comparative value priorities of chinese and new zealand

Smallest Space Analysis for the Guangzhou City SVS Sample
Figure 5.9 contains the plots from the attempted theoretical replication for the SVS for
the Guangzhou sample data. The plots of data from businesspeople indicate a distinctly
different representation of dimensions and relationships from the theoretical quasicircumplex.
The items theoretically defining Conformity and Stimulation have unusual
dispersions; Hedonism does not appear to form a coherent dimension; and the existence
of a Face dimension can be supported in my data. In Figure 5.9, in Guangzhou the
Power dimension is an outlier consisting of Wealth, Authority, and Social Power.
“Preserving my public image” and “Observing social norms” are more closely related to
a Face dimension, in the list below, fitting with the discussion of Mianzi, Lianzi, and
Renqing in the literature review:
P12 WEALTH (material possessions, money)
P27 AUTHORITY (the right to lead or command)
P3 SOCIAL POWER (control over others, dominance)
The following are not obviously related to power in most societies; having strong Face
in China could be related to Power:
P46 PRESERVING MY PUBLIC IMAGE (protecting my “face”)
P58 OBSERVING SOCIAL NORMS (to maintain face)
Other items related to FACE are:
SE15 RECIPROCATION OF FAVOURS (avoidance of indebtedness)
C20 SELF DISCIPLINE (self-restraint, resistance to temptation)
A39 INFLUENTIAL (having an impact on people and events)
A55 SUCCESSFUL (achieving goals)
X23 SOCIAL RECOGNITION (respect, approval by others)
X48 INTELLIGENT (logical, thinking)
The inclusion of “Self discipline” might indicate that maintaining “Face” is not an easy
task, or that showing self-discipline enhances Face, or both. In the SSA, “Clean” and
“Successful” may be associated with “Face” in Guangzhou. Items 3, 12, and 27 cluster
in an isolated area at the lower left of the SSA plot, defining the obvious value
accoutrements of Power.
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