Using Qualitative and Mixed Methods to Study Relational Spirituality

摘要

Most research in the field of psychology and religion/spirituality (R/S) has used quantitative methods. In this paper, we call for increased qualitative and mixed-methods research to advance scientific knowledge of relational spirituality-that is, the ways people view and relate to the sacred. Specifically, we explore and illustrate how qualitative methods (e.g., narrative research, grounded theory, phenomenology, ethnography, case studies) allow for in-depth, multilevel analysis of relational spirituality, as well as how mixed methods (i.e., methodologies that involve collecting, analyzing, and integrating both qualitative and quantitative data) allow for even more complete, robust, and nuanced understandings of relational spirituality. Lastly, we make recommendations about future qualitative and mixed-methods research on relational spirituality, concluding with suggestions for advancing two growing areas of relational spirituality research-the empirical study of God representations and of spiritually oriented interventions.