Assignment

The Purpose Statement

Date: - 20-02-2020
 Purpose Statement
1. What is Purpose Statement
A purpose statement is a declarative sentence which summarizes the specific topic and goals of a document. It
is typically included the introduction to give the reader an accurate, concrete understanding what the document
will cover and what he/she can gain from reading it. To be effective, a statement of purpose should be: -

 Specific and precise - not general, broad or obscure

 Concise - one or two sentences
 Clear - not vague, ambiguous or confusing
 Goal-oriented - stated in terms of desired outcomes.

A statement that advance the overall direction of focus for the study in one or more briefly formed sentence. It
is used for both quantitative and qualitative research and it’s typically found in the “STATEMENT OF THE
PROBLEM” section. Often appears as the last sentence of an introduction. Typically state it beginning with
the phrase “the purpose of the study is …….”. In qualitative study it is usually based on exploration of the
phenomenon, behavior, attitude, etc.
If we think of the problem statement as the heart of the study, then we can think of the purpose statement as the
brain of the study. The Purpose statement tells your reader what the primary goal of the researcher is (was). In
addition to stating the objective of the research, the purpose statement informs the reader of: the method of
research, population under investigation, the setting, and includes the phenomena or variables being studied.
The purpose statement explains "what" your study will accomplish. The purpose statement succinctly creates
direction, scope, and the means of data collection. The statement is formulated in a way that assures the reader
that the objectives and goals can be obtained, and once these are accomplished, the problem will be solved. A
purpose statement is usually 1-3 paragraphs.

(i) Significance and Meaning of a purpose Statement

According to Locke et al. (2007), the purpose statement indicates “why you want to do the study
and what you intend to accomplish". Purpose statement provides critical information about direction of a
research study. They also raise question that research will answer through the data collection procedure. These
statements are signposts will not know central idea addressed in your study. Author could also identify the most
appropriate method for collecting data from the purpose statement. Good research links the purpose statement to
major result.
Unfortunately, proposal-writing texts give little attention to the purpose statement, and writers on method often
incorporate it into discussions about other topics, such as specifying research questions or hypotheses.
Wilkinson (1991), for example, refers to it within the context of the research question and objective. Other
authors frame it as an aspect of the research problem (Castetter & Heisler, 1977). Closely examining their
discussions, however, indicates that they both refer to the purpose statement as the central, controlling idea in a
study.
This passage is called the purpose statement because it conveys the overall intent of a proposed
study in a sentence or several sentences. In proposals, researchers need to distinguish clearly
between the purpose statement, the research problem, and the research questions. The purpose
statement sets forth the intent of the study, not the problem or issue leading to a need for the study.
The purpose is also not the research questions those questions that the data collection will attempt to answer
Instead and again, the purpose statement sets the objectives, the intent, or the major idea of a proposal or a
study. This idea builds on a need (the problem) and is refined into specific questions (the research questions).
Given the importance of the purpose statement, it is helpful to set it apart from other aspects of the proposal or
study and to frame it as a single sentence or paragraph that readers can identify easily.
Although qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods purpose statements share similar topics, each is
identified in the following paragraphs and illustrated with fill-in scripts for constructing a thorough but
manageable purpose statement.
(ii) Ineffective Purpose Statement
(1) "The purpose of this paper is to describe the changes that are occurring in corporate America."
Critique: This purpose statement is too vague and broad. Reader cannot understand the what changes
occurring in corporate America. Questions: -What type of changes in corporate America will be described?
What are the specific changes? What aspects of corporate America will be discussed? Will this paper also
discuss the effects of these changes?
(2) "The purpose of this report is to discuss the eating disorders Anorexia and Bulimia."
Critique: This statement is also too vague and broad. Reader have not clear what aspect of these disorders
will be discussed, or what the reader will learn. Questions: What specific aspects of these eating disorders will
be discussed? The causes of these disorders? The signs or symptoms of these disorders? The effects of these
disorders? If so, what types of effects - physical, emotional, psychological.
(iii) Effective Purpose Statement
(1) "This paper will describe four common causes of co-worker conflict in organizations and explain how to
use a five-step procedure to constructively manage this conflict."
Critique:  Very specific about what aspects of conflict will be discussed. Very precise about how much
information will be given. Very clear about what the reader will learn.
(2) "This report will explain how supervisors can use four planning strategies to improve employee productivity
in the workplace."
Critique:  Very specific about what will be discussed (planning strategies), and what the outcome will be for
the reader (how to improve employee productivity).

[Link] Purpose statement

The basic design features for writing the qualitative purpose statement in which must use words such as
purpose, intent, or objective to signal attention to this statement as the central controlling idea. For example,
"The purpose (or intent or objective) of this study is (was) (will be) …. " In qualitative Purpose statement
Focus on a single phenomenon or concept or idea. Use action verbs in purpose statement to convey how
learning will take place. e.g., describe, understand, develop, examine the meaning of, discover. In qualitative
purpose statement Use neutral words and phrases no directional language. Provide a general working definition
of the central phenomenon or idea. Include words denoting the strategy of inquiry to be used in data collection,
analysis, and the process of research. In qualitative purpose statement Mention the participants in the study.
e.g., individuals, a group of people, or an entire organization. Identify the site for the research e.g, homes,
classrooms, organizations, programs, or events. Include some language that delimits the scope of participation
or research sites in the study. As a final thought in the purpose statement, include some language that delimits
the scope of participation or research sites in the study. For example, the study may be limited to women only or
Latinas only. The research site may be limited to one metropolitan city or to one small geographic area. The
central phenomenon may be limited to individuals in business organizations who participate in creative teams.
These delimitations help to further define the parameters of the research study. Although considerable variation
exists in the inclusion of these points in purpose statements, a good dissertation or thesis proposal should
contain many of them. Example of qualitative purpose statement is:" 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). Purpose
statement may change in during research process. Emerging process indicates that the purpose of a study asked
may change based on the inquirer allows the participant to set the direction. Researcher learns the participant
views rather than imposing his own view on the situation. The purpose of qualitative study is to develop central
phenomenon not to develop consensus of opinion.
(i) A Purpose Statement in a Qualitative Phenomenology Study
Phenomenology study represents a philosophical approach to studying human experiences based on the idea
that human experience itself is inherently subjective and determined by the context in which people live. The
following example may illustrate the Phenomenology study in qualitative purpose statement. The purpose of
phenomenology study was to investigate individual experiences of African Americans who overcome obstacles
and attained the rank of chief within their police organization. Results from the current phenomenological study
of the human experiences of African American police leaders shed light on obstacles they overcome to achieve
success and promotion within law enforcement. The information garnered includes participants family
background and history, educational history, mentorship, socioeconomic status, peer relations, leadership
philosophies, and racial and cultural issues. The data collection process incorporated in-depth interviews in an
effort to ascertain the experience that contributed to the participants' successes.

(ii) A purpose statement in a Qualitative Case Study

A purpose statement in case study simply refer to the documented history of a particular person, group,
organization, or event. The following example can illustrate the purpose statement in a qualitative case study
e.g, Kos (1991) conducted a multiple case study of perceptions of reading disabled middle school students
concerning factors that prevented these students from progressing in their reading development. Her purpose
statement read as follows the purpose of this study was to explore affective, social, and educational factors that
may have contributed to the development of reading disabilities in four adolescents. The study also sought
explanation as to why students’ reading disabilities persisted despite years of instruction. This was not an
intervention study and, although some students may have improved their reading, reading improvement was not
the focus of the study.

(iii) A Purpose Statement in Ethnography

Ethnography represents ways of studying cultures through methods that involve becoming highly active with
that culture. Participant observation typifies an ethnographic research approach. Rhoads (1997) conducted a 2-
year ethnographic study exploring how the campus climate can be
improved for gay and bisexual males at a large university. His purpose statement, included in the
opening section, was as follows: The article contributes to the literature addressing the needs of gay and
bisexual students by identifying several areas where progress can be made in improving the campus climate for
them. This paper derives from a two-year ethnographic study of a student subculture composed of gay and
bisexual males at a large research university; the focus on men reflects the fact that lesbian and bisexual women
constitute a separate student subculture at the university under study.
(iv) A Purpose Statement in Grounded theory
Grounded theory represents an inductive investigation in which the researcher poses questions about
information provided by respondents or taken from historical records. Richie and colleagues (1997) conducted a
qualitative study to develop a theory of the career development of 18 prominent, highly achieving African
American Black and White women in the United States working in different occupational fields. In the second
paragraph of this study, they stated the purpose. The present article describes a qualitative study of the career
development of 18 prominent, highly achieving African-American Black and White women in the United States
across eight occupational fields. Our overall aim in the study was to explore critical influences on the career
development of these women, particularly those related to their attainment of professional success.

3. Quantitative Purpose statement

In quantitative purpose statement identifying the proposed major variables in a study. Independent, intervening
and dependent variables are proposed. A visual model is accompanied to clearly identify this sequence.
Locating and specifying how the variables will be measured or observed. Using the variables quantitatively to
relate variables. One typically finds in a survey Using the variables quantitatively to compare samples or groups
in terms of an outcome. Commonly found in experiments. The major components of a good quantitative
purpose statement include the following. Include words to signal the major intent of the study. e.g., purpose,
intent, or objective. “The purpose (or intent or objective) of this study is (was) (will be) …."Identify the theory,
model, or conceptual framework. Writing a separate “Theoretical Perspective” section. Identify the independent
and dependent variables. Use words that connect the independent and dependent variables to indicate that they
are related.
the relationship between two or more variables a comparison of two or more groups. Position or order the
variable from left to right in the purpose statement, with the independent variable followed by the dependent
variable. controlling for…Mention the specific type of strategy of inquiry (such as survey or experimental
research) used in the study. Refer to the participants in the study and mention the research site. Generally,
define each key variable, preferably using set and accepted established definitions found in the literature.
A quantitative purpose statement script.
The purpose of this ______ (experiment? Survey?) study is (was? will be?) to test the theory of ______ 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), ______, (identify the control and
intervening variables) will be defined as _________ (provide a general definition).
The purpose of this quantitative study was to determine the relationship between teacher job satisfaction and the
teacher perceived leadership traits of principals within public school in the coastal region of virginia. The
significance of the relationship is that it may inform an understanding of how teacher leadership influences
teacher retention, which has been correlated to satisfaction. The study used validated and reliable attitudinal
measures to assess the variables under investigation.

(i) A purpose statement in Published survey study

Kalof (2000) conducted a 2-year longitudinal study of 54 college women about their attitudes and experiences
with sexual victimization. These women responded to two identical mail surveys administered 2 years apart.
The author combined the purpose statement, introduced in the opening section, with the research questions. This
study is an attempt to elaborate on and clarify the link between women’s sex role attitudes and experiences with
sexual victimization. I used two years of data from 54 college women to answer these questions: (1) Do
women’s attitudes influence vulnerability to sexual coercion over a two-year period? (2) Are attitudes changed
after experiences with sexual victimization? (3) Does prior victimization reduce or increase the risk of later
victimization?

(ii) A Purpose statement in Dissertations Survey study

De Graw (1984) completed a doctoral dissertation in the field of education on the topic of educators working in
adult correctional institutions. Under a section titled “Statement of the Problem,” The purpose of this study was
to examine the relationship between personal characteristics and the job motivation of certified educators who
taught in selected state adult correctional institutions in the United States. Personal characteristics were divided
into background information about the respondent (i.e., institutional information, education level, prior training,
etc.) and information about the respondents’ thoughts of changing jobs. The examination of background
information was important to this study because it was hoped it would be possible to identify characteristics and
factors contributing to significant differences in mobility and motivation. The second part of the study asked the
respondents to identify those motivational factors of concern to them. Job motivation was defined by six general
factors identified in the educational work components study (EWCS) questionnaire (Miskel & Heller, 1973).
These six factors are: potential for personal challenge and development; competitiveness; desirability and
reward of success; tolerance for work pressures; conservative security; and willingness to seek reward in spite
of uncertainty vs. avoidance.

(iii) A Purpose statement in Experimental Study

Booth Kewley, Edwards, and Rosenfeld (1992) undertook a study comparing the social desirability of
responding to a computer version of an attitude and personality questionnaire with completing a pencil-and-
paper version. They replicated a study completed on college students that used an inventory, called Balanced
Inventory of Desirable Responding (BIDR), composed of two scales: (a) impression management (IM) and (b)
self-deception (SD). In the final paragraph of the introduction, they advanced the purpose of the study. We
designed the present study to compare the responses of Navy recruits on the IM and SD scales, collected under
three conditions—with paper-and-pencil, on a computer with backtracking allowed, and on a computer with no
backtracking allowed. Approximately half of the recruits answered the questionnaire anonymously and the other
half identified themselves.

4. Mixed Method purpose statement

Mixed methods purpose statements contain the overall intent of the study, information about both the
quantitative and qualitative strands of the study, and a rationale of incorporating both strand to study the
research problem. These statements need to be identified early, in the introduction, and they provide major
signposts for the reader to understand the quantitative and qualitative parts of a study. Several guidelines might
direct the organization and presentation of the mixed methods purpose statement. The guidelines of the
organization and presentation of the mixed methods purpose statement.
Begin with signaling words. (The purpose of… The intent of …) Indicate the overall intent of the study from a
content perspective. This intent is to learn about…. The intent is to examine …. Indicate the type of mixed
methods design, such as sequential, concurrent, or transformational, that will be used. Discuss the reasons for
both quantitative and qualitative data. Include the characteristics of a good qualitative purpose statement.
Include the characteristics of a good quantitative purpose statement. Considering adding information about the
specific types of both qualitative and quantitative data collection.
A mixed method purpose statement script. A sequential study with a 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 ______
(type of data) from ______ (participants) at ______ (research site). Finding from this quantitative phase will
then used to test (a theory, research questions, or hypotheses) that ______ (relate, compare) ______
(independent variable) with ______ (dependent variable), controlling for ______ (control variables) for ______
(sample of population) at ______ (the 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).

(i) A Convergent mixed methods purpose statement

Classen and colleagues (2007) developed a health promotion model for older driver safety. Conducting a large
secondary analysis of a national database, they examined the risk and protective factors influencing driver
injuries (the quantitative phase). They also conducted a qualitative metasynthesis of six studies to determine
narrative results pertaining to needs, factors influencing safety, and safety priorities of older driver stakeholders
(the qualitative phase). They then compared the two databases to integrate the results from both sets of data.
Their purpose statement was as follows. This study provided an explicit socio-ecological view explaining the
interrelation of possible causative factors, an integrated summary of these factors, and empirical guidelines for
developing public health interventions to promote older driver safety. Using a mixed methods approach, we
were able to compare and integrate main findings from a national crash dataset with perspectives of
stakeholders.

(ii) Exploratory Sequential Mixed methods Purpose Statement

Myers and Oetzel (2003) created and validated a measure of organizational assimilation. This
measure reflects the interactive mutual acceptance of newcomers into an organizational setting. The study
began with interviewing members from advertising, banking, hospitality, university, nonprofit, and publishing
industries, followed by the design of a survey that was then administered to a sample in order to validate the six
emerging dimensions. The purpose statement was as follows. What is needed then is an instrument to assess
members’ level of organizational assimilation. The study reported here proceeded in two stages. In the first
stage, we explored dimensions of organizational assimilation to define the processes involved in transitioning
from newcomer to organizational member. Stage one concluded with the development of an instrument that
permits operationalization of the dimensions of organization assimilation. The second stage consisted of efforts
to validate the measure, which we call the Organizational Assimilation Index.

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