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Practical Theology and Qualitative Research - second edition

Practical Theology and Qualitative Research - second edition

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Paperback

£35.00

Publisher: SCM Press
ISBN: 9780334049883
Number of Pages: 320
Published: 30/09/2016
Width: 14 cm
Height: 21.6 cm

Practical Theology used to be a subject where students were left to fend for themselves, using what they had learnt from their scholarly studies in history, biblical and systematic theology and applying it where they could. Things have moved on however and practical theology is a growing discipline in its own right, and the latest thinking in practical theology; of how to use theological learning in practical situations, is fully explored in this new edition of an established textbook.

The authors examine methodologies of the social sciences and questions how they can enable the task of theological reflection. They begin by tracing the development of practical theology as a discipline and comment on current methodological practices, and trace the movement from practical theology as applied theology, i.e. a discipline which simply takes data from the other theological disciplines (historical, systematic and biblical theology) towards a model which understands the practical theological task in terms of the theology of practice.

The authors examine the relationship between qualitative and quantitative methods and highlight the significance of both for the task of practical theology. They also take the reader through the actual process of developing and carrying out a research project using the author's own research as case study examples.

Case studies include: the rise in spirituality; the decline in church attendance, evidence-based medicine compared to needs-led assessments, the growth in chaplaincy and how it is understood as separate from parish ministry.

In this second edition, all bibliographies have been updated and a new chapter has been added.

Part 1: Theoretical Foundations

1. What is Practical Theology?

2. What is Qualitative Research? 

3. Practical Theology and Qualitative Research Methods

Part 2: Research Projects

4. Researching Personal Experience: Depression and Spirituality

5. Researching a Local Church: Exploring an 'Emergent Church' 

6. Researching Ministry: What do Chaplains Do? 

7. Researching Pastoral Issues: Religious Communities and Suicide

8. Participatory Research: Researching with Marginalized People

9. Action Research: Researching the Spiritual Lives of People with Profound and Complex Intellectual Disabilities 

Conclusion: Practical Theology as Action Research

John Swinton

John Swinton is a Scottish theologian. He is the Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the School of Divinity, History, and Philosophy, University of Aberdeen.

Harriet Mowat

John Swinton is Chair in Divinity and Religious Studies at the School of Divinity, History, and Philosophy, University of Aberdeen. He has a background in nursing and healthcare chaplaincy and has researched and published extensively within the areas of practical theology, mental health, spirituality and human well-being and the theology of disability. Harriet Mowat is an internationally recognised expert in qualitative research methodologies. Dr Mowat is an honorary senior lecturer in the Centre and has been a long-time collaborator with Professor Swinton. Her core discipline is sociology, although she has studied some theology. Her research interests include spirituality and "successful" ageing, use of qualitative research methods and practical theology and action research as an implementation strategy.

'John Swinton and Harriet Mowat's Practical Theology and Qualitative Research has established itself as a classic text for every one concerned with theologically orientated ethnography. Now in a Second Edition it is must read for all students in Practical Theology and anyone setting out to do empirical research in the area of Theology and Ministry.' -- Pete Ward

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