Chapter Six:
The Purpose Statement
RESEARCH DESIGN
Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches
Third Edition
John W. Creswell
Chapter Outline
Significance and Meaning of a Purpose
Statement
A Qualitative Purpose Statement
A Quantitative Purpose Statement
A Mixed Methods Purpose Statement
Significance and Meaning of a
Purpose Statement
The purpose statement
Is the central controlling idea in a study
Is written in a sentence or several sentences
Sets the objectives, the intent, or the major idea of a
proposal or a study
The purpose statement is NOT
The problem leading to a need for the study (see Chapter 5)
The questions to be answered by collecting data (see
Chapter 7)
Qualitative Purpose Statements
A good qualitative purpose statement contains:
The central phenomenon
The participants
The research site
Include language drawn from qualitative inquiry
Use words such as purpose, intent, or objective
Use action verbs such as describe, understand, develop,
examine the meaning of, or discover
Use neutral, nondirectional language
Indicate the strategy of inquiry
Provide a tentative definition of the central phenomenon
A Script for Writing Qualitative
Purpose Statements
The purpose of this (strategy of inquiry, such as
ethnography, case study, or other type) study is
(was? will be?) to (understand? describe? develop?
discover?) the (central phenomenon being studied)
for (the participants, such as the individual, groups,
organization) at (research site). At this stage in the
research, the (central phenomenon being studied)
will be generally defined as (provide a general
definition).
Quantitative Purpose Statements
A good quantitative purpose statement contains:
The variables (independent, dependent, and mediating, moderating
or control)
The participants
The research site
Include the following:
Use words such as purpose, intent, or objective
Identify the theory, model, or conceptual framework
Use words to connect the independent and dependent variables
such as related to or comparison of
Position the independent before the dependent variable; other
variables may go between the two or after the dependent variable
Mention the specific strategy of inquiry
Provide general definitions of key variables
A Script for Writing Quantitative
Purpose Statements
The purpose of this (experiment? survey?) study is
(was? will be?) to test the theory of (theory name)
that (compares? relates?) the (independent variable)
to (dependent variable), controlling for (control
variables) for (participants) at (the research site). The
independent variable(s) will be defined as (provide a
definition). The dependent variable(s) will be defined
as (provide a definition), and the control and
intervening variable(s) will be defined as (provide a
definition).
Mixed Methods Purpose
Statements
A good mixed methods purpose statement contains:
The overall intent of the study from a content perspective
Information about both the quantitative and qualitative
strands of the study
A rationale for combining both quantitative and qualitative
data
Guidelines include:
Use words such as purpose, intent, or objective
Indicate the type of mixed methods design
Include the aspects of good qualitative and quantitative
purpose statements
Consider adding information on both types of data collection
Four Scripts for Writing Mixed
Methods Purpose Statements
I. Sequential Study with Quantitative Phase Building on
Initial Qualitative Phase
The intent of this two-phase, sequential mixed methods
study is to (mention content objective of the study). The first
phase will be a qualitative exploration of a (central
phenomenon) by collecting (types of data) from (participants)
at (research site). Findings from this qualitative phase will
then be used to test (a theory, research questions, or
hypotheses) that (relate, compare) (independent variable)
with (dependent variable) for (sample of population) at
(research site). The reason for collecting qualitative data
initially is that (e.g., instruments are inadequate or not
available, variables are not known, there is little guiding
theory or few taxonomies).
Four Scripts for Writing Mixed
Methods Purpose Statements
II. Sequential Study with Qualitative Phase To Explain
Initial Quantitative Results
The intent of this two-phase, sequential mixed methods
study will be to (mention content objective of the study). In
the first phase, quantitative research questions or
hypotheses will address the relationship or comparison of
(independent) and (dependent) variables with (participants)
at (the research site). Information from this first phase will be
explored further in a second qualitative phase. In the second
phase, qualitative interviews or observations will be used to
probe significant (quantitative results) by exploring aspects
of the (central phenomenon) with (a few participants) at
(research site). The reason for following up with qualitative
research in the second phase is to (e.g., better understand
and explain the quantitative results).
Four Scripts for Writing Mixed
Methods Purpose Statements
III. Concurrent Study to Best Understand a Problem
The intent of this concurrent mixed methods study is to
(content objective of the study). In the study, (quantitative
instruments) will be used to measure the relationship
between (independent variable) and (dependent variable).
At the same time, the (central phenomenon) will be explored
using (qualitative interviews or observations) with
(participants) at (the research site). The reason for
combining both quantitative and qualitative data is to better
understand this research problem by converging both
quantitative (broad numeric trends) and qualitative (detailed
views) data.
Four Scripts for Writing Mixed
Methods Purpose Statements
IV. A Transformative Mixed Methods Study
The intent of this concurrent mixed methods study is to
(state issue that needs to be addresses for group or
individuals). In the study, (quantitative instruments) will be
used to measure the relationship between (independent
variable) and (dependent variable). At the same time, the
(central phenomenon) will be explored using (qualitative
interviews or observations) with (participants) at (the
research site). The reason for combining both quantitative
and qualitative data is to better understand this research
problem by converging both quantitative (broad numeric
trends) and qualitative (detailed views) data and to advocate
for change for (groups or individuals).
Chapter Six:
The Purpose Statement
RESEARCH DESIGN
Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches
Third Edition
John W. Creswell