Spiritual Meaning Scale (SMS)

 

Scale overview: The Spiritual Meaning Scale (SMS) was developed to measure a person’s belief in a meaningful life, which may include the idea that life has a purpose (Mascaro et al., 2004). A revised version has 15 items (Mascaro & Rosen, 2006).

 

Authors: Mascaro and Rosen

Response Type: Each item is rated on a five-point scale of personal agreement from 1 = I totally disagree to 5 = I totally agree.

Scale items

Psychometric properties

Mascaro (2006) reported evidence of good internal and test-retest reliability. Validity evidence includes significant positive correlations with hope and significant negative correlations with depression and hopelessness.

Availability:

See Mascaro, N. (29 October 2006) below.

References for the scale

Mascaro, N. (29 October 2006). Longitudinal analysis of the relationship of existential meaning with depression and hope. Dissertation retrieved from Longitudinal analysis of the relationship of existential meaning with depression and hope - CORE.

Mascaro, N., & Rosen, D. H. (2006). The role of existential meaning as a buffer against stress. Journal of Humanistic Psychology, 46(2), 168–190. https://doi.org/10.1177/0022167805283779

Mascaro, N., Rosen, D. H., & Morey, L. C. (2004). The development, construct validity, and clinical utility of the spiritual meaning scale. Personality and Individual Differences, 37(4), 845–860. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.paid.2003.12.011

 

 

Reference for using scales in research:

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AMAZON

 

 

 

 

Reference for clinicians on understanding assessment

Buy Applied Statistics for Counselors

 

GOOGLE BOOKS

 

AMAZON

 

 

 

 

Resource Link:  A – Z Test Index

 

 

NOTICE:

The information about scales and measures is provided for clinicians and researchers based on professional publications. The links to authors, materials, and references can change. You may be able to locate details by contacting the main author of the original article or another author on the article list.

 

Post Author

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology who publishes book and articles about clinical and social psychology including the psychology of religion. Website:     www.suttong.com

  

Books available on   AMAZON       and the   GOOGLE STORE

 

Connections

   FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton  

  

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton

 

   PINTEREST  www.pinterest.com/GeoffWSutton

 

Read many published articles and book samples on:

 

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton   

 

  ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

 

 

 

Structural Equation Modeling (SEM)

 

Structural Equation Modeling (SEM) is a statistical technique that is widely used in psychology and related fields to examine the relationships between observed variables and latent constructs. In SEM, a theoretical model is specified in which the relationships between latent constructs and observed variables are represented by a set of equations.

 

An example of the application of SEM in counseling psychology might involve examining the relationship between different types of coping strategies and symptoms of depression. The model might include several latent constructs such as avoidant coping, problem-focused coping, and depression, as well as observed variables such as self-reported coping behaviors and measures of depressive symptoms. SEM would allow researchers to test the strength and direction of the relationships between these constructs and variables, as well as the overall fit of the model to the data.

An Example

Smith, J. K., Johnson, L. M., & Jones, R. T. (2022). Structural equation modeling of coping strategies and depression symptoms in college students. Journal of Counseling Psychology, 69(2), 123-135. doi:10.1037/cou0000501

Resources

There are several introductory books that explain Structural Equation Modeling. The list here is based on my experience with the publishers of quality materials but there may be other resources more suited to readers using specific software. Local professors may be able to provide additional guidance. Suggestions:

Check for the latest edition.

Check if a book fits your available software.

Multiple Regression and Beyond: An Introduction to Multiple Regression and Structural Equation Modeling 3rd Edition by Timothy Z. Keith on   AMAZON

Structural Equation Modeling With AMOS: Basic Concepts, Applications, and Programming, Third Edition (Multivariate Applications Series) 3rd Edition

 By Barbara M. Byrne  on   AMAZON   [ Notice the AMOS application.]

A Beginner's Guide to Structural Equation Modeling: Fourth Edition 4th Edition

By Schumacker and Lomax  on     AMAZON

Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPUS)

 

Assessment name:  Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPUS)

Scale overview: The Problematic Pornography Use Scale (PPUS) is a 12-item self-report instrument focused on problems linked to viewing pornography (Kor et al., 2014a; 2014b).

Authors: Ariel Kors and others

Response Type: Items are rated on a six-point scale of truth values (0 = Never True, 1 = Rarely True, 2 = Sometimes True, 3 = Often True, 4 = Very Often True, 5 = Almost Always True).

Scale items

The researchers identified four factors: Excessive Use, Use to Escape/Avoid Negative Emotions, Self-control Difficulties, Distress and Functional Problems. Each factor is measured with three items.

Psychometric properties

Internal consistency values were good to high and there is evidence supporting construct and convergent validity.

Availability: See Kor et al. 2014a for the list of items linked to each factor.

Read a definition of pornography

Reference for the scale

Kor, A., Zilcha-Mano, S., Fogel, Y. A., Mikulincer, M., Reid, R. C., & Potenza, M. N. (2014a). Problematic Pornography Use Scale [Database record]. Retrieved from PsycTESTS. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1037/t32415-000

Kor, A., Zilcha-Mano, S., Fogel, Y. A., Mikulincer, M., Reid, R. C., & Potenza, M. N. (2014b). Psychometric development of the Problematic Pornography Use Scale. Addictive Behaviors, 39(5), 861-868. doi: https://dx.doi.org/10.1016/j.addbeh.2014.01.027

 

Reference for using scales in research:

Buy Creating Surveys on

GOOGLE BOOKS

 

AMAZON

 

 

 

 

Reference for clinicians on understanding assessment

Buy Applied Statistics for Counselors

 

GOOGLE BOOKS

 

AMAZON

 

 

 

Resource Link:  A – Z Test Index

  

NOTICE:

The information about scales and measures is provided for clinicians and researchers based on professional publications. The links to authors, materials, and references can change. You may be able to locate details by contacting the main author of the original article or another author on the article list.

 

Post Author

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology who publishes book and articles about clinical and social psychology including the psychology of religion. Website:     www.suttong.com

  

Books available on   AMAZON       and the   GOOGLE STORE

 

Connections

   FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton  

  

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton

 

   PINTEREST  www.pinterest.com/GeoffWSutton

 

Read many published articles and book samples on:

 

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton   

 

  ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

 

 

 

Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity (PIOS)

Assessment name:  Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity (PIOS)

Scale overview: The Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity (PIOS) is a 19-item self-report measure of religious obsessive-compulsive symptoms. The 2007 revision has 15 items.

The authors, some of whom had clinical experience with OCD, suggest the PIOS is useful for research and clinical practice.

Authors:

Abramowitz and other- See the 2002 reference below.

For the 15-item revision, see Olatunji et al. (2007).

 

Response Type: Items are rated on a scale of symptom frequency from 0 = never to 4 = constantly.

Scale items

In religious participants, the PIOS has yielded two factors: Fear of God and Fear of Sin. The items refer to worries about unacceptable thoughts and actions from God’s perspective and other items refer to worries about immoral thoughts and behavior without mentioning God.

 

Psychometric properties

The authors reported strong values for internal consistency. Factor analysis revealed two factors. Correlational analyses with other measures provided evidence of convergent and divergent validity.

Olatunji et al. (2007) used the revised PIOS and reported moderate positive correlations with several measures including the Obsessive-Compulsive-Inventory-Revised, and both the state and trait Anxiety Scales.

Note

In psychology, scrupulosity refer to a type of Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder. The obsessions are religious or moral thoughts that evoke anxiety and lead to compulsive thought and actions to reduce the anxiety.

Availability:

In 2023, this link provided a word document for the 15-item PIOS-R

https://www.bing.com/ck/a?!&&p=465aff734dfe7169JmltdHM9MTY3ODE0NzIwMCZpZ3VpZD0zZjQ4NGFjNC1iZGE0LTZmNWUtMzFiNC01ODA5YmMyMjZlNmEmaW5zaWQ9NTE5Nw&ptn=3&hsh=3&fclid=3f484ac4-bda4-6f5e-31b4-5809bc226e6a&psq=pios-r+word+coument&u=a1aHR0cHM6Ly9lYXJsYXR2YW5kZXJiaWx0LmZpbGVzLndvcmRwcmVzcy5jb20vMjAxNy8wMS9waW9zLXIuZG9j&ntb=1

 Related Scale

Perceived Perfectionism from God Scale (PPGS)

References for the scale

Abramowitz, J. S., Huppert, J. D., Cohen, A. B., Tolin, D. F., & Cahill, S. P. (2002). Religious obsessions and compulsions in a non-clinical sample: the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity (PIOS). Behaviour Research and Therapy, 40, 825–838.

Olatunji BO, Abramowitz JS, Williams NL, Connolly KM, Lohr JM. Scrupulosity and obsessive-compulsive symptoms: confirmatory factor analysis and validity of the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity. Journal of Anxiety Disorders, 2007, 21(6), 771-87. doi: 10.1016/j.janxdis.2006.12.002.

Phillips, A., & Fisak, B. (2022). An examination of the factor structure of the Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity-Revised (PIOS-R) in atheist and Christian samples. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 14(2), 222–228. https://doi.org/10.1037/rel0000322

 

Reference for using scales in research:

Buy Creating Surveys on

GOOGLE BOOKS

 

AMAZON

 

 Reference for clinicians on understanding assessment

Buy Applied Statistics for Counselors

 

GOOGLE BOOKS

 

AMAZON

 

 

 

Resource Link:  A – Z Test Index

 

 

 

NOTICE:

The information about scales and measures is provided for clinicians and researchers based on professional publications. The links to authors, materials, and references can change. You may be able to locate details by contacting the main author of the original article or another author on the article list.

 

Post Author

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology who publishes book and articles about clinical and social psychology including the psychology of religion. Website:     www.suttong.com

  

Books available on   AMAZON       and the   GOOGLE STORE

 

Connections

   FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton  

  

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton

 

   PINTEREST  www.pinterest.com/GeoffWSutton

 

Read many published articles and book samples on:

 

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton   

 

  ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

 

 

 

Perceived Perfectionism from God Scale (PPGS)

 

Perfectionism image created by G Sutton 2023

Assessment name:  Perceived Perfectionism from God Scale (PPGS)

Scale overview: The Perceived Perfectionism from God Scale (PPGS) is a 10-item self-report measure of perfectionism, which is associated with a person's perceptions of God’s standards and expectations.

Authors: Kenneth T. Wang, G. E. Kawika Allen, Hannah I. Stokes, Han Na Suh

      Read more about the psychology of perfectionism.

Response Type: The 10 PPGS items are rated on a 7-point scale of agreement from 1 = strongly disagree to 7 = strongly agree.

Scale items

There are two factors or subscales each having five items.

The Perceived Discrepancy from God subscale examines perceived discrepancies between a person’s behavior and God’s standards.

The Perceived Standards from God subscale examines perceptions of God’s expectations for a person’s behavior.

Psychometric properties

The authors provide means and standard deviations, coefficient alpha values, the results of exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses, and evidence for concurrent validity with related measures in Wang et al. (2018).

Other measures included in the validity study were:

Short Almost Perfect Scale

Religious Commitment Inventory-10

Graceful Avoidance of Personal Legalism

Penn Inventory of Scrupulosity

Satisfaction with Life Scale

State Shame and Guilt Scale

Positive and Negative Affect Schedule

 

Availability:

The full text of the items can be found in Wang et al. (2018).

 

Reference for the scale

Wang, K. T., Allen, G. E. K., Stokes, H. I., & Suh, H. N. (2018). Perceived Perfectionism from God Scale: Development and initial evidence. Journal of Religion and Health, 57(6), 2207–2223. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10943-017-0405-1

 

Reference for using scales in research:

Buy Creating Surveys on

GOOGLE BOOKS

 

AMAZON

 

  

Reference for clinicians on understanding assessment

Buy Applied Statistics for Counselors

 

GOOGLE BOOKS

 

AMAZON

 

 

Resource Link:  A – Z Test Index

 

NOTICE:

The information about scales and measures is provided for clinicians and researchers based on professional publications. The links to authors, materials, and references can change. You may be able to locate details by contacting the main author of the original article or another author on the article list.

 

Post Author

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology who publishes book and articles about clinical and social psychology including the psychology of religion. Website:     www.suttong.com

  

Books available on   AMAZON       and the   GOOGLE STORE

 

Connections

   FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton  

  

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton

 

   PINTEREST  www.pinterest.com/GeoffWSutton

 

Read many published articles and book samples on:

 

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton   

 

  ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton 

 

 

 

 

Dimensions of Grace Scale

 

Assessment name:  DIMENSIONS OF GRACE SCALE:

Scale overview: The Dimensions of Grace Scale is a 36-item multidimensional self-report assessment of grace measured on a scale of agreement.

 

Authors: Bufford, Sisemore, and Blackburn

 

Response Type: Items are rated on a scale of agreement from 1 = Strongly Disagree to 7 = Strongly Agree.

Subscales (5 dimensions)

God’s grace

Costly grace

Grace to self

Grace from others

Grace to others

 

Psychometric properties

Bufford et al. (2021) reported a history of alpha coefficients ranging from 0.654 to 0.824 across the five dimensions.

Moderate positive correlations to strong correlations were found between the following Grace dimensions and Big Five Domains and Intrinsic Religiosity as follows:

God’s grace and Openness, and Agreeableness as well as with the Intrinsic Religiosity.

Costly grace and Agreeableness and Intrinsic Religiosity

Grace from others and Intrinsic Religiosity

Grace to Others and Agreeableness and Intrinsic Religiosity

Negative correlations were found between all grace dimensions except Grace from others and the Big Five Neuroticism Domain.

 

Availability:

The full set of 36 items can be found in Bufford et al. (2017).

Lead author, Rodger Bufford is a professor at George Fox University.

Reference for the scale

Bufford, R. K., Sisemore, T. A. & Blackburn, A. M. (2017), Dimensions of Grace: Factor Analysis of Three Grace Scales. Psychology of Religion and Spirituality, 9, 56-69.

Bufford, Rodger K.; Beard, Javeen; Flores, Melissa; Price, Lindsay; and Hodge, Adam, "Dimensions of Grace Scale: Concurrent Validation" (2021). Faculty Publications - Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) Program. 343.  Retrieved from "Dimensions of Grace Scale: Concurrent Validation" by Rodger K. Bufford, Javeen Beard et al. (georgefox.edu)

 

Reference for using scales in research:

Buy Creating Surveys on

GOOGLE BOOKS

 

AMAZON

 

 

Reference for clinicians on understanding assessment

Buy Applied Statistics for Counselors

 

GOOGLE BOOKS

 

AMAZON

 

  

Resource Links:

Find more tests and measures at   A – Z Test Index

Find more measures of Religion and Spirituality at     Spiritual Assessment Index

 A book about grace-

Sin and Grace in Christian Counseling by Mark R. McMinn

 

NOTICE:

The information about scales and measures is provided for clinicians and researchers based on professional publications. The links to authors, materials, and references can change. You may be able to locate details by contacting the main author of the original article or another author on the article list.

 

Post Author

 

Geoffrey W. Sutton PhD is Emeritus Professor of Psychology who publishes book and articles about clinical and social psychology including the psychology of religion. Website:     www.suttong.com

  

Books available on   AMAZON       and the   GOOGLE STORE

 

Connections

   FACEBOOK   Geoff W. Sutton  

  

   TWITTER  @Geoff.W.Sutton

 

   PINTEREST  www.pinterest.com/GeoffWSutton

 

Read many published articles and book samples on:

 

  Academia   Geoff W Sutton   

 

  ResearchGate   Geoffrey W Sutton