Publications [#352802] of Mark Chaves

Publications

1. Chaves, M; Hawkins, M; Holleman, A; Roso, J, Introducing the Fourth Wave of the National Congregations Study, Journal for the Scientific Study of Religion, vol. 59 no. 4 (December, 2020), pp. 646-650 [doi]
   (last updated on 2025/06/16)

   Abstract:
   The fourth wave of the National Congregations Study (NCS-IV) was conducted in 2018–2019 with a nationally representative sample of congregations from across the religious spectrum. The NCS-IV included a fresh cross-section of congregations generated in conjunction with the 2018 General Social Survey and a panel of congregations that participated in the third NCS wave. Data were collected via a 65-minute interview with one key informant from 1,262 congregations. The cooperation rate was 74 percent; the conservatively calculated response rate was 69 percent. Information was gathered about multiple aspects of congregations’ social composition, structure, activities, leadership, and programming. Approximately two-thirds of the NCS-IV questionnaire replicates items from previous NCS waves. This introduction to the NCS-IV symposium describes NCS-IV methodology and special features of the new data. The three symposium articles present NCS-IV results about congregations’ political activities, racial and ethnic composition, and worship practices.