We present an in-depth investigation of laser-induced grating spectroscopy (LIGS) for temperature measurements in practical applications using a narrow-band dye laser with 760 nm wavelength and a pulse duration of 8 ns as the source for the pump beams creating the laser-induced grating. The pump laser wavelength was set to be either resonant with the R Q 5 ð Þ transition from the b 1 Σ + g υ 0 = 0 ð Þ X 3 Σ − g υ 00 = 0 ð Þ band of O 2 for generation of thermal LIGS or nonresonant for generation of purely electrostrictive LIGS. Signals were generated in ambient air as well as in high-pressure or high-temperature dry air mixtures. Pump laser irradiances up to 11 GW/cm 2 were used, which resulted in strong electrostrictive contribution to the overall LIGS signals at atmospheric pressure, with a low thermal contribution due to the weak absorption by the singlet O 2 b 1 Σ + g , v 0 = 0. The advantage and disadvantage of thermal or electrostrictive LIGS for temperature measurements are discussed, as well as potential applications in high-pressure environments. Furthermore, the precision of the temperature measurement is discussed by comparing different analysis methods.