Quantitative+Purpose+Statement

This page is for discussion, quotations, and thoughts regarding quantitative purpose statements. This statement does not have the same format or material as does a qualitative purpose statement. The resources below for the most part are quotations from different research books. I am pursuing a quantitative study, so the resources on this and other pages will focus on that. If you have additional quotations or thoughts regarding a research pages topic, please include it below. Please attempt to follow the structure, formatting, and citing examples already given. Thank you.


 * "The purpose statement is a concise paragraph that describes the intent of the study, and it should flow directly from the problem statement, specifically address the reason for conducting the study, and reflect the research questions. Identify the research method as quantitative (i.e., “The purpose of this quantitative study is to ... (succinctly describe the overarching study goal that reflects the research questions). Follow with a brief overview of how, with what instruments/data, with whom and where (as applicable). Research variables/constructs are briefly identified (including potential confounding variables, covariates, mediating variables, etc.). Research variables/constructs from valid and reliable instruments are identified and cited, if appropriate.Identify the specific population of study, including an estimate of the number of participants who served as the sample, based on a power analysis (quantitative/mixed method) or conventions (qualitative) as detailed in chapter 3. Finally, identify the geographic location of study (as applicable)" ( //Concept Paper Templat//e. (2011). Retrieved from Northcentral University website: http://learners.ncu.edu/ncu_diss/ ).

> You must also identify in your statement of purpose whether your research will be a qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods study; as well as. . . the research variables and their interrelationships, such as the independent and dependent variables and any moderator or intervening variables. . . . > To summarize, the purpose statement for your study must identify how your dissertation research will entend the boundaries of existing knowledge based on the work that other researchers have already done in your field. To do this, you must first identify a broad professional problem area or issue that interests you and then ground your work by searching the literature of your field for existing studies on or related to that topic. Finally, you must describe the purpose of your unique dissertation research project in a way that links it directly to that literature" ( Levasseur, R. E. (2011). //Dissertation research: An integrative approach//. St Augstine, FL: MindFire Press. pp. 17-18 ).
 * "Once you have grounded your dissertation topic in the literature, you must describe exactly what you intend to study in your dissertation research project and how you intend to study it. You cannot describe the purpose of your research unless you have identified the place in the literature that your work will occupy. Your purpose statement must speak precisely to the gap in the research literature you intend to fill or the boundary of knowledge that you intend to extend.


 * "Quantitative purpose statements differ considerably from the qualitative models in terms of the language and a focus on relating or comparing variables or constructs. . . . The design of a quantitative purpose statement includes the variables in the study and their relationship, the participants, and the research site. It also includes language associated with quantitative research and the deductive testing of relationships or theories. A quantitative purpose statement begins with identifying the proposed major variables in a study (independent, intervening, dependent), accompanied by a visual model to clearly identify this sequence, and locating and specifying how the variables will be measured or observed. Finally, the intent of using the variables quantitatively will be either to relate variables, as one typically finds in a survey, or to compare samples or groups in terms of an outcome, as commonly found in experiments. The major components of a good quantitative purpose statement include the following:
 * 1) Include the words to signal the major intent of the study, such as purpose, intent, or objective. Start with 'The purpose (or objective or intent) or this study is (was, will be) . . .'
 * 2) Identify the theory, model, or conceptual framework. At this point one does not need to describe it in detail. . . . Mentioning it in the purpose statement provides emphasis on the importance of the theory and foreshadows its use in the study.
 * 3) Identify the independent and dependent variables, as well as any mediating, moderating, or control variables used in the study.
 * 4) Use words that connect the independent and dependent variables to indicate that they are related, such as 'the relationship between' two or more variables, or a 'comparison of' two or more groups. Most quantitative studies employ one of these two options for connecting variables in the purpose statement. A combination of comparing and relating might also exist, for example, a two-factor experiment in which the researcher has two or more treatment groups as well as a continuous independent variable. Although one typically finds studies about comparing two or more groups in experiments, it is also possible to compare groups in a survey study.
 * 5) Position or order the variables from left to right in the purpose statement, with the independent variable followed by the dependent variable. Place intervening variables between the independent and dependent variables. Many researchers also place the moderating variables between the independent and dependent variables. Alternatively, control variables might be placed immediately following the dependent variable, in a phrase such as 'controlling for . . . ' In experiments, the independent variable will always be the manipulated variable.
 * 6) Mention the specific type of strategy of inquiry (such as survey or experimental research) used in the study. By incorporating this information the researcher anticipates the methods discussion and enables a reader to associate the relationship of variables to the inquiry approach.
 * 7) Make reference to the participants (or the unit of analysis) in the study and mention the research site.
 * 8) Generally define each key variable, preferably using set and accepted established definitions found in the literature. General definitions are included at this point ot help the reader best understand the purpose statement. They do not replace specific, operational definitions found later when a writer has a 'Definition of Terms' section in a proposal. . . . Also delimitations that affect the scope of the study might be mentioned, such as the scope of the data collection or limited to certain individuals" (Creswell, J. W. (2009). //Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches// (3rd ed.). Los Angeles, CA: SAGE., pp. 116-118 ).


 * 1) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">"Start with this sentence and fill in the blank: "The purpose of this study is ... ." This opening will help you clarify in your own mind exactly how your purpose statement needs to be written.
 * 2) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">State the purpose in a way that an intelligent person who is well-read, but uninformed in your area of study, would understand it. If the purpose of the study isn't clear to you, it won't be to your reader either.
 * 3) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Provide brief and specific background information of the purpose. This will be revisited later, so don't dwell on it at this point. A sentence or two should cover it.
 * 4) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Incorporate the rationale for the study in your purpose statement so your reader knows exactly why you want to conduct the study for your dissertation. Some committees prefer that the "rationale" and the "purpose" are in separate sections, so check first.
 * 5) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Present the purpose statement within the context of the dissertation. Discuss the reasons that support the theoretical or conceptual framework you have chosen.
 * 6) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Identify the main ideas or central concepts of the purpose for your study. Make a judicious choice between operational or descriptive definitions when defining terms.
 * 7) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Introduce the methodology you will be using in your purpose statement. Present a logical rationale for your choice.
 * 8) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Focus on the points outlined as you write a draft of your purpose statement. Review your draft and make sure you addressed all the issues in an intelligent manner.
 * 9) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Leave the draft for a day or more and then come back to it. Read the purpose statement draft aloud to yourself and think about how it sounds to other people. Correct any typing or grammar mistakes.
 * 10) <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">Review your purpose statement with your dissertation adviser and ask her if she has any ideas or suggestions of how you could improve it. Print a copy of the final purpose statement and give her a copy for your file" ( <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 90%;">Hanson, J. (n.d.). How to write a purpose statement for a dissertation proposal. Retrieved from http://www.ehow.com/how_7897457_write-purpose-statement-dissertation-proposal.html <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman',Times,serif; font-size: 120%;">).