Started in 1981, the World Values Survey is an ambitious worldwide investigation of sociocultural and political change being conducted by an international network of social scientists at universities across the globe. Since its inception, a total of four waves of representative sample research have been conducted producing "evidence of gradual but pervasive changes in what people want out of life." The survey shows that the basic direction of these changes is, to some extent, predictable. Following from this intriguing (and perhaps contestable) thesis, the website provides access to a number of the publications that have been generated from the group's scholarship, along with information about ordering various monographs and other publications. Visitors can also view the various questionnaires used to sample the different population groups, and read news updates about their work. As mentioned, the site also allows visitors to download some of the most recent work done by the scholars at the World Values Survey, including papers dealing with democratic aspirations and ideals in East Asia and postmaterialism.