Religious Problem-Solving Scale – RPS
Measures three distinct religious problem-solving styles (Collaborative, Self-Directing, and Deferring) to understand the role of religion in the coping and problem-solving process.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Religious Problem-Solving Scale – RPS was developed by Kenneth I. Pargament, Joseph Kennell, William Hathaway, Nancy Grevengoed, Jon Newman, & Wendy Jones (1988). It is designed to measure Religious Coping and Problem-Solving Styles. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 36 items organized into 3 factors/subscales: Collaborative, Self-Directing, Deferring.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Collaborative | 1,5,6,10,13,18,19,23,25,30,31,36 | 12 |
| Self-Directing | 3,7,8,12,14,17,20,24,26,27,29,35 | 12 |
| Deferring | 2,4,9,11,15,16,21,22,28,32,33,34 | 12 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a 5-point Likert scale (1 = Strongly Disagree to 5 = Strongly Agree).
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 12 to 60. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low utilization of this style: 12 – 27
- Moderate utilization of this style: 28 – 44
- High utilization of this style: 45 – 60
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Collaborative: .93, Self-Directing: .91, Deferring: .89.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 20 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.