The Relation of Materialistic Values to Age, Socioeconomic Status and Sex.

To assess beliefs related to materialistic values, a 45-item pair comparison questionnaire was administered individually to 120 middle and working class children in kindergarten, third and sixth grades. Item analysis revealed responses of older children were influenced by specific objects mentioned. In contrast, younger children responded more globally, so that overall they (1) preferred the acquisition of material goods to participation in social activity, (2) believed material goods are useful for attaining goals of status as compared to interesting activity or social acceptance, and (3) believed that the attainment of these goals depends on the possession of objects more than on relevant personal attributes. Significant differences between social class groups were also obtained. The findings suggest that as children mature, they become increasingly discriminating in their perception of the instrumental value of material goods for attaining desired ends and provide useful information for those interested in designing programs in value or consumer education. (Author)