Current Events in Business Research
Describe the business research process followed in the study in the article.
�Identify the research problem and the research method used.
�Discuss how the research is solving the problem within the chosen functional area.
�Identify other potential applications using business research within this functional area or related
areas.
Current Events in Business Research
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The article ‘The practice of youth ministry in a changing context: Results from an
Australian scoping study’ is a study whose main aim was to come up with innovative
strategies to reach out to the youth, and bring them back to the church, since it has been
registered as a global trend that the population of youths in the churches is drastically
reducing. As such, the Australian churches, which are the center-stage of this study, sought to
find a solution (Singleton, Webber, Joyce, & Dorissa, 2010). It is a common thing across all
churches to define key strategies to allure back their youths into the church. The study posits
that different programs may be employed to change the perception or approach to the issue of
youths, a question regarding their efficacy should be asked. As such, it is important to
determine which approach has the elements of best-practice in the advent of youth ministry.
Basically, this study connects the denominational role of the church in the lives of the youth,
and the use of the church as a career opportunity by the youth, as one of the main ways of
achieving their retention in the church.
The business research process followed in this article involved a scoping research,
which was conducted in Melbourne, Australia, especially among the denominations that have
struggled to maintain the youth. The scoping exercise had two main aims: to identify the
various ministry styles that are being applied; and identify among the mentioned ministry
approaches and styles, which ones represent best-practice when in a mission to ensure youth
retention, social justice activities, and involvement of adults in liturgy, to create an
environment of understanding and development. The method used here primarily aimed at
providing a descriptive foundation upon which useful discussions regarding theological and
sociological perspectives could be held. In all churches across the globe, the youth ministry is
recognized as the invigorated theology discipline, that requires a series of activities and
practical work to survive. In order to explicitly provide a manifestation of these practical
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approaches, the study employed a descriptive empirical task to tend to address in an amicable
manner, the question, “what is going on?’
The method applied in this study can be best understood as a descriptive-empirical
task in the bracket of practical theology. In addition, it is a social-scientific study, whose aims
are to create a relationship between various theological perspectives and the problem of youth
retention in churches today. This study strongly builds on the empirical base on which it is
strongly instituted, which is used to explore the changes that need to be effected in the youth
ministry and other facets of the pastoral ministry. In order to create a sense of reliability and
authenticity for the study, the researchers instituted four innovative ways of penetrating into
the minds and interest of the youth. For instance, they were presented with an interpretive
task that involve surpassing the normal descriptions to understand the dynamics involved in
the mix; normative task that inculcates deep reflections on the actions of God; and lastly, the
pragmatic task, which involves taking a decision on the action implemented. This
methodology and approach involved knowing and understanding the target customers, as well
as identifying other players in the issue of youth retention.
As identified above, the research problem that is being addressed in this article is the
high rate of youth attrition from modern churches, with a specific focus on Melbourne,
Australia. It must be understood that this area would be assumed to act as perfect
representative of the global trend in this issue. The study addresses the problem by testing
and coming up with amicable suggestions and solutions to ensure youth retention in churches.
The research recognizes that the functional area of the youth is one that is very elusive and
difficult to predict. As such, it requires innovative processes and activities in order to work
well. The research set out different strategies to woo youths back into the church, including
entertainment, career choices, youth forums, and many other innovative processes that make
the youth feel involved and wanted. At this time, the research recognized that the
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incorporation of such activities as retreats, fun-days, contemporary music, and multimedia
worshiping are among the key strategies to allure the youth back to the church. More
importantly, the study had one focal point that active engagement of youths in the church
through solid employment opportunities is a good way of ensuring their retention.
Particularly, the research is very pragmatic when it comes to identifying the needs of the
youth in relation to the church. Inasmuch as the youth might view the church as apace of
worship, it is also a social place, where they meet various individuals, get to connect, and
create fruitful relationships that can be the basis of prospective career developments. It is this
particular need that the study presented here aptly establishes, in a bid to address the research
problem, which is the reducing number of youths in churches.
There are various other applications that can use a similar business research
with the same functional area as discussed here, that is, the youth ministry. As identified
above, youths are a very difficult group to work with, owing to the diverse and unique nature
of their desires, likes, and dislikes. However, owing to its critical nature in the future
development and life of a person, it is imperative that several programs be put in place to
ensure they survival, safety, and continued support. A program such as a campaign to reduce
the habit of smoking among the youth is an example. This campaign would involve basically
the same business research as above. Secondly, a camping to create awareness among the
youths and school going children to enroll into specific career choices that are facing a crisis
of manpower shortage, such as the healthcare sector. Another example of a an application
that would involve the same business research is creating brand awareness of a new product
targeting the youth, for instance, cola drinks such as soda. Lastly, promotion of the use of
protection during acts of intimacy may be a potential application that can utilize this business
research. Summarily, a business research requires absolute understanding the needs of the
target population, and streamlining strategies to address the problem of deficit identified.
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Reference
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Singleton, A., Webber, R., Joyce, M. R., & Dorissa, A. (2010). The practice of youth ministry
in a changing context: Results from an Australian scoping study. Journal Of Youth
Ministry, 9(1), 35-54.
