Description

The Work Values Test – Revised Version [WVT-40] is a psychometric instrument designed to assess an individual’s work-related values, priorities, and preferences. It focuses on important aspects of professional life, including work–life balance, career development, social responsibility, ethics, and recognition.

The instrument is intended for employees across different occupational sectors and may also be used by organizations, counseling centers, and academic institutions for career guidance, organizational assessment, and research purposes.

Aim

The main aim of the WVT-40 is to provide a systematic assessment of the work values that individuals consider most important. By identifying these values, the instrument can help construct a profile of professional priorities and support a better understanding of the factors that influence career choices, job satisfaction, and the relationship between employees and their work environment.

The scale may also support career counseling, human resource development, and the examination of the fit between individual values and organizational culture.

Questionnaire Analysis

The instrument was developed by Konstantinos Spanos and Maria Papadopoulou and consists of 40 items covering five main dimensions:

Autonomy: creativity, independence, and opportunities for personal initiative.

Security: stability, predictability, and organization within the work environment.

Social Impact: recognition, influence, and leadership.

Self-Actualization: personal growth, development, and the opportunity to realize one’s potential.

Ethics and Values: social responsibility, ethical principles, and alignment between professional activities and personal values.

Participants respond using a 5-point Likert scale, ranging from 1 = “Does not represent me” to 5 = “Represents me completely.”

Scoring

Each dimension is scored separately. According to the provided scoring system, each dimension can receive a score ranging from 8 to 40 points.

A higher score on a particular dimension indicates that the corresponding work value is more central to the individual’s professional value system. Comparing the five dimension scores allows the construction of an overall profile of work-related priorities.

Statistical Analysis

According to the provided information, the five dimensions of the WVT-40 demonstrate high internal consistency, with Cronbach’s alpha values ranging from 0.82 to 0.89.

The temporal stability of the instrument is also reported to be satisfactory, with test–retest reliability of r = 0.84 after a four-month interval.

The scores can be used in descriptive and correlational analyses, as well as in comparisons across occupational or demographic groups.

Validity

The validity of the WVT-40 was reportedly examined through factor analysis, which supported the proposed five-dimensional structure.

In addition, the instrument was reported to show a positive correlation with job satisfaction (r = 0.65), supporting the relationship between work values and important aspects of occupational experience.

Reliability

The WVT-40 is described as demonstrating high reliability in terms of both internal consistency and stability over time.

The combined evidence concerning reliability and factor structure supports its use in career guidance, organizational psychology, and research settings, provided that the official administration and scoring procedures are followed.

References

Spanos, K., & Papadopoulou, M. (2020). The revised version of the Work Values Test: An instrument for assessing occupational values. Greek Journal of Occupational Psychology, 15(2), 45–60.

Keywords

Work values, occupational priorities, psychometric assessment, Likert scale, job satisfaction, career guidance, validity, reliability.