Going Back to Basics:
Our Collegiate Spiritual Journey
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Currently most St. Thomas University baseball players do not attend mass, and it seems
odd that in a Catholic school so few baseball players would attend mass on a regular basis.
According to Osmer, the descriptive-empirical task, which asks the question “what is going
on?”
1
, is the first task in the practical theological system. Osmer describes this mission as more
than merely collecting facts and knowledge about a specific event, and more about the level of
attention paid to people and activities in their daily lives by congregational leaders
2
.This concept
was kept in mind when undertaking the gathering of data. In other words, what other activities
were the baseball players involved with aside from school and playing baseball. Do they work,
do they support other family members, are they married, or do they have children. All of these
possibilities could play a role as to why they do not attend mass. For Osmer, the descriptive-
empirical mission is rooted in a spirituality of presence, which is a matter of attending to what is
going on in the lives of individuals, families, and societies
3
. In terms of priestly listening
(consisting of formal, semi-formal, and informal means of empathetic listening), attending and
directing congregational members through a specific episode. Osmer draws heavily on the work
of Don Browning and Penny Becker, who both provide good examples of congregational
research design, in order to better explain the method of conducting congregational research
4
.
Osmer identifies many approaches to congregational study design, such as interviews, case
studies, and ethnography, along with the empathic aspect of priestly listening
5
. The data
collection for this study utilizes the techniques of interviews and case studies but demographic
considerations were not taken into account when collecting or interpreting the data. It is in
1
Richard Robert. Osmer, Practical Theology: an Introduction (Grand Rapids, Mich, MI: W.B.
Eerdmans Publishing, 2011), 4.
2
Osmer. 33
3
Osmer. 33
4
Osmer. 45
5
Osmer. 54
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explaining research design that the first role of Osmer takes a highly technical and complex turn,
which helps in research objectivity and helps the congregational leader to understand the facts of
a specific episode. Osmer assumes that all the main components of achieving all the details of a
case are explaining, analyzing, and questioning
6
. In this study, the question of why baseball
players are not involved in religious activities was addressed. Data was collected and analyzed
for consistencies among the sample group to determine why or why not they were actively
involved with religion and some potential solutions to get the players more involved with
religion.
THE DESCRIPTIVE-EMPIRICAL TASK: WHAT IS GOING ON?
The purpose of this research is to investigate why there is a disconnection between the
baseball players and their religious involvement. The research will explore effective ways to help
coaches and universities connect baseball players in meaningful spiritual experiences. It has been
observed how few players attend mass and advocate the scripture. The head coach and the
president of the school have hosted different religious related events, without success, resulting
in few to zero of the baseball players having attended.
Osmer lists six observational research approaches, namely, interviews, participant
observation, artifact analysis, spatial analysis, demographic analysis, and focus groups, and
briefly discusses them
7
. Osmer also provides a helpful overview of four general steps in the
process of scientific study: data collection, transcription of data, review and interpretation of
data, and reporting of study
8
. The goal is to discover trends and themes in the data and potential
solutions in the data analysis process.
6
Osmer. 51
7
Osmer 54
8
Osmer 47
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This study will collect both qualitative data and quantitative data. The quantitative data
will be gathered in two ways: the number of baseball players attending the focus group, and the
percentage of baseball players’ who have no interest in attending church-related activities will be
recorded and analyzed. The qualitative data will consist of the players’ reasoning for not
attending these events. Data will be collected by hosting focus groups in a relaxed setting (the
locker room) where the players will be at ease to voice their opinions in a non-judgemental
environment. It is important to also interview a baseball player who does attend mass to answer
questions like “what is of interest in attending the mass?” With this information, it will be
possible to provide incentives to other players who don’t attend mass in order to stimulate their
interest in attending religious events as they may share similar interests to a baseball player who
does attend mass. In addition, an in depth interview with one specific player who was not part of
the focus group will be conducted, so as to provide meaningful information to address more
specifically why a baseball player avoids or fails to attend religious events.
The harvesting of data has to be taken with great care so as to prevent personal bias of the
writer in interpreting the data. It is imperative to dictate what premises the author utilizes in
interpreting data and provide a personal perspective on the questions as well. This is named
“reflexivity” by Osmer. There is a double crisis facing scientific studies: interpretation:
observation itself is theory-laden, so data representation is never strictly factual; and legitimacy:
“depending on the form of science being performed and its driving intent,” the conditions for
legitimizing research differ
9
.
For this study focus groups would be utilized. The benefits of using focus groups allow
9
Osmer. 57
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for honest answers that accurately depict what is going on for these participants
10
. For the first
focus group, attendees will be asked a set of verbal questions to better understand the players and
more importantly to understand their disinterest with attending church-related events. For the
next focus group surveys will be distributed regarding the information received from the first
meeting. In sessions three through eight, results from the surveys were discussed with the focus
group to determine if any of the proposed religious interactions would stimulate involvement.
A case study will also be conducted on student J.M. for a more in depth and personal
evaluation. This case study will involve an in depth interview spanning four one hour sessions. It
is likely that data collected from this case study will be applicable in many ways to the other
players on the baseball team and provide insight as to how religious involvement can help an
individual succeed in both athletics and academics. Additionally, J.M. provides unique insight
since prior to attending St. Thomas University, he was enrolled in a four year Christian
University.
THE INTERPRETIVE TASK: WHY IS IT GOING ON?
