World Value Survey
Summary
From the WVS website (https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/WVSContents.jsp):
"The WVS consists of nationally representative surveys conducted in almost 100 countries which contain almost 90 percent of the world’s population, using a common questionnaire. The WVS is the largest non-commercial, cross-national, time series investigation of human beliefs and values ever executed, currently including interviews with almost 400,000 respondents. Moreover the WVS is the only academic study covering the full range of global variations, from very poor to very rich countries, in all of the world’s major cultural zones."
The WVS has collected data in a series of waves that are now scheduled to occur every 5 years, and each survey has been conducted in more countries than the previous survey. Each survey ranges across multiple years because that is how long that takes to collect survey data in so many countries.
Wave 1 collected data on 11 countries from 1981-1984.
Wave 2 is from 1990-1994.
Wave 3 is from 1995-1998.
Wave 4 is from 1999-2004.
Wave 5 is from 2005-2009.
Wave 6 is from 2010-2014.
Wave 7 collected data on 80 countries from 2017-2022.
Wave 8 is planned for 2024-2026.
Notes
The IFs model currently has 113 series which use WVS data. Not all of the series use data that is included in the latest wave(s). Many of the series require additional computing once the data is pulled from WVS. The steps to do so are not included on this page, and many of the series which require additional computing are not included in the lists below. The following pulling instructions are for series which do not require additional computing before uploading to IFs. Sections 3 and 4 of this wiki contain the series which do not require additional computing before uploading to IFs. They include their IFs series name, the datadict extended definition (which is usually also what question the series corresponds to on WVS), and the WVS variable code needed to find the corresponding data in the WVS timeseries data.
Pulling Instructions
Steps to Pull from WVS
- Go to https://www.worldvaluessurvey.org/wvs.jsp and click the dropdown menu "Data and Documentation"
- From the dropdown menu click the option "Data Download"
- Another dropdown menu will appear. From it, at the bottom, click "Timeseries (1981-2022)"
- Scroll down the page. Click the file link "WVS TimeSeries 1981 2022 Stata v4 0.zip". This is where the data is. You will also need the file titled "WVS Time Series List of Variables and equivalences 1981 2022 v3.1 (Excel)". This is the codebook for the data.
- To download the data file requires the following form to be filled out. Fill it out and you will be able to download the data in whatever form is necessary, as a zip file. The file is very large and will be taxing for whatever software you are using for analysis/ data manipulation. The following steps for pulling a series will be exhibited using Excel.
Finding the corresponding WVS Variable Code
- The following steps will exemplify how to pull WVS data for the IFs series "WVSConfLabUnions" (Section 3.59 on this Wiki).
- Note, this wiki entry (section 3 in particular) will hopefully enable a fellow data team member to bypass step 7, as this is the step used to acquire the WVS variable code which corresponds to the IFs series.
- On the IFs Datadict, for the series WVSConfLabUnions, the following definition is given as the extended source definition: "How much confidence do you have in Labor Unions? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all." This is the question posed to respondents on the WVS survey and you will need it to find the corresponding WVS data for IFs. Open the "WVS Time Series List of Variables and equivalences 1981 2022 v3.1 (Excel)" file. Below is a snapshot of the process of finding the WVS question which corresponds with the IFs data.
- For any WVS IFs series you will need to use the datadict definition mentioned above (in this case regarding labor unions). The WVS data does not include the detailed definition provided in the IFs datadict. So, use key words from the datadict extended definition to perform the search function (ctrl+f) in the WVS codebook.
- For this example, searching the word "labor" from the datadict extended definition would not have worked, because the different spelling of the word is used. Using the word "union" found the appropriate row of data (highlighted below).
- As a note of caution, in this case, there are over a dozen questions with the word "union." So, use clues from the datadict and WVS variable title to find the appropriate data. In this case, the variable title is "Confidence: Labour Unions," so it is reasonable to conclude that the datadict definition of how much confidence a respondent has in labor unions corresponds to this WVS variable. There will be more than a few incongruities and traps like this. Sometimes you will need to be creative and solve some fun puzzles.
- Using this process, we can see in column B that that the IFs series "WVSConfLabUnions" corresponds with WVS variable "E069_05".
- As a quick note, column D shows that the question was included in the most recent, 7th WVS survey (as question # 97R on the survey, available elsewhere on the WVS website), and rows E and F show that it was not included in the 5th and 6th surveys, so the series did not require an update prior to 2022.
Finding the Data for the Pull using the WVS Code
- Open the the WVS file containing the actual data that you downloaded earlier (WVS TimeSeries 1981 2022 Stata v4 0.zip) (pictured below).
- Using the WVS variable name "E069_05" perform the excel search function ONLY WHILE THE FIRST ROW IS HIGHLIGHTED. This way you will only search the row where the variable title is. Otherwise, you will search through the entire WVS dataset which will possibly crash your computer or at least freeze it because of its size.
- This process finds the column of data that will be uploaded into IFs, in this case, row number 442 (PZ).
- The leftmost columns of the WVS data (pictured below) contain the information you will need to match up the data with IFs country concordance (mainly column E - the country codes). This step is relatively intuitive and will be familiar from other pulls. I recommend copying the column(s) of data which corresponding to the series you are dealing with into a different excel workbook prior to further steps because the WVS data is very large and unruly, and makes excel perform slowly.
That is how you do a WVS pull!
IFs Series Included in Wave 7
MatPMTop
- Percent high on Materialist/Postmaterialist scale (4 or 5)
- WVS Variable Code: Y002
UnitedNations
- Confidence in United Nations (1=great deal; 4=none at all)
- WVS Variable Code: E069_20
RespectAuthPercent
- Percent saying more respect for authority would be good
- WVS Variable Code: E018
GodImprtPercent
- Percent saying God is very important- WVS Code F063
- WVS Variable Code: F063
HomoJustifPercent
- Percent saying that homosexuality is never justified
- WVS Variable Code: F118
AbortJustifPercent
- Percent saying that abortion is never justified
- WVS Variable Code: F118
PMMinMatPercent
- Percent postmaterialist minus percent materialist
- WVS Variable Code: Y002
TradSRTop
- Percent in top quartile on Traditiona/SecularRational Values
- WVS Variable Code: Y010
DemocBest
- 1=Strongly agree democracy best, 4=Strongly disagree
- WVS Variable Code: E214
WVSIncomeEqual
- 10 point index of Income inequality: 1=Incomes should be made more equal , 10= We need larger income differences as incentives for individual effort
- WVS Variable Code: E035
WVSHomoJustif
- a 10 point scale index asking whether homosexuality is justifiable. 1 being never justifiable, 10 being always justifiable.
- WVS Variable Code: F118
WVSGodImprt
- Index from 1 to 10 of how Important is God in the respondents life. 1= Not at all, 10= Very
- WVS Variable Code: F063
WVSGodBelief
- Belief in: God? 1= Yes 2=No
- WVS Variable Code: F050
WVSFreeChoice&Control
- 10 point index of how much freedom of choice do one has about their life. 1= none at all, 10=a great deal
- WVS Variable Code: A173
WVSEmployment
- Are you employed now or not? If yes, about how many hours a week? If more than one job: only for the main job. 1=full time (>30 hours/week), 2= Part time employee (<30), 3= self employed, 4= Retired/pensioned, 5= Housewife not otherwise employed, 6=student
- WVS Variable Code: X028
WVSEducLevel
- Highest education level attained? 1= no formal education, 2=less than primary, 3= primary… 9= University degree
- WVS Variable Code: X025A_01
WVSDivorJustif
- a 10 point scale index asking whether divorce is justifiable. 1 being never justifiable, 10 being always justifiable.
- WVS Variable Code: F121
WVSPolInterest
- Interest in Politics: 1=Very interested, 2= some interest, 3= not very interested 4=Not at all interested
- WVS Variable Code: E023
WVSNeighborForeignWork
- Mention if you would not like to have these people as neighbors: Immigrants/Foreign workers. 1= Mentioned, 2=Not Mentioned
- WVS Variable Code: A124_06
WVSNeighborDifRace
- Mention if you would not like to have these people as neighbors: People of a different race. 1= Mentioned, 2=Not Mentioned
- WVS Variable Code: A124_02
WVSNationProud
- How proud are you to be [Nationality]? 1= Very Proud, 2=Quite proud, 3= Not very proud, 4= Not at all Proud
- WVS Variable Code: G006
WVSNationalsWork
- Agree or disagree with: When jobs are scarce, employers should give priority to people of this country over immigrants. 1= Agree, 2= Neither, 3=Disagree
- WVS Variable Code: C002
WVSMenLeaders
- To what extent do you agree with: On the whole, men make better political leaders than women do. 1= Agree Strongly, 2= Agree, 3= Disagree, 4=Strongly Disagree
- WVS Variable Code: D059
WVSMatPMat4
- Post-Materialist index 4-item: 1=Materialist, 2=Mixed, 3=Post-Materialist
- WVS Variable Code: Y002
WVSMatPMat12
- Post-Materialist index 12-item: 0=Materialist, 5=Post-Materialist
- WVS Variable Code: Y001
WVSJustifCheatTax
- Justifiable: Someone cheating on their taxes? 1= Never, 10= Always
- WVS Variable Code: F116
WVSSelfPosOnPolScale
- index from 1 to 10 of self positioning on left-right political scale: 1= Left, 10= Right
- WVS Variable Code: E033
WVSSignedPetit
- Political action: Signing a petition 1=Have done, 2=Might do, 3=Would never
- WVS Variable Code: E025
WVSEnvironOrg
- Active/inactive member of an environmental organization (code before w3/code after w3)? 3/0=not a member , 2/1=inactive member, 1/2= active member
- WVS Variable Code: A103
WVSSatisLife
- index from 1 to 10 of Satisfaction with life: 1=Completely dissatisfied, 10=Completely satisfied
- WVS Variable Code: A170
WVSWomenEd
- University education more important for a boy than a girl? 1=Strongly agree, 2= Agree, 3= Disagree, 4=Strongly disagree
- WVS Variable Code: D060
WVSPolParty
- Active/inactive member of a political party (code before w3/code after w3)? 3/0=not a member , 2/1=inactive member, 1/2= active member
- WVS Variable Code: A102
WVSReligionBelief
- Would you say you are: 1=Religious person 2= Not a Religious person, 3= An Atheist
- WVS Variable Code: F034
WVSProfAssn
- Member of a Professional Organization? 1=Belongs 2=Not Mentioned
- WVS Variable Code: A072
WVSPrivateBusGovt
- 10 point index of private vs. government ownership of business. 1= you agree completely that private ownership of business should be increased, 10= you agree completely that government ownership of business should be increased
- WVS Variable Code: E036
WVSTechnolGood
- Future changes: More emphasis on the development of technology. 1=Good thing, 2=Don't mind, 3= Bad thing
- WVS Variable Code: E016
WVSWomenJobs
- Jobs scarce: Men should have more right to jobs than women? 1=Agree, 2=Neither, 3= Disagree
- WVS Variable Code: C001
WVSConfPress
- How much confidence do you have in the Press? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_04
WVSWillFight
- Willingness to fight for country: 1= Yes, 2= No
- WVS Variable Code: E012
WVSUnitedNations
- Confidence in the United Nations? 1= A great deal,2= Quite a lot, 3=Not very much, 4= None at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_20
WVSTrustPeople
- Most people can be trusted? 1=Most people can be trusted, 2=Need to be very careful
- WVS Variable Code: A165
WVSJustifAcceptBribe
- Justifiable: Someone accepting a bribe in the course of their duties? 1= Never, 10= Always
- WVS Variable Code: F117
WVSRespectAuth
- Future changes: Greater respect for authority. 1=Good thing, 2=Don't mind, 3= Bad thing
- WVS Variable Code: E018
WVSWomenMove
- Confidence: the women's movement. 1= A great deal, 2= Quite a lot, 3=Not very much, 4=None at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_15
WVSAttendChrch
- Apart from weddings, funerals and christenings, about how often do you attend religious services these days? 1= more than once a week, 2=once a week, 3=once a month, 4=spec holidays, 5=once a year, 6=less often, 7 = Never, practically never
- WVS Variable Code: F028
WVSConfPolParty
- How much confidence do you have in Political Parties? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_12
WVSEnvironPrior
- Which statement do you agree with: 1= Protecting the environment should be given priority, even if it sacrifices economic growth, 2= Economic growth and creating jobs should be the top priority
- WVS Variable Code: B008
WVSAbortJustif
- a 10 point scale index asking whether abortion is justifiable. 1 being never justifiable, 10 being always justifiable.
- WVS Variable Code: F120
WVSAuton4_1
- autonomy index; discrete scale: -2=Obedience/Religious Faith, -1, 0, 1 2= Determination, perserverance/independence
WVS Code: Y003
WVSCharOrg
- Member of charitable or humanitarian organization? (numbers are defined the following way: wave1&3/wave5&6) 1/2=active member, 2/1= inactive member, 3/0=not a member
- WVS Variable Code: A080_01
WVSConfArmy
- How much confidence do you have in the Armed Forces? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_02
WVSConfBanks
- How much confidence do you have in Banks? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_41
WVSConfCharity
- How much confidence do you have in Charity or Humanitarian Organizations 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_40
WVSConfParliament
- How much confidence do you have in Parliament? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_07
WVSConfCivServ
- How much confidence do you have in the Civil Service? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_08
WVSConfEU
- How much confidence do you have in the European Union? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_18
WVSConfGovt
- How much confidence do you have in the Government? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_11
WVSConfJustice
- How much confidence do you have in the Justice System? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_17
WVSConfLabUnions
- How much confidence do you have in Labor Unions? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_05
WVSConfMajComp
- How much confidence do you have in Major Companies? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_13
WVSConfPolice
- How much confidence do you have in the Police? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_06
WVSConfChurch
- How much confidence do you have in the Churches? (religious organizations in non-christian countries) 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_01
Series not included in Wave 7
SurvSETop
- Percent in top quartile on Survival/Self-expression Values
- WVS Variable Code: A043B
WVSIdealFamSize
- 10 point index asking: what do you think is the ideal size of the family - how many children, if any? 1= none , 10=10+ children
- WVS Variable Code: WVS Code D017
WVSForeignAid
- How much more foreign aid do you think this country should contribute? 1= about 1.5x as much, 2= about 2x, 3= about 3x, 4= about 4x, 5=more than 4x as much, -3=not applicable
- WVS Variable Code: E129B
WVSEnvironWater
- In the last 12 months Have you tried to reduce water consumption for environmental reasons. 1= have , 2= have not
- WVS Variable Code: B013
WVSEnvironRecycle
- In the last 12 months Have you chosen household products that you think are better for the environment? 1= have, 2=have not
- WVS Variable Code: B002
WVSEnvironProduct
- In the last 12 months Have you chosen household products that you think are better for the environment? 1= have, 2=have not
- WVS Variable Code: B011
WVSWomenWork
- Husband and wife should both contribute to income? 1=Strongly agree, 2= Agree, 3=Disagree, 4= Strongly Disagree
- WVS Variable Code: D058
WVSEnvironPayMore
- I would buy things as 20% higher prices if it helped protect the environment. 1=strongly agree, 2=agree, 3=disagree, 4=strongly disagree
- WVS Variable Code: B004
WVSEnvironMastery
- Which statement do you agree with. 1=Human Beings should master Nature, 2= Human Beings should coexist with Nature
- WVS Variable Code: B009
WVSEnvironContrib
- In the last 12 months, have you contributed to an environmental organization? 1= have done, 2= have not
- WVS Variable Code: B015
WVSEnvironAgree
- How strongly agree with: environmental problems can be solved without any int'l agreements, 1=Strongly agree, 2= agree, 3= disagree, 4=Strongly disagree
- WVS Variable Code: B010
WVSEnvironAction
- In the last 12 months, have you attended a meeting or signed a letter or petition aimed at protecting the environment? 1=have done, 2= have not
- WVS Variable Code: B014
WVSDiscussPol
- When with friends how often do you discuss politics? 1=Frequently, 2= Occasionally, 3=Never
- WVS Variable Code: E111
WVSDemocGood
- Democracy as a political system for governing a country. 1= Very good, 2=fairly good, 3=fairly bad, 4=Very bad
- WVS Variable Code: E214
WVSCorruptOffs
- What is the extent of political corruption? Almost no public officials engage in it=1, a few are=2, most are=3, Almost all public officials engage in it = 4
- WVS Variable Code: E196
WVSConfTV
- How much confidence do you have in TV? 1= A great deal, 2=Quite a lot , 3= not very much , 4= none at all
- WVS Variable Code: E069_49
WVSSatisOfficHol
- Satisfaction with people in national office: 1= Very Satisfied, 2=Fairly satisfied, 3=Fairly dissatisfied 4=Very dissatisfied
- WVS Variable Code: E125
WVSThnkLifPurp
- Think about meaning and purpose of life: 1=Often, 4=Never
- WVS Variable Code: F001
WVSSexFreedom
- Should individuals have the chance to enjoy complete sexual freedom without being restricted? 1=Agree, 2=Neither, 3=Disagree
- WVS Variable Code: D024
WVSTVHours
- Frequency of TV watching: 1= no, no TV, 2= 1-2 hours a day, 3= 2-3 hours a day, 4=3+ hours daily
- WVS Variable Code: E188