Identity Styles, Mediated by Commitment and Syncretism, as Predictors of Undergraduate Students' Attitudes Toward Selected Discipleship Practice at Vally View University in Ghana in 2015: Implications for Religious Education

Abstract

IDENTITY STYLES, MEDIATED BY COMMITMENT AND SYNCRETISM, AS PREDICTORS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD SELECTED DISCIPLESHIP PRACTICES AT VALLEY VIEW UNIVERSITY IN GHANA IN 2015: IMPLICATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION by Juvenal Balisasa Adviser: John V. G. Matthews ABSTRACT OF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH DissertationOF GRADUATE STUDENT RESEARCH Dissertation Andrews University Seventh-day Adventist Theological Seminary Title: IDENTITY STYLES, MEDIATED BY COMMITMENT AND SYNCRETISM, AS PREDICTORS OF UNDERGRADUATE STUDENTS’ ATTITUDES TOWARD SELECTED DISCIPLESHIP PRACTICES AT VALLEY VIEW UNIVERSITY IN GHANA IN 2015: IMPLICATIONS FOR RELIGIOUS EDUCATION Name of the researcher: Juvenal Balisasa Name and degree of faculty adviser: John V. G. Matthews, PhD Date Completed: May 2016 Problem The study of student life on campus has attracted numerous social science enquiries especially in the areas of spirituality, religiosity, and meaning making in life. Of particular interest has been the attempt to restore value-based education in Christian institutions of higher learning, taking cognizance of the need for cultural contextualization and the influence of postmodern ideology. This present study sought to examine the possible predictive role of identity styles, mediated by commitment and syncretism, in the attitudes towards discipleship practices among undergraduate students of Valley View University in Ghana, West Africa in 2015. Method The study employed the principles of a quantitative, non-experimental, crosssectional survey. Non-random convenient sampling method was used to collect data. Eight hundred students were sampled from the second to the fourth year groups. The study used path analysis as the main technique to examine the data. Results All the endogenous variables were significantly predicted (Commitment [R= .400], Syncretism [R= .278], Satisfaction [R= .020], and Involvement [R= .482]) in their respective hierarchical path models. However, the overall hypothesized model did not fit the data. The total effects of the exogenous variables (i.e., Informational identity style, Normative identity style, and Diffuse-avoidant identity style) on satisfaction (.118; .009; and .028, respectively) and on involvement (.082; .006; and .019, respectively) were weak. However, there were significant relationships between some variables, which have important implications for discipleship and religious education in higher education.