now it is possible to enumerate directly those concepts that include the methodology of the "Values of orientation" of Rokich. The first list is thermal. It includes the following concepts:

• Active livelihoods.
• Wisdom.
• Health.
• Exciting work.
• Art and nature.
• Love and intimacy.
• Financial prosperity.
• Having faithful friends.
• Respect and recognition of other people.
• Ability to learn.
• Self-development.
• The opportunity to live productively ("to the full" use prospects and opportunities).
• Entertainment and leisure.
• Independence and freedom.
• Happiness in your personal life.
• Ability to engage in creativity.
• Self-confidence.
• Happiness of other people.

So, these are 18 values, which includes a terminal list. On cards, usually in brackets, their wider definition is indicated, but so it is possible to understand what is implied.

List No. 2

But this is not all that includes the methodology of Rokich. The results are processed by the psychologist only after the person is dealt with each list. And this is what includes the second, instrumental:

• Accuracy.
• Fertility.
• Ability to enjoy life.
• High demands on people and on peace.
• Exercise.
• Independence.
• Inability to accept shortcomings (both in themselves and in others).
• Intelligence and education.
• A responsibility.
• Rationalism.
• Self-control.
• Courage, bravery.
• A firm will.
• Ability to show tolerance.
• Wide views, lack of "framework".
• Honesty.
• Industriousness and Productivity.
• Careful, sensitive.

As you can see, the lists differ in principle. At a minimum, the second list includes concepts related to personal qualities, which often play a role in the process of achieving what was listed in the first.

How to pass the test?

At the very beginning it was said that each value is assigned a serial number. The minimum is 1, and the maximum is 5. The unit marks values that have no value. Two are those that, in principle, can be important. Three - values with a certain, specific meaning. Four are important statements. And the five is what a person puts above everything.

How to determine the result?

This is an important topic. The results are usually determined by the psychologist, as the test is conducted by him, too. But in general terms it is worth telling how this is done.

So, the test is aimed at studying human values. To better understand the meaning of his actions or actions. The results are determined by the so-called reliability scale. It is designed to determine how much a person wants his actions to be positively evaluated by others. And the higher the result - the more the subject corresponds to the so-called "approved" image. But the critical threshold of the standard test is a mark of 42 points. If the results are over, then either they are unreliable, and the person was dishonest, or the psychologist is faced with a complex personality.

But the points taken by the person are not taken into account, exposing numbers to values. The psychologist refers to the scale of reliability. If a person, for example, has placed a five on an affirmation that refers to a negative scale, then he will be given 1 point. What has a negative meaning, he noted a unit? Then they put him "five". The scale is very voluminous, but with it, if desired, can be read individually.

Interpretations

So, in general, it is clear what the method of Rokich's "Value Orientations" is. The processing of results is a matter for the psychologist, but it's worth talking about interpretations a little. There are several of them.

There is an interpretation of the methodology of Rokich on life values. If such a variant of the test is used, then it turns out to find out what the person considers to be his main goal - self-development, spiritual satisfaction, creativity, social interaction, prestige and respect, achievements and success, wealth and finances or the preservation of personal individuality and uniqueness.

There is an interpretation of the life spheres. During the test, it turns out which area is the most important for a person - professional, educational, family, social, entertaining or the sphere of physical activity.

These are the two most common interpretations. However, it is not surprising, why they are. One interpretation is aimed at clarifying the inner world of man. And the other - on his outer world and the sphere in which he is comfortable to exist. However, both are closely connected.

What else should I know?

The method of "Value Orientations" reviews is mostly positive. Even psychologists note that it is the most elaborate and reliable. No wonder, in fact Milton Rokich is the founder of concepts of values basically.

And its effectiveness is proven. Various studies were conducted - and most of all, of course, they involved young people: schoolchildren and students. Especially high school students. And most of them put in the first place the terminal values of health and family life, friends, love, financial prosperity and self-confidence. From the instrumental list, many chose cheerfulness, responsibility, good breeding, tolerance and diligence. This choice is not surprising. Moreover, it is correct and predictable. Too global for teenagers? By no means. Acknowledgment to that - the saying of the psychologist Eric Homburger Erickson. He assured that young people, in their own way, should be "acrobats". To be able to just lower the crossbar of your childhood with one powerful movement, jump over it, and grab onto the next crossbar of maturity. And for the shortest period of time.

And this is just one example. In fact, Milton Rokich's technique is really interesting, effective and effective. And if there is a desire together with the opportunity - it is necessary to pass such a test. To one or to someone - somehow. At least for the sake of interest.