Content and Structure of Scientific Values

The purpose of the present research was to identify values relevant to the context of science and test their location in the motivational value circle proposed by Schwartz (1992). Based on the available scientific values literature. creativity; curiosity, skepticism, open-mindedness, rationality, objectivity', communality, integrity, and consistency values were identified as scientific values. Items were generated by the authors to measure their importance. Two studies were conducted to test five hypotheses. In Study 1, with a student sample (N = 624.M-age = 22). results revealed that scientific values were empirically located between Self-Direction and Universalism values. and there was a sinusoidal pattern of correlations between the scientific values and the other value types. In Study 2 (N = 181, M-age = 21.5). scientific values were observed to be positively correlated with the attitudes towards science as measured by semantic differential scales and the need for cognition scores, and negatively correlated with intolerance of uncertainty scores. The present research was the first attempt to integrate scientific values into the circular structure of values. Results were discussed as confirming the hypothesized structure of scientific values, and as providing initial support for the convergent and divergent validity of the scientific values measure. Using convenience samples with a potential self-selection bias, collecting data from Turkish university students, over-representation of women in Study 2, and low reliability coefficients for value type measures other than the scientific values were noted as methodological limitations. Attempts to replicate the results of the present research in cross-cultural studies and to investigate the relationships between the scientific values and personality measures other than the ones used in the present study to extend convergent validity are suggested as future research directions.