Research Methods
- Arts
- 400 level
- 2 credit units
- 137 pages
- 15 units
This course introduces students to research methods in Christian Theology. It guides students on the rudiments of research, exposing them to basic and necessary issues in research methodology. It covers the nature of academic research, research processes, data collection methods, and ethical considerations. Students will learn to formulate research questions, conduct literature reviews, and write research proposals and reports. The course aims to equip students with the skills needed to undertake successful research in Christian Theology.
About this course
- Difficulty
- Intermediate
- Study hours
- 120 hours
- Maths
- Basic
- Content
- Theoretical, case study, research
- Practical work
- Yes
- Basic knowledge of Christian Theology
- Familiarity with academic writing
- Assignments
- Tutor marked assessments
- Final examination
What you'll read
The real module and unit structure of CRS471, taken from the course material NOUN publishes.
One paragraph, so you can see how it reads
CRS471 · UNIT 1: THE NATURE OF ACADEMIC RESEARCH
Characteristics of research as discussed above have far-reaching implications for a research. The following constitute the basic qualities of a good researcher. Prospective researchers are expected to imbibe the qualities for success in their research activities.
What you should be able to do
- Understand the nature of academic research
- Formulate research questions and hypotheses
- Conduct literature reviews
- Apply appropriate data collection methods
- Analyze and interpret research data
- Write research proposals and reports
- Adhere to ethical standards in research
What it prepares you for
- Theologian
- Religious Educator
- Research Analyst
- Academic Researcher
- Religious Consultant
- Religious Organizations
- Educational Institutions
- Research Institutes
- Consulting Firms
- Non-profit Organizations
- Internet
- Library Databases
- Microsoft Word
- SPSS
Where it gets hard
The units students slow down on, and what makes each one heavy.
- Module 3: RESEARCH FIELD AND RESEARCH ETHICS
Unit 4 Research Ethics
Understanding the nuances of ethical considerations in research involving human subjects requires careful analysis and critical thinking.
- Module 3: RESEARCH FIELD AND RESEARCH ETHICS
Unit 2 Population Sampling
Properly applying different sampling techniques and understanding their limitations requires a solid grasp of statistical concepts.
A suggested way through it
13 weeks, about 60 hours in total. Yours will differ.
- Week 1Module 1: Understanding Research Processes
Unit 1: The Nature of Academic Research · 4 hours
Define research, explain its characteristics, and discuss the qualities of a good researcher.. Understand the significance of research in Christian Theology..
- Week 2Module 1: Understanding Research Processes
Unit 2: Research Process in Christian Theology · 4 hours
Explain the scientific nature of research in Christian Theology.. Discuss the characteristics of research methods in Christian Theology.. Understand the significance of research in Christian Theology..
- Week 3Module 1: Understanding Research Processes
Unit 3: Research Proposals · 4 hours
Learn how to write a research proposal.. Understand the key criteria for assessing a research proposal..
- Week 4Module 1: Understanding Research Processes
Unit 4: Research Questions and Hypothesis · 4 hours
Formulate research questions and hypotheses.. Understand the functions and sources of hypotheses in research..
- Week 5Module 1: Understanding Research Processes
Unit 5: Research Report · 4 hours
Learn how to write a research report.. Understand the contents of a research report and the causes of failure in research reporting..
- Week 6Module 3: RESEARCH FIELD AND RESEARCH ETHICS
Unit 6: Methods in Theological Research · 4 hours
Learn the methods in biblical studies.. Discuss the multidimensional nature of methods in theological research..
- Week 7Module 2: RESEARCH DATA
Unit 1: Literature Review · 4 hours
Define literature review and understand its aims.. Learn about the different types of literature review and the qualities of a good literature review..
- Week 8Module 2: RESEARCH DATA
Unit 2: The Citation Styles · 4 hours
Understand the meaning and types of citation.. Learn about the relevance of citation and what to cite..
- Week 9Module 2: RESEARCH DATA
Unit 3: Internet Research · 4 hours
Understand the Internet and its problems.. Learn how to research information on the internet and use internet search engines..
- Week 10Module 2: RESEARCH DATA
Unit 4: The Use of Library in Research · 4 hours
Understand the meaning of library and its importance in research.. Learn about the arrangement of books in the library..
- Week 11Module 3: RESEARCH FIELD AND RESEARCH ETHICS
Unit 1 Methods of Data Collection · 4 hours
Understand the meaning of data collection.. Learn about the observation method, its advantages, and disadvantages..
- Week 12Module 3: RESEARCH FIELD AND RESEARCH ETHICS
Unit 2 Population Sampling · 4 hours
Understand the meaning of population and sampling.. Learn about probability and non-probability sampling techniques..
- Week 13Module 3: RESEARCH FIELD AND RESEARCH ETHICS
Unit 4 Research Ethics · 4 hours
Understand the meaning of research ethics.. Learn about ethical issues in research, including confidentiality, informed consent, and voluntary participation.. Understand the meaning of Plagiarism, its types and consequences..
Unit 5 Plagiarism · 4 hours
Understand the meaning of Plagiarism, its types and consequences.. Learn how to avoid plagiarism..
Unit 3 Case Study · 4 hours
Understand the meaning of case study.. Learn about the phases and types of case study..
Preparing for the exam
- Review all tutor-marked assignments and feedback.
- Create concept maps linking research methods to specific theological contexts.
- Practice formulating research questions and hypotheses for different theological topics.
- Summarize key concepts from each unit and relate them to real-world examples.
- Focus on understanding the ethical considerations in research involving religious subjects.
- Practice identifying different types of plagiarism and how to avoid them.
- Allocate study time proportionally to the weight of each module in the final exam.
Questions students ask about this course
What is CRS471 about?
This course introduces students to research methods in Christian Theology. It guides students on the rudiments of research, exposing them to basic and necessary issues in research methodology. It covers the nature of academic research, research processes, data collection methods, and ethical considerations. Students will learn to formulate research questions, conduct literature reviews, and write research proposals and reports. The course aims to equip students with the skills needed to undertake successful research in Christian Theology.
How many units does CRS471 have?
CRS471, Research Methods, has 15 units across 3 modules, over 137 pages of course material. You can read it one unit at a time.
How many credit units is CRS471?
CRS471 carries 2 credit units, at 400 level in Arts.
Is CRS471 hard?
CRS471 is rated intermediate level, with basic mathematical content. It is mostly theoretical, case study and research work, and it has a practical component.
How long does CRS471 take to study?
About 120 hours of study, spread across its 15 units.
How is CRS471 assessed?
CRS471 is assessed by assignments, tutor marked assessments and final examination.
What do I need before starting CRS471?
Basic knowledge of Christian Theology Familiarity with academic writing
What can I do with CRS471?
Theologian, Religious Educator, Research Analyst, Academic Researcher and Religious Consultant.