Social Research Methods

This book demystifies designing and conducting qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research with scientific rigor. Social Research Methods, benefits researchers from theology and religious studies in designing interdisciplinary research and interacting with social sciences and other disciplines to study contextually relevant issues by focusing on lived religion, lived theology, lived experience, and real-world problems. Joshua Iyadurai skillfully guides researchers with a step-by-step guide on the practical nuances of choosing a topic, engaging literature, selecting a paradigm, collecting and analyzing data, interpreting the findings, and writing a research proposal and a dissertation/thesis/article for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research. A separate chapter on supervising and examining social research helps students and professors to understand each other’s role in field-based studies. Social Research Methods is an indispensable resource for researchers from theology and religious studies and a valuable practical guide for researchers from social sciences and humanities. Why Read this Book? ·     Instills confidence in researchers to design and conduct qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods research with scientific rigor. ·     The first of its kind to introduce qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods strategies with guidance for choosing a topic and collecting and analyzing data for theology and religious research. ·     Up to date and authoritative by arraying current and leading methodology texts with examples for researching lived experiences, lived religion, and lived theology. ·     A step-by-step guide for writing every section of a research proposal and for writing each chapter for qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods dissertation/thesis, which will make the research journey pleasant for students. ·     Provides tips for writing DMin dissertation and journal article. ·     Offers guidelines for supervisors and examiners for assisting and assessing student projects. ·     Review Questions and Further Help at the end of each chapter; Glossary and Index, which are among other helpful resources for researchers. ·     An invaluable resource for students and professors from social sciences, education, development, management, and the humanities, besides theology and religious studies. ·     A practical guide for researchers from churches, religious bodies, NGOs, and others.