Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology

Shoko Watanabe; Sean Laurent

doi:10.1558/equinox.43007

Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology

Shoko Watanabe^*, Sean Laurent

^*Corresponding author for this work

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

Abstract

Social psychologists have frequently used priming methodologies to explore how religion can impact behaviour. Despite this, no consensus currently exists on whether religious priming effects are replicable or consistently observed across a range of spiritual beliefs. Moreover, mixed evidence highlights possible methodological shortcomings within the priming literature as well as theoretical ambiguity regarding the contents of different primes. The current article examines four types of religious priming methodologies that are frequently used in social-psychological research (explicit, implicit, subliminal, and contextual) and critically inspects the current landscape of the religious priming literature. We highlight theoretical issues and suggest methodological improvements that should facilitate a clearer understanding of when and how religion influences human behaviour.

Original language	English
Title of host publication	Studying the religious mind
Subtitle of host publication	Methodology in the cognitive science of religion
Editors	Armin Geertz, Leonardo Ambasciano, Esther Eidinow, Luther Martin, Kristoffer Laigaard Nielbo, Nickolas Roubekas, Valerie van Mulukom, Dimitris Xygalatas
Publisher	Equinox Publishing
Chapter	7
Pages	137-163
ISBN (Electronic)	9781800501621
ISBN (Print)	9781800501607, 9781800501614
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1558/equinox.43007
Publication status	Published - Oct 2022
Externally published	Yes

Publication series

Name	Advances in the Cognitive Science of Religion
Publisher	Equinox Publishing

Keywords

priming
religious cognition
experimental psychology
social psychology
reproducibility

Access to Document

10.1558/equinox.43007Licence: None: All rights reserved

https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/view-chapter/?id=43007Licence: None: All rights reserved

Cite this

Watanabe, S., & Laurent, S. (2022). Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology. In A. Geertz, L. Ambasciano, E. Eidinow, L. Martin, K. Laigaard Nielbo, N. Roubekas, V. van Mulukom, & D. Xygalatas (Eds.), Studying the religious mind: Methodology in the cognitive science of religion (pp. 137-163). (Advances in the Cognitive Science of Religion). Equinox Publishing. https://doi.org/10.1558/equinox.43007

Watanabe, Shoko ; Laurent, Sean. / Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology. Studying the religious mind: Methodology in the cognitive science of religion. editor / Armin Geertz ; Leonardo Ambasciano ; Esther Eidinow ; Luther Martin ; Kristoffer Laigaard Nielbo ; Nickolas Roubekas ; Valerie van Mulukom ; Dimitris Xygalatas. Equinox Publishing, 2022. pp. 137-163 (Advances in the Cognitive Science of Religion).

@inbook{d2d8245e26cf4b1bbe98f53ce1ee32d9,

title = "Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology",

abstract = "Social psychologists have frequently used priming methodologies to explore how religion can impact behaviour. Despite this, no consensus currently exists on whether religious priming effects are replicable or consistently observed across a range of spiritual beliefs. Moreover, mixed evidence highlights possible methodological shortcomings within the priming literature as well as theoretical ambiguity regarding the contents of different primes. The current article examines four types of religious priming methodologies that are frequently used in social-psychological research (explicit, implicit, subliminal, and contextual) and critically inspects the current landscape of the religious priming literature. We highlight theoretical issues and suggest methodological improvements that should facilitate a clearer understanding of when and how religion influences human behaviour.",

keywords = "priming, religious cognition, experimental psychology, social psychology, reproducibility",

author = "Shoko Watanabe and Sean Laurent",

year = "2022",

month = oct,

doi = "10.1558/equinox.43007",

language = "English",

isbn = "9781800501607",

series = "Advances in the Cognitive Science of Religion",

publisher = "Equinox Publishing",

pages = "137--163",

editor = "Armin Geertz and Leonardo Ambasciano and Esther Eidinow and Luther Martin and {Laigaard Nielbo}, Kristoffer and Nickolas Roubekas and {van Mulukom}, Valerie and Dimitris Xygalatas",

booktitle = "Studying the religious mind",

}

Watanabe, S & Laurent, S 2022, Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology. in A Geertz, L Ambasciano, E Eidinow, L Martin, K Laigaard Nielbo, N Roubekas, V van Mulukom & D Xygalatas (eds), Studying the religious mind: Methodology in the cognitive science of religion. Advances in the Cognitive Science of Religion, Equinox Publishing, pp. 137-163. https://doi.org/10.1558/equinox.43007

Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology. / Watanabe, Shoko; Laurent, Sean.
Studying the religious mind: Methodology in the cognitive science of religion. ed. / Armin Geertz; Leonardo Ambasciano; Esther Eidinow; Luther Martin; Kristoffer Laigaard Nielbo; Nickolas Roubekas; Valerie van Mulukom; Dimitris Xygalatas. Equinox Publishing, 2022. p. 137-163 (Advances in the Cognitive Science of Religion).

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceeding › Chapter (peer-reviewed) › peer-review

TY - CHAP

T1 - Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology

AU - Watanabe, Shoko

AU - Laurent, Sean

PY - 2022/10

Y1 - 2022/10

N2 - Social psychologists have frequently used priming methodologies to explore how religion can impact behaviour. Despite this, no consensus currently exists on whether religious priming effects are replicable or consistently observed across a range of spiritual beliefs. Moreover, mixed evidence highlights possible methodological shortcomings within the priming literature as well as theoretical ambiguity regarding the contents of different primes. The current article examines four types of religious priming methodologies that are frequently used in social-psychological research (explicit, implicit, subliminal, and contextual) and critically inspects the current landscape of the religious priming literature. We highlight theoretical issues and suggest methodological improvements that should facilitate a clearer understanding of when and how religion influences human behaviour.

AB - Social psychologists have frequently used priming methodologies to explore how religion can impact behaviour. Despite this, no consensus currently exists on whether religious priming effects are replicable or consistently observed across a range of spiritual beliefs. Moreover, mixed evidence highlights possible methodological shortcomings within the priming literature as well as theoretical ambiguity regarding the contents of different primes. The current article examines four types of religious priming methodologies that are frequently used in social-psychological research (explicit, implicit, subliminal, and contextual) and critically inspects the current landscape of the religious priming literature. We highlight theoretical issues and suggest methodological improvements that should facilitate a clearer understanding of when and how religion influences human behaviour.

KW - priming

KW - religious cognition

KW - experimental psychology

KW - social psychology

KW - reproducibility

UR - https://www.equinoxpub.com/home/studying-religious-mind/

U2 - 10.1558/equinox.43007

DO - 10.1558/equinox.43007

M3 - Chapter (peer-reviewed)

SN - 9781800501607

SN - 9781800501614

T3 - Advances in the Cognitive Science of Religion

SP - 137

EP - 163

BT - Studying the religious mind

A2 - Geertz, Armin

A2 - Ambasciano, Leonardo

A2 - Eidinow, Esther

A2 - Martin, Luther

A2 - Laigaard Nielbo, Kristoffer

A2 - Roubekas, Nickolas

A2 - van Mulukom, Valerie

A2 - Xygalatas, Dimitris

PB - Equinox Publishing

ER -

Watanabe S, Laurent S. Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology. In Geertz A, Ambasciano L, Eidinow E, Martin L, Laigaard Nielbo K, Roubekas N, van Mulukom V, Xygalatas D, editors, Studying the religious mind: Methodology in the cognitive science of religion. Equinox Publishing. 2022. p. 137-163. (Advances in the Cognitive Science of Religion). doi: 10.1558/equinox.43007

Past its prime? A methodological overview and critique of religious priming research in social psychology

Abstract

Publication series

Keywords

Access to Document

Fingerprint

Cite this