DATE: Noon, April 26, 2006.

EVENT: Hebrew University psychologist Shalom Schwartz will discuss” The Value of Values: Theory, Measurement, and Applications,” in the inaugural event of a new speaker series on Americans’ Evolving Values at the University of Michigan Institute for Social Research (ISR).

The series is designed to engage the academic community in a developing research initiative organized by ISR director James S. Jackson. The initiative” America’s Evolving Values” is aimed at understanding the basic values and beliefs of Americans, tracking how these values have evolved over the last few decades, identifying future trends, and showing how basic values are linked with political, sexual, economic and religious behavior.

“We live in a time when there is more debate than ever about what being an American means,” Jackson said.” America seems to be a dangerously polarized nation, fractured into multiple versions of two opposing camps. Red states vs. blue states. Immigrants vs. citizens. Young vs. old. Rich vs. poor. Black vs. white. But is it really true? Or do we agree, despite our differences, on many underlying principles and values. My hope is that this project will help create a new understanding of our common values and approaches to critical issues.”

PLACE: Room 6050 Institute for Social Research, 426 Thompson St., University of Michigan.

WEB LINK: More on ISR (www.isr.umich.edu).