Трансформація ціннісних орієнтацій в українському суспільстві

This article begins a series of publications as for value orientations of Ukraine’s population on the basis of results of three national representative surveys of the adult population of Ukraine executed by the Centre “Social monitoring” and the O. Yaremenko Ukrainian Institute for Social Research aimed at the study of the system of value orientations of the population in the frame of international studies World Values Survey (1996, 2006) and European Values Survey (1999). The analysis of the transformation of value orientations of the population for the decade (from 1996 till 2006) of the complicated way of the development of the Ukrainian state allows us to assert that such perpetual values as family, work, and friendship do not loss their importance and even acquire a new content. Under conditions of violent social transformations, the family fulfils the functions of supporting medium and protection. The value of work takes the other meaning. On the one hand, the value of the presence of a working place by itself increases. On the other hand, the requirements to the level of wages, possibilities of a professional carrier, and self-realization are enhanced. For a part of the population, religion fulfils the functions of a replacement of the value norms. The interest in the political life together with the political and public activities are growing.