📚 Research Resources

UBValueDriven2

Complete Bibliography & Further Reading

The science behind values-based living and character development

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About These Resources

UBValueDriven2 is built on decades of rigorous research in character education, positive psychology, and values theory. This page provides a comprehensive bibliography of the academic works, books, and research papers that inform the product's 8 core values and 24 modules. Each source is available through Amazon with direct purchase links for books, and journal references for academic papers.

Primary Character Education Sources

The foundational works on character education and values development:

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Core Values Literature

Essential texts on values, character, and living with integrity:

3

The Road to Character

David Brooks

2015 • Random House

A profound exploration of how to build inner character versus external success. Brooks distinguishes between "résumé virtues" and "eulogy virtues" and profiles historical figures who embodied deep character.

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4

Man's Search for Meaning

Viktor E. Frankl

1946 • Beacon Press

The classic exploration of finding meaning and maintaining values even in the most difficult circumstances. Frankl's experiences in Nazi concentration camps led to his development of logotherapy, emphasizing purpose and values as central to human well-being.

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5

The 7 Habits of Highly Effective People

Stephen R. Covey

1989 • Simon & Schuster

The seminal work on principle-centered living. Covey presents a framework for personal and professional effectiveness based on character ethics and universal principles.

Relevance to UBValueDriven2: Demonstrates how values and principles translate into effective daily living. Habits 1-3 (be proactive, begin with end in mind, put first things first) align closely with the Responsibility and Self-Control values.
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6

The Book of Virtues: A Treasury of Great Moral Stories

William J. Bennett

1993 • Simon & Schuster

A comprehensive anthology of stories, poems, and essays organized around ten core virtues including self-discipline, compassion, responsibility, friendship, work, courage, perseverance, honesty, loyalty, and faith.

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Value-Specific Research

Key works addressing specific values featured in UBValueDriven2:

7

Forgive for Good: A Proven Prescription for Health and Happiness

Fred Luskin, Ph.D.

2002 • HarperOne

Research-based approach to forgiveness from the director of the Stanford University Forgiveness Projects. Luskin presents a nine-step process for letting go of resentment and moving toward healing.

Relevance to UBValueDriven2: Directly informs Value 3 (Forgiveness) and its modules on freedom, change, and letting go.
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8

Grit: The Power of Passion and Perseverance

Angela Duckworth, Ph.D.

2016 • Scribner

Pioneering research on why passion and perseverance matter more than talent. Duckworth's studies show that grit—the combination of passion and sustained effort—is a better predictor of success than IQ or talent.

Relevance to UBValueDriven2: Directly informs Value 4 (Perseverance) and its modules on determination and persistence.
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9

Willpower: Rediscovering the Greatest Human Strength

Roy F. Baumeister & John Tierney

2011 • Penguin Press

The definitive work on self-control from the world's leading researcher on willpower. Baumeister presents decades of research showing how self-control works, why it matters, and how to strengthen it.

Relevance to UBValueDriven2: Directly informs Value 5 (Self-Control) and its modules on discipline, choice-making, and overcoming negative impulses.
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10

Self-Compassion: The Proven Power of Being Kind to Yourself

Kristin Neff, Ph.D.

2011 • William Morrow

Groundbreaking research on treating yourself with the same kindness you'd show a good friend. Neff's work demonstrates that self-compassion leads to greater resilience, motivation, and well-being than self-criticism.

Relevance to UBValueDriven2: Supports Value 7 (Compassion) and Value 8 (Second Chances), showing how kindness toward self and others creates positive outcomes.
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Key Academic Papers

Peer-reviewed research underlying UBValueDriven2's evidence-based approach:

Universals in the Content and Structure of Values: Theoretical Advances and Empirical Tests in 20 Countries

Schwartz, S. H. (1992). Advances in Experimental Social Psychology, 25, 1-65.

The foundational paper establishing that certain basic values are recognized across virtually all cultures. Schwartz identifies 10 universal value types organized in a circular structure, demonstrating both universality and individual variation in value priorities.

What Good Are Positive Emotions in Crises? A Prospective Study of Resilience and Emotions Following the Terrorist Attacks on the United States on September 11th, 2001

Fredrickson, B. L., Tugade, M. M., Waugh, C. E., & Larkin, G. R. (2003). Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, 84(2), 365-376.

Demonstrates how positive emotions and character strengths support resilience during crisis, showing the practical value of cultivating positive traits—supporting the "Second Chances" value.

Moral Character: An Empirical Theory

Lapsley, D. K., & Narvaez, D. (2006). In D. K. Lapsley & F. C. Power (Eds.), Character Psychology and Character Education (pp. 140-165). University of Notre Dame Press.

Presents an empirical framework for understanding moral character development, integrating cognitive and personality psychology with character education—informing UBValueDriven2's approach to values development.

The Benefits of Frequent Positive Affect: Does Happiness Lead to Success?

Lyubomirsky, S., King, L., & Diener, E. (2005). Psychological Bulletin, 131(6), 803-855.

Meta-analysis demonstrating that positive character and emotional traits contribute to success across multiple life domains, showing the practical benefits of values-based living.

A Meta-Analysis of Character Education Programs

Berkowitz, M. W., & Bier, M. C. (2004). Journal of Research in Character Education, 1(1), 1-27.

Comprehensive review of character education effectiveness, finding positive outcomes for academic achievement, behavior, and social-emotional development—supporting the approach of intentional values cultivation.

Forgiveness: A Sampling of Research Results

Worthington, E. L., Jr. (2006). American Psychological Association.

Summary of research on forgiveness interventions, showing measurable benefits for mental health, relationships, and physical health—directly supporting UBValueDriven2's Forgiveness value.

🎓 Want to Go Deeper? Use Google Scholar

Google Scholar is a free academic search engine that indexes peer-reviewed papers, theses, books, and conference proceedings from universities and research institutions worldwide.

Unlike regular Google, Scholar focuses exclusively on academic and scholarly sources—the original research that books like those above are based on.

Use Google Scholar when you want to:

  • Read the original research studies (not just summaries in popular books)
  • Find the latest academic papers on character education and values
  • Explore citations to discover related research
  • Access free PDF versions of many papers
  • Verify claims made in popular books

Note: Some papers require institutional access or purchase, but many are freely available as PDFs.

🔍 Search Google Scholar for Values Research
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