| Scope and Method of Study: The purpose of this study is to explore the specific work values of AI/NA college students and how work values are related to the cultural experience of being AI/NA, in terms of enculturation and ethnic identity. Participants included 71 self-identified AI/NA college students, ages 18 to 34, 64% of whom were female. Participants completed a demographic sheet, the American Indian Enculturation Scale (AIES), the Multi Group Ethnic Identity Measure (MEIM), and Super's Work Values Inventory-Revised (SWVI-R). Participants were recruited through AI/NA list serves and the College of Education on-line participation system.;Findings and Conclusions: The top 5 work values for the entire AI/NA college student sample were lifestyle, supervision, achievement, security, and challenge. For AI/NA college males, the top 5 work values were lifestyle, achievement, challenge, supervision, and security. For AI/NA college females, the top 5 work values were lifestyle, supervision, achievement, security, and co-workers. Additionally, there were significant gender differences in work values, with women valuing workplace, supervision, and co-workers more so than men. This finding is similar to previous research that has shown that women value social aspects of work more so than men (Duffy & Sedlacek, 2007). While there was a significant relationship between enculturation and ethnic identity, enculturation and ethnic identity were not related to the work values of AI/NA college students. These findings differed from previous research that has shown a relationship between ethnic identity and work values for African American college students (Hammond et al., 2010). Lastly, the measures of enculturation and ethnic identity were highly correlated indicating the usefulness of these two measures with AI/NA populations and evidence of convergent validity. |
