Author: Thayer, O. Jane

Journal of Psychology & Christianity, Vol. 23(3), Fall 2004, pp. 195-207

Abstract:

Based on the assumption that processes of learning and processes of spiritual growth are analogous, this study used learning theory and theology to develop the Christian Spiritual Participation Profile (CSPP), a measure to predict spiritual growth. Basic spiritual disciplines and KoIb’s experiential learning theory were integrated in the construction of the CSPP. The measure produces four scores, each indicate ing the extent to which a person uses one of four spiritual development modes. Study samples totaling 1,687 participants came from four groups of evangelical Protestants: Baptist/Free Church, Pentecostal, Reformed, and Wesleyan/Arminian. High reliability was found for all scales in terms of internal consistency using coefficient alphas. Evidence for criterion-related validity came from correlations with 15 scales or subscales from 6 different measures.