¶ … Nancy Jean Vyhmeister and Terry Robertson
Quality Research Papers, 3rd Edition, provides updates to the 2nd Edition book on how to perform research in religious and theological studies. The aims of the book are four-fold: first, to promote and develop the ability of students to perform research work; second, to teach students how to better express themselves in their research writing; third, to help students achieve their academic goals; and fourth, to act as an overall how-to with detailed descriptions of step-by-step procedures in performing research.
The book is divided into three sections, not including the introductory section which defines research. The first main section is on the different kinds of theological education research, from exegeses to doctoral dissertations. The second section deals with the process of carrying out research, from critical thinking and choosing a topic to using the Internet and organizing the different parts of the research paper. The third and final section deals with presenting the research, from proper formatting of the paper to APA citation techniques.
Chapter 1 begins with a good example of how to create a research paper: start by defining your subject. That is what Vyhmeister and Robertson do when on the first page of their book, they define what they mean by "research." They state that research is a "method of study that…arrives at a solution."[footnoteRef:1] Thus, implicit in the conducting of research is the idea that somewhere there is a problem that the researcher intends to understand and solve. Taking it step-by-step is what research is all about. The steps in that process involve: a searching process based on a systematic approach that can be duplicated if necessary; the collection of "adequate information" -- this is data that is precise, to the point, and relevant; the obtaining of objective knowledge -- this is bit trickier since the empirical age is replete with subjectivism; nonetheless, objectivity can be achieved by developing a theory understanding of the subject prior to research engagement; the narrowing down one's research scope until it rests on a "single topic" -- because researching several topics or problems can quickly and easily become unwieldy and too large for one to adequately solve. Most importantly, "research is the search for truth -- God is truth," state Veymeister and Robertson. This notion captures the essence of the chapter and distills it into a simple statement. As long as the research adheres to a truthful approach to the problem at hand, he will be on the right course. [1: Nancy Jean Vyhmeister, Terry Robertson, Quality Research Papers: For Students of Religion and Theology (MI: Zondervan, 2014), 1.]
However, the course of research is one that can be adequately maneuvered by having a good understanding of the academic expectations for researchers in the field. These expectations are like signposts or landmarks -- directions that help both the researcher and the audience understand what the study is about and where it is going. It is quite easy to be sidetracked in research and it is important to use the guides that other scholars have accepted as common practice.
There are many kinds of research -- from essays to sermons to reviews to theses to dissertations. Effective research is more than just a "compilation of quotes," it is the gathering of data concerning a certain problem topic and interpreting the data to draw a conclusion/solution regarding the problem topic. It contains analysis that is essential -- not just a listing of points.
Chapters 2 through 10 make up the main first section of the book. They discuss the research aspects of various types of works, from biblical exegesis to doctoral dissertations. Each chapter takes on a different type of theological research. In an exegesis report (Chapter 2), the researcher's primary task is to make Scripture the main focus and place the text in its proper spiritual, historical context. In literary research (Chapter 3), the focus is on literature regarding the subject and contextual analysis can be key in formulating a decisive study. The use of primary as well as secondary sources is highly recommended in literary research. This method of study is applicable in theology, history, and pastoral theology. In descriptive research (Chapter 4), the steps are detailed and how to conduct sampling, surveys and interviews is shown. In program development as research (Chapter 5), the steps are outlined and the keys to proper organization are given. In case study research (Chapter 6), the difference between social...
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