Review: Quality Research Papers for Religion and Theology

Overview and Purpose of the Book

Quality Research Papers, 3rd edition, by Nancy Jean Vyhmeister and Terry Robertson, updates the previous edition's guidance on how to perform research in religious and theological studies. The book's aims are four-fold: first, to promote and develop students' ability to perform research; second, to teach students how to better express themselves in research writing; third, to help students achieve their academic goals; and fourth, to serve as a comprehensive how-to guide with detailed, step-by-step descriptions of the research process.

The book is divided into three main sections, preceded by an introductory section that defines research. The first main section covers the different kinds of theological education research, from exegesis 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 parts of a research paper. The third and final section addresses presenting the research, covering proper paper formatting and APA citation techniques.

Chapter 1 begins with a good example of how to approach a research paper: start by defining your subject. That is precisely what Vyhmeister and Robertson do on the first page of their book, where they define what they mean by "research." They state that research is a "method of study that…arrives at a solution."¹ Thus, implicit in the conducting of research is the idea that somewhere there is a problem 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" — data that is precise, to the point, and relevant; the obtaining of objective knowledge — a somewhat tricky requirement, since the empirical age is replete with subjectivism, though objectivity can be achieved by developing a theoretical understanding of the subject prior to research engagement; and the narrowing of one's research scope until it rests on a "single topic," because researching several topics or problems can quickly become unwieldy and too large for any one researcher to solve adequately. Most importantly, "research is the search for truth — God is truth," state Vyhmeister 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, the researcher will be on the right course.

However, that course can be adequately navigated by having a good understanding of the academic expectations for researchers in the field. These expectations act as 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 specific problem topic and the interpretation of that data to draw a conclusion or solution. It contains essential analysis — not merely a listing of points.