Latent Trait Models of Intrinsic, Extrinsic, and Quest Religious Orientations

Allports and Ross (1967) Intrinsic and Extrinsic scales and Batsons and Schoenrades (1991b) Quest scale are re-analyzed from a unidimensional perspective by using the Rasch measurement model (RM). The RM of choice, Rating scale analysis, offers an alternative scaling procedure to Factor analysis. The benefit by using RM, is that the results can be interpreted as an acquired step-by-step process. The results shows that the Intrinsic scale seems to measure a taxonomy of three levels from: (a) Experience of religion, over (b) Religious world view, to (c) Integration of faith. The Extrinsic scale seems to measure the levels: (a) Egocentric perspective of religion; (b) Compromising perspective of religion; (b) Sociocentric perspective of religion. Also the Quest scale seems to measure a taxonomy of three levels: (a) Religious definition of personal faith; (b) Intentional religious change; (c) Retrospective evaluation of religion. The data analyzed is from C. D. Batson, P. A. Schoenrade, and W. L. Ventis (1993) study.