Description: This course is a practical guide to conducting research in the field of pastoral care and counseling utilizing quantitative research, qualitative research and mixed methods research approaches, with extensive emphasis given to qualitative research methods. It will explore such topics as developing research question(s), collecting data, conducting a literature search, constructing research design, interpreting the data, the ethics of research, IRBs, and more. This course is designed to assist students with the organization and development of a research project. It is required for M.A. students concentrating in Pastoral Care and Counseling—MAPCC– in preparation of the final M.A. project. It is an elective for MDiv and MTS students who desire to explore a pastoral care issue in more depth using social science research methods. As a special emphasis of this year’s class, students will be shadowing the professor in his quantitative social science research on COVID-19 and the Black Churches Response.

Seminary: New Brunswick Theological

Key Words: Gathering Data; COVID-19 and the Black Churches Response