Primary Outcomes (end points)
1. Self-reported religiosity
Self-reported religiosity is one of our two main outcome variables of interest. Following Shariff, et al (2008), we ask a series of 6 questions intended to gauge religiosity. Individuals are asked to rate the extent they agree with each of the following statements on a scale of 1 (strongly disagree) to 5
(strongly agree):
My personal religious beliefs are very important to me;
My religion or faith is an important part of my identity;
If someone wanted to understand who I am as a person, my religion or faith would be very important to that;
I believe strongly in the teachings of my religion or faith;
I believe in God;
I consider myself a religious person
2. Implicit religiosity
Implicit religiosity is one of our two main outcome variables of interest. We employ a single-target Implicit Association Test (ST-IAT) adapted from (but not identical to) the design used by Shariff et al.(2008). The ST-IAT is a computer-based sorting task that uses response time to measure unconscious associations with a target concept. In each block of the ST-IAT, subjects sort three categories of words to the left- and right-hand sides of the screen: synonyms of “real”, synonyms of “imaginary”, and words associated with religion. All language used in the task was vetted for comprehension with the sample population during several pilot sessions. In one block, the subjects sort the religious words and synonyms of “real” to the same side. In a second block, the subjects sort religious words and synonyms of “imaginary” to the same side. The order in which these two blocks occur is randomized. The ST-IAT design assumes that subjects will more quickly sort target words to the side that represents their implicit association with the target. As a manipulation check for the ST-IAT, we also administer ST-IATs using alternatively the names of cartoon characters familiar to most Kenyans and the names of natural landmarks in Kenya. We hypothesize that individuals should be relatively faster to associate cartoons with the concept imaginary and faster to associate natural landmarks with the concept real.
3. Cantril Ladder
To assess how religion may influence an individual’s sense of status, we present participants with a Cantril ladder, which asks participants where they would rate their current life compared to the best possible life they can imagine for themselves, both now and in five years by indicating where they stand (will stand) on a picture of a ladder with steps labeled 0 to 10.
4. Tolerance
We adapt a series of questions from the World Values Survey asking participants “Of the following groups of people, which would you not like to have as neighbors?”
Drug addicts
People of a different race
People who have AIDS
Immigrants / foreign workers
Homosexuals
People of a different religion
Atheists/people with no religion
Heavy drinkers
Unmarried couples living together
People who speak a different language
5. Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS)
To assess the possible effect of the primes on affect, individuals complete questions from the PANAS evaluating negative affect after viewing the primes. On a scale of 1 (not at all) to 100 (very much), subjects are asked “How much do you feel...”
“Distressed, at this moment?”
“Upset, at this moment?”
“Guilty, at this moment?”
“Ashamed, at this moment?’
“Hostile, at this moment?”
“Irritable, at this moment?”
“Nervous, at this moment?”
“Jittery, at this moment?”
“Scared, at this moment?”
“Afraid, at this moment?”
“Frustrated, at this moment?”
“Stressed, at this moment?”
6. Demographics
We ask individuals to report their gender, age and religious affiliation.