Exploring the God and Self Representations of Christians with Intellectual Disabilities - Keith Dow

Summary:

The God-representations of people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD) are largely unexplored in the psychology of religion field. There are likely several reasons for this, including communication challenges and accessibility problems with the self-reporting measures often used for data collection.

Trained in theology and having worked for 17 years in the field of IDD services with a faith-based organization including several years in direct support, I am uniquely positioned to navigate the complexities of this research. This project will incorporate both creative and traditional measurement approaches in up to 15 qualitative interviews across the province of Ontario with people with IDD, each of which will be structured to capture correlations between God representations and self-representations of Christians with IDD. The focus of God-representations will incorporate measures of authoritarianism and benevolence, and the focus of self-representation will incorporate established self-esteem measures of the RSES scale (Rosenberg, 1965), though in a manner adapted to meet the needs of this population.

My research questions, then, are:

a.)          What methods and approaches are best employed when engaging people with IDD in psychology of religion research?

b.)         How do people with IDD conceive of and think about divine realities?

c.)          Specifically, how might views of a benevolent and/or authoritarian God correlate with positive self-representation and self-esteem in the perspectives of people with IDD?

In the 2023-2024 cohort focus of how humans conceive of and think about divine realities, it is crucial that our definition of “human” is expansive enough to include and welcome those with cognitive disabilities who might conceive of and think about divine realities in neuro-atypical ways. Including relevant perspectives and data from people with Intellectual and Developmental Disabilities opens an area of inclusive research that is too-often missed in psychology of religion work.

The activities of this project include time to familiarize myself with existing research in the area and learning from experts in the field as I refine methodology and craft relevant questions and approaches for this work. After advertising the opportunity through multiple avenues, I will travel to up to five areas within Ontario to capture a geographical range of answers and data from these participants. The interviews will be video-recorded and transcribed, followed by interpretation and coding.

Along with the research data and creative methods employed in the study, several outputs are anticipated. During the time frame of the research, I will complete and submit at least one theological paper that incorporates the psychological data and approach of the project. The Journal of Disability and Religion and/or Practical Theology are two viable outlets for this work.

I will also develop a conference presentation that can be delivered at the Institute on Theology and Disability or other practical theology conferences. Both Martin Luther University College and Christian Horizons will present my work in various capacities. The Principal-Dean of Martin Luther University College has arranged for me to present my work as a combination presentation/interactive art exhibit together with participants that are interested and willing to be involved.

Outcomes include furthering opportunities and approaches for research with people with IDD, including innovative arts-based approaches to psychology of religion. Amplifying the perspectives and contributions of people with IDD in churches and theological spaces will help religious spaces become more inclusive and responsive to the needs and interests of people with disabilities. It is hoped that understanding the implications of theological perceptions of God in the lives of people with IDD will further pastoral sensitivity for clergy and others working with this population.