2025/26 Taught Postgraduate Module Catalogue

THEO5372M Studying Religion: Research Process, Methods and Ethics

30 creditsClass Size: 15

Module manager: Caroline Starkey
Email: C.Starkey@leeds.ac.uk

Taught: Semester 1 (Sep to Jan) View Timetable

Year running 2025/26

Module replaces

THEO5325M Religion and Society: Research Methods and Process

This module is not approved as an Elective

Module summary

This module will equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge of approaches to the scholarly study of ‘religion’ (broadly conceived) at postgraduate level. Highlighting the interdisciplinary nature of the fields of Theology and Religious Studies, you will encounter and utilize a variety of theoretical and methodological tools.

Objectives

The module introduces you to the nature of the research process (including data collection, analysis, writing up), the role and standpoint of the researcher, the importance of research ethics, politics and gender issues, the relationship between theory and method, and a variety of methods including use of historical and official documents, participant observation, interviewing, oral history, questionnaires, and visual and material cultural methods

On completion of this module, you will have developed your knowledge of theoretical and methodological approaches to the disciplines of Theology and Religious Studies. You will develop skills, and utilise a number of approaches and methods, appropriate to your research interests, e.g. sociological, anthropological, phenomenological, theological, geographical, philosophical approaches; use of historical and official documents, participant observation, interviewing and oral history, questionnaires. You will also explore the critical issue of research ethics, and how it directly informs their research.

The module will be structured via seminars, before which you will complete a series of preparation tasks. These seminars are designed to allow you to discuss your specific interests in Theology and Religious Studies and explore the ways in which various methodological/disciplinary tools can benefit your work.

Learning outcomes
On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following learning outcomes relevant to the subject:

1. Identify and evaluate key theories and methods in Theology and Religious Studies.
2. Conduct an independent research report drawing from a discipline in Theology and Religious Studies with effective use of at least two methodological approaches.
3. Effectively express the intricacies of research methods and ethics.
4. Implement the University of Leeds’ ethical guidelines in a research project.

Skills Learning Outcomes

On successful completion of the module students will have demonstrated the following skills learning outcomes:

5. Design and conduct a research project in the study of religion (Work Ready, Academic, Digital skills)
6. Effectively utilise established research methods across the fields of Theology and Religious Studies (Work Ready, Academic, Digital skills)
7. Reflect on one’s own practice and work (Work Ready, Sustainability, Academic skills)
8. Effectively communicate ideas via presenting a research report (Work Ready, Sustainability, Academic, Enterprise skills).

Syllabus

Details of the syllabus will be provided on the Minerva organisation (or equivalent) for the module

Teaching methods

Delivery type	Number	Length hours	Student hours
Supervision	2	1.00	2.00
Seminar	10	2.00	20.00
Private study hours			278.00
Total Contact hours			22.00
Total hours (100hr per 10 credits)			300.00

Opportunities for Formative Feedback

Students will be given the opportunity to meet with the module leader to discuss their research report proposal in depth, including discussions of a plan. As the module will often (but not always) involve fieldwork on the part of the student, the module leader will work closely with the student during the research design to ensure a robust ethical approach in line with the module’s block ethics approval.

Methods of assessment

Coursework

Assessment type	Notes	% of formal assessment
Coursework	Research report	80.00
Coursework	Poster presentation	20.00
Total percentage (Assessment Coursework)		100.00

Normally resits will be assessed by the same methodology as the first attempt, unless otherwise stated

Reading list

The reading list is available from the Library website

Last updated: 13/02/2025

Disclaimer

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