Development and Initial Validation of an Objective Measure of Faith Development

Abstract

This article describes the development and initial validation ofa brief index of mature faith dcvelop~nent based on Fowler's theorizing. Study I reports on the construction of a content valid 8-item scale, as well as presenting initial convergent validity evi- dence. A second study explored the validity of the new faith development scale through its associations with theoretically important religious and personality characteristics. Finally, other studies used a variety of ~nethodological approaches to establishing construct validity (peer-ratings in Study 2; known-group differences in Study 3). The results are generally supportive of the validity of the new scale. For exalnple, the scale was related in predicted ways to measures of religious and personality open- ness as well as peer ratings of faith development, while remaining unconta~ninated by socially desirable response set tendencies. Suggestions for future research with the scale, as well as i~nplications for Fowler's theory, are presented.