Convergent and discriminant validity of religiosity measures among church members and non-members

Abstract

The applicability of religiosity measures among people who are not affiliated to a church is an important prerequisite for its use in religiously heterogeneous populations. This paper provides a confirmatory factor analysis of Intrinsic, Extrinsic and Quest (IEQ) religiosity measures and Glock’s religiosity dimensions among church members and non-members. Moreover, it shows correlations between IEQ and Glock’s dimensions. A three-factor solution of IEQ religiosity is found for both groups. Factor loadings were comparable between groups. Although theoretically fine, high inter-factor correlations question the empirical usefulness of the IEQ distinction for non-member samples. Glock’s dimensions are also comparable between groups and correlate strongest with Intrinsic and Extrinsic but weakly with Quest religiosity. The results stress the complementary characteristics of both perspectives on religiosity.