Analyzing a Pentecostal "revolution": Reflections on research methodology

This study evaluates a research questionnaire and responses in a recent study on the influence of the Pentecostal movement in Nigeria. It observes areas of potential confusion within the questionnaire due to its wording, and suggests revisions and additional questions that might improve the relevance of the questionnaire. Through further analysis, it notes questions that may be unintentionally written with bias, thereby influencing responses, and discusses what are suggested to be the advantages and disadvantages of formatting questions in a specific manner. Finally, this study explains the process of using the aforementioned questionnaire to create an electronic database in which to organize responses. It evaluates the use of the database as a research tool and comments on the place of quantitative analysis as a whole within the study of history. Analysis of the questionnaire and database concludes that both were largely successful in accomplishing the goals of the study for which they were created. The database is found to be a valuable tool as it provides an efficient way to establish trends and focus further analysis of the information collected. The importance of this tool to the research project suggests that quantitative analysis can be of great use in historical research, though it should not replace traditional research methodology in this field. Keywords: mixed research methodologies (evaluation of); survey research; religion and politics; Pentecostal revival; Nigeria