Super’s Work Values Inventory – WVI
Measures the relative importance of 15 distinct work values that influence career choice, development, and job satisfaction.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Super’s Work Values Inventory – WVI was developed by Donald E. Super (1970). It is designed to measure Work Values. The scale is intended for use with Adolescents and adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 45 items organized into 15 factors/subscales: Creativity, Management, Achievement, Surroundings, Supervisory Relationships, Way of Life, Security, Associates, Aesthetic, Prestige, Independence, Variety, Economic Return, Altruism, Intellectual Stimulation.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Creativity | 15,16,45 | 3 |
| Management | 14,24,37 | 3 |
| Achievement | 13,17,44 | 3 |
| Surroundings | 12,25,36 | 3 |
| Supervisory Relationships | 11,18,43 | 3 |
| Way of Life | 10,26,35 | 3 |
| Security | 9,19,42 | 3 |
| Associates | 8,27,34 | 3 |
| Aesthetic | 7,20,41 | 3 |
| Prestige | 6,28,33 | 3 |
| Independence | 5,21,40 | 3 |
| Variety | 4,29,32 | 3 |
| Economic Return | 3,22,39 | 3 |
| Altruism | 2,30,31 | 3 |
| Intellectual Stimulation | 1,23,38 | 3 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = Unimportant, 2 = Of Little Importance, 3 = Moderately Important, 4 = Important, 5 = Very Important.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 3 to 15. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Importance: 3 – 6
- Moderate Importance: 7 – 11
- High Importance: 12 – 15
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Varies by subscale (typically alpha 0.70 – 0.88).
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.