THE SHEPHERD SCALE

Abstract

The Shepherd Scale is a 38-item psychological instrument developed by Bassett et al. (1981) designed specifically to measure Christian identity. Its unique feature is its foundation in an explicit, observable biblical operationalization of the Christian faith, derived from New Testament passages describing the qualifications and behaviors of a Christian.

The scale employs a 4-point Likert-type format (“not true” to “true”) and is conceptually divided into two primary subscales: a 13-item Belief Component, which assesses core theological convictions about God and Jesus Christ, and a 25-item Christian Walk Component, which measures behaviors, values, and attitudes consistent with a Christian lifestyle. The combined total score ranges from 38 to 152.

Keywords

Christian Identity, Religious Commitment, Psychology of Religion, Christian Walk, Biblical Operationalization, Religious Beliefs, Likert Scale.

Authors

R. L. Bassett, R. D. Sadler, E. E. Kobischen, D. M. Skiff, I. J. Merrill, B. J. Atwater, P. W. Livermore.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the Shepherd Scale is to provide a standardized, psychometrically sound measure of Christian identity, moving beyond general religiosity scales to focus specifically on patterns of belief and behavior directly derived from biblical scripture. The scale’s subtitle, “Separating the Sheep from the Goats,” references the New Testament passage (Matthew 25:32) used by Jesus to distinguish genuine followers from non-followers.

The authors developed the instrument based on the conviction that a distinctively Christian life pattern is, to some measurable degree, observable. This scale has been highly influential in research focused on the integration of psychology and theology, offering a specific tool for researchers working within Christian psychological contexts.

Construct

The psychological construct assessed by the Shepherd Scale is Christian identity, defined through the dual dimensions of theological belief and ethical behavior (the Christian walk). This construct represents a comprehensive pattern of life that aligns with scriptural mandates and characteristics.

The Belief Component captures orthodox Christian tenets, measuring acceptance of core doctrines such as the resurrection of Jesus Christ, the possibility of a personal relationship with God through Christ, and belief in divine judgment. The Christian Walk Component measures the practical application of faith, assessing personal virtues (patience, self-control), social attitudes (respect for civil authorities and other Christians), and behaviors (sharing resources, seeking unity, and daily application of teachings).

Validity

The Shepherd Scale demonstrated strong evidence of validity across multiple studies. Bassett et al. (1981) reported substantial convergent validity in a Christian college sample, showing correlations of .41 with Glock and Stark’s (1966) Dimensions of Religious Commitment Scale and .64 with King and Hunt’s (1975) Ten Dimension Religious Variable instrument.

Discriminant validity was established by the finding that self-identified Christians scored significantly higher on the scale than self-identified non-Christians in an adult suburban sample (t(28) = 6.29, p <.001). Further validation among state university students (Pecnik & Epperson, 1985) showed high correlations with related religious constructs: .71 with self-reported importance of religious beliefs, .52 with denominational preference (coded Christian/non-Christian), and .43 with frequency of participation in religious activities, confirming the scale’s ability to accurately reflect religious commitment.

Reliability

The reliability of the Shepherd Scale was rigorously assessed in the initial 1981 study using a Christian college sample. Test-retest reliability, measured over a two-week interval, yielded a coefficient of .82, indicating good temporal stability. Internal consistency was also strong, with a Cronbach’s alpha coefficient reported at .86 for the full scale.

A modified version of the scale, using 29 of the original 38 items, was utilized by Boivin, Darling, and Darling (1987), which reported a Kuder-Richardson Formula 20 (KR-20) reliability coefficient of .73. Overall, the reported reliability coefficients support the instrument’s consistency and stability in measuring the intended construct.

Factor Analysis

While the initial publication by Bassett et al. (1981) established a conceptual division into two subscales—Belief (13 items) and Christian Walk (25 items)—subsequent research, such as that conducted by Pecnik and Epperson (1985), focused on factor analysis and further validation. This research aimed to empirically confirm the underlying factor structure, supporting the conceptual split between internal theological convictions and external behavioral manifestations of Christian identity.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report psychometric scale.

Format: 38 items presented in a 4-point Likert-type format (1 = not true; 4 = true).

Language Available: English (original).

Population Group: Individuals identifying as Christian or non-Christian; frequently used with college students and adult religious groups.

Age Group: Typically college age and older.

Population Details: Normative data is available from four studies, including Christian college students (N=62, Mean=136, SD=8.7), adult suburbanites (N=67), and state university students (N=238, Mean=110, SD=18.6; N=204, Mean=116, SD=19.4).

Test Methodology: Simple summation of all item scores. Total scores range from 38 to 152. Items are written in a nonsectarian fashion, although they are explicitly based on Christian scripture. No specific cutoff score is provided for clinical differentiation.

Keywords

Religious Behavior, Christian Lifestyle, Faith Assessment, Psychological Measure, Christianity, Pastoral Counseling, Religious Identity.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: Not provided in source content.

Affiliation Email addresses: Not provided in source content.

Correspondence Address: Not provided in source content.

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

The Shepherd Scale was initially published in 1981. The full scale and research details are available through the primary publication: Bassett, R. L., et al. (1981). The Shepherd Scale: Separating the sheep from the goats. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 9(4), 335-351. Specific information regarding current licensing fees or formal permissions is not detailed in the source material.

Reference’s

• Bassett, R. L., Sadler, R. D., Kobischen, E. E., Skiff, D. M., Merrill, I. J., Atwater, B. J., & Livermore, P. W. (1981). The Shepherd Scale: Separating the sheep from the goats. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 9(4), 335-351.
• Bassett, R. L., Camplin, W., Humphrey, D., Dorr, C., Biggs, S., Distaffen, R., Doxtator, I., Flaherty, M., Hunsberger, P. J., Poage, R., & Thompson, H. (1991). Measuring Christian maturity: A comparison of several scales. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 19, 84-95.
• Boivin, M. J., Darling, H. W., & Darling, T. W. (l 987). Racial prejudice among Christian and non-Christian college students. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 15(1 ), 47-56.
• Boivin, M. J., Donkin, A. J., & Darling, H. W. (1990). Religiosity and prejudice: A case study in evaluating the construct validity of Christian measures. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 9(2), 41-55.
• Elzerrnan, J. H., & Boivin, M. J. (1987). The assessment of Christian maturity, personality, and psychopathology among college students. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 6(3), 50-64.
• Glock, C. & Stark, R. (1966). Christian beliefs and anti-Semitism. New York: Harper & Row.
• Godwin, T. C. (1986). Analogue study of expectations for Christian and traditional counseling: A partial replication and extension. Unpublished master’s thesis, Appalachian State University, Boone, NC.
• Jones, D. R., Ripley, J. S., Kurusu, T. A., & Worthington, E. L. (1998). Influential sources in the integration of psychology and theology: A decade summary. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 17, 43- 54.
• King, M. B., & Hunt, R. A. (1975). Measuring the religious variable: National replication. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 11, 53-64.
• Lupfer, M. B., Tolliver, D., & Jackson, M. (1996). Explaining life altering occurences: A test of the ‘God of the gaps’ hypothesis. Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, 35(4), 379-391.
• Mangis, M. W. (1995). Religious beliefs, dogmatism, and attitudes toward women. Journal of Psychology and Christianity, 14(1 ), I 3-25.
• Pecnik, J. A., & Epperson, D. L. (1985). A factor analysis and further validation of the Shepherd Scale. Journal of Psychology and Theology, 13(1 ), 42-49.

Items of the THE SHEPHERD SCALE

Instructions: These questions consider different aspects of Christian experience. Note that some of the items consider how you think about or act toward Christians. These items should not be thought of as exclusive. In other words, having respect for Christians does not mean that you lack respect for non-Christians.

Please respond to all of the following items using the responses listed below.

1 = not true 2 = generally not true 3 = generally true 4 = true

Belief Component

1. I believe that God will bring about certain circumstances that will result in the judgment and destruction of evil.
2. I believe I can have the personal presence of God in my life.
3. I believe that there are certain required duties to maintaining a strong Christian lifestyle (i.e., prayer, doing good deeds, and helping others).
4. I believe that it is possible to have a personal relationship with God through Christ.
5. I believe that by following the teachings of Jesus Christ and incorporating them into my daily life, I receive such things as peace, confidence, and hope.
6. I believe that God raised Jesus from the dead.
7. I believe that God will judge me for all my actions and behaviors.
8. I believe that by submitting myself to Christ, He frees me to obey him in a way I never could before.
9. I believe in miracles as a result of my confidence in God to perform such things.
10. Because of God’s favor to us, through Jesus Christ, we are no longer condemned by God’s laws.
11. Because of my personal commitment to Jesus Christ, I have eternal life.
12. The only means by which I may know God is through my personal commitment to Jesus Christ.
13. I believe that everyone’s life has been twisted by sin and that the only adequate remedy to this problem is Jesus Christ.

The Christian Walk Component

1. I am concerned that my behavior and speech reflect the teachings of Christ.
2. I respond positively (with patience, kindness, self-control) to those people who hold negative feelings toward me.
3. I do kind things regardless of who’s watching me.
4. Status and material possessions are not of primary importance to me.
5. I do not accept what I hear in regard to religious beliefs without first questioning the validity of it.
6. I strive to have good relationships with people even though their beliefs and values may be different than mine.
7. It is important to me to conform to the Christian standards of behavior.
8. 2l. I am most influenced by people whose beliefs and values are consistent with the teachings of Christ.
9. I respect and obey the rules and regulations of the civil authorities which govern me.
10. I show respect toward Christians.
11. I share things that I own with Christians.
12. I share the same feelings Christians do whether it be happiness or sorrow.
13. I’m concerned about how my behavior affects Christians.
14. I speak the truth with love to Christians.
15. I work for Christians without expecting recognition or acknowledgments.
16. I am concerned about unity among Christians.
17. I enjoy spending time with Christians.
18. My beliefs, trust, and loyalty to God can be seen by other people through my actions and behavior.
19. I can see daily growth in the areas of knowledge of Jesus Christ, self-control, patience, and virtue.
20. Because of my love for God, I obey his commandments.
21. I attribute my accomplishments to God’s presence in my life.
22. I realize a need to admit my wrongs to God.
23. I have told others that I serve Jesus Christ.
24. I have turned from my sin and believed in Jesus Christ.
25. I daily use and apply what I have learned by following Jesus Christ.