Personal Values Card Sort
Authors: William R. Miller, PhD, Janet C’de Baca, PhD, Daniel B. Matthews, PhD,& Paula L. Wilbourne, PhD
from the University of New Mexico Department of Psychology
Update: 2011

User Information
The Personal Values Card Sort is intended to help people clarify their own central values
and consider how they might reflect those values in their daily lives. The usual
procedure is to have the person sort the cards into 3-5 piles based on how importanteach value is. This set provides five cards to designate piles:
Not important to me
Somewhat important to me
Important to me
Very important to me
Most important to me
Next, have the person identify the 5-10 values that are most important to him or her.
This might simply be the “most important” pile unless it contains more than 10 or fewer
than 5 cards. Then have the person rank order these top values, with 1 being the mostimportant or central to the person, 2 for the next most important and so on. There is a
serial number on each card to facilitate recording and retaining a person’s rated
priorities.
The value of this process is often in the interview that follows, although the card sorting
process can be useful in itself. You can find out more about the person’s core values by
asking open questions and following with reflective listening. Some examples of
evocative questions you might ask include:
What does [value] mean to you?
Why did you choose this as an important value for you?
In what ways is this important to you?
How have you shown this core value in your daily life?
In what ways could you be even more true to this value?
This process can strengthen your understanding of the person and teach you much about
the person’s guiding principles for living.
Designed for Avery 5371 Business Card Template

The Personal Values Card Sort is in the public domain and may be copied or adapted without
further permission

Personal Values Card Sort
William R. Miller
Janet C’de Baca
Daniel B. Matthews & Paula Wilbourne

Designed for Avery 5371
Business Card Template

University of New Mexico, 2011

The Personal Values Card Sort is in thepublic domain and may be copied or
adapted without further permission.

Not Important to MeSomewhat Important to MeImportant to MeVery Important to Me

Most Important to Me

Other value:

Other value:

Other value:

ACCEPTANCE

ACCURACY

to be accepted as I am

to be correct in my opinions and beliefs

12ACHIEVEMENTADVENTURE

to have important accomplishments

to have new and exciting experiences

34ART

ATTRACTIVENESS

to appreciate or express myself in art

to be physically attractive

56

AUTHORITYAUTONOMY

to be in charge of others

to be self-determined and independent

798

BEAUTYBELONGING

to appreciate beauty around me

to have a sense of belonging,
being part of10CARINGCHALLENGE

to take care of others

to take on difficult tasks and problems

1112

COMFORT

COMMITMENT

to have a pleasant and comfortable life

to make enduring, meaningfulcommitments
1413

COMPASSIONCOMPLEXITY

to feel and act on concern for others

to embrace the intricacies of life

15

16

COMPROMISECONTRIBUTION

to be willing to give and take inreaching agreements

to make a lasting contribution
in the world

17

19

18

COOPERATIONCOURAGE

to work collaboratively with others

to be brave and strong in theface of adversity
20

COURTESYCREATIVITY

to be considerate and polite
toward others

to create new things or ideas

2122

CURIOSITY

DEPENDABILITY

to seek out, experience, and learn
new things

to be reliable and trustworthy

23

24

DILIGENCE

DUTY

to be thorough and conscientious inwhatever I do

to carry out my duties and obligations

25

26

ECOLOGY

EXCITEMENT

to live in harmony with the environment

to have a life full of thrills
and stimulation
28

27

29

FAITHFULNESS

FAME

to be loyal and true in relationships

to be known and recognized30

FAMILY

FITNESSto have a happy, loving family

to be physically fit and strong

3132

FLEXIBILITYFORGIVENESS

to adjust to new circumstances easily

to be forgiving of others

33

34

FREEDOMFRIENDSHIP

to be free from undue restrictions
and limitations

to have close, supportive friends

35

36

FUN

GENEROSITY

to play and have fun

to give what I have to others

37

39

38

GENUINENESS

GOD’S WILL

to act in a manner that is true
to who I am

to seek and obey the will of God

40

GRATITUDEGROWTHto be thankful and appreciative

to keep changing and growing

41

42

HEALTH

HONESTY

to be physically well and healthy

to be honest and truthful

4344

HOPE

HUMILITY

to maintain a positive andoptimistic outlook

to be modest and unassuming

4546

HUMOR

IMAGINATION

to see the humorous side of myself
and the world

to have dreams and see possibilities

47

49

48

INDEPENDENCE

INDUSTRY

to be free from depending on others

to work hard and well at my life tasks

50

INNER PEACEINTEGRITY

to experience personal peace

to live my daily life in a way that is
consistent with my values
52

51

INTELLIGENCE

INTIMACY

to keep my mind sharp and active

to share my innermost experienceswith others5453

JUSTICEKNOWLEDGE

to promote fair and equal
treatment for all

to learn and contributevaluable knowledge

55

56

LEADERSHIPLEISURE

to inspire and guide others

to take time to relax and enjoy

57

59

58

LOVED

LOVING

to be loved by those close to me

to give love to others

60

MASTERYMINDFULNESS

to be competent in myeveryday activities

to live conscious and mindful ofthe present moment

61

62

MODERATIONMONOGAMY

to avoid excesses and finda middle groundto have one close, loving relationship63

64

MUSICNON-CONFORMITY

to enjoy or express myself in music

to question and challenge
authority and norms
66

65

NOVELTYNURTURANCE

to have a life full of change and variety

to encourage and support others

68

67

69

OPENNESS

ORDER

to be open to new experiences,ideas, and options

to have a life that is well-ordered
and organized70

PASSIONPATRIOTISM

to have deep feelings about ideas,
activities, or people

to love, serve, and protect my country

71

72

PLEASURE

POPULARITY

to feel good

to be well-liked by many people

73

74

POWER

PRACTICALITY

to have control over others

to focus on what is practical,prudent, and sensible

75

76

PROTECTPROVIDEto protect and keep safe those I loveto provide for and take care of my family

77

78

PURPOSERATIONALITY

to have meaning and direction in my life

to be guided by reason, logic,
and evidence

79

80

REALISMRESPONSIBILITY

to see and act realisticallyand practicallyto make and carry out
responsible decisions

81

82

RISK

ROMANCEto take risks and chances

to have intense, exciting love in my life

83

84

SAFETYSELF-ACCEPTANCE

to be safe and secure

to accept myself as I am

85

86

SELF-CONTROLSELF-ESTEEM

to be disciplined in my own actions

to feel good about myself

87

89

88

SELF-KNOWLEDGESERVICEto have a deep and honest
understanding of myself

to be helpful and of service to others

90

SEXUALITYSIMPLICITY

to have an active and satisfying sex life

to live life simply, with minimal needs

91

92

SOLITUDESPIRITUALITY

to have time and space where I canbe apart from others

to grow and mature spiritually

93

94

STABILITYTOLERANCE

to have a life that stays fairly consistentto accept and respect those
who differ from me96

95

TRADITION

VIRTUE

to follow respected patterns of the past

to live a morally pure and excellent life

9798

99

WEALTHWORLD PEACE

to have plenty of money

to work to promote peace in the world100