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Study information

Introducing Social-Scientific Approaches to Religion

Module titleIntroducing Social-Scientific Approaches to Religion
Module codeTHE1122
Academic year2025/6
Credits15
Module staff

Professor Louise Lawrence (Convenor)

Duration: Term123
Duration: Weeks

11

Number students taking module (anticipated)

50

Module description

This module introduces you to the social-scientific study of religion: in particular sociological, anthropological, and psychological theories and perspectives. We will think critically about the ways in which these academic disciplines construct culture, society, the mind, and religion, and their respective methods of inquiry about religious beliefs and practices. The module will seek to equip you with key qualitative and quantitative research skills in the social-scientific study of religion. You will gain experience in anthropological, sociological, and/or psychological project design and implementation: in particular fieldwork methods in the study of ‘lived religion’ of individuals and communities in both global north and south contexts (as a way of going beyond a sole emphasis on texts and institutions). These methods will include digital ethnography, statistical analysis, participant observation, interviews, media research, and material culture, also critical reflection (reflexivity) on your position as a researcher in the field, and ethical issues surrounding research with human subjects.

Module aims - intentions of the module

The module runs over 11 weeks. There are three main blocks in the module, of 3 weeks each: the first week in each block is more theoretical, providing you with background information and critical resources; the second and third weeks in each block are about how particular social-scientific perspectives on religion are applied in practice. You will develop core academic and transferrable skills such as critical thinking, social-scientific research skills (both quantitative and qualitative), referencing and attribution of sources. 

Intended Learning Outcomes (ILOs)

ILO: Module-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 1. Demonstrate understanding, and gain research experience, of anthropology, sociology, and psychology as methods of critical enquiry about religion in global north and global south contexts.
  • 2. Show awareness of academic positions, movements, and developments, in social-scientific study of religion.

ILO: Discipline-specific skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 3. Navigate different perspectives, debates and disputes regarding religion in social-scientific perspective.
  • 4. Assess the strengths and weaknesses of respective social-scientific approaches to religion.

ILO: Personal and key skills

On successfully completing the module you will be able to...

  • 5. Use your study skills, with guidance, to produce plans for independent qualitative and quantitative research projects, and write us research results in a written report.
  • 6. Formulate clearly researched and coherently expressed positions in the assessment of arguments.
  • 7. Confident Communication (including digital fluency and collaboration): Able to adopt and adjust written and verbal communication styles to meet the needs of diverse audiences. Communicate information about primary sources and their interpretation in lucid and logical written prose (both in creative writing and short online digital and collaborative Wiki pieces)
  • 8. Critical Thinking: Proactively analyse and evaluate information from a variety of sources to draw independent and well-founded conclusions. Show sensitivity to the diversity of possible interpretations of significant topics and deal sensitively and generously with viewpoints different from one's own.
  • 9. Innovative Problem Solving: Able to confidently explore challenges from a variety of perspectives to creatively offer practical and timely solutions.

Syllabus plan

The module content may vary from year to year but is likely to cover topics such as:

  • What have social-sciences got to do with religion, and/or religious studies?
  • Are there secular biases in social-scientific methods?
  • Global approaches in social-scientific studies of religion.
  • How is being religious changing in contemporary societies?
  • How do different lived experiences of religion (re)define religion in different contexts?
  • How does religious cognition, and the cognitive development of religion change across the lifespan?
  • Decolonising social-scientific methodologies and engagement with faith-based communities.
  • What might religion become in societies and cultures of the future?

Learning activities and teaching methods (given in hours of study time)

Scheduled Learning and Teaching ActivitiesGuided independent studyPlacement / study abroad
341160

Details of learning activities and teaching methods

CategoryHours of study timeDescription
Scheduled learning and teaching33Classes include a mixture of lecture, whole-class discussion and small-group discussion elements.
Scheduled learning and teaching1Opportunity to discuss assessment tasks.
Guided independent study116Reading and class preparation, working on independent project, and contributing to module forum (WIKIs).

Formative assessment

Form of assessmentSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Weekly WIKI contributions to online module forum100 words per week in response to question set.1-6Oral

Summative assessment (% of credit)

CourseworkWritten examsPractical exams
10000

Details of summative assessment

Form of assessment% of creditSize of the assessment (eg length / duration)ILOs assessedFeedback method
Participation and engagement10Engagement with threshold tasks throughout module1-5Oral
Project Plan and Methodology401000 words1-9Written
Final Project Report501200 words1-9Written

Details of re-assessment (where required by referral or deferral)

Original form of assessmentForm of re-assessmentILOs re-assessedTimescale for re-assessment
Participation and engagementEngagement with threshold tasks by ref-def period1-5Ref-def period
Project Plan and MethodologyProject Plan and Methodology1-9Ref-def period
Final Project ReportFinal Project Report1-9Ref-def period

Re-assessment notes

Deferral – if you miss an assessment for certificated reasons judged acceptable by the Mitigation Committee, you will normally be either deferred in the assessment or an extension may be granted. The mark given for a re-assessment taken as a result of deferral will not be capped and will be treated as it would be if it were your first attempt at the assessment.

Referral – if you have failed the module overall (i.e. a final overall module mark of less than 40%) you will be required to submit a further assessment as necessary. If you are successful on referral, your overall module mark will be capped at 40%.

Indicative learning resources - Basic reading

Argyle, M. (2000). Psychology and Religion: An Introduction. London: Routledge

Davie, G. (2013) The Sociology of Religion: A Critical Agenda (2nd Ed.) Los Angeles: Sage.

Dresch, P. and James, W. (eds.) (2000) Anthropologists in a Wider World. New York: Bergham Books.

Hood, R.W., Hill, P., & Spilka, B. (2009) The Psychology of Religion: An Empirical Approach (4th edition). New York: The Guilford Press.

Lambek, M. (ed.) (2008) A Reader in the Anthropology of Religion. Oxford: Blackwell.

Lowenthal, K. (2000) The Psychology of Religion: A Short Introduction. Oxford: One World.

McGuire, M.B. (2008) Lived Religion: Faith and Practice in Everyday Life. Oxford: Oxford University Press.

Morris, B. (2006) Religion and Anthropology: A Critical Introduction. London; New York: Routledge

Wilfred, F. (2021) Religious Identities and the Global South: Porous Borders and Novel Paths. Switzerland: Springer/Palgrave Macmillan.

Indicative learning resources - Web based and electronic resources

https://www.understandingreligion.org.uk/p/lived-religion/

 

ELE – College to provide hyperlink to appropriate pages

 

 

Key words search

Sociology of Religion, Anthropology of Religion, Psychology of Religion, Lived Religion

Credit value15
Module ECTS

7.5

Module pre-requisites

None

Module co-requisites

None

NQF level (module)

4

Available as distance learning?

No

Origin date

01/05/2023

Last revision date

03/03/25