The Center for Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence builds on a long legacy of research and engagement by Search Institute. At the same time, it moves the institute into new arenas of inquiry, practice, and networking.
Since its beginning, Search Institute has focused energy on the scientific study of religion and youth in congregational life. Indeed, Search Institute is unique among child and youth development research institutions not only for its consistent commitment to understanding and valuing the spiritual and religious domain of individual and community life, but also in its emphasis on ensuring that the knowledge generated is both useful and accessible to leaders, practitioners, and parents.
Below are selected studies and pilot projects that have explicitly addressed religious and spiritual development, beginning with most recent and going back in time to some of the early Search Institute studies.
Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence: Mapping the Field (2003-2005)
This initiative, funded by the John Templeton Foundation, involved more than 125 scholars from around the world and from multiple disciplines in documenting the current state of theory and research on spiritual development during the first two decades of life. It also became the foundation upon which Search Institute launched the center. It resulted in two books:
- The Handbook of Spiritual Development in Childhood and Adolescence
- Nurturing Child and Adolescent Spirituality: Perspectives from the World’s Religious Traditions
Habits of the Heart (1998-1999)
This project—-led by the Indiana Humanities Council and funded by the Lilly Endowment—-sought to equip congregations to nurture in youth the habits of giving and serving. Search Institute gathered information on youth giving and serving nationally, including identification of exemplary congregations (Christian and Jewish), interviews with key informants, and scanning existing resources, which resulted in the book Growing Up Generous: Engaging Youth in Giving and Serving.
Uniting Congregations for Youth Development (1995-1999)
This pilot interfaith initiative designed to equip congregations and their youth workers in seven U.S. communities to build Developmental Assets in youth. It was supported by the DeWitt Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund.
Shema: Listening to Jewish Youth (completed 1991)
This study with the Minneapolis Jewish Federation examined young people’s attitudes toward Jewish life, their involvement in Jewish and secular practices, and other issues related to identity and continuity.
The Attitudes and Needs of Religious Youth Workers (completed 1995)
This study, supported by the DeWitt Wallace-Reader’s Digest Fund, reported on surveys of about 500 youth workers in multiple faith traditions in the United States. It highlighted their training needs, their interests in positive youth development, and their experiences and interests in interfaith networking.
Valuegenesis (completed 1991)
This study in the Seventh-Day Adventist Church examined the attitudes, values, and beliefs of Adventist youth in the United States. It led to comprehensive planning and change in this evangelical denomination. It is the largest study of youth ever conducted in a single religious denomination.
Effective Christian Education: A National Study of Protestant Congregations (completed 1990)
This landmark study examined the faith lives of 11,000 youth and adults in six major Christian denominations in the United States. It also examined dynamics of congregational life that contribute to growth in faith.
- Download the summary report
- Download the full report
(Please allow several minutes for both files to download.)
Young Adolescents and Their Parents (1984)
Funded by the Lilly Endowment, this study examined the beliefs and values of 10- to 15-year-olds and their parents, including their religious and spiritual beliefs and practices.
Religion on Capitol Hill: Myths and Realities (1978-1980)
Funded by the National Endowment for the Humanities and published by Harper & Row, this project involved in-depth interviews with members of the U.S. Congress on how their religious beliefs and values affected their public life and their votes.
Research on Religious Development: A Comprehensive Handbook (1971)
This landmark book—edited by Search Institute’s founder, Merton P. Strommen and published by Hawthorne Press—brought together leading scholars to address 75 years of religious development research. It included such scholars as James Dittes, Andrew Greeley, Bernard Spilka, and David Elkind.
A Study of Generations (1970-1972)
This study, supported by Lutheran Brotherhood, examined the beliefs, values, attitudes, and behaviors of 5,000 youth and adults (ages 15 to 65) in 320 Lutheran congregations in the United States.
Profiles of Church Youth (1960-1963)
With these first studies, Search Institute pioneered national, survey-based studies of adolescents affiliated with Protestant denominations. Its first two books were on young people in religious contexts in the United States: What Youth Are Thinking (Augsburg Publishing, 1960) and Profiles of Church Youth (Augsburg Publishing, 1963).
