From Bigfoot in the backyard to ghosts in the attic: Predictors of paranormal belief

Previous research on the social predictors of paranormal belief is contradictive and unclear. Depending on which author you read, one theory is better at explaining why individuals accept belief in paranormal phenomena. This problem most likely is the result of weak sample sizes and an inconsistency in defining and measuring the paranormal. This thesis incorporates data from the 2005 Baylor Religion Survey which is one of the largest, most recent data sets assessing paranormal belief. Three predominant theories within the literature are tested. Findings lend support to the marginalization theory claiming that individuals who are marginalized from society tend to hold more paranormal beliefs, both religious and non-religious. Significant support is also given for the small step hypothesis suggesting that the more religious paranormal beliefs an individual holds, the more likely he or she is to hold non-religious paranormal beliefs. Furthermore, support is given to the functional alternative hypothesis proposing that individuals who do not have a religious identity (religious "nones") are more likely to profess belief in the non-religious paranormal.

Name thesis:degree_name

MA

Level thesis:degree_level

Thesis

Discipline thesis:degree_discipline

Sociology and Anthropology

Year dc:date.available

2010

Author dc:creator

• Tranguch, Jeff

Contributors dc:contributor

• Melissa Latimer.
• Corey Colyer
• Ronald Althouse

• Social research
• Religion

Identifier

https://researchrepository.wvu.edu/etd/855

OAI identifier oai:identifier

oai:researchrepository.wvu.edu:etd-1858