Chaplaincy is a research-informed healthcare profession. The body of research on chaplaincy has been growing year on year, and chaplains are benefiting from insights published by both chaplain-researcher colleagues and others interested in understanding the relationship between spirituality and health.
Understandably, not all chaplains want to be researchers. However, all chaplains need to be research literate, able to read and interpret current research and apply the findings of good research to their own practice. This page aims to be a resource to help colleagues develop that kind of research literacy.
Look out for future developments to include online research literacy training on reading and assessing research papers.
The UK Chaplains’ Research Digest is a good place for College members to explore interesting new research. While being far from a comprehensive round up, it offers links to relevant research articles, as well as interviews and reviews that can help build research literacy.
Click here to jump to the most recent issue of the UK Chaplains’ Research Digest
The UK Wide Research First Digital Journal Club, which the college is pleased to support, is another way for colleagues to explore relevant new research. Below, you will find links to articles previously discussed in the Club, together with video introductions to articles that could stimulate research-related discussions among local teams.
Click here to jump to the Research First Journal Club
Click here to jump to the Pop-up Reflective Practice
This page also has links to Resources for developing research literacy.
Research Digests:
Aimed at helping colleagues build their research literacy, the quarterly digest highlights research papers from the four main journals relevant to chaplaincy and spiritual care research: Health and Social Care Chaplaincy, Journal of Health Care Chaplaincy, Journal of Pastoral Care and Counselling and Journal of Health and Religion. Additionally, the Digest also includes short introductory articles, book reviews and interviews with chaplain-researchers.
- Winter 2023 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF) LATEST ISSUE
- Autumn 2023 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Summer 2023 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Spring 2023 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Winter 2022 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Autumn 2022 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Summer 2022 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Spring 2022 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Winter 2021 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Autumn 2021 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Summer 2021 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
- Spring 2021 issue of UK Chaplains’ Research Digest (PDF)
Video Interview
The Digest aims to interview experienced researchers, to learn about their work and from their insights. Click the links to access the videos interviews.
Resources
Documents:
Healthcare Chaplaincy Research: A Practical Guide for Healthcare Chaplains (PDF)
Link to e-book:
An Invitation to Chaplaincy Research: Entering the Process (PDF Web link)
Link to training events:
Online training in research literacy with Transforming Chaplaincy (various dates) (Web)