Microsoft Word Complete article [10] versie e-thesis[1]. doc

 

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predictor variables (F 4, 60 = 5.327, p > 0.05).  The adjusted R square = 

0.213.  Significant variables are shown below: 

 

Predictor Variable:                  

Beta                      

P           

Orthodoxy 

   0.273 

  p = 0.028 

Second 

Naiveté   0.330 

  p = 0.024 

 

(External Critique and Relativism were not found to significantly predict 

religiosity). 

 

 

   

3.3 PARANORMAL BELIEFS AND PERSONALITY 

FACTORS 

 

Using the enter method, no significant model emerged for the predictor 

variables (F 5, 59 = 1.75, p > 0.05). The Adjusted R square = 0.056. 

Significant variables are shown below: 

 

Predictor 

Variable: 

  Beta 

  P 

Conscientiousness        

 

-0.331   

 

p = 0.018 

(Neuroticism, Extraversion, Openness and Agreeableness were not found to 

significantly predict paranormal belief). 

 

That Conscientiousness was found to be the only significant predictor of 

paranormal beliefs, which was in contrast to previous research revealing a 

connection between Extraversion and higher belief scores (Thalbourne, 

1981; Thalbourne, 1980; Eysenck, 1967) as well as Neuroticism 

(Thalbourne, Dunbar and Delin, 1995). 

 

 

 

 

Figure 4.  Chart showing the relationship between (global) paranormal 

beliefs scores and personality factors 

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Score on Personality Construct

70

60

50

40

30

20

10

0

P

aranormal Belief

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

Pairs

Paranormal Belief

Conscientiousness

Paranormal Belief

Agreeableness

Paranormal Belief

Openness 

Paranormal Belief

Extraversion

Paranormal Belief

Neuroticism

 

 

Figure 5.  Graph showing the relationship between (global) paranormal 

belief scores and the personality factor Conscientiousness 

 

Conscientiousness

70

60

50

40

30

20

P

ar

ano

rm

al

 B

el

ie

f

160

140

120

100

80

60

40

20

 

 

 

 

 

3.4 PARANORMAL BELIEFS AND GENDER 

 

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A series of independent t-tests were used to determine whether gender 

differences were present on the paranormal belief scale. Comparisons were 

conducted on the overall paranormal belief scale total and each of the seven 

subscales (Traditional Religious Beliefs, Psi, Witchcraft, Superstition, 

Spiritualism, Extraordinary Life Forms and Precognition). 

 

Table 2.  Gender scores (mean and standard deviation) for global 

paranormal belief and the seven subscales 

 Gender 

 

 

Paranormal measure 

Male 

(n=20) 

Female 

(n=45) 

 

Overall 

Global Paranormal Belief 

85.25 

(30.30) 

86.27 

(23.78) 

85.95 (25.72) 

Traditional Religious Beliefs   14.40 (7.71) 

16.49 (6.33) 

15.85 (6.79) 

Psi 

14.45 (6.20) 

14.49 (4.65) 

14.48 (5.13) 

Witchcraft 

12.55 (7.13) 

14.22 (6.29) 

13.71 (6.55) 

Superstition 

6.60 (5.43) 

6.93 (3.91) 

6.83 (4.33) 

Spiritualism 

13.80 (6.65) 

13.84 (5.69) 

13.83 (5.95) 

Extraordinary Life Forms 

5.30 (2.89) 

4.53 (2.53) 

4.77 (2.64) 

Precognition  

13.10 (6.09) 

12.73 (5.34) 

12.85 (5.54) 

Standard deviation scores are given in brackets 

 

No gender differences were found between males and females on measures 

of paranormal belief: 

 

Paranormal Belief (Global), t(63) = -0.146, p > 0.05; Traditional Religious 

Beliefs, t(63) = -1.147, p > 0.05; Psi, t(63) = -0.028, p > 0.05; Witchcraft, 

t(63) = -0.949, p > 0.05; Superstition, t(63) = -0.284, p > 0.05; Spiritualism, 

t(63) = -0.028, p > 0.05; Extraordinary Life Forms, t(63) = 1.080, p > 0.05 

and Precognition, t(63) = 0.245, p > 0.05. 

 

Similar to the above, the obtained results, indicating no significant 

differences between male and female paranormal belief scores, was in 

contrast to previous research, reporting a higher score on global paranormal 

belief by women (Clarke, 1991; Rice, 2003; Tobayck and Milford, 1983), 

while men were shown to express stronger beliefs in the existence of UFO’s 

and extraterrestrials (Clarke, 1991; Rice, 2003). 

3.5 RELIOSITY AND PERSONALITY FACTORS 

 

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