The Structure of the Chinese Material Value Scale: An Eastern Cultural View

This study investigated the structure of the Chinese Material Value Scale (MVS). A two-factor structure, rather than the original three-factor structure, was proposed for China by means of confirmatory factor analysis. Direct evidence showed that the dimensions of success and happiness could be merged together. Both explicit and implicit methods were used to examine the relationship between success and happiness based on possession. In particular, as an implicit method, the dot-probe paradigm recording participants’ response time supported the idea that the two-factors could be merged together. The results also showed that for Chinese people, success to an extent means happiness, while the converse is not necessarily true. Chinese are much more concerned about social evaluation than their own feelings, and this cultural characteristic is reflected in our findings.

COMPARISON OF CHINESE-AUSTRALIAN AND ANGLO-AUSTRALIAN ENVIRONMENTAL ATTITUDES AND BEHAVIOR

This study examined the environmental behavior and attitudes of Chinese-Australians, in comparison with Anglo-Australians, using a survey methodology. Two hundred and three Anglo-Australians and 98 Chinese-Australians participated. The results indicated that Chinese-Australians and Anglo-Australians differed in their environmental concern and their endorsement of New Environmental Paradigm (NEP) values. The results also suggested that, overall, environmental behavior was related to environmental concern, which was in turn related to NEP values. Among the Chinese-Australians, length of residence in Australia was positively related to environmental behavior but negatively related to environmental concern. Chinese-Australians who identified themselves as Asians or Chinese were less likely to engage in environmental behavior, compared with those who did not identify themselves with any ethnic group. Results are interpreted from within an acculturation framework.