Social Value Orientation Slider Measure

What it measures

A game-theoretic revealed-preference measure of social value orientation — whether individuals are prosocially (maximising joint outcomes), individualistically (maximising own outcomes), or competitively (maximising relative advantage) motivated in resource allocation decisions. Widely used in cooperation, trust, and economic decision-making research.

Response format

Slider: allocate points between self and other on a continuous scale; SVO angle derived from mean allocations

Representative items

• You receive 85 and the other person receives 85 (choose) OR you receive 85 and other receives 15 — adjust the slider to indicate your preference
• Slider 1: You=85, Other=85 vs. You=100, Other=50 — where on the continuum do you set it?
• Six such allocation decisions; the angular vector of mean choices determines SVO angle

Usage notes & scoring

Freely available from Ryan Murphy (svo.hss.cmu.edu). SVO angle > 22.45 degrees = prosocial; -12.04 degrees to 22.45 degrees = individualist; <-12.04 degrees = competitive. A more precise continuous measure than earlier triple-dominance or ring measures. Widely used in cooperation and negotiation research.

Recommended companion scales

Citation

Murphy, R.O., Ackermann, K.A., & Handgraaf, M. (2011). Measuring social value orientation. Judgment and Decision Making, 6(8), 771–781.

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