The many faces of evangelicalism: Identifying subgroups using latent class analysis

Abstract

The current study used latent class analysis to identify subgroups of collegiate Christian evangelicals and to compare them on a range of cross-sectional and longitudinal indicators of personal attitudes and campus climate. Items from the Interfaith Diversity Experiences and Attitudes Longitudinal Survey (IDEALS) formed the basis of this study. We identified three subgroups who differed in terms of their appreciation of outside groups, knowledge of other groups, and ratings of campus climate. Our results provide insight into the evangelical experience in higher education and provide additional support for the argument that “evangelical” should be viewed as a heterogeneous population.