RLA13 Introduction to Research Methodology in the Study of Religions

Faculty of Arts
Spring 2014
Extent and Intensity
2/0/0. 4 credit(s) (plus 1 credit for an exam). Recommended Type of Completion: zk (examination). Other types of completion: k (colloquium).
Teacher(s)
Mgr. Milan Fujda, Ph.D. (lecturer)
PhDr. Andrea Beláňová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Mgr. Lucie Čechovská (assistant)
Mgr. Michaela Ondrašinová, Ph.D. (assistant)
Ing. Mgr. et Mgr. Miroslav Vrzal, Ph.D. (assistant)
Guaranteed by
doc. PhDr. David Václavík, Ph.D.
Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Contact Person: Mgr. Šárka Londa Vondráčková
Supplier department: Department for the Study of Religions – Faculty of Arts
Timetable
Tue 9:10–10:45 U32
Prerequisites
RLA01 Introduction to Religion
Introduction to the Study of Religions
Course Enrolment Limitations
The course is also offered to the students of the fields other than those the course is directly associated with.
The capacity limit for the course is 50 student(s).
Current registration and enrolment status: enrolled: 0/50, only registered: 0/50, only registered with preference (fields directly associated with the programme): 0/50
fields of study / plans the course is directly associated with
Course objectives
The aim of the course is to introduce students to the fundamental principles, procedures and problems of systematical scientific research work, and so introduce them to the scientific research understood as an intellectual craftsmanship (Ch. W. Mills).
At the end of the course students should be able to:
use the elementary procedures of formalized logical thinking;
explain what is science and scientific research as the specific activity aimed to the production of knowledge;
explain the differences between systematic scientific research and the other forms of theoretical articulation of problems and solving of the queestions;
understand the meaning and significance of theory in an empirical research;
explain principal approaches to the gaining of scientific knowledge in social sciences (quatitative, qualitative approaches, historical research), chose properly between principal research strategies with reference to the research problems;
explain relations among concepts of scientific objectivity, value neutrality and the positionality of the researcher.
Syllabus

  • 1. Organizational meeting: The science as an intellectual crfatsmenship
    2. What is (social) science and systematic research?
    3. Research in the social sciences
    4. What is a research problem and how to formulate it?
    5. The meaning and significance of theory and methodology in the scientific work
    6. Social action and its interpretation/explanation
    7. Research themes in historical anthropology
    8. Introduction to a quantitative sociological research
    9. Introduction to a qualitative sociological research
    10. Systematic qualitative (non-numeric) data analysis
    11. Once more to analysis: How to make notes, or the way to an intellectual craftsmenship
    12. Ethics and politics in social research
    13. The problem of objectivity in social-scientific research
Literature
    required literature
  • SILVERMAN, David. Ako robiť kvalitatívny výskum : praktická príručka. Translated by Martin Štulrajter. Bratislava: Ikar, 2005, 327 s. ISBN 8055109044. info
  • DISMAN, Miroslav. Jak se vyrábí sociologická znalost : příručka pro uživatele. 3. vyd. Praha: Karolinum, 2000, 374 s. ISBN 9788024601397. info
  • WEBER, Max. Metodologie, sociologie a politika. Translated by Miloš Havelka. 2., opr. vyd. Praha: Oikoymenh, 2009, 351 s. ISBN 9788072983896. URL info
  • DÜLMEN, Richard van. Historická antropologie : vývoj, problémy, úkoly. Translated by Josef Boček. 1. vyd. v čes. jaz. Praha: Dokořán, 2002, 116 s. ISBN 8086569152. info
    recommended literature
  • STRAUSS, Anselm and Juliet CORBINOVÁ. Základy kvalitativního výzkumu : postupy a techniky metody zakotvené teorie. Vyd. 1. Boskovice: Albert, 1999, 196 s. ISBN 80-85834-60-X. info
  • MILLS, Charles Wright. Sociologická imaginace. Edited by Todd Gitlin, Translated by Václav Dušek. Vyd. 1. Praha: Sociologické nakladatelství, 2002, 310 s. ISBN 80-86429-04-0. info
Teaching methods
reading, writing commentaries, practical homework tasks, seminar discussion, writing a research proposal
Assessment methods
13 commentaries on reading and practical tasks, the research proposal, oral examination
Language of instruction
Czech
Further comments (probably available only in Czech)
Information on completion of the course: Posluchači religionistiky povinně ukončují zkouškou.
The course is taught annually.
General note: Doporučen současný zápis RLA24.
Information on course enrolment limitations: Zápis mimo religionistiku je podmíněn souhlasem vyučujícího.
Information about innovation of course.
This course has been innovated under the project "Faculty of Arts as Centre of Excellence in Education: Complex Innovation of Study Programmes and Fields at FF MU with Regard to the Requirements of the Knowledge Economy“ – Reg. No. CZ.1.07/2.2.00/28.0228, which is cofinanced by the European Social Fond and the national budget of the Czech Republic.

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Listed among pre-requisites of other courses
Teacher's information
https://elf.phil.muni.cz/elf2/course/view.php?id=2084
The course is also listed under the following terms Autumn 2001, Autumn 2002, Autumn 2003, Autumn 2011, Autumn 2012, Spring 2015, Spring 2016, Spring 2017, Spring 2018, Spring 2019, Spring 2020, Spring 2021, Spring 2022.
  • Enrolment Statistics (Spring 2014, recent)
  • Permalink: https://is.muni.cz/course/phil/spring2014/RLA13