Research, Method, and Design

Course Description

The course will give the student a first introduction to research methods. The student should be able to understand the basic principles of research and how to go from an area of interest to a relevant issue and choose an adequate method and relevant material. An important goal in the study is to develop the student’s ability to structure and write an academic assignment. This includes presenting logical arguments and giving good reasons for their claims. Furthermore, the course will provide in-depth knowledge of relevant methods for data collection, analysis, and interpretation. The student should also be able to write a research proposal that contains a literature review. The course will also give the student insight into research ethics issues. The course is the basis for KRI2120E Bachelor Thesis.

Learning Outcomes

A student who has completed the course of KRI/SAM2110E Research, Method, and Design should have the following learning outcomes defined in terms of knowledge, skills, and general competence:

KNOWLEDGE

The student:

• has knowledge of how to go from an area of interest to a specific research problem.
• has knowledge of methodological approaches for data collection, analysis, and method
• has knowledge of ethics of research
• has knowledge of hermeneutical, quantitative and qualitative research methods.

SKILLS

The student:

• has the ability to create a research proposal and structure a scientific thesis.
• has the ability to formulate research questions based on existing research.
• has the ability to demonstrate academic writing skills and an understanding of genres.
• can find, evaluate, and refer to academic information, and present this in such a way that it reflects a research problem.

GENERAL COMPETENCE

The student:

• has the ability to apply and relate research to ethical standards and norms.
• has the ability to apply scientific research in new contexts.
• can plan projects that extend over time according to ethical requirements and academic guidelines.

Modes of Instruction

The teaching is given in the form of interactive lectures, seminars, and group work. The teaching consists of a total of 24 teaching hours, as well as seminar- and supervision sessions as needed (at individual level or in groups).

Required Reading

The required reading is divided into core literature that is read by everyone, and literature that is adapted to the type of assignment the student chooses to write. The in-depth literature must be approved by the instructor or the thesis supervisor. The literature should amount to approximately 800 pages.

CORE LITERATURE

Booth, W. C., Colomb, G. G., Williams, J. M., Bizup, J., & FitzGerald, W. T. (2016). The Craft of Research. University of Chicago Press.

Guthrie, G. (2010). Basic research methods: an entry to social science research. SAGE Publications.

ADDITIONAL READING BY RESEARCH PROJECT

Historical research project

Howell, Martha and Walter Prevenier (2001). From Reliable Sources: An Introduction to Historical Method. Cornell University.

Van der Laan, Cornelis. (2010) “Historical Approaches” i Allan Anderson, et al., eds., Studying Global Pentecostalism: Theories and Methods. University of California Press. s 202-219.

Biblical research project

Bray, Gerald. Biblical Interpretation: Past and Present. IVP, 2000. Selected pages.

Gorman, Michael J (2009). Elements of Biblical Exegesis. Grand Rapids, MI: Baker Academic

Köstenberger, Andreas and Richard Patterson (2011). Invitation to Biblical Interpretation: Exploring the Hermeneutical Triad of History, Literature, and Theology. Kregel Academic.

Theological research project

Meadoors, G. (Ed.) (2009). Four Views on Moving beyond the Bible to Theology. Grand Rapids: Zondervan.

Porter, S. E. (Ed.). (2018). Evangelical theological method: five views. InterVarsity Press.

Stoke, H. W., & Duke, J. O. (2006). How to Think Theologically (2. utg.). Minneapolis, MN: Fortress Press. 1-131.

Recommended Reading

Cartledge, Mark (2012). Practical Theology: Charismatic and Empirical Perspectives, Eugene: Wipf & Stock Publishers.

Creswell, J. W. (2009/2013). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches (3rd or 4th ed.) Sage Publications, Inc.

Hennink, Monique, Inge Hutter and Ajay Bailey (2020). Qualitative Research Methods. 2nd ed.  Los Angeles: Sage Publications.

Miles, A. M., Huberman, B. (2003). The Qualitative Researcher’s Companion: Classic and Contemporary. SAGE Publication, Inc.

Miles, A. M., Huberman, B. (2003). Qualitative Data Analysis: A Methods Sourcebook 3, SAGE Publication, Inc.