A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF VALUE PRIORITIES IN A SAMPLE OF UNITED STATES AIR FORCE PERSONNEL AND THEIR SPOUSES

The value systems, as defined through the Rokeach Value Survey, Form D, of a sample of male Air Force members and their female civilian spouses were compared and contrasted. The delegates to the 1981 Air Force Family Conference, and their spouses, were mailed Pre-Conference Surveys which included the Rokeach Value Survey, Form D. These delegates representing Air Force bases worldwide attended the Conference to address Air Force family issues. Responses collected from 188 male Air Force members and their 188 female civilian spouses were the research data. As directed by the Rokeach Value Survey, Form D, respondents prioritized 18 Terminal values, or preferred end-states, and 18 Instrumental values, or modes of conduct. The null hypothesis was that there were no significant differences in value priorities between study population male members and their female spouses. The alternate hypothesis was that members and spouses would differ in value priorities in ways consistent with traditional differences between males and females in value prioritization. The Mann-Whitney U Test was used to test for statistical difference in value priorities for each value. At the .01 level, differences for a total of 16 values were found. Male Air Force members ranked the values National Security, Pleasure, Social Recognition, Ambitious, Capable, Imaginative, Logical, and Self-Controlled higher than did their female civilian spouses. In contrast, the values Equality, Inner Harmony, True Friendship, Cheerful, Forgiving, Helpful, Loving, and Polite were prioritized higher by female spouses than by their member husbands. These findings were interpreted for their meaning to Air Force leadership for initiatives essential in the design and implementation of future programs and policies to promote better communication and understanding within the Air Force family. On the basis of this study, it was concluded: that respondent Air Force members, like men in general, are oriented towards values emphasizing hedonism, competency, and achievement; that study population female spouses, like women in general, have internalized values focusing on dependency, affiliation, and avoidance of conflict; and that the value systems of sample Air Force members and their spouses are consistent with value systems of couples in general.