The Banal (Non)Religion: Secular Imaginaries in Contemporary Pop-Culture project invites doctoral students in the sociology of religion and related fields to a pre-conference workshop on methods of analysis, and how to research fuzzy or messy populations and topics without over interpreting. The workshop will start with lunch on the 11th of August, and continue until lunch on the 12th leading into the conference. Travel costs, one night stay, as well as lunch and dinner is covered by the Banal (Non)Religion: Secular Imaginaries in Contemporary Pop-Culture<\/em> project, which is co-organizing this Pre-Conference with NASR.<\/p>\n\n\n\n The NCSR 2026 conference Research Approaches, Design and Methodology in the Sociology of Religion: Centering the Marginalized, Vulnerable and Socially Excluded focuses on the methodological repertoire of the sociology of religion. It focuses on how new questions arise in the study of marginalized and socially excluded populations. By focusing on these critical issues, NCSR 2026 aims to foster a deeper, more inclusive sociology of religion that not only observes but actively engages with the complexity and diversity of contemporary lived realities.<\/p>\n\n\n\n During the pre-conference you can expect lectures, as well as seminar discussions on your own papers by senior researchers, as well as your fellow doctoral students. The workshop will respond to the call of the conference, and will invite you to reflect on questions like how does our methods shape whose voices are heard, and how those voices are interpreted? And, how do we achieve quality, validity and reliability when studying hard to pin down populations?<\/p>\n\n\n\n Before the workshop you will be asked to write a short paper of 1500-2000 words (excluding references). The paper should either a) reflect on your own analysis of empirical work in your dissertation, detailing difficult choices, issues, or b) discuss relevant issues, concerns and questions you anticipate in your own empirical work in relation to the literature below. Register attendance by the 12th of June<\/strong> via email to evelina.lundmark@teol.uu.se<\/a>. The deadline for your paper is on the 31st of July<\/strong>, and should be sent to: evelina.lundmark@teol.uu.se<\/a>. You will be asked to comment on someone else’s paper, so be prepared to spend some time on that in the week leading up to the conference.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Participation in the pre-conference requires that attendees are already registered for the main conference and have submitted a paper. Travel costs will be covered with a cap off 4000SEK, 1-2 hotel nights will be covered with a cap of 3000SEK (remember to save receipts). For doctoral students at Uppsala University please contact Evelina Lundmark directly for how to proceed.<\/p>\n\n\n\n Maria Klingenberg, Karoliina Dahl, David Herbert, Evelina Lundmark<\/p>\n\n\n\nPractical information:<\/h4>\n\n\n\n
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