The Routledge Handbook of Research Methods in the Study of Religion

This is the first comprehensive survey in English of research methods in the field of religious studies. It is designed to enable non-specialists and students at upper undergraduate and graduate levels to understand the variety of research methods used in the field. The aim is to create awareness of the relevant methods currently available and to stimulate an active interest in exploring unfamiliar methods, encouraging their use in research and enabling students and scholars to evaluate academic work with reference to methodological issues. A distinguished team of contributors cover a broad spectrum of topics, from research ethics, hermeneutics and interviewing, to Internet research and video-analysis. Each chapter covers practical issues and challenges, the theoretical basis of the respective method, and the way it has been used in religious studies, illustrated by case studies.

Michael Stausberg is Professor of Religion at the University of Bergen, Norway. He is author of Religion and Tourism: Crossroads, Destinations and Encounters, editor of Contemporary Theories of Religion and European editor of the journal Religion.

Steven Engler is Associate Professor of Religious Studies at Mount Royal University, Canada. He is a co-editor of Historicizing "Tradition" in the Study of Religion and North American editor of the journal Religion.