Differences and Sources of Criterion Bias in Child and Adult Values.

N

15

Office of Education (DHEW), Washington, DC.

Adults; Age Differences; Bias; Elementary School Students; Factor Analysis; Occupations; Prediction; Race; Racial Differences; Religion; Religious Differences; Research Criteria; Sex (Characteristics); Sex Differences; Values

This study investigated the influences of sex, occupation, race, and religion on child and adult values. The research is part of the Home and School Values Project which seeks to identify value statements and to compare such statements to the values actually espoused by different groups presumed to differ in their acceptance of cultural values. Preliminary analyses were conducted to identify similarities between child and adult value structures. Subjects were 226 sixth and seventh grade children and 137 adults from the Austin, Texas metropolitan area. The four influences of sex of respondent, occupation of adult respondent, or head of household (children), race, and religion were chosen because of earlier studies indicating their influence on values. The four variables were examined using the same subjects and methods involved in the preliminary analyses. Results of the study indicated that children and adults generally hold different values and that these values are influenced by different sources. For adults, only race was a notable influence, affecting values pertaining to allegiance to God and country. Evidence indicated that the values of children are more easily influenced by the variables; in over half of the significant findings, differences in sex, race, and religion occurred in the extent to which children valued their independence. (SDH)

1975

ED099107