Research Design and Implementation

MS 5YD5

Fall 2018

Hybrid, Two in-class sessions

In this course the student will extend their knowledge of and skills for application in the design of context-specific proposals for research projects. The student will explore a range of practice relevant research approaches and issues, professional and ethical applications to develop a proposal for an independent practice-led research project. The student will critically analyze, synthesize and evaluate theoretical, socio, cultural contexts to inform their particular practice context as well as position their research within local and global contexts.

Knowing…

To critically analyze and discuss key characteristics and emerging issues in the practice of ministry.
To define their field of research, delineate and delimit the field of study, and describe the rationale for the project.
To differentiate between research methodologies and to select a methodology that may be adapted to the student’s research.

Being…

To reflect on and evaluate the student’s ministry practice and their contribution to the practice of ministry, making connections between academic knowledge and skills, and practical applications.
To reflect in personal terms on the roles of the researcher and scholar as an expression of Christian identity and the student’s relationship to specific academic and Christian communities.
To include the role and practice of researcher within the student’s identity as a Christian practitioner and scholar.

Doing…

To design and execute practice-led research projects using accepted research methodologies.
To demonstrate ethical responsibility relating to the practice of research.
To demonstrate skill in identifying and accessing the resources relevant to the student’s practice and research, e.g., libraries, archives, collections, museums, galleries and web-based information.
To be able to present and explain the student’s research to others.
To evaluate published research on issues of validity, reliability, sampling, data collection, and be an informed consumer of research relating to ministry practice and the social sciences.