The Multidimensional Ten Commandments Questionnaire (M10CQ)

Abstract

The Multidimensional Ten Commandments Questionnaire (M10CQ) is a psychological scale developed by William E. Snell, Jr. in 1995. This instrument is designed to measure attitudes, beliefs, and adherence concerning the ethical principles derived from the Ten Commandments, specifically within a Judeo-Christian ethical framework. The M10CQ is unique in its multidimensional approach, assessing 50 distinct items grouped into 10 subscales, each corresponding to one of the traditional commandments. This structure allows researchers to analyze variations in moral commitment across specific domains of behavior and belief, rather than relying on a single, monolithic measure of religiosity or morality.

Keywords

Multidimensional Ten Commandments Questionnaire, M10CQ, William E. Snell, Jr., moral attitudes, religious beliefs, Ten Commandments, Judeo-Christian ethics, psychometric instrument, adherence to moral law.

Authors

William E. Snell, Jr.

Purpose

The primary purpose of the M10CQ is to provide a detailed, psychometrically sound instrument for assessing an individual’s level of perceived adherence to, or agreement with, the specific moral injunctions contained within the Ten Commandments. Unlike general measures of religious commitment, the M10CQ differentiates between the ten distinct moral domains, such as prohibitions against killing, adultery, theft, and coveting, as well as positive duties related to honoring parents and observing the Sabbath.

By breaking down the Decalogue into ten discrete, measurable factors, the scale enables researchers in social, developmental, and religious psychology to explore how various demographic, personality, and relational factors correlate with specific moral stances. This offers a nuanced understanding of moral reasoning and ethical behavioral intentions anchored in a fundamental religious and ethical text prominent in Judeo-Christian cultures.

Construct

The core construct measured by the M10CQ is Multidimensional Moral Adherence, operationalized through the perceived importance and commitment to the Ten Commandments. The scale posits that an individual’s moral framework is not uniformly consistent but varies based on the specific commandment being considered. Each of the ten subscales represents a distinct facet of this moral adherence construct.

The ten measured dimensions correspond directly to the traditional breakdown of the Commandments: (I) Worshiping God only, (II) Avoiding idolatry/blasphemy, (III) Observing the Sabbath, (IV) Honoring parents, (V) Not killing, (VI) Not committing adultery, (VII) Not stealing, (VIII) Not bearing false witness, (IX) Not coveting a neighbor’s spouse, and (X) Not coveting a neighbor’s possessions. This structure allows for precise measurement of moral conflict or selective adherence among individuals.

Validity

The original documentation for the M10CQ indicates that preliminary evidence for reliability and validity was established during its construction phase in 1995. Content validity is strongly supported by the direct derivation of the 50 items from the textual requirements of the Ten Commandments themselves, ensuring the scale accurately reflects the domain it intends to cover.

Further studies would be necessary to establish robust criterion and construct validity. However, the theoretical grounding suggests high face validity for populations familiar with Judeo-Christian theology. Correlation with other measures of moral reasoning (e.g., Kohlberg’s stages) or religious commitment would typically be used to confirm convergent and discriminant validity, demonstrating that the M10CQ measures moral adherence distinctly from general piety.

Reliability

The initial development phase included preliminary testing to assess the internal consistency of the M10CQ. Given the scale’s structure—ten distinct subscales, each comprising five items—high internal consistency (measured typically by Cronbach’s alpha) would be expected within each of the ten individual subscales, suggesting that the five items measuring Commandment #X cohere well.

While specific alpha coefficients are not provided in the preliminary abstract, the design suggests that the developers aimed for high psychometric quality, particularly concerning the distinctiveness and internal consistency of the ten factors, which is critical for a truly multidimensional psychological scale.

Factor Analysis

The structure of the M10CQ is inherently based on a 10-factor model, corresponding to the ten original commandments. Each factor is measured by five specific items. A confirmatory factor analysis (CFA) would be required to statistically verify this hypothesized 10-factor structure, confirming that the items load exclusively onto their intended commandments (e.g., items 5, 15, 25, 35, and 45 load onto Commandment #5: Not Killing).

The multidimensional nature implies that the factors are related but distinct, meaning that adherence to one commandment (e.g., honoring parents) is not perfectly predictive of adherence to another (e.g., avoiding coveting). The preliminary work suggests that the instrument was constructed with the intention that factor analysis would support the ten discrete moral dimensions.

Instrument

Test Type: Self-report Psychological scale measuring attitudes and moral beliefs.

Format: 50 items administered via a 5-point Likert scale response format.

Language Available: English (as presented in the source material).

Population Group: General population, likely those familiar with Judeo-Christian ethical traditions.

Age Group: Adolescents and Adults (typically employed in social psychology research).

Population Details: Specific demographic details of the standardization sample are not provided in the abstract, but the scale is generally applicable to individuals capable of understanding abstract moral concepts.

Test Methodology: Respondents rate their level of agreement with each statement using the following 5-point Likert scale:

• A = Strongly Disagree.
• B = Slightly Disagree.
• C = Neither.
• D = Slightly Agree.
• E = Strongly Agree.

Keywords

Moral psychology, religious adherence, psychometrics, William E. Snell, Jr., religious commitment, ethical measurement, attitude assessment, Likert scale, multidimensional assessment, reliability and validity.

Authors

Author ORCID Identifier: N/A (Not provided in source material)

Affiliation Email addresses: [email protected]

Correspondence Address: N/A (Contact via email provided)

Permissions & Fee and Test Year

Permissions: Explicit written permission must be obtained from the author, William E. Snell, Jr., via email at [email protected] before using the M10CQ.

Fee: Fee information is not specified; contact the author for details regarding usage rights.

Test Year: 1995.

Reference’s

The primary reference for the initial development and psychometric properties of the M10CQ is:

• Snell, W. E., Jr. (1995). Measuring the 10 Commandments: Construction and preliminary evidence for reliability and validity. Manuscript in preparation.

The instrument can also be found online at the following locations:

• http://www4.semo.edu/snell/scales/TENCC.HTM
• http://www4.semo.edu/snell/TESTING.HTM

Items of the The Multidimensional Ten Commandments Questionnaire (M10CQ)

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

I. Commandment # 1: (Items 1‚ 11‚ 21‚ 31‚ 41).

1. It’s important to have faith in God (i.e.‚ the Judeo-Christian deity).
2. It’s wrong to give one’s religious allegiance to idols rather than to the Christian deity.
3. People who worship any deity other than the Christian God are being led astray.
4. There are no other divine beings other than God (as in the Bible).
5. Those who pray to deities other than the Christian God are worshiping false gods.

II. Commandment # 2: (Items 2‚ 12‚ 22‚ 32‚ 42).

2. It’s wrong to curse using God’s name.

12. People should not take God’s name in vain.

22. It’s inappropriate for someone to use the phrase‚ “God damn it.”

32. The use of God’s name with profanity is immoral.

42. It’s sacrilegious to use God’s name to damn others.

III. Commandment # 3 : (Items 3‚ 13‚ 23‚ 33‚ 43).

3. It’s immoral for people to work on Sunday.

13. The Lord’s day (Sunday) is meant to be holy.

23. To work on Sunday (God’s day) means to do wrong.

33. A person who runs a business on Sunday is not living a good Christian life.

43. To conduct business on a Sunday is equivalent to committing a sin.

IV. Commandment # 4: (Items 4‚ 14‚ 24‚ 34‚ 44).

4. Children should respect their parents.

14. It’s important for children to honor their father and mother.

24. Children should be grateful to their mother and father.

34. Parents should be treated with respect by their children.

44. Children ought to praise and admire their parents.

V. Commandment # 5: (Items 5‚ 15‚ 25‚ 35‚ 45).

5. It’s wrong for people to kill others.

15. Putting people to death is immoral.

25. Committing murder is a sinful crime.

35. To take someone’s life is an act of extreme wrongdoing.

45. It’s evil for a person to slay another individual.

VI. Commandment # 6: (Items 6‚ 16‚ 26‚ 36‚ 46).

6. Adultery is an immoral act.

16. It’s improper for married person to have sex with a person other than their spouse.

26. Extra-marital affairs are wrong.

36. An individual who has a sexual affair with a married person is being sinful.

46. People should not commit adultery.

VII. Commandment # 7: (Items 7‚ 17‚ 27‚ 37‚ 47).

7. People should not steal from others.

17. To rob others of their possessions is wrong.

27. Theft is an immoral crime.

37. It’s sinful to take what belongs to someone else.

47. Stealing from others is a moral sin.

VIII. Commandment # 8: (Items 8‚ 18‚ 28‚ 38‚ 48).

8. It’s wrong to tell a lie about others.

18. It’s important to tell the truth about people when talking about them.

28. It’s not all that bad to say untruthful things about others.

38. It’s immoral to be deceitful with other people.

48. Those who say false things about their friends are committing a sin.

IX. Commandment # 9: (Items 9‚ 19‚ 29‚ 39‚ 49).

9. It’s immoral to lust after another person’s spouse.

19. To covet a person’s wife or husband is a sin.

29. There’s nothing wrong with longing for another person’s husband or wife.

39. A person who has a sexual desire for a friend’s marriage partner is immoral.

49. It’s not right to sexually desire the spouse of a married friend.

X. Commandment # 10: (Items 10‚ 20‚ 30‚ 40‚ 50).

10. To envy others because of what they own is wrong.

20. It’s immoral to have greed for another person’s possessions.

30. People should not feel jealous about what others own.

40. It’s a sin to begrudge others because they have something you want.

50. A person ought not to wish for what others have.