Your Purpose Statement is designed to explain particular elements of your study to the reader. It works in tandem with the Introduction to orient the reader and to set the context for your study. In this Discussion, you will have the opportunity to create a Purpose Statement and to engage with other students as you read and comment on one another's statements.
Create your Purpose Statement, noting the distinctions between this element and your Introduction. Your course text, Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches,has several templates and suggestions you can use to formulate your statement. Consider the following questions as you prepare, and be sure to craft your statement according to whether it pertains to a quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods study:
Does the statement begin with signaling words? If so, what are they?
Does the statement identify the strategy of inquiry?
Does the statement mention the participants?
Does the statement mention the research site?
If the study is qualitative, does the Purpose Statement:
Focus on a single phenomenon?
Use an action verb to convey how learning will take place?
Use neutral, nondirectional language?
Provide a general working direction of the central phenomenon?
If the study is quantitative, does the Purpose Statement:
Identify the independent, dependent, and control variables?
Use words that connect the variables?
Position the variables from independent to dependent?
Provide a general definition of each key variable?
If the study is mixed methods, does the Purpose Statement:
Indicate the overall content intent?
Discuss the reasons for combining both quantitative and qualitative data?
Include the characteristics of a good qualitative purpose statement (as listed above)?
Include the characteristics of a good quantitative purpose statement (as listed above)?
Indicate the specific types of quantitative and qualitative data collection