Digital Methodologies in the Sociology of Religion

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This volume considers the implementation difficulties of researching religion online and reflects on the ethical dilemmas faced by sociologists of religion when using digital research methods. Bringing together established and emerging scholars, global case studies draw on the use of social media as a method for researching religious oppression, religion and identity in virtual worlds, digital communication within religious organisations, and young peoples diverse expressions of faith online. Additionally, boxed tips are provided throughout the text to serve as reminders of tools that readers may use in their own research projects.

Reviews

A phenomenal example of the masterful interweaving of the sociological study of religion with the ever-transforming world of digital technology, which makes it a must read for those interested in those subjects that fall within or between these two categories. * Religious Studies Review *
This volume is both a practical guide as well as a theoretical one, and encourages further research and conversation in the area of digital methods, ethics, and ethnographies. Digital Methodologies would be valuable not only to those whose research takes place in digital domains, but also as a helpful guide in distinguishing new from traditional methodologies, or to promote the use of new technologies and approaches in seminars or even the classroom. As a digital researcher, I found it timely, useful, and insightful. * Reading Religion *
This book is an essential resource for anyone thinking about using digital technologies in the social study of religious belief and non-belief. It should be on the reading lists of every research methods course and every course in the sociology of religion. -- Nicholas Cimini, Lecturer in the Social Sciences, Edinburgh Napier University, UK
A practical handbook for digital methods and methodologies, and a wide ranging exploration of belief and faith communitiessocially and digitally. From crowdsourcing to apps, this book demonstrates that digital methodologies are not just about doing research digitally, they are about understanding the social and the digital as onedigital contexts as well as digital methods, social media as a means and a lens, and the ethical challenges that inevitably arise. At once accessible and thought provoking, this book is set to be an effective platform for teaching and a rich basis for future research in the sociology of belief communities. -- David De Roure, Director of e-Research, University of Oxford, UK
Digital Methodologies manages to be the rarest of methodology books: practical, focused, and filled with meaty case studies, making it useful to junior and senior scholars alike. The burgeoning study of digital religionborn from within so many disciplineslacked the cohesiveness necessary for moving a research agenda forward. This book brings order to that chaos and establishes best practices, whether the research is honed on religious digital communication, virtual realities, social media or digital ethnography. -- Debra Mason, Professor and Director, Center of Religion & the Professions, University of Missouri, USA

Author Bio

Sariya Cheruvallil-Contractor is a Research Fellow at the Centre for Trust, Peace and Social Relations, at Coventry University, UK. Suha Shakkour is Senior Lecturer in Sociology at the University of Derby, UK.