Religious Orientation Scale

Abstract

The Age-Universal Intrinsic-Extrinsic Orientation Scale (A-U I-E Scale), developed by Maltby and Lewis (1996), is a widely used psychological instrument designed to assess an individual’s approach to Religious Orientation. This 19-item measure is a refinement of Gorsuch and McPherson’s (1989) revision of Allport and Ross’s (1967) original scale, aiming to create a measure applicable across both religious and non-religious populations. It delineates between two primary motivational styles: the Intrinsic orientation, where religion is internalized and serves as a master motive, and the Extrinsic orientation, where religion is used instrumentally for personal gain, social acceptance, or comfort.

Keywords

Religious Orientation, Intrinsic Orientation, Extrinsic Orientation, Religious Motivation, Psychology of Religion, Maltby and Lewis, Psychometrics, Psychological well-being.

Authors

John Maltby, Christopher A. Lewis.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Age-Universal Intrinsic-Extrinsic Orientation Scale is to accurately quantify the underlying motivational structure of an individual’s religious life. This scale moves beyond simple measures of religiosity (such as frequency of attendance) to explore why an individual holds religious beliefs or engages in religious practices.

The instrument is crucial for researchers studying the relationship between motivational style and various psychological outcomes, including mental health, prejudice, and coping strategies. By distinguishing between genuine, internalized commitment (Intrinsic) and utilitarian use (Extrinsic), researchers can better predict behavioral and psychological correlates associated with faith.

Construct

The scale measures the two primary dimensions of Religious Orientation as conceptualized by Allport (1966). The Intrinsic Orientation (I) describes individuals who fully embrace their faith, living their life according to its tenets; religion is an end in itself. These individuals find their ultimate motivation and meaning within their religious framework. The Extrinsic Orientation (E), conversely, describes individuals who use religion as a means to an end. This might include using religion for social status, comfort, security, or forming a network of friends.

The A-U I-E Scale operationalizes these constructs across 19 items, where higher scores on the Intrinsic factor indicate a deeply integrated faith, and higher scores on the Extrinsic factor indicate a more utilitarian or self-serving approach to religion. It is important to note that these dimensions are often treated as orthogonal (independent) rather than opposite ends of a single continuum.

Validity

The validity of the Maltby and Lewis (1996) scale is supported by extensive research demonstrating its construct validity, particularly when compared to previous iterations of the Intrinsic-Extrinsic scale. The authors specifically modified the scale to improve its applicability across samples, ensuring that items were relevant to both highly religious and less committed individuals, thereby enhancing its external validity.

Studies have repeatedly shown the scale’s ability to correlate logically with related psychological variables. For instance, Intrinsic Orientation is typically associated with positive outcomes such as higher levels of psychological well-being and lower levels of anxiety, while Extrinsic Orientation often correlates positively with measures of social conformity and occasionally with negative mental health indicators.

Reliability

The A-U I-E Scale demonstrates strong internal consistency, confirming its Reliability as a psychometric tool. In the foundational studies by Maltby and Lewis (1996), the Intrinsic and Extrinsic subscales typically yielded acceptable to high Cronbach’s alpha coefficients, often ranging between .70 and .85 for both factors across various samples.

The refinement efforts focused on eliminating items that were ambiguous or poorly correlated with their intended factor, further bolstering the scale’s measurement precision. Test-retest Reliability has also been confirmed in subsequent research, indicating that an individual’s measured religious orientation remains stable over time.

Factor Analysis

The underlying structure of the A-U I-E Scale is typically confirmed using Confirmatory Factor Analysis (CFA). Research supports a robust two-factor model, separating the 19 items into the distinct Intrinsic and Extrinsic dimensions, consistent with the theoretical framework established by Allport. This statistical confirmation supports the scale’s claim that intrinsic and extrinsic motivations are separate, measurable constructs.

The original factor structure ensures that items loading onto the Intrinsic factor (e.g., items 1, 5, 8, 10, 11, 15, 18) are clearly distinct from those loading onto the Extrinsic factor (e.g., items 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 9, 12, 13, 14, 16, 17, 19). This clear factorial separation is essential for the scale’s predictive utility in psychological research.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report questionnaire.

Format: 19 items utilizing a 3-point Likert-type response scale. The response options are: “yes” (3), “not certain” (2), and “no” (1).

Language Available: Primarily English, though translations have been used in subsequent international research.

Population Group: General population, utilized effectively across different religious and non-religious samples.

Age Group: Age-Universal (Adults and older adolescents).

Population Details: Originally validated on UK and US samples, designed to be applicable to individuals regardless of their specific religious affiliation or level of commitment.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate the degree to which they agree with statements regarding their religious beliefs and practices, which are then scored and summed to yield separate Intrinsic and Extrinsic scores.

Keywords

Intrinsic Motivation, Extrinsic Motivation, Allport, Maltby, Psychological Assessment, Religiosity, Scale Validation, Religious Orientation.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Unavailable in source material.

Affiliation Email addresses: Unavailable in source material.

Correspondence Address: Unavailable in source material.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Test Year: 1996 (Publication of the Age-Universal revision).

Permissions & Fee: The scale is typically used for academic, non-commercial research purposes without fee, subject to standard citation requirements. Researchers should consult the original publication for specific usage guidelines.

The instrument is publicly available for research purposes. The original source instrument can be found at: https://www.researchgate.net/publication/222464296.

Reference’s

• Maltby, J., McCollam, P., & Millar, D. (1994). Religiosity and obsessionality: a refinement. Journal of Psychology, 128, 609–611.
• Maltby, J., & Lewis, C. A. (1996). Measuring intrinsic and extrinsic orientation toward religion: Amendments for its use among religious and non-religious samples. Personality and Individual Differences, 21(6), 937–946.
• Maltby, J., & Day, L. (1998). Amending a measure of the Quest Religious Orientation: Applicability of the scale’s use among religious and non-religious persons. Personality and Individual Differences, 25, 517-522.
• Maltby J., C. A. Lewis, and L. Day. (1999). Religious orientation and psychological well-being: The role of the frequency of personal prayer. British Journal of Health Psychology 4:363–78.
• Lewis, C. A., Maltby, J., & Burkinshaw, S. (2000). Religion and happiness: Still no association. Journal of Beliefs and Values, 21, 233–236.
• Maltby, J. and L. Day. (2000). Depressive symptoms and religious orientation: Examining the relationship between religiosity and depression within the context of other correlates of depression. Personality and Individual Differences 28:383–93.
• Lewis, C. A., Maltby, J., & Day, L. (2005). Religious orientation, religious coping and happiness among UK adults. Personality and Individual Differences, 38, 1193-1202.

Items of the Religious Orientation scale

IMPORTANT: The following scale items must be preserved in their original language and must not be changed in any way.

1. I enjoy reading about my religion. I
2. I go to my place of worship because it helps me to make friends. E
3. It doesn’t much matter what I believe so long as I am good. E
4. Sometimes I have to ignore my religious beliefs because of what other people might think of me. E
5. It is important to me to spend time in private thought and prayer. I
6. I have often had a strong sense of God’s presence. E
7. I pray mainly to gain relief and protection. E
8. I try hard to live all my life according to my religious beliefs. I
9. What religion offers me most is comfort in times of trouble and sorrow. E
10. My religion is important to me because it answers many questions about the meaning of life. I
11. I would rather join a group that studies the sacred book(s) of my religion than attend a social group in my place of worship. I
12. Prayer is for peace and happiness. E
13. Although I am religious, I don’t let it affect my daily life. E
14. I go to my place of worship mostly to spend time with my friends. E
15. My whole approach to life is based on my religion. I
16. I go to my place of worship mainly because I enjoy seeing people I know there. E
17. I pray mainly because I have been taught to pray. E
18. Prayers I say when I am alone are as important to me as those I say in my place of worship. I
19. Although I believe in my religion, many other things are more important in life. E

Note: “I” denotes an Intrinsic item and “E” denotes an Extrinsic item.