Using your research idea, write your purpose, research questions and hypotheses, and instrumentation (survey or interview questions) that you are going to use for your study.
Students are expected to respond to the post in no less than 300 words.
The Purpose Statement
(Research Design, p. 137):
Using the scripts for a qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods purpose statement, write a statement by completing the blanks. Make this statement short; write no more than approximately three-quarters of a typed page (double spaced).
Questions to ask when you review your purpose statement:
c Does the statement begin with signaling words?
c Does the statement identify the strategy of inquiry?
c Does the statement mention the participants?
c Does the statement mention the research site?
c If the study is qualitative, does the purpose statement:
o Focus on a single phenomenon?
o Use an action verb to convey how learning will take place?
o Use neutral, nondirectional language?
o Provide a general working direction of the central phenomenon?
c If the study is quantitative, does the purpose statement:
o Identify the independent, dependent, and control variables?
o Use words that connect the variables?
o Position the variables from independent to dependent?
o Provide a general definition of each key variable?
c 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?
Item
Chapter Six: The Purpose Statement
Chapter Six: The Purpose Statement
The following citations are examples of purpose statements for research.
1. Qualitative example: Morales, A. (2006). Language brokering in Mexican immigrant families living in the Midwest: A multiple case study. [Dissertation Proposal]. University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Purpose statement on p. 7.
2. Quantitative example: Hayes, M. (2007). Design and analysis of the Student Strengths Index (SSI) for nontraditional graduate students. [Thesis Proposal]. University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Purpose statement on p. 5.
3. Mixed methods example: Ivankova, N. (2002). Students’ persistence in the University of Nebraska-Lincoln distributed doctoral program in educational administration: A mixed methods study. [Dissertation Proposal]. University of Nebraska–Lincoln.
Purpose statement on pp. 7-8.
Examine the purpose statements within the following research articles:
1. Qualitative examples:
Haldenby, A. M., Berman, H., & Forchuk, C. (2007). Homelessness and health in adolescents. Qualitative Health Research, 17(9), 1232–1244.
Purpose statement on p. 1235.
Harley, A. E., Buckworth, J., Katz, M. L., Willis, S. K., Odoms-Young, & Heaney, C. A. (2009). Developing long-term physical activity participation: A grounded theory study with African American women. Health Education & Behavior, 36(1), 97-112.
Purpose statement on p. 3.
2. Quantitative examples:
Beare, P., Torgerson, C., & Creviston, C. (2008). Increasing verbal behavior of a student who is selectively mute. Journal of Emotional and Behavioral Disorders, 16(4), 248-255.
Purpose statement on p. 2.
Eng, J., Ramsum, D., Verhoef, M., Guns, E., Davison, J., & Gallagher, R. (2003). A population-based survey of complementary and alternative medicine use in men recently diagnosed with prostate cancer. Integrative Cancer Therapies, 2(3), 212–216.
Purpose statement on p. 213.
