Measuring Faith: Cellphone Insights into Religious Attendance

This chapter examines the use of cellphone geolocation data to analyze American religious service attendance, challenging traditional survey methods that may overstate participation due to social desirability bias. Researchers discover that actual attendance may be closer to 5% compared to reported figures of 20-25%, revealing significant discrepancies. The findings also highlight attendance trends during holidays and variations across different religious groups, prompting discussions on commitment and inclusivity in faith communities.