An insight into ICCS Secretary Tania ap Sion’s research activities

Understanding and taking seriously young people’s attitudes to religious diversity is a matter of pressing concern for both the United Kingdom as well as countries across Europe. This is the aim of the Young People’s Attitudes to Religious Diversity research project led by the University of Warwick, UK. The project began by gathering data from over 2,000 students living in each of the four nations of the United Kingdom (England, Northern Ireland, Scotland and Wales), and from London as a special case. In total, nearly 12,000 students participated in the survey. 

Analyses of the research findings have been published in 48 peer-reviewed articles and book chapters, with more publications currently being written. The findings explore a number of areas of relevance to researchers, policy makers and educators working in contexts where listening to young people’s attitudes to religious diversity is important to take into account. Some of these areas include:

  • religious and non-religious identities;
  • the social and public significance of religion;
  • the effect of schools with a religious foundation;
  • the effect of religious education;relevant issues and debates for each of the five nations of the UK (London, Wales, Northern Ireland, England and Scotland).

Many significant findings from the project have emerged. A few examples particularly relevant to the area of church and school, include:

  • students who are themselves religiously motivated hold more positive attitudes to religious diversity; 
  • there is no evidence that schools with a religious character produce students who are less accepting of people from other religious faiths;
  • religious education does work in the sense of leading to attitudes that promote community cohesion, lessen religious conflict and promote the common good.

The same survey is now also being conducted in the Republic of Ireland and Australia.

An example of how such research can be related to practice is found in two original open-access storybook series for 3- to 7-year-olds, which draw on significant research findings from the project and have been sponsored by the Welsh Government (the Exploring Why series and the Exploring Our World series).

To read more about the Young People’s Attitudes to Religious diversity project and to access a full list of current publications with abstracts as well as the open access storybook resources, visit: http://www.st-marys-centre.org.uk/research/Diversityproject.html .