Purpose Statements, Research Questions, And Hypotheses

Question 1

What is a purpose statement?

Answer 1

• establishes intent or objective of entire research study in a sentence (or a couple)
• most important statement in entire study
• differ from research problems or questions

Question 2

Qualities of quantitative purpose statements?

Answer 2

1. Begin with words that identify intent of study: “ the purpose of this study is to describe/examine/test..”
2. Identify important study variable (IV, DV, control)
3. Identify the theoretical framework or model guiding study
4. Identify participants targeted
5. Mention strategy of inquiry (e.g., survey, research, experimental)

Question 3

Qualities of qualitative purpose statements?

Answer 3

1. Begin with words: “the purpose of this study is to describe/explore/understand..”
2. Identify and describe central idea
3. Recognize Philisophical worldview + research approach
4. Identify participants targeted
5. Mention strategy of inquiry (e.g., grounded theory, case study)
6. Identify research site

Question 4

Qualities of mixed methods purpose statements?

Answer 4

1. Begin with words: the purpose of this study if to describe/test/examine/explore…
2. Identify the important study variables for quant. Aspect
3. Identify and describe central idea for qualitative aspect
4. Philisophical worldview
5. Theoretical framework or model guiding study
6. Participants targeted
7. Identify strategy of inquiry for both quant. And qualit. Study
8. Identify research site

Question 5

Where do research questions and hypotheses go?

Answer 5

After purpose statement

Question 6

What is a research question?

Answer 6

A broad inquiry statement about the central phenomenon (what is question you want to answer)

Question 7

What is a hypothesis?

Answer 7

A prediction that is derived from theory, literature, or speculation about the outcome of the study

Question 8

What are the 3 forms of research question in quantitative research?

Answer 8

• comparing groups
• relating independent and dependent variables (relational)
• describe responses/status on a variable (descriptive)

Question 9

What does quantitative research include?

Answer 9

-research questions and hypotheses
- research or alternative hypothesis
-null hypothesis

Question 10

What does qualitative research include?

Answer 10

Researchers questions, not hypotheses (not measuring, exploring)
- central question and sub-questions
- questions should reflect strategy of inquiry

Question 11

What should mixed methods include?

Answer 11

• both qualitative and quantitative research questions
• questions should be ordered to reflect a mixed design