Methods
Phase 1: Online Survey
The survey phase of the Research has now been completed.
Over 10,000 students completed an online questionnaire on their views on religion, across 43 schools in Bradford, Newham and Hillingdon.
We'd like to say a big thank you! to all schools, teachers and students who took part.
The project has now completed the second qualitative phase and findings are currently being analysed.
Phase 2: 3-stage qualitative study
Stage 1: Group discussion sessions
- Twenty-seven group discussions (each involving 4-10 volunteers) have now been conducted with 147 pupils from year 12, in 13 of the 43 schools participating in the survey who agreed to take part in an additional qualitative phase.
- The aim of the group discussions is to try to understand what young people think about religion and its role in the community and society as a whole.
The following themes were used to guide the content of group discussions:
- Religion in the local area/community
- Positive and negative aspects of religion
- The role of religion in education and society
Stage 2: e-Journal
- We asked the YOR volunteers to take part in an innovative project which allowed them to record their thoughts and feelings about religion over the summer break (2010) in an online e-Journal. The 4 broad topics for discussion were:
1. Religion and me
2. Religion in my family
3. Religion in my area
4. Religion in society
Stage 3: Paired interviews
- The final activity took place during the sutumn of 2010, and comprised interviews undertaken with pairs of friends/peers.
- The paired interviews provided an opportunity for volunteers to chat with the YOR team about what religion really means to them, and to discuss the e-journal work they had conducted over the summer.
