The Shepherd Scale
Assesses Christian identity based on an explicit biblical operationalization of the Christian faith, split into belief and behavioral components.
Scale Development & Technical Details
Scale Overview
The The Shepherd Scale was developed by Bassett, R. L., Sadler, R. D., Kobischen, E. E., Skiff, D. M., Merrill, I. J., Atwater, B. J., & Livermore, P. W. (1981). It is designed to measure Christian Identity. The scale is intended for use with Adults.
Scale Structure
This instrument consists of 38 items organized into 2 factors/subscales: Belief Component, Christian Walk Component.
| Factor / Subscale | Items | N |
|---|---|---|
| Belief Component | 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,10,11,12,13 | 13 |
| Christian Walk Component | 14,15,16,17,18,19,20,21,22,23,24,25,26,27,28,29,30,31,32,33,34,35,36,37,38 | 25 |
Response Format
Respondents rate each item using a custom response format.
Response anchors: 1 = not true, 2 = generally not true, 3 = generally true, 4 = true.
Scoring
Items are scored by subscale, with each subscale sum representing a distinct dimension.
Total scores range from 38 to 152. Interpretation guidelines:
- Total Score Range (Higher scores indicate higher alignment with Christian identity and lifestyle): 38 – 152
Psychometric Properties
Internal Consistency: The scale has demonstrated good to excellent internal consistency with reported Cronbach’s alpha values of Cronbach's alpha of .86.
Administration
The scale is self-administered and typically takes approximately 10 minutes to complete. It can be administered individually or in group settings. No special training is required for administration.