Christian Religious Internalization Scale – CRIS
Measures the degree and style of internalization (introjection versus identification) for Christian beliefs and practices.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The Christian Religious Internalization Scale – CRIS was developed by Richard M. Ryan, S. Rigby, & K. King (1993). It is designed to measure Christian Religious Internalization. The scale is intended for use with Christian individuals (adolescents and adults).
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 12 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Introjection, Identification.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Introjection | 2,3,5,7,10,12 | 6 |
| Identification | 1,4,6,8,9,11 | 6 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = not at all true, 2 = usually not true, 3 = usually true, 4 = very true.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 6 to 24. Interpretation guidelines:
- Low Internalization: 6 – 12
- Moderate Internalization: 13 – 18
- High Internalization: 19 – 24
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Introjection alpha = .64 – .82, Identification alpha = .69 – .82.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 5 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.