Doing Theological Research

Kibbe, Michael. From Topic to Thesis: A Guide to Theological Research. Downers Grove, IL: IVP Academic, 2016, pp. 152.

It is good to think of research and writing as a process. Sometimes, professors assign a research paper and the emphasis is on it as a product. On such and such you will deliver this research paper (product) to me. Students struggle on how to get from the assignment to the finished product. Michael Kibbe's From Topic to Thesis: A Guide to Theological Research is a useful resource that can guide the student through the different steps of the process: picking a topic, narrowing a topic, finding resources, creating a thesis statement, and writing the paper.

Kibbe introduces his guide in an introduction. He discusses the process of research. The process should take you from topic to thesis, not topic to paper. Kibbe asserts, "It is a simple book designed to take you step by step from a research topic to a research thesis" (14). He suggests that the student should not move topic to a paper. He notes, "A research paper is not built around a topic, but a thesis" (15). Next, he provides a short history of theological research. He describes theological research as taking part in a conversation. It is not a one-person event. He thinks theological research is like any other research, but it is also not like any other research. It seems to be that certain principles of research can be applies across discipline, but each discipline has its own specificity. Kibbe states, "Every research process has a preparation component, a field component and an analysis component" (21). He makes a key point that the "goal of your research is new knowledge for you. You, and you only. No one else" (24). He ends the introduction by defining key terms: theological, primary sources, secondary sources, tertiary sources, and bibliography.

The main part of this book is "about the process of moving from topic (assignment) to thesis (argument)" (43). This process is divided into five steps. Each chapter discusses one of the steps, so there is a chapter for each step of the process.

Chapter one discusses finding direction. Kibbe provides keys to finding direction. First, do not begin your paper already knowing what you are "going to argue." Second, "research takes time." The third and fourth keys go together: do not depend on secondary sources in the beginning; instead, depend on primary and tertiary sources.

Chapter two discusses gathering sources. First, do not "spend too much time on any one source" (56). In the beginning you are skimming your sources to see if they will be relevant to your research project. Second, you need to distinguish between "redirecting and getting distracted." Third, not every source you encounter will be "well written." His last key argues that "research is first and foremost about primary sources" (57).

Chapter three discusses understanding issues. He states, "Your goal in this next phase is to learn as much as you can from your sources about the specific issues involved with your topic" (65). The first key is about reading your sources efficiently. Second, you must "allow yourself large time segments" for doing your work. In other words, you cannot be doing it in 15 minute time allotments. Third, your reading has a specific purpose: you are reading the source for information applicable to your thesis or paper. Fourth, "the specificity of your sources will determine the specificity of your topic" (69).The Fifth key is that research is not a linear process because it requires circling back at different times in the process.

Chapter four discusses entering into the discussion. The important point here is on the student speaking into the conversation or speaking into the discussion with his own argument. He needs to have been listening to the conversation before he is ready to speak. First, the student needs to "have something to contribute to the conversation." Second, he must speak at the appropriate time. Third, he needs to know how to communicate or speak his thesis that "fits into the discussion."

The final chapter discusses establishing a position. First, he states that the thesis is the "heart" of the paper. He asserts, "Every single word, phrase and paragraph in your paper should contribute to your thesis" (87). Second, do not start "writing your paper too soon" (88). He thinks the research should "mold the thesis" and the thesis should "mold the paper." Third, the paper should enter into a conversation already occurring about your "chosen topic."

After the final chapter Kibbe provides six appendices on the following topics: 1) things a student should never do in a paper; 2) helpful theological research tools; 3) scholarly resources; 4) How to use the ATLA religion database; 5) How to download and use Zotero bibliography; and a timeline for papers.

From Topic to Thesis is a short guide on doing theological research. It is well written and easy to read. One might want to start with the thesis earlier in the process than this guide, depending what one is doing research: theology, Biblical studies, Church history, and etc. Personally, I prefer having at least a preliminary thesis early in the process. This book is recommended for all those beginning theological research and those who need a refresher.