Description

The Inventory of Religious Concepts (IRC) is a psychometric tool designed to assess individuals’ religious views and core religious concepts. This scale examines how individuals understand and perceive various religious concepts such as the existence of God, the nature of the soul, the afterlife, and the moral values derived from religious teachings.

Goal

The main goal of the IRC is to provide a reliable and valid tool for evaluating individuals’ religious perceptions and concepts. This tool helps researchers and clinicians understand how religious beliefs influence psychological well-being, values, behavior, and interpersonal relationships. Additionally, it can be used to study the relationship between religiosity and various psychological and social factors.

Analysis

The IRC consists of a series of statements that assess various aspects of religious perceptions and concepts. The main dimensions typically examined include:
Belief in God’s Existence:
Assesses an individual’s belief in the existence of God or a higher power.
Example statements:
“I believe there is a God who created the world.”
Nature of the Soul:
Assesses an individual’s perception of the nature and existence of the soul.
Example statements:
“I believe that my soul will live after my body’s death.”
Afterlife:
Assesses an individual’s beliefs about life after death.
Example statements:
“I believe there is life after death.”
Moral Values:
Assesses the moral values and principles derived from religious teachings.
Example statements:
“My religion provides me with guidance on how to live a moral life.”

Scoring

The scoring of the IRC is done using Likert scales, where participants rate each statement on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 5 (strongly agree). Responses are collected and analyzed to produce total scores for each dimension of religious concepts and perceptions. Higher scores indicate stronger or more positive perceptions in the corresponding dimensions.

References

Glock, C. Y., & Stark, R. (1965). Religion and Society in Tension. Chicago: Rand McNally.
Hood, R. W., Hill, P. C., & Spilka, B. (2009). The Psychology of Religion: An Empirical Approach. Guilford Press.
Pargament, K. I. (1997). The Psychology of Religion and Coping: Theory, Research, Practice. Guilford Press.
Allport, G. W. (1950). The Individual and His Religion: A Psychological Interpretation. Macmillan.