Developing a Research Tool for Investigating Religious Knowledge as Part of Religious Literacy: The Questionnaire – First Results – Possibilities for International Comparisons

Abstract

This article makes international debates on religious literacy as well as forms of assessment in RE related to these debates its starting point by identifying the lack of an empirical basis for the respective discussions. A questionnaire for 15-year-old pupils with a focus on religious knowledge, based on prior studies and tried out in Finland, Germany and Sweden is introduced. The results, although not representative, allow for comparative evaluation, comparing the results at country level and in reference to different kinds of religion-related knowledge. Possible influences of the different curricula are identified by comparing different degrees of familiarity with certain topics or religions in relation to when the respective curriculum foresees them being treated. The article is meant to demonstrate that meaningful international research on religious knowledge as part of religious literacy is possible, that its results could inform RE and show the possible value of developing such efforts further.