A validated intrinsic religious motivation scale
Abstract
Research on intrinsic and extrinsic religion has been troubled by conceptual diffuseness and questionable scale validity. Hunt and King have proposed greater specificity in conceptualization and measurement in future work. This paper attempts to specify and measure a single crucial dimension identified by Hunt and King, namely ultimate versus instrumental religious motivation. Two validation studies were done utilizing persons nominated by ministers as having either ultimate (intrinsic) or instrumental (extrinsic) religious motivation. A new 10-item Intrinsic Religious Motivation Scale is proposed, and measurement problems are discussed.
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If someone provides Position 1 and 2 level responses on LAMP-C and responds 'Definitely not true' to the statement 'My religious beliefs are what really lie behind my whole approach to life' on the DUREL and Hoge scales, they probably cannot imagine a 'whole approach' to their life, since they perceive life as more concrete and episodic.
“For example, if someone provides Position 1 and 2 level responses on LAMP-C and responds 'Definitely not true' to the statement 'My religious beliefs are what really lie behind my whole approach to life' found in both the DUREL and the Hoge scales, we might conclude that they probably cannot imagine a 'whole approach' to their life, since they perceive life as more concrete and episodic (Hoge 1972”
From A Reframing of Meaning-Making and Its Measurement Among Emerging Adults (2025) · cites this paper as Hoge 1972
Scales like the 10-item Hoge scale on intrinsic religiosity or the DUREL could provide interpretable feedback on the observed correlation between LAMP-C and religious practice, affiliation, and belief.
“Scales like the 10-item Hoge scale on intrinsic religiosity or the DUREL could provide interpretable feedback on the observed correlation (Hoge 1972; Koenig and Büssing 2010).”
From A Reframing of Meaning-Making and Its Measurement Among Emerging Adults (2025) · cites this paper as Hoge 1972
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“Scales like the 10-item Hoge scale on intrinsic religiosity or the DUREL could provide interpretable feedback on the observed correlation (Hoge 1972; Koenig and Büssing 2010).”
- Authors
- Hoge, R.
- Corresponding author
- Hoge, R.
- Venue
- Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion
- Publisher
- JSTOR
- Published
- 1972-12
- Volume
- 11
- Issue
- 4
- Pages
- 369
- ISSN
- 0021-8294 (ISSN-L)
- OpenAlex
- W2335623894
- Cited by
- 704
- References
- 11
- Citations by year
- 2026: 23 · 2025: 20 · 2024: 13 · 2023: 59 · 2022: 19 · 2021: 23 · 2020: 20 · 2019: 22 · 2018: 16 · 2017: 21 · 2016: 27 · 2015: 32 · 2014: 18 · 2013: 24 · 2012: 34
- FWCI
- 3.04
- Type
- journal article
- Language
- en
- Open access
- closed
- Locations
- Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion (publishedVersion)
- Topics
- Social Sciences › Health › Religion, Spirituality, and Psychology
- Social Sciences › Arts and Humanities › Philosophy › Study and Philosophy of Religion
- Social Sciences › Decision Sciences › Management Science and Operations Research › Psychometric Methodologies and Testing
- Keywords
- intrinsic religiosity, scale validation, concept of religion
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