Within the field of practical theology, empirical research has substantially increased in significance. But what can empirical social research methods do for practical theology? What is the potential of evaluation, surveys and random sampling for theology, the Church and the parish? Where are their limitations? Claudia Schulz demonstrates the possibilities of empirical approaches for practical theology and proposes framework conditions for their use in an apposite, theoretically backed and fruitful way. In her studies on the development of the Church and parishes, target groups, lifeworld and lifestyle as well as deaconship the author applies methods from empirical social and religion research and critically reflects on the results and findings. Examples from theological debate from the past and the present allow theologians who have no or little previous experience with empirical social research to gain a better understanding of this topic.

Dr. phil. Claudia Schulz ist Professorin für Diakoniewissenschaft und Soziale Arbeit an der Evangelischen Hochschule Ludwigsburg.