Williams, Emyr, Francis, Leslie J. and Lewis, Christopher Alan. (2009) Introducing the modified paranormal belief scale: distinguishing between classic paranormal beliefs, religious paranormal beliefs and conventional religiosity among undergraduates in Northern Ireland and Wales. Archiv für Religionspsychologie, Vol.31 (No.3). pp. 345-356. ISSN 0084-6724

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Abstract

Previous empirical studies concerned with the association between paranormal beliefs and conventional religiosity have produced conflicting evidence. Drawing on Rice's (2003) distinction between classic paranormal beliefs and religious paranormal beliefs, the present study proposed a modified form of the Tobacyk Revised Paranormal Belief Scale to produce separate scores for these two forms of paranormal belief, styled 'religious paranormal beliefs' and 'classic paranormal beliefs'. Data provided by a sample of 143 undergraduate students in Northern Ireland and Wales, who completed the Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity alongside the Tobacyk Revised Paranormal Belief Scale, demonstrated that conventional religiosity is positively correlated with religious paranormal beliefs, but independent of classic paranormal beliefs. These findings provide a clear framework within which previous conflicting evidence can be interpreted. It is recommended that future research should distinguish clearly between these two forms of paranormal beliefs and that the Tobacyk Revised Paranormal Beliefs Scale should be routinely modified to detach the four religious paranormal belief items from the total scale score.

Item Type:	Journal Article
Subjects:	B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BR Christianity B Philosophy. Psychology. Religion > BF Psychology
Divisions:	Faculty of Social Sciences > Institute of Education
Library of Congress Subject Headings (LCSH):	Francis Scale of Attitude toward Christianity, Occultism -- Religious aspects -- Christianity, College students -- Religious life -- Great Britain, College students -- Psychology
Journal or Publication Title:	Archiv für Religionspsychologie
Publisher:	Brill
ISSN:	0084-6724
Date:	2009
Volume:	Vol.31
Number:	No.3
Page Range:	pp. 345-356
Identification Number:	10.1163/008467209X12499946199605
Status:	Peer Reviewed
Access rights to Published version:	Open Access
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URI:	http://wrap.warwick.ac.uk/id/eprint/2871

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