OPERATIONALIZING RELIGIOUS ORIENTATION - IRON RODS AND COMPASSES

In 3 studies, Mormon and non-Mormon churchgoers responded to questionn aires regarding the degree to which they used their religion to seek a nd find answers to existential questions. In Study 1, operational meas ures of these constructs were developed, and the relationships of thes e constructs with commonly used measures of religiousness were assesse d. The results of Studies 2 and 3 replicated the results of Study 1 am ong samples of American students interested in religion. The results o f Study 3 suggest that people with different orientations have quite d ifferent views of the role of faith.