PSYCHOLOGY OF THE SCIENTIST. 13. SCIENTIFIC AND RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCES DISTINGUISHED BY THEIR 'AFFECT'.
N Brody
Psychological Reports June 1, 1965 DOI: 10.2466/pr0.1965.16.3.737 (opens in new tab)
Study at a glance
AI-extracted from the abstract| Characteristics | Questionnaire study Peer reviewed |
|---|---|
| Sample size | 52 |
| Population | 26 graduate students in the sciences and 26 students in a theological seminary |
| Measures | modified form of Osgood's semantic differential |
| Keywords | Humans Attitude Affect Science Religion |
| Key points | Experiences interpreted religiously were rated with higher polarity scores, a measure of affect, and with more positive evaluative scores on a modified Osgood semantic differential than experiences interpreted scientifically, among 26 science graduate students and 26 seminary students. |
Abstract
This paper describes responses to a questionnaire about religious and scientific experiences by 26 graduate students in the sciences and 26 students in a theological seminary. There are two principal findings. First, experiences which are interpreted in a religious way are assigned higher polarity scores (taken as a measure of affect) on a modified form of Osgood's semantic differential than are experiences which are interpreted scientifically. Second, experiences which are interpreted religiously are assigned more positive evaluative scores than are experiences which are interpreted scientifically.