Religiosity Measures

Instrument: Brief Multidimensional Measure of Religiousness/Spirituality: 1999

Instrument available from: Published in Multidimensional Measurement of Religiousness/Spirituality for Use in Health Research: A Report of the Fetzer Institute/National Institute on Aging Working Group, pp. 85-88

This very useful report can be downloaded free of charge from the Fetzer Institute website

Construct/what is being measured

The main constructs examined in this measure regarding how they impact health outcomes or are connected to them are as follows:

  • Daily spiritual experiences
  • Meaning
  • Values
  • Beliefs
  • Forgiveness
  • Private religious practices
  • Religious/spiritual coping
  • Religious support
  • Religious/spiritual history
  • Commitment
  • Organizational religiousness
  • Religious preference
(Fetzer Institute 2003: 4)

Format: 38-item questionnaire

Key articles

Haber, J.R., Jacob, T., & Spangler, D. J.C. (2007). Dimensions of religion/spirituality and relevance to health research. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 17(4), 265-288.

John E. Fetzer Institute. (2003, October, 1999 October). Multidimensional measurement of religiousness/spirituality for use in health research: A report of the Fetzer Institute/ National Institute on Aging Working Group. Kalamazoo, MI.

Neff, J.A. (2006). Exploring the dimensionality of “religiosity” and “spirituality” in the Fetzer multidimensional measure. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 45(3), 449-459.

Stewart, C., & Koeske,G.F. (2006). A preliminary construct validation of the Multidimensional measurement of religiousness/spirituality instrument: A study of southern USA samples. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 16(3), 181-196.

Instrument: Christian Spiritual Participation Profile

Instrument available from: Dr. Thayer

Construct/ what is being measured

The Christian Spiritual Participation Profile was developed as a means to predict spiritual growth. The items included in this profile are from ten different spiritual disciplines. The Transcendent Scale (which is a 16-item) measure assess one’s personal experience/participation in developing/maintaining a relationship with God. Additionally, the Reflection Scale (a 10-item) measure examines one’s reflection of their participation in their culture and their life. There is also a Vision Scale (contains 12 items)

Format: Questionnaire (the profile includes 50 items)

Key articles

Thayer, O. J. (2004). Constructing a spirituality measure based on learning theory: The Christian spiritual participation profile. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 23 (3), 195-207.

Instrument: Effective Christian Education: A National Study of Protestant Congregations—Survey for Youth. Survey for Adults, Survey for Coordinator of Education, Survey for Pastor, Survey for Teachers.

Instrument available from:

Search Institute www.search-institute.org contact the librarian

Construct/ what is being measured

These surveys were developed in order to ascertain “the nature of Christian education effectiveness.” In order to have an idea of what elements of teaching are effective in Christian education surveys were developed for youth, adults, Coordinators of Education, Pastors, and teachers. These instruments asked a variety of questions to compare what constitutes as the ideal of effective education with how participants currently rated the effectiveness of Christian education.

Format: Questionnaire

Key articles

Benson, P., & Eklin, C.H. (1988). Effective Christian Education: A national study of Protestant congregations: A summary report on faith, loyalty, and congregational life. Minneapolis, MN: Search Institute.

There is also a series of denominational reports.

Instrument: Faith Activities in the Home (FAITH)

Instrument available from:

author, David Dollahite

Construct/ what is being measured

The FAITH measure was developed to ascertain information on faith activities practiced by the family and in the home. In particular the study looks at the following categories of worship: family prayer, family scripture study, family singing, family religious gathering/activities/celebrations, family use of religious media, blessing of children, family religious meals, religious conversations, family church attendance, grace/blessings at meals, prayer with children, couple prayer, eating/drinking or abstaining from food and drink, use of religious objects, wearing clothing/jewelry for religious purposes and modesty, family contributions of family resources, and inviting others home to discuss religious beliefs.

Format: Questionnaire

Key articles

Lambert, N.M., & Dollahite, D.C. (2007). Using qualitative data to develop the faith activities in the home scale (FAITHS). Paper presented at the National Council on Family Relations: Theory Construction and Research Methodology (TCRM) Workshop, Pittsburgh, PA.

Instrument: Faith Development Scale

Instrument available from: *Appendix of Leak et al. article cited below

Construct/ what is being measured

Questions were constructed using a forced-choice format to gauge those that are relatively far along in their faith development versus those participants who are nascent in their development.  An example of a question is: “It is very important for me to critically examine my religious beliefs and values” vs. “it is very important for me to accept the religious beliefs and values of my church” (Leak, Loucks, Bowlin 1999: 108).

Additionally, the scale was developed to gain more insight on religion as a quest, the dimensions of religious motivation, one’s acceptance of change in the church, perceived source of religious beliefs, self-reported religious maturity, stages of one’s faith, self-reported religious activities, and religious orthodoxy (Leak, Loucks, Bowlin 1999)

Format: Questionnaire

Key articles

*Leak, G.K., Loucks, A.A., & Bowlin, P.  (1999).  Development and initial validation of an objective measure on Faith development. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 9 (2), 105-124.

Leak, G.K. (2003).  Validation of the faith development scale using longitudinal and     cross-sectional designs.  Social Behavior and Personality, 31(6), 637-642.

*(Appendix includes Faith Development Scale)

Instrument: The Faith Maturity Scale

Instrument available from:

The Faith Maturity Scale and other documents used in the creation of the scale are included as tables in the Benson et al. article cited below*, or contact the CSD librarian

Construct/ what is being measured

For the authors, faith maturity was not based on the right belief; rather, they created their scale to ascertain faith maturity on the basis of value and behavioral consequences (Benson, Donahue, & Erickson 1993: 3).

Therefore, The Faith Maturity Scale seeks to measure the extent that the participant: “trusts and believes, experiences the fruits of faith, integrates faith and life, seeks spiritual growth, experiences and nurtures faith in community, holds life- affirming values, advocates social change, and acts and serves” (Benson, Donahue, & Erickson 1993: 7).

Format: Questionnaire

Key articles

Benson, P.L., Donahue, M.J., & Erickson, J.A. (1993).  The faith maturity scale: Conceptualization, measurement, and empirical validation.  Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 5, 1-26.

(Tables in text include The Faith Maturity Scale) Ciarrocchi, J. W., Piedmont, R. L., & Williams, J. E. (2002). Image of God and personality as predictors of spirituality in men and women. Research in the Social Scientific Study of Religion, 12 (3), 55-73.

Hunneshagen, D. M. (2002). Discipleship training of children and youth. Dialog: A Journal of Theology, 41 (3), 190-196.

Jones, K. E. (1998). A study of the difference between Faith Maturity Scale and Multidimensional Self Concept Scale scores for youth participating in two denominational ministry projects. Dissertation, Southwestern Baptist Theological Seminary, School of Educational Ministries. UMI Dissertation Services. (UMI No. 9830794)

Martin, T. F., White, J. M., & Perlman, D. (2003). Religious socialization: A test of the channeling hypothesis of parental influence on adolescent faith maturity. Journal of Adolescent Research, 18 (2), 169-187.

Martinson, R. D. (1997). The role of family in the faith and value formation of children. Word and World, 18 (4), 396-405.

Salsman, J. M. & Carlson, C. R. (2005). Religious orientation, mature faith, and psychological distress: Elements of positive and negative associations. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 44 (2), 201-209.

Schwartz, K. D. (2003). Transformations in parents and friend faith support predicting adolescents’ religious belief and commitment. Calgary: Nazarene University College.

Instrument: Hindu Religious Coping Scale

Instrument available from: Appendix of Tarakeshwar et al. article*

Construct/ what is being measured

The purpose of the Hindu Religious Coping Scale is to ascertain the various coping strategies in which Hindus in the United States utilize.  In particular the following measures were key points of this questionnaire: mental health, religious coping, acculturation, global religious measures, and demographic variables.

Format: Questionnaire

Key articles

Tarakeshwar, N., Pargament, K.I., & Mahoney, A. (2003). Initial development of a Measure of religious coping among Hindus. Journal of Community Psychology, 31 (6), 607-628.

Instrument: Multidimensional Prayer Inventory

Instrument available from: Appendix of below cited article (Laird et al.)*

Construct/ what is being measured

The goal of the Multidimensional Prayer Inventory was to measure both quantitative and qualitative aspects associated with prayer.  For example, some of the quantitative components of prayer were: how often and how long did people pray (per day, per week).

Qualitatively the inventory examined the five theoretical prayer types (adoration, Confession, Thanksgiving, Supplication, and Reception); and the individual’s belief in how each different type of prayer works for them.  Also, respondents were asked when and how often they prayed.  Additionally, the religious affiliation of participants was measured (Laird, Snyder, Rapoff, & Green 2004). 

Format: Questionnaire

Key articles

*Laird, S.P., Snyder, C.R., Rapoff, M.A., & Green, S. (2004).  Measuring private prayer:     Development, validation, and clinical application of the Multidimensional Prayer Inventory. The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 14(4), 251-272.

*(Appendix includes Multidimensional Prayer Inventory)

Instrument: Muslim-Christian Religious Orientation Scales

Instrument available from:   Dr. Paul Watson

Construct/ what is being measured The Muslim-Christian Religious Orientation Scales were developed to gauge a more accurate understanding of religious motivation.  In order to do this, both intrinsic and extrinsic aspects of religion were examined.

Sample items: To gauge intrinsic aspects: “In all of my activities, I try to live according to my religion so that I can open my life to the experience of God.”

To ascertain extrinsic aspects of religion: The Worldly: Personal-Positive: “Religion is important because it helps a person achieve happiness”

The Worldly: Personal-Negative: “I follow the commands of my faith because I do not want to feel like a failure.”

Format: Questionnaire

Key articles

Ghorbani, N., Watson, P.J., Ghramaleki, AF., Morris, R.J., Hood, R.W. Jr. (2002). Muslim-Christian religious orientation scales: Distinctions, correlations, and cross-cultural analysis in Iran and the United States.  The International Journal for the Psychology of Religion, 12(2), 69-91.

Instrument: Muslim Religiosity Scale

Instrument available from: Appendix of Krauss and Idris article*

Construct/ what is being measured

The Muslim Religiosity Scale was created using scales developed for Muslim audiences to ascertain religious beliefs among Malaysian youth across four different faith traditions (Hinduism, Islam, Buddhism, and Christianity).

Format: Questionnaire

Key articles

Krauss, S.E., & Idris, F. (2007).  Adaptation of a Muslim religiosity scale for use with Four different faith communities in Malaysia. _Review of Religious Research, 49 (2),_147-164.

Instrument: National Study of Youth & Religion www.youthandreligion.org

Instrument available from: Protocol not available.

The National Study of Youth and Religion is a research project directed by Christian Smith, Professor in the Department of Sociology at the University of Notre Dame and Lisa Pearce, Assistant Professor of Sociology at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. This project, generously supported by Lilly Endowment Inc., began in August 2001 and is currently funded through December 2010. Wave 3 (January 2007 – December 2010) is also supported by a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The project is designed to enhance our understanding of the religious lives of American youth from adolescence into young adulthood, using telephone survey and in-depth interview methods. [from the project website]

References to protocol and examples of items are taken from the project reports cited below.

Construct/ what is being measured

Some of the research questions outlined in the study were:

“How does family religious background shape the religious lives of youth? How does religion influence the quality of family relationships?”
“What are the stories youth tell about their lives?
How do they connect their individual stories with the social contexts in which they find themselves?”
“What role does institutional religion (the church) play in the lives of youth?  What role do youth play in the life of the church?”
“How has the shift into an information society affected youth?  How does the media shape their lives?”
“Do youth make a distinction between religion and spirituality?  If so, how are they different?  If so, how are they different?  What for youth is spirituality?”

Format: Telephone Surveys, In-depth interview guides, focus group guides

Key articles

This project has generated an impressive number of reports, books, and journal articles. A selection of journal articles can be downloaded in PDF format from the project website.

There are 6 topical reports, which include the following:

*Smith, C., & Faris, R. (2002).  Religion and the life attitudes and self-images of American adolescents. (No. 2). Chapel Hill, NC: National Study of Youth and Religion.

*Smith, C., & Faris, R., & Denton-Lundquist, M.  (2004).  Are American youth alienated from organized religion.  (No. 6). Chapel Hill, NC: National Study of Youth and Religion. 

Other publications include:

*Denton-Lundquist, M., & Smith, C.  (2001).  Methodological issues and challenges in the study of American youth and religion. Chapel Hill, NC: National Study of Youth and Religion. 

Smith, C. (2005). Soul searching: The religious and spiritual lives of American teenagers. NY: Oxford University Press.