Scale Overview & Construct
21-item instrument measuring Schwartz's ten fundamental human values through brief portrait descriptions. Respondents rate how much each portrait resembles them on a 6-point scale.
Purpose & Measurement Objectives
Instrument Specifications
Academic Citation & Instrument Provenance
When referencing this instrument in research, academic theses, or clinical institutional audits, please cite the original author publication:
Governance, Boundaries & Ethical Use
Imported from the OpenScales open item-bank project. This specific digital implementation has not been independently clinically validated by PsiQ — scores are for self-reflection, research, and educational purposes only. The original ESS instrument presents 21 gender-matched portrait items (42 total) selected based on the respondent's own gender; since this platform has no conditional branching by a prior answer, the 21 items here use gender-neutral third-person phrasing ('this person... they') instead of duplicating both gender-matched versions. The substantive content, item count, and scoring formulas are unchanged from the original.
License: CC BY-SA 4.0. Citation: Sandy, C. J., Gosling, S. D., Schwartz, S. H., & Koelkebeck, T. (2017). The development and validation of brief and ultrabrief measures of values. Journal of Personality Assessment, 99(5), 545–555.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the Portrait Values Questionnaire-21 (ESS Human Values Scale)?
21-item instrument measuring Schwartz's ten fundamental human values through brief portrait descriptions. Respondents rate how much each portrait resembles them on a 6-point scale.
How long does the Portrait Values Questionnaire-21 (ESS Human Values Scale) take?
It takes about 9 minutes to answer all 21 questions. You can go at your own pace.
Is this test free, and is it available in Hindi?
Yes, it is free with a PsiQ account. The questions and answer options are available in English, Hindi and Hinglish.
Can this test diagnose a condition?
No. Online self-report scales are for self-reflection, education and research, not diagnosis. If you are worried about your mental health, please speak to a qualified mental-health professional.