Quest Scale of Religious Orientation

The Quest Scale, developed by Batson and Ventis (1976), is a 12-item self-report measure of a third religious orientation beyond Allport and Ross's intrinsic and extrinsic religiosity. The 'quest' orientation reflects an open, questioning approach to religion: someone who views faith as an ongoing journey of exploration and doubt rather than a settled worldview or instrumental tool. High quest scorers embrace existential uncertainty, seek genuine answers to life's deepest questions, and are comfortable with religious doubt and revision. The scale has become important in understanding mature religious development and predicting prosocial behavior, openness, and psychological flexibility.