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.

Types of Theological Research

Chapters 2 through 10 make up the first main section of the book, discussing the research aspects of various types of works, from biblical exegesis to doctoral dissertations. Each chapter addresses 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 to place the text in its proper spiritual and historical context. In literary research (Chapter 3), the focus is on relevant literature, and contextual analysis can be key in formulating a decisive study. The use of both primary and secondary sources is highly recommended in literary research, and this method of study is applicable in theology, history, and pastoral theology. In descriptive research (Chapter 4), the steps are laid out in detail, including how to conduct sampling, surveys, and interviews. 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 science case studies and pastoral research case studies is illustrated, and the different parts of a case study are described.

The case study can be one of the most useful ways to conduct research because it isolates a specific problem within a small group, enabling a tighter focus and closer examination of the causes and effects of the problem within a narrow community. Findings are rarely viewed as all-conclusive because the focus is typically on a smaller subset within a community, but the findings may be compared with those of other small groups, and a consensus can be formed by identifying common or contrasting themes. The case study is typically used in doctoral dissertations because it represents the most advanced scrutiny of ideas in actual reality — measuring causes and effects in real time using real subjects that the researcher can observe firsthand. For pastoral theology, the case study can be particularly helpful because it presents the opportunity to develop a better understanding of the immediate issues one might face within his or her own community as a leader of a parish or group.

In action research (Chapter 7), the stages of this type of research as well as its challenges are discussed briefly. Chapter 8 discusses the method required for writing for publication, whether one is producing book reviews or journal articles — scholarly journals have specific expectations regarding submissions. For academic theses and dissertations, Chapter 9 provides the procedure for performing literature reviews, which involve the analysis of relevant articles published in peer-reviewed academic journals. Literature reviews are essential parts of any research project, even when they are not included as separate chapters in smaller projects as they are in dissertations. They enable the researcher to verify his or her own understanding of the subject and to provide a better explanation of the field in general. The researcher may need to summarize particular works, compare methodologies and findings, or simply give an overview of what other researchers have stated — it all depends on the type of research being conducted. Chapter 10 describes the doctoral dissertation process, presenting the different types of projects one might undertake as well as the stages of work involved.

The Research Process: Selecting Topics and Finding Sources

Chapter 11 begins the second section of the book, which examines the overall process of performing research. The first three chapters of this section (Chapters 11–13) deal with the initial steps one must take when beginning research — pinpointing exactly what sort of project one is about to undertake. This step cannot be stressed enough: because it shapes the entire remainder of the process, knowing exactly what you are about to do is essential. It is not sufficient to decide what kind of research you are doing as you go along. It is important to know the type of study to be performed and the approach required.²

This section also shows the reader how to decide upon a particular research topic and what steps to take when planning to write the research paper. The best way to choose a topic is to read material that relates to your field or subject and then to start asking questions. It is important to always ask questions, because any peer who reads your study will certainly be doing just that. Advancements in knowledge and understanding come only through questioning what already exists. When beginning to decide upon a possible topic, the best approach is to ask questions about research already out there — or even about a particular religious or theological point. Question, read, question, read — and gradually narrow your scope until it rests upon a single problem you would like to solve.³ Then it is time to make a proposal and an outline of the proposed research study. Chapter 13 discusses this procedure and the importance of analyzing your own research methods and approach as objectively as possible — including identifying weaknesses within your own framework as well as the limitations and assumptions you are making as a researcher. This self-examination will prove helpful later when discussing findings and suggesting topics for further research.

Chapters 14–16 further describe the research process by examining the next steps, from finding and analyzing sources to taking notes. Chapter 14 looks at using library materials for research, while Chapter 15 examines the possibilities of Internet research. Dissertation Abstracts International (DAI), Vyhmeister and Robertson note, is a great source for identifying abstracts — summaries of scholarly works — that may pertain to one's research subject. DAI is found in most libraries and helps the researcher save time by accumulating in one index a host of summarizations that can lead to more in-depth analysis. The researcher may browse abstracts and note which works appear to fall within the scope of the project, then locate those works for further reading and analysis. Chapter 16 discusses good reading skills and the best methods of taking notes, as well as how to keep reliable bibliographic records for use later when citing sources.

These three chapters constitute one of the most informative sections of the book, because they deal directly with the core of research — how to identify scholarly sources and how to judge whether or not a source is beneficial to your study. This procedure is essential and involves a demanding process of analysis, but once mastered, it allows the entire research effort to proceed much more smoothly and confidently. As Vyhmeister and Robertson assert, "mistakes can happen" but "experience sharpens your skills" and makes the process of doing research that much lighter a load.⁴