Noyam eBooks

My nearly ten-year journey of researching and publishing, along with teaching Research Methodology and examining postgraduate research projects across various institutions in Africa, has highlighted the urgent need for a comprehensive research and writing guide tailored to theology and religious studies students. This recognition arises from a clear gap in current literature that fails to adequately address the unique challenges these students encounter in their research endeavours. The impetus for writing this book was further solidified by a recent invitation to teach a research methodology course at an East African institution.

The lecture notes I prepared for the course yielded two manuscripts which were subsequently published as A Guide to Academic Research and Writing in Theology and Religious Studies and An Essential Guide to Research Methodologies in Theology and Religious Studies. The purpose of these volumes is to bridge the existing gap and equip students with the skills needed for effective research. Students are advised to read both volumes together, even though each book can be studied independently of the other.

The present volume, A Guide to Academic Research and Writing in Theology, consists of seven chapters. Chapter one discusses research essentials like problem-solving and knowledge contribution. Chapter two emphasises the importance of the research proposal and its components. The third chapter explores methodological approaches to conducting empirical research. Selected quantitative, qualitative, and mixed-methods approaches are considered. Chapter four addresses ethics, including ethical conduct, informed consent, and plagiarism. The fifth chapter provides guidelines for critical reviews. Chapter six outlines the thesis/dissertation writing process, while chapter seven focuses on quality assurance in thesis writing, covering transitions, paraphrasing, research supervision, dealing with sweeping statements, proofreading, and other issues.

The book is written in a non-technical style to ensure accessibility for all readers. Each chapter is organised thematically with sub-headings and ends with a summary of key points and review questions to facilitate reflection and comprehension before progressing to the next chapter. There are review exercises at the end of each chapter to challenge the reader and to further solidify understanding and application. There are also over 400 suggested research topics at the end of the book.

Whilst this book is written with African students in mind, its value extends to students globally. Universities and seminaries will find this book beneficial for both undergraduate and postgraduate programs. I hope that it will empower researchers to navigate the complex terrain of theological and religious studies with insight, sensitivity, and rigour.

Isaac Boaheng, PhD
Senior Lecturer in Theology and Ethics
Department of Theology,
Christian Service University, Ghana;
Research Fellow,
Department of Biblical and Religious Studies
University of the Free State, South Africa

June 2024.