THE PROBLEM WITH FATHER AS PROXY - DENOMINATIONAL SWITCHING AND RELIGIOUS CHANGE, 1965-1988

In this paper we demonstrate the various logical and interpretive prob lems that arise when switching is measured using the respondent's fath er's religion as a ''proxy'' for the respondent's childhood religious preference. Using ''father as proxy'' results in an underestimation of disaffiliation, an exaggeration of the amount of movement from nonaff iliation to affiliation, and an overstatement of net gains through swi tching for most denominational families. ''Intergenerational switching '' does not seem to measure switching at all. Instead, much of what is taken for ''switching'' reflects long-standing religious differences between the respondent and his or her father. Since religious preferen ce is a form of self-identity, the most appropriate methodologies allo w respondents to self-identify as switchers.