Neurocognitive Stability and Epistemic Vulnerability in a Traditional Muslim Community: Survey Data on ASWJ Belief Systems in Terengganu, Malaysia

Description

This dataset contains survey responses from 443 adult participants identifying as followers of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamaʿah (ASWJ) in Terengganu, Malaysia. The data explores cognitive, psychological, and social factors influencing theological stability and belief adaptability, including doctrinal adherence, digital media engagement, cognitive processing styles, and intergroup attitudes. The structured questionnaire used a 5-point Likert scale assessing neural conservatism, epistemic vulnerability, group loyalty, and attitudes toward out-groups. Data was collected between January and March 2025. This dataset supports research in psychology of religion, cognitive psychology, social psychology, Islamic studies, and cultural anthropology.

Steps to reproduce

Steps to Reproduce Participant Recruitment and Sampling A total of 443 Muslim adults aged 18 and above, who self-identified as adherents of Ahl al-Sunnah wa al-Jamaʿah (ASWJ), were recruited using stratified random sampling to ensure representation across age, gender, educational level, and geographic location (urban and rural). Recruitment took place at mosques, pondok schools, community centers, and local universities in Terengganu, Malaysia. Data Collection Data were collected between January and March 2025 through a structured questionnaire. The questionnaire comprised five domains: (1) Doctrinal Adherence and Neural Conservatism, (2) Cognitive Style and Bifurcation, (3) Engagement with Digital Religious Media, (4) Epistemic Vulnerability and Resilience, and (5) In-group Loyalty and Out-group Rejection. Responses were recorded on a 5-point Likert scale. A pilot test with 50 respondents confirmed high internal consistency (Cronbach’s alpha > 0.80). Data Preparation Collected data were anonymized and screened for missing or incomplete responses. Variables were coded numerically according to the Likert scale to facilitate statistical analysis. Data Analysis Data analysis was performed using SPSS version 26. Pearson correlation was employed to assess relationships between variables, while multiple regression analysis was conducted to identify predictors of cognitive bifurcation and theological rejection within the ASWJ belief framework. Data and Code Accessibility The anonymized dataset, survey instrument, and analysis scripts have been deposited in Mendeley Data and can be accessed via DOI: [insert DOI here]. Detailed documentation, including codebooks and instructions for replicating analyses, is provided. Additional Information To replicate this study, users should use SPSS version 26 or compatible software. For further information or data requests, please contact the corresponding author at hailan@umt.edu.my.

Institutions

Categories

Funders

• The Terengganu Islamic Religious and Malay Customs Council (MAIDAM)

  Grant ID: [UniSZA/2024/PPL/MAIDAM(002), Project Code: RM019]

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