Jan Cieciuch

Previous research on shaping the value structure in childhood was based on the classical model by Schwartz (1992) and was conducted by means of the ipsative picture method developed by Döring et al. (2010). The research presented in this article was built on the developmental interpretation of Schwartz’s theory, but used a new method: Animated Best-Worst Survey for Children (ABWS-C) developed by Collins and Lee and used by Collins (2013). This measurement instrument (1) contains indicators of values in the form of several-second animations that are chosen by children as most and least preferable; (2) is based on the refined value model proposed by Schwartz et al. (2012) and (3) overcomes the problems with ipsativity (which emerged in Döring et al.’s method, 2010) by applying the best-worst scaling approach. This article presents the results of a research study on value structure in a group of children aged from 7 to 11, obtained by using the Polish adaptation of the ABWS-C. It turned out that the values from both the classical and the refined catalog form a circular structure with four higher order values and that the order of all values is as predicted by the models (with some exceptions). Finally, the consequences of the research on value structure and the significance of the obtained results are discussed.

The article presents theoretical assumptions and summarizes the results of research on the Circumplex of Identity Formation Modes. The model was created as an attempt to synthesize knowledge on identity formation gathered in the stream of research initiated by James E. Marcia (1966), based on the Erik H. Erikson’s (1959) theory of psychosocial development. In the model: (1) the key concept is the identity formation mode, (2) traditional categories of exploration and commitment have been redefined and used as basic axes to distinguish eight identity formation modes, between which relationships are precisely defined in accordance with the rules of the circumplex model, (3) due to redefinition of exploration and commitment, the model can be used in research on personal identity in various developmental periods, and (4) the place of identity variables in the personality structure has been precisely defined. Circumplex of Identity Formation Modes was introduced to international literature and research on its verification and usefulness was conducted (Cieciuch, Topolewska, 2017; Topolewska, Cieciuch, 2017; Topolewska-Siedzik, Cieciuch, 2018, 2019; Topolewska-Siedzik, Cieciuch, Strus, 2019).

The article presents the psychometric properties of the Polish version of the Big Five Questionnaire – Children (BFQ-C; Barbaranelli, Caprara, Rabasca & Pastorelli, 2003). BFQ-C is a questionnaire measuring five personality traits (energy/extraversion, agreeableness, conscientiousness, emotional instability and intellect/openness) in late childhood and adolescence. Two versions of BFQ-C were used in the study: in the first one children and adolescents describe themselves, and in the second one other informants (parents and teachers) provide information about children and adolescents. The participants in the study were 1,241 children and adolescents (aged from 7 to 15 years), 226 parents, and 475 teachers. The reliability was assessed by Cronbach’s alpha. The structural validity was assessed in a set of factor analyses. Convergent and discriminant validity were assessed using a multitrait–multimethod matrix (five traits and two versions of BFQ-C) and analyzed in structural equation modeling. The external validity was assessed by inspecting the relations between the personality traits measured by BFQ-C and temperamental traits in the model proposed by Oakland, Glutting, and Horton (1996), as well as temperamental traits in the model by Buss and Plomin (Oniszczenko, 1997). Both reliability and all kinds of validity were at acceptable levels, which leads to the conclusion that BFQ-C can be used in scientific research.