Philip Arthur Bence PhD Thesis - Research@StAndrews:FullText

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survey data enabled the comparison of hypotheses with actual
fact.
This study's primary hypothesis is, as stated above: a
lecturer's (or teaching institution's) theology determines
his teaching of preaching. The fullest verification, or
denial, of this hypothesis required not merely the evidence
of theological influences on the teaching of preaching, but
also documentation of the relative importance of those
influences in contrast to other potential shaping factors.
The survey responses made this comparison possible.
Responses to one survey question served as the basis for
dividing the lecturers theologically. Replies to two
further questions enabled a division of the lecturers by two
other relevant criteria. These were their institutional
setting (e.g., a university theological department, an
independent college closely related to a university, or a
completely independent college) and the denominations with
which their colleges were closely aligned. Comparing the
composite responses of various groups of lecturers enabled a
comparison of the varying strengths of theological,
institutional, and denominational factors in determining the
teaching of preaching.
Chapter five, both in statistical and narrative form,
presents the survey results. As the data in chapter five
documents, the survey results reveal significant distinctive
patterns in the teaching of preaching within each
theologically—based lecturer group. This evidence offers
strong, although not unilateral, support for the overall