1. Measuring Religion Quantitatively
What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Deductive And Inductive Research Models
Research Methods

2. What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Comparative Questions
Draws comparisons between different societies, social contexts, or social actors
What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Does the (White) Assemblies of God treat callings the way the (Black) Church of God in Christ does?
Who?

3. What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Comparative Questions
Draws comparisons between different societies, social contexts, or social actors
What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Do pentecostals in less “spiritual” countries (e.g., France) experience
fewer blitzkrieg calls?
Where?

4. What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Comparative Questions
Draws comparisons between different societies, social contexts, or social actors
Factual Questions
Determines whether what we think is true is actually true empirically
What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
What different ways do people experience the call to ministry? Do they just choose it as a
job?
What?

5. What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Comparative Questions
Draws comparisons between different societies, social contexts, or social actors
Factual Questions
Determines whether what we think is true is actually true empirically
What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Developmental Questions
Determines if patterns in a society or social context have changed over time
Has this approach to the call to ministry changed once church members became more educated?
When?

6. What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Comparative Questions
Draws comparisons between different societies, social contexts, or social actors
Factual Questions
Determines whether what we think is true is actually true empirically
What Kinds Of Questions Do We Ask?
Developmental Questions
Determines if patterns in a society or social context have changed over time
Theoretical Questions
Determines what factors would explain a specific range of observed phenomena
People believe“God” will tell the uncalled that they’re not called Why doesn’t that seem
to happen?
Why?

7. What Does The Quantitative Research Process Look Like?
Define Problem
Review Literature
Formulate Hypothesis
DEDUCTIVE REASONING
Quantitative Methods
Theory
Develop Research Design
What Does The Quantitative Research Process Look Like?
Collect & Analyze Data
Observation
Report Findings

8. Quantitative Data Internal Validity External Validity Populations &
Samples
Sample Sizes “N”
Randomness
Reliability
Internal Validity
Is it proving what we think it is?
External Validity
Is it true for other people or situations?

9. Pew Research Center Religious Landscape Study (2014)
Only 9% of Adults Don’t Believe In God At All
(N=35,071)
Survey Questions

10. Beliefs, Behavior, & Belonging
Holy scripture is actual Word of God and should be taken literally
Pew Survey (2014): 31% Chaves GSS (2008): 30% Class Survey (2016): 0%
Holy scripture is not the Word of God
Pew Survey (2014): 33% Class Survey (2016): 48%
Probably or definitely believe in heaven
Pew Survey (2014): 72% Chaves GSS (2008): 86% Class Survey (2016): 55%
Probably or definitely believe in hell
Pew Survey (2014): 58% Chaves GSS (2008): 73% Class Survey (2016): 50%
BELIEFS
Pray at least once a week
Pew Survey (2014): 71% Chaves GSS (2008): 69% Class Survey (2016): 55%
Attend religious services at least once a week
Pew Survey (2014):36% Chaves GSS (2008): 40% Class Survey (2016): 39%
BEHAVIORS
Have some kind of religious affiliation
Pew Survey (2014): 77% Chaves GSS (2008): 83% Class Survey (2016): 61%
BELONGING
Beliefs, Behavior, & Belonging