The Psy-FI Scale: A Measure of Psychology and Faith Integration

Integrating academic and Christian sources of knowledge, hereafter referred to as faith integration, is central to Christian higher education. There is, however, no validated measure to assess the degree to which students engage in this process. Therefore, the aim of the current research was to crea...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of psychology and christianity
Authors: Collisson, Brian (Author) ; Edwards, Julianne M. (Author) ; Eck, Brian E. (Author) ; Allen, Evelyn C. (Author)
Format: Print Article
Language:English
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Published: 2019
In: Journal of psychology and christianity
Standardized Subjects / Keyword chains:B Psychology / Faith / Integration / Skala / Higher studies
IxTheo Classification:CB Christian life; spirituality
FB Theological education
ZD Psychology
Further subjects:B Intrinsic motivation
B Christian Education
B Factor analysis
B Psychometrics
B Faith
Description
Summary:Integrating academic and Christian sources of knowledge, hereafter referred to as faith integration, is central to Christian higher education. There is, however, no validated measure to assess the degree to which students engage in this process. Therefore, the aim of the current research was to create and validate a faith integration measure for use within psychology. In Study 1, the structural validity of potential faith integration items was assessed. Factor analyses revealed 27 items loaded onto a single factor, which was dubbed the Psychology and Faith Integration (Psy-FI) Scale. Study 2 confirmed the scale's structure and assessed its convergent validity. As predicted, analyses revealed the Psy-FI scale correlated strongly with intrinsic religious motivation and an informal measure of faith integration. The Psy-FI scale also demonstrated appropriate divergent validity by being relatively uncorrelated with measures of personality. Study 3 assessed the scale's discriminant validity by comparing scores among college students from secular and religiously-affiliated schools. As predicted, students at religiously-affiliated, as compared to secular, schools scored significantly higher on the Psy-FI scale. Implications for course and program evaluation are discussed.
ISSN:0733-4273
Contains:Enthalten in: Journal of psychology and christianity