General provisions

The course is a free-standing course of 7.5 credits.

The course can be included as part of the Master's Program in Science of Religion, 120 credits.

The course can be included as part of the Science of Religion program, 210 credits.

The course can be included in the teacher-training program for students with a candidate exam, with an independent study of 15 credits in a humanistic or social science area, and completed courses of 40 p/60 credits in one of the areas in the Science of Religion, and who furthermore have completed General education area III (Allmänt utbildningsområde III).

Learning outcomes

After completion of the course the student is expected to be able to:

- develop a critical approach to understanding the different methodological traditions and their research implications in psychology of religion and sociology of religion,

- identify and understand the possibilities, limits, and limitations of different qualitative and quantitative methods both in the data-gathering and data-analysis stages,

- demonstrate an understanding of: quantitative research methods and research designs (e.g. surveys, structured interviews) and qualitative research methods and research designs (e.g. different ethnographic methods, unstructured and semi-structured interviews, observation), and mixed-methods research designs (e.g. combining quantitative and qualitative methods),

- demonstrate the ability to perform quantitative data analysis and qualitative data analysis at an initial level,

- demonstrate the ability to use established data-analysis programs for both quantitative and qualitative data,

- demonstrate an understanding of the use of different types of analysis frameworks: inductive, deductive, abductive approaches, and the application of special methods such as discourse analysis,

- demonstrate an understanding- and application of different types of evaluation models in primary- and applied research studies,

- demonstrate the application of ethical guidelines in planning the design of an empirical study,

- design an original empirical study in psychology of religion or sociology of religion,

- demonstrate the ability to present research results to a non-academic audience.

Content

The course aims at providing a deeper and more nuanced knowledge of and further development of skills in research design for empirical studies in psychology of religion, sociology of religion, or other related disciplines. The student will then apply the knowledge and skill areas to the designing of an original empirical study in the chosen discipline.

The course consists of two parts:

1. The first part examines the following themes: an overview of options for empirical research studies (quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods designs) in the social sciences of religion, and related disciplines; the advantages and disadvantages of different research designs and methods; the implications and generalisations that different research designs and methods permit; the international, national and disciplinary-specific levels of ethical guidelines and considerations in empirical research; communication of research results both in academic formats and for popular audiences.

2. The second part has a focus on training modules with different data-collection methods, and data-analysis programs. Through this process the student will be able to have an initial degree of hands-on experience with the data-gathering methods and data-analysis program tools used by researchers. Each module also incorporates critical reflection whereby the student can develop his/her own ideas about research and the development of a specific research project. The training modules allow for students within the social sciences of religion as well as those from other disciplines to adapt the knowledge, skills, and tools into the specific discipline area of research interest.

Instruction

The course is based on self-studies and assignments where the participants

read and listen to recorded material. The participants read, communicate,

interact and uploads assignments in a Learning Management System (LMS). The

LMS contains all relevant information regarding the course and is used for

all compulsory activities within the course. If suitable, the student may

(in part) attend seminars organised for campus students.

To be able to participate the student must have an Internet connection and a

computer with attached headset. If specific software is needed this will be

provided by the department.

Assessment

Course examination consists of written assignments. This examination form is the same for all students.

Other regulations

För att studenter i den gamla studieordningen och/eller på religionsvetenskapligt program 140/160 poäng skall kunna placera kursen på D-nivå krävs att Religionsbeteendevetenskap C2 är avklarad.

Kursen kan ingå i Religionsbeteendevetenskap D1 och E.

Transitional provisions

Members of a course regulated by this course plan have the possibility to be examined in accordance with the same course plan within two years after the closure of the course. If there are particular reasons, such an examination can take place also later on. Normally no instruction in accordance with former versions of the course plan is given.