Help needed in learning how to research

[Starkman]

Ok, here's the scenario...

I've been a Christian for ages, but I've never done formal education. I'm at a point in my studies now where I need to to research. I've been to a seminary library and spent a few days there to familiarize myself with this kind of resource. The librarian informed me about indexes, bibliographies, this, that and the other, which was all well and good, but I'm still at a lost. I walked away from the library wondering how anybody could possibly know, when researching, that some of the stuff I have found while browsing was even available.

I'm wanting to do some reseach into Genesis. I'm primarly concerned with finding a particular approach to the book, but I'm wanting to get a good grip on the majority of approaches out there. But how in the world would I possibly know where to begin in, say, a library, for instance? I have some Internet sites for researching, but this still isn't addressing the main questions: First, where do I begin to find a list of sources (commentaries, references, etc.)? Second, from these sources, how do I identify the well respected, authors in the different approaches to the genre of Genesis (or, for that matter,anything I'm studying)? Third, how do I do this without getting overwhelmed because I was not able to eliminate what I don't need?

I've read through Nancy Vyhmeister's work "Quality Research Papers," and it was good. She gives the basics and all--the indexes and bibliographies and all, but how would I even know who to look up? How do I know to read when I have found authors and scholars?

I could sure use some help here.

Thanks much,

Starkman

[Superbug]

I have never studied religion in depth either but the important works in any field are usually cited a lot. If every paper you read mentions a certain paper, you'd better read it as well.

[Patroclus]

My advice for somebody starting cold, as you are, is to pick a book that looks like it might be of some interest, read it, and look for the list of works cited (as Superbug suggests). Get ready to read as much of that as you like. You might want to start with the more contemporary works. Make sure that, at some point, you locate a dictionary of theological terms (you mught pm Jaltus or Greypilgrim for some advice on this).

Above all, always approach a text with questions that you expect to answer by the time you finish the book. Make sure they are questions that the author can answer, so do not go looking for the meaning of life. Here are some suggestions:

1. If I had to say that the author is trying to convey one main point, what is that point? (Make sure you answer this in one complete sentence)

2. Does the author identify any problems that he or she will have to address to prove his or her point? If so, what are they? (again, as always, answer in complete sentences).

3. Does the author tend to use older or more contemporary sources to validate his or her research?

4. What assumptions does the author make about what I should already understand? (If you can answer that question, you will be a good way into starting your research journey, because now you have direction).

5. How is the author approaching his or her argument? Is the author's argument based heavily upon history, a close reading of a particular text, some sort of theological theory, something else, or some combination of these elements?

6. Of my author's sources, which are mentioned favorably, which authors are not mentioned favorably?

7. Do I find my author's conclusion reasonable or far fetched? Why?

That should be a good start. Good luck! :pat:

[rmwilliamsjr]

My advice is to start with the net.
There is so much really good stuff that is very searchable via google.
Then amazon has a search function, find what you like and can understand via the net and read books as you get a few recommendations.

http://www.virtualseminary.net/

[Starkman]

Thanks folks,

Those are good points, Patroclus. I'm not starting from scratch here--I've got a ton of good Internet resources, but I lack the hands-on research that a sem student gets. Futher, I'm not real good at reading critically and evaluating arguments. Either I've never learned how to critically review a work or I just don't see the obvious.

Well, thanks again,

Starkman

[Patroclus]

Cool! Let me know if you have any questions.

[Jaltus]

When studying a specific book of the Bible, your best bet is to get a recent commentary (published 1998 or later) on that book in a well-respected series (NICOT, TOTC, Hermeneia, WBC, AB, etc) and check out the introduction of that commentary. Generally you will get a quick over view of research in that book for the last 20 years or so.

However, in the case of Genesis, your best bet will be the commentaries by Wenham (WBC) and Hamilton (NICOT) as the latest major ones I can recall off of the top of my head.

[Jaltus]

Oh, I forgot, look at Bruce Waltke's commentary on Genesis (it is not in a series) as it was 2001.

[Starkman]

Thanks Jaltus.

A few questions...

When studying a specific book of the Bible, your best bet is to get a recent commentary (published 1998 or later) on that book in a well-respected series (NICOT, TOTC, Hermeneia, WBC, AB, etc) and check out the introduction of that commentary. Generally you will get a quick over view of research in that book for the last 20 years or so.

However, in the case of Genesis, your best bet will be the commentaries by Wenham (WBC) and Hamilton (NICOT) as the latest major ones I can recall off of the top of my head.

What's so special about 1998? If these guys are using stuff from twenty years ago, have things changed that much in the scholarly world that I shouldn't look at commentaries of twenty years ago?

Oh, and one last thing...

Can you give me the names represented by the acronyms?

Thanks very much,

Starkman

[Jaltus]

All of those names should be in the glossary, but I guess they are not.

NICOT/NICNT New International Commentary on the OT/NT
TOTC/TNTC Tyndale OT/NT Commentary
WBC Word Biblcal Commentary
AB Anchor Bible Commentary

The reason I said since 1998 is because 1) they will have the most up to date bibliography for you to use and 2) the intro to most commentaries will bring you up to date on what is happening in the discipline with respect to that specific book so that you know what the current debates are about. Newer does not mean better content, it means better bibliography.

[Starkman]

Newer does not mean better content, it means better bibliography.

Ah! See, I don't think in terms of bibliographies, because I wasn't taught to do so. Hek, whenever I would look at the bibliography of a book, I didn't know who to read of the umpteen million references. Haven't been exposed to books from a bibliography perspective. I'll have to change that, now, won't I!

Thank you very much, Jaltus.

Starkman

[Jaltus]

Np.

At this stage of my career, research is what I do most (not best, just most), with the possible exception of reading.

- J

[Starkman]

Np.

At this stage of my career, research is what I do most (not best, just most), with the possible exception of reading.

It's frustrating for me, because until I went to Bethel Seminary to check out their library, I had no idea what was there or what would not be there. For instance, it never dawned on me that if I were going to be researching, say, Reformed works, I might consider a reformed seminary! I mean, I've never been around academia, so I don't think like that. Even the simplist of things, like this, have not been "common sense" to me.

Heavens, when I was wandering around Bethel's library, I thought to myself how anyone would know this stuff is even in here--old records of church journals and stuff...until I realized that this seminary was of a specific faith, so it only made sense that this would be a place to research that faith. Makes sense! (Wished I would have thought of it myself!)

Well, I've perused through a few books on researching, and they've helped some, but there's nothing like doing it yourself!

Starkman