Value orientation of undergraduate preparatory class students

The aim of this survey model study is to determine the value orientations of university preparatory class students and whether there is a significant difference between value orientation scores and some variables. For this purpose, the quantitative data were collected with the Schwartz Values Scale, which was applied to 349 students in the preparatory class of a public university in Ankara. The scale of which validity provided of Cronbach's Alpha reliability values were between 0,76-0,94; item-total correlation values were between 0,75-0,96. According to research findings preparatory class students showed the most orientation to the values of benevolence-dependability, security-societal and self-direction-thought. Students' least orientated values are power-resources, power-dominance and tradition. According to the findings obtained with MANOVA it was found that gender, high school, educational background of parents, the profession of parents, family structure, the number of siblings, department and where they live have a significant effect on students' orientation to some values. However, it was determined that high school type did not have any effect on the value orientations of the students. The findings of this study are thought to be beneficial for other researchers and practitioners such as teachers, school administrators and curriculum development experts. Keywords: values, value orientation, values education, affective domain