World Values Survey 2024

Have you heard anyone talk about the World Values Survey (WVS)? If you have then you have most likely also asked what is it. The answers might surprise you and the WVS may also very well be able to help you too. At least indirectly.

The World Values Survey (WVS)

The WVS is much like what it sounds like along with a whole lot more. The WVS is a program devised by an international team of research experts, sociologists, and others. The program is designed to study areas like economics, politics, religion, and cultural values.

The purpose of the program is aimed to evaluate the impact of values on various arenas. This includes the impact of cultural values over time in aspects such as economic development, growth, and health. The WVS was born from a similar survey started in Europe aptly named the European Values Study.

The WVS Now and Then

The WVS program began when a Michigan University professor took note of the European Values Study. From there, the WVS was born. That was 1981, and then the program was still in an infantile state and was just beginning to collect and research data.

Today, the WVS program has been able to work in, with, and study more than 120 societies from all over the world. This revealing and powerful program and study today is also recognized as an authoritative source. Data from the WVS is used in a range of programs and by a variety of agencies and organizations.

The WVS and Us

As the largest international and non-commercial study program on human beliefs and values, the WVS is a vital source of information. What is more important, however, is the power that this information can convey. When it comes to policy, decision-making, and planning, knowledge is power. And that alone makes the WVS an invaluable resource.

Yes, the WVS is very much like what many people might expect, but what this program does is surprisingly more. The program also consists of more than 600 indicators and works with more than 150 research teams around the world. It is also worth noting that more than 30,000 publications have been based on data afforded by the WVS program.

That also means that in one way or another, the WVS has probably had an impact on our lives. And more than likely, it was a positive impact, and that is a lot more than a typical survey can claim.