Measurement Reapplied: Research into the Child's Attitude Towards Religion

Abstract

In an earlier article, in Learning for Living, Spring 1977, I argued the case that research in the area of religious development in childhood and adolescence can best be advanced by means of the development of rigorous measurement techniques.⁵ In that paper I described the construction of one particular research instrument developed according to stringent psychometric scaling criteria and I presented the findings of a preliminary survey which employed that instrument. The present paper proposes to strengthen the case in three ways. First, I shall present the summary findings of further recently completed research, and discuss the implications of these findings for the religious educationalist. Second, I shall indicate the ways in which the research employing this instrument and currently in hand stands to advance the state of knowledge regarding the young person's religion. Third, I shall propose ways in which further research can profitably build upon the work so far completed.