How top10values works

What it is and what it is not

top10values is a self-discovery tool. It is not a validated psychological test or a diagnosis, and it does not compare your answers with other people's. It ranks a fixed list of 50 personal values according to your own choices, so you have a starting point to reflect on.

Why compare two at a time

If we asked you to rate each value from 1 to 10, almost all of them would probably feel important: family, honesty, health and freedom would all end up with a 9. Making you choose between two values at a time turns each answer into a real priority. That is how values work in life: when two of them clash and you have to decide.

Elo scoring

Every value starts with 1,000 points, like a chess player who has not played a game yet. Each time you pick one value over another, the one you pick gains points and the other loses them. How many depends on how expected the outcome was.

• If both values have the same score, the outcome is unpredictable and the one you pick gains 16 points (the other loses 16).
• If one has 1,100 points and the other 900, the system expects the 1,100 one to win (76 % likely). If you pick it, it gains only about 8 points; if you pick the 900 one, the surprise is worth about 24.
• The formula is the classic Elo system with an adjustment factor K = 32: a single choice never moves more than 32 points.

This way an isolated choice weighs little, while choices that contradict what we already know about you weigh more. The ranking settles down as you play.

How we pick the next pair

Pairs are not random. Before each comparison we score every possible pair and show the one that adds the most information, combining three criteria:

• Uncertainty (55 %): we favor values with similar scores, because that is where we still do not know which one matters more to you.
• Exploration (35 %): we favor values that have come up only a few times, so none is left unassessed.
• Novelty (10 %): we avoid repeating pairs you have already seen.

Why 100 comparisons

With 50 values, 100 comparisons mean each value shows up about four times on average. It is a reasonable first approximation: it separates the values you pick almost always from those you almost never pick, though neighboring positions may change. That is why your Top 10 unlocks at that point. It is not final: you can keep playing and the order keeps sharpening, especially between neighboring positions.

Where the list of values comes from

The list of 50 values is our own selection. It draws on reference frameworks such as Shalom Schwartz's theory of basic human values and Brené Brown's work on values, as well as Juan's experience with people and teams from different cultures. It is designed to be easy to understand and to cover different areas of life. It is not an academic taxonomy and has not been statistically validated.

What you see at the end

• Your Top 10: the ten highest-scoring values, in order.
• A radar by category: the 50 values are grouped into 6 areas (relationships, freedom, personal growth, creativity, wellbeing and achievement) to show where your priorities lean.
• An optional report generated with artificial intelligence (Google Gemini) from your results. It is an indicative interpretation for reflection, not a verified statement about your personality.

Limits of the result

• There are no right answers: the result describes your choices, not whether they are good or bad.
• Your priorities change with your stage of life. Playing again in a few months may give a different order, and that is information too.
• The list of 50 values is fixed. If you miss one, tell us on the contact page.

Your data

We store your choices and scores to show you your results, and you can delete your account and all your data from your profile. The details are in the privacy policy.