The applicability of a stages of change model to Jewish conversion.

This study explores the applicability of prochaska's (prochaska & diclemente, 1992) stages of change model to the jewish conversion process and investigates the validity of a measure, the stages of change questionnaire-jewish conversion (socq-jc), created to examine jewish conversion according to that model. Factor analysis of the socq-jc with a sample of 141 volunteers indicated 3 factors corresponding to 3 stages of the model and a fourth factor consisting of items from the other 2 stages. Convergent validity for the socq-jc was demonstrated with respect to a staging algorithm and a measure of attitudes, beliefs, and customs. In addition, hypothesized discriminant validity between the socq-jc and the rosenberg (1965) self-esteem scale was demonstrated. The stages of change model appears to describe fairly well the cognitive and behavioral changes occurring during jewish conversion, with the current research providing preliminary support for the validity of the socq-jc as a measure of that process.