Theological Research Methods APTS: RES 536

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Theological Research Methods APTS RES 536

• The Times they are A-Changin

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This Course intends to

• 1. guide the graduate student in learning
  Biblical, Theological, and Historical Research
  Methodologies
• 2. introduce the graduate student to the
  techniques of creating Biblical, Theological, and
  Historical Bibliographies
• 3. instruct the graduate student in exegetical,
  theological and historical thinking

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This Course intends to

• 4. introduce the graduate student to the
  powerful, yet difficult to fully master resource
  of the internet
• 5. guide the graduate student in the preparation
  of research papers and a thesis prospectus and
  outline.

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Non-textbook Requirements

• 1. Computer with a CD-Rom
• 2. Internet service and browser
• Netscape
• Internet Explorer
• Etc.

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Use of the Course CD-Rom

• Insert CD-Rom
• In Windows Explorer click on CD-Rom and open
  folders
• Theological Research Methods/software
• Install Acrobat Reader

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Use of the Course CD-Rom

• Also install
• acsc.zip
• jane.zip
• ENdemo.zip
• Go to folder TRM Course
• Double click on Syllabus-APTS-RES536-2003.pdf

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Textbooks

• 1. Booth, Wayne C., Gregory G. Colomb and Joseph
  M. Williams, The Craft of Research, Chicago The
  University of Chicago Press, 1995.

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Textbooks

• 2. Bowell, Tracy and Gary Kemp, Critical
  Thinking A Concise Guide, London Routledge,
  2002.
• 3. Danker, Frederick W., Multipurpose Tools for
  Bible Study, Revised Expanded Edition. (n.b. in
  6/2003 a new edition will appear with a CD-Rom
  attached)

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Textbooks

• 4. Bradley, James E. and Richard A. Muller.
  Church History An Introduction to Research,
  Reference Works, and Methods -
• 5. Turabian, Kate L., A Manual for Writers of
  Term Papers, Theses, and Dissertations, 6th
  Edition.

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Weight of Assignments

• 1. Read all five texts and the other assigned
  readings (15 of the final grade). Please use the
  Reading Assignment Check Sheet.
• 2. Assignment 1 Defining a rational for your
  project (5 of the final grade).
• 3. Assignment 2 Internet Homework (10 of the
  final grade).

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Weight of Assignments

• 4. Assignment 3 Bibliographic Bible software
  demo (5).
• 5. An annotated internet site collection with at
  least 30 new cites that have not been provided to
  you by your instructor (10 of the final grade).
• 6. Quiz on Turabian (5 of the final grade).

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Weight of Assignments

• 7. Quiz on Turabian (5 of the final grade).
• 8. An extensive Bibliography following the
  Turabian 6th edition style. This should be at
  least 10 typed, double spaced pages (25 of final
  grade).
• 9. A Trial Paper that indicates the graduate
  students ability to do Turabian styled footnotes,
  collect data and logically make an argument (25
  of final grade).

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1. Why do

• Biblical Theological
• Research?

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1.1 What is Research?

• Research is a systematic, scientific
  investigation of problems, questions, issues of
  concern in a given field of study. It may include
  the empirical testing of a theoretical construct,
  examination of text, critique of someones
  theology or theory, or description of a
  particular phenomenon. Graduate Program and
  Research Guidelines 1991-2 from Southern
  California College, Graduate Studies Program, p.
  1

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1.2 Why do Research?

• 1.2.1 An answer that some might think idealistic
  is that research offers the pleasure of solving a
  puzzle, the satisfaction of discovering something
  new, something no one else knows, ultimately
  contributing to the wealth of human knowledge.
  Booth, Colomb and Williams, The Craft of
  Research, p. 2

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1.2 Why do Research?

• 1.2.2 But you already know about research,
  because you do it every day. Research is simply
  gathering the information you need to answer a
  question and thereby help you solve a problem.
  Booth, Colomb and Williams, The Craft of
  Research, p. 6

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1.2 Why do Research?

• 1.2.3 ...research done by others determines most
  of what any of us believes. Booth, Colomb and
  Williams, The Craft of Research, p. 7
• 1.2.4 ...without reliable published research, we
  would be prisoners of what we alone see and hear,
  locked in the opinions of the moment. Booth,
  Colomb and Williams, The Craft of Research, p. 7

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1.3 Why do Research on the Internet?

• 1.3.1 Up to Date Information. The information
  found on the Internet can be the most timely
  information available.
• 1.3.2 Quick Access to Pertinent Information. The
  fastest way to find information is on the
  Internet, maybe.

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1.3 Why do Research on the Internet?

• 1.3.3 The Information You Seek Maybe Available No
  Where Else. The Internet holds information that
  is found in no journal, magazine, monograph, or
  book.
• 1.3.4 Standard journals, book, etc. not available
  locally may be acquired via the internet.

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1.4 Why Theological Research?

• 1.4.1 Every Biblical and/or Theological activity
  involves the process of Research. The problem
  is if it is good research or poor research.
• 1.4.2 The Role of Protecting as a pastoral and
  teaching role.

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1.5 The Problem of Objectivity

• I also used the term biblical research
  intentionally. Here again we are dealing not with
  a method or with a particular line of
  investigation, but with the entire universe of
  discourse in which scholarly knowledge of the
  Bible is advanced and maintained. Not all such
  research is truly critical, for criticism
  implies freedom, and there is much scholarship
  which feels itself bound to reach the results
  required by this or that religious tradition and
  which in this sense is not critical. The universe
  of biblical research seems to me, however,
  clearly to comprehend both types. Barr, James,
  Holy Scripture Canon, Authority, Criticism, pp.
  107

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1.5 The Problem of Objectivity

• There is a further aspect intended by the use of
  the word research. For critical scholarship the
  standard and criterion for judging the validity
  of exegesis lies no longer in church doctrine,
  but in research.... critical scholars have been
  much more worthy of blame for being excessively
  governed and guided by the ruling trends of their
  own confessional traditions.... Barr, James,
  Holy Scripture Canon, Authority, Criticism, pp.
  108