The values of geographically mobile adolescents

Abstract

Investigation of the relationship between mobility and the value orientation of adolescents was the purpose of this research. Two groups, one geographically mobile the other geographically stable, were compared on their subscale scores of the Survey of Interpersonal Values (1960). Because of the increased homogeneity of society, the similar psychological and social environments of the mobile and stable families, and the similarity of the valuing processes of the mobile and stable adolescents, it was hypothesized that the subscale scores would vary independently of the adolescents mobile/stable status. The SIV was administered to 176 students at J.E.B. Stuart High School in Fairfax County of Northern Virginia. The Surveys were ranked by degree of mobility the subjects experienced as evidenced by the subjects response to a Background Questionnaire. Subjects were white, upper middle class, and fourteen to seventeen years of age. Thirty-nine stable and thirty-seven mobile subjects comprised the sample. T-test comparisons were run comparing subscale scores of the SIV across the two groups. Statistically significant differences were not found.