The aim of this study was to explore the validity of the Values in Action Inventory of
Strengths (VIA-IS) in an African context. This 240-item self-report questionnaire that
measures 24 character strengths (Peterson & Seligrnan, 2004), was developed in a
western individualistic context, and it cannot be assumed to be valid in African
contexts without prior scientific evaluation. The current study, a first step in the
evaluation of its validity in an African context, focussed on psychometric properties
such as reliability, mean scores and variance, criterion-related validity, confirmatory
and exploratory factor analyses, as well as translatability.
In a cross-sectional survey design an availability sample of African students
(N=256) completed the original English version of the VIA-IS and other criterion-related
measures of psychological well-being and health, during facilitated group
sessions. The latter scales were the Affectometer 2 (Kammann & Flett, 1983), the
Fortitude Questionnaire (Pretorius, 1998), the Sense of Coherence Scale (Antonovsky,
1987), the Satisfaction with Life Scale (Diener, et al. 1985), and the General Health
Questionnaire (Goldberg & Hillier, 1979). Translation of the VIA-IS into Setswana
and back-translation were conducted and evaluated by a research evaluation
committee.
Results indicated that mean scores of the VIA-IS subscales are relatively aligned
with those in a western context. Twenty of the twenty-four VIA-subscales showed
satisfactory Cronbach alphas reliability indices above .70. The VIA-IS satisfies
criterion-related validity as indicated by positive correlation with life satisfaction,
positive affect, fortitude and sense of coherence, and negative correlation with
negative affect and symptoms of ill-health. The VIA-IS was found to be translatable
with preservation of original meaning, but in some instances technical terms had to be
borrowed. Second order confirmatory and exploratory principal component factor
analyses on the 24 strengths yielded three significant factors, and not six as
theoretically expected, in this African group. The three emic virtue clusters are 1)
Wisdom, knowledge and courage, 2) Horizontal and vertical relatedness and 3)
Integrity in a group context: temperance and justice. This clustering of virtues reflects
a socio-centric, collectivistic African cultural value system. It is concluded that the
VIA-IS may have merit in an African context, but is not completely valid in its
original form with its hypothesised six value clusters. With modifications and
adaptations a more valid version may be developed for an African context. Studies on
randomly selected, larger African samples are recommended. / Thesis (M.Sc. (Clinical Psychology))--North-West University, Potchefstroom Campus, 2005.
| Identifer | oai:union.ndltd.org:NWUBOLOKA1/oai:dspace.nwu.ac.za:10394/721 |
| Date | January 2005 |
| Creators | Khumalo, Itumeleng Paul |
| Publisher | North-West University |
| Source Sets | North-West University |
| Detected Language | English |
| Type | Thesis |
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