Course Syllabus

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ORG701: Research Methods for Scholar Practitioners

Instructor & Contact Information

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Course Description

This course will help prepare you to be a scholar-practitioner by developing the research skills you need for your doctoral program and doctoral project. You will learn how worldview and epistemology inform research methods. You will learn an overview of the four traditional approaches to epistemology and research methods. You will primarily be trained in Action Research, a research methodology used by scholar practitioners to bring about social change (and is the primary methodology used throughout the doctoral program). You will learn ethical use of AI-based research, how to work in communities of practice with peers, and how to write an academic literature review. A key theme is learning to move between the world of academics and the world of practitioners. Each project builds on the last to prepare you for your final doctoral project.

Course Outcomes

After completing this course, you will be able to:

  1. Develop an action research strategy that takes into the account the worldviews of stakeholders and their approaches to discerning truth.
  2. Create an action research plan based on brainstorming tools, careful framing of questions, rapid and literature reviews using both traditional and ethical AI-based methods.
  3. Design a plan for working with peers and developing communities of practice to share knowledge and support research.
  4. Develop a systematic academic literature review in a specific domain to prepare you for the comprehensive literature review for your doctoral project.

Degree Program Outcomes

This course supports the following program outcomes, marked with an (I) for Introduce, (D) for Develop and an (M) for Mastery.

  1. Research methods. Apply action research methods to practical research topics in the field. (D)
  2. Diffusion of Innovation. Utilize technology and relational networking to help diffuse innovations within a community of practice. (D)
  3. Values Alignment. To develop a theological vision and to align your organization's strategy, culture and systems with that vision to avoid secularization and mission drift.
  4. Strategy. To develop a synthesis to integrate a wide range of business skills into a strategic plan for starting or growing an organization.
  5. Social Entrepreneurship. Develop strategies and plans to effectively use technology and innovation to achieve organizational goals.
  6. Action Research Project. Synthesize action research with theory and practice to solve a practical challenge facing your organization and/or the larger field. (I)

Broad Institutional Outcomes

  • I1. Knowledge (Head). Apply a wide range of tools to help solve society’s great problems by shifting from a single lens/tool/discipline to a multiple lens, multifaceted Biblical understanding of reality. (D)
  • I2. Skills (Hands). Develop the skills you need for the next position in your development as a leader by shifting from mastery & understanding of a division in an organization to a comprehensive systemic mastery/understanding needed to lead across the organization.
  • I3. Attitudes/Character (Heart). Develop the character and discipline needed to step into greater leadership roles by losing the bias of your old position to gain broader perspective and intellectual humility needed to accelerate your commitment to lifelong learning. (D)

Required Texts

Students are required to purchase these texts before the first day of classes. 

Guidelines for Written Work

All written work must follow our Writing Format and Forum Requirements. You must read these to understand how to cite sources appropriately.

Critical Policies to Read for This Course

Note: These policies are critical for all students to read. In case of change, we have linked to the versions on our website to make sure you have the latest version.

Additional Policies:

This syllabus is subject to change without notice up until the first day of the semester. Last updated: November 24, 2025.

Course Summary:

Course Summary
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