MULTIDIMENSIONALITY AND ASYMMETRY IN RELIGIOUS SWITCHING BEHAVIOR

Rokeach proposed that switching between denominations is governed by t heir perceived similarity on a unidimensional continuum. Resulting res earch has been based on unidimensional methods assuming symmetric inte rdenominational exchanges. Both assumptions are questionable. We use t wo data sources, a local survey accounting for ministers' perceptions of similarity between religions and the General Social Surveys account ing for actual switching behavior. Analytic methods, including multidi mensional scaling, seriation, and nearest neighbor analysis, were chos en for their ability to account for multidimensionality and asymmetry. Results support a relationship between multidimensional similarity an d gaining members but less to losing members. We conclude that religio us switching is best understood as a multidimensional asymmetric proce ss. Applied examples are presented.