Conwy, Wales (photo from thekingpin68)
1. I presently have 106 questionnaires in and thanks to all participants! I would like to have closer to 200 in and so anyone interested please feel to contact me.
2. A continual comment I am receiving is that the questions do not have context. I mentioned the following in the previous article:
Some church attendees have mentioned that questions can be answered in a variety of ways. A reason for this is that without the academic context of the theoretical work to review it is not always simple to know what is meant by the survey questions. On the other hand the questions are basic enough to provide a theological understanding to provide legitimate results.
I realized when putting the questionnaire together that only my advisor and I would understand to any great degree the full context of some of the questions. This cannot be avoided as only my advisor and I will be thoroughly familiar with all my theoretical work. I am not an expert on empirical and social research methods, but within the questionnaire I am using closed questions with a Likert scale. By closed questions these are ones that are provided with a set of fixed alternatives from which to choose. Bryman (2004: 145). Open questions in contrast would allow persons to respond in any way they choose. Bryman (2004: 145). I am required to use closed questions within this format and need to use the Likert scale. The Likert scale was named after Renis Likert and is a multiple-indicator or item measure of a set of attitudes relating to a particular area or topic. Bryman (2004: 68). The goal of the Likert scale is to measure the intensity of feelings about the area or topic in question. Bryman (2004: 68). Usually each respondent is asked to indicate his/her level of agreement or disagreement with statements or items and the format is often the five point scale. Bryman (2004: 68). The scale ranges from agree strongly to disagree strongly and also provides an option such as not certain. Bryman (2004: 68). It is important that the items are statements and not questions. Bryman (2004: 68).
3. When these problem of evil questions are completed and the results examined I shall have produced empirical theology which is under the broad umbrella of practical theology. Professor Leslie J. Francis and the Practical Theology Team of the University of Wales, Bangor, writes that an element of practical theology is the use of empirical data. In this sense, empirical theology is a way of doing practical theology. Francis (2005: 1). Don Browning writes within ‘Practical Theology and Political Theology’ from Theology Today that practical theology should be a public enterprise that consists of theological reflection on church ministry in the world and should also deal with the theology of professional ministerial activity within the church. Browning (1985)(2005). The empirical results are to supplement philosophical ones found by researching and writing the theoretical work.
4. The questionnaire respondent therefore has an excellent opportunity to help produce a type of theology, even without being a theologian. I have Protestant, Roman Catholic, Orthodox, Anabaptist and non-denominational Christians participating and it is an interesting opportunity to take part in a unique project.
5. As noted in the previous article, in order to provide some context before filling out the questionnaire one can read the short article linked below in which I reviewed five of the main texts I used for the theoretical work. One could also scan other writings on this blog concerning the problem of evil, free will and determinism.
http://thekingpin68.blogspot.com/2007/01/five-influential-books-on-problem-of.html
Thanks.
Russ
BROWNING DON S. (1985)(2005) ‘Practical Theology and Political Theology’, Theology Today, Volume 42, Number 1, Article 2, Princeton, Princeton Theological Seminary.
http://theologytoday.ptsem.edu/apr1985/v42-1-article2.htm.
BRYMAN, ALAN (2004) Social Research Methods, Oxford, University Press.
FRANCIS, LESLIE J. and Practical Theology Team (2005) ‘Practical and Empirical Theology’, University of Wales, Bangor website, University of Wales, Bangor.
http://www.bangor.ac.uk/rs/pt/ptunit/definition.php.
