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Religious Orientation Scale

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Religious Orientation Scale

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About Religious Orientation Scale

Scale Name

Religious Orientation Scale also known as Intrinsic/Extrinsic Revised Scale (I/E Revised Scale)

Author Details

Gordon Allport
Gorsuch, R. L

Translation Availability

Not Sure

Religious Orientation Scale
Religious Orientation Scale

Background/Description

Imagine a spectrum of religiosity, where on one end, faith is a deeply personal pursuit of meaning and connection, while on the other, it serves as a tool for comfort or social acceptance. The Religious Orientation Scale (ROS) delves into this spectrum, offering a psychological yardstick to measure an individual’s intrinsic vs. extrinsic religious motivations.

Developed in the 1950s by renowned psychologist Gordon Allport and colleagues, the ROS was a groundbreaking effort to move beyond simply counting religious affiliations. Instead, it sought to understand the why behind belief. The scale’s core concept hinges on the distinction between:

  • Intrinsic religiosity: When religion is valued for its own sake, a source of personal growth, meaning, and connection to something larger than oneself. Think of finding solace in prayer or experiencing awe in nature.
  • Extrinsic religiosity: When religion is used as a means to an end, serving personal or social goals. This could involve seeking comfort in difficult times, gaining social acceptance, or using religion to bolster one’s sense of belonging.

The ROS typically employs 20 statements that individuals rate on a scale, half gauging intrinsic orientation and the other half extrinsic. By analyzing these responses, researchers and clinicians can gain insights into an individual’s unique relationship with religion.

The Impact and Evolution of the ROS

The ROS’s impact has been far-reaching. It has been used in numerous studies exploring the links between religious orientation and mental health, personality traits, social behavior, and even political attitudes. It has also proven valuable in understanding religious development and the influence of upbringing on faith.

Over the years, the ROS has undergone refinements and adaptations. Sub-dimensions within extrinsic religiosity, such as “personal” and “social” motivations, were added to provide a more nuanced picture. Today, the scale remains a crucial tool for researchers and practitioners seeking to navigate the complex and multifaceted landscape of human religiosity.

While the ROS has limitations, such as its primarily Christian roots and potential for social desirability bias, it continues to be a valuable resource for comprehending the diverse motivations and meanings individuals associate with faith.

Administration, Scoring and Interpretation

  • Provide instructions: Explain the scale format, rating system, and importance of honest responses. Address any questions or concerns participants may have.
  • Maintain neutrality: Avoid expressing personal opinions or biases about religion that could influence responses. Remain objective and professional throughout.
  • Ensure privacy and confidentiality: Anonymize responses if needed and guarantee participants’ data will be protected according to ethical guidelines.
  • Address missing data: Encourage participants to complete all items. If missing answers occur, note the reason (e.g., skipped, unsure) for later analysis.

Reliability and Validity

The reliability and validity of the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS) have been extensively studied and discussed, with both strengths and limitations to consider. Here’s a breakdown:

Reliability:

  • Internal consistency: Overall, the ROS demonstrates good internal consistency, meaning items within each dimension (intrinsic and extrinsic) correlate well with each other. The intrinsic scale score typically reaches the 0.80s in Cronbach’s alpha, considered acceptable for research. Extrinsic subscales, however, show lower consistency, particularly the smaller “social” subscale.
  • Test-retest reliability: Studies report moderate to good test-retest reliability over various time intervals, suggesting consistency in scores over time.

Validity:

  • Content validity: The scale items appear relevant to and representative of the concepts of intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity based on expert judgment and empirical testing.
  • Convergent validity: Correlations with other measures of religiosity or relevant personality traits provide evidence for the ROS’s validity in capturing these constructs.
  • Discriminant validity: The subscales of the ROS should be distinct, and studies show moderate to good discrimination between intrinsic and extrinsic scores, supporting their differentiation.

Limitations:

  • Social desirability bias: Individuals may inflate their intrinsic religiosity scores due to its positive social perception.
  • Cultural bias: The ROS was primarily developed in a Christian context and may not adequately capture religious experiences in other cultures or faiths.
  • Oversimplification: The binary distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations may not fully capture the complexity and multifaceted nature of religious experiences.

Available Versions

14-Items

Reference

Darvyri, P., Galanakis, M., Avgoustidis, A. G., Pateraki, N., Vasdekis, S., & Darviri, C. (2014). The revised intrinsic/extrinsic religious orientation scale in a sample of Attica’s inhabitants. Psychology5(13), 1557.

Important Link

Scale File:

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the Religious Orientation Scale (ROS)?
The ROS is a psychological tool used to measure an individual’s intrinsic vs. extrinsic religious motivations. It helps researchers and clinicians understand why someone is religious and what values they associate with their faith.

How does the ROS work?
The ROS typically consists of 20 statements that individuals rate on a scale. Half the statements measure intrinsic orientation (e.g., “Finding religious experiences very important to me”), and the other half measure extrinsic orientation (e.g., “Going to church to make my family happy”). Based on their responses, individuals receive scores for each dimension.

What are the different types of religious orientation?
The ROS distinguishes between: Intrinsic religiosity: Religion valued for its own sake, providing personal meaning, growth, and connection to something larger than oneself. Extrinsic religiosity: Religion used as a means to an end, such as gaining comfort, social acceptance, or achieving personal goals.

What are the benefits of using the ROS?
The ROS has been used in various research fields to:

  • Study the link between religious orientation and mental health, well-being, and personality traits.
  • Understand religious development and the impact of religious upbringing.
  • Explore relationships between religion and social behavior, prejudice, and political attitudes.

What are the limitations of the ROS?
Cultural bias: The ROS primarily focuses on Christian perspectives and may not adequately capture religious experiences in other cultures or faiths.
Social desirability bias: Individuals may inflate their intrinsic religiosity scores due to its positive social perception.
Oversimplification: The binary distinction between intrinsic and extrinsic motivations may not fully capture the complexity and multifaceted nature of religious experiences.

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