Extent of Future Time Orientation: A Cross‐ethnic Study Among New Zealand Adolescents

Abstract

Summary. It was predicted that ‘European’ New Zealanders in comparison with Maoris would (a) tend to have longer future time orientation in respect to major goals and (b) show greater tendency to delay gratification. Boys and girls with a mean age of 14: 3, all in the same grade, form three, from seven schools and of both ethnic groups were asked (a) to indicate distance, in time of imagined realisation of major goals, firstly for vaguely specified characters and later for themselves and (b) to decide among choices of money which increased in proportion to delay. For boys, both ethnic contrast predictions were strongly confirmed but, for girls, though in the predicted directions, findings either showed generally poorer levels of statistical significance or, for some of the temporal orientation of goals results, lack of significance.

Relationship Between Future Time Orientation and Item Nonresponse on Subjective Probability Questions: A Cross-Cultural Analysis

“…For example, Anglos in the United State are associated with higher future orientation than Blacks and Hispanics (Brown & Segal, 1996; Graham, 1981; Marín & Marín 1991) and Asians being more future oriented than Blacks (Steinberg et al, 2009). In New Zealand, students of European descendants are shown to be more future oriented than Maori students (Bray, 1970).…”