The relationship between personal religiosity and academic performance among LDS college students at Brigham Young University

Charles R Line, Purdue University

Abstract

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the relationship between personal religiosity and academic performance. Social theory often claims that if any relationship exists between religion and academic performance it is negative or non-existent. Recent studies suggest that perhaps a relationship can exist where religious practice acts as a facilitating agent by influencing pro-social behaviors, thus impacting academic performance in positive ways. Certain denominations appear to have stronger correlations than others when measuring these two variables against each other. In the present study, LDS college students from Brigham Young University were surveyed as to their religiosity; which was defined in terms of religious belief, public religious practice, and private religious practice. Academic performance was also ascertained. Multiple regression techniques were employed to measure the strength of the relationship among variables. A strong relationship was found when using variables that assess private religiosity, especially the area of personal scripture study, living church standards, and personal prayer. Public religious practice had a moderate impact on academic performance using certain variables related to church meeting attendance. Religious belief variables were found to be completely negligible in their impact on the same. These findings agree with similar studies done with LDS high school students.

Degree

Ph.D.

Advisors

Knupfer, Purdue University.

Subject Area

Religious education|Religion|Sociology

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