Writing Qualitative

Purpose Statements
 A purpose statement shows the intent to explore or
understand the central phenomenon.

In a purpose statement
Use key identifier words (e.g. The purpose of this study is)
Consider mentioning that the study is qualitative
Indicate the type of research design
State the central phenomenon you want to explore
Use words such as explore, discover, understand, and describe
Mention the participants
Refer to the research site
A sample script
The purpose of this qualitative study is to (explore/discover)
(the central phenomenon) for (participants) at (research site)

E.g.
The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe classroom
learning using the internet for five high school students
participating in a sign language class
Developing Qualitative
Research Questions
General Info
Qualitative research questions are open-ended and general

They can change and/or emerge during the study

Most of the time a few general questions are enough

Neutral and exploratory language is used

E.g. Generate, discover, understand, describe, explore
INSTEAD OF
Affect, relate, compare, determine, cause, influence
Two types of questions can be used: central question and
subquestions
Central Questions
It is the overaching question we want to explore.
We consider the most general question we can ask
There are some strategies to be used while designing this
quesiton:
A) Begin with How or What (not Why) so you suggest
exploration
B) Specify the central phenomenon
C) Identify the participants
D) Mention the resarch site
A Sample Script
What is (the central phenomenon) for (participants) at
(research site)?

E.g.
What is creativity for five M.A. Students at Cag University?
Some Poor Examples
Problems Poor Better
Too General What is going on here? What is the process being used by
the general education committee
at the liberal arts school?
Too Focused How did the committee What is the process of the
make a curriculum curriculum committee in making
decision about a course decisions about courses?
on the environment?
Too laden with How did the curriculum What was the role of the college
assumptions committee address its administration in the curriculum
alienation from the committees deliberations?
college administration?
Subquestions
Subquestions refine the central question into subquestiones
to be addressed

Like the central question, they are open-ended, emerging,

neutral, and few in number

They provide greater specificity to the questions

Sample Subquestions
Central Question: What is self-esteem for high school
students?

Subquestions:
1. What is self-esteem as seen through friends?
2. What is self-esteem for the participants family?
3. What is self-esteem as experienced in extracurricular activities
in school?
An in-class activity
Step 1:
Look at your article and tell the focus of inquiry there

Now
Take out a piece of paper
Think for a few minutes about some topics that interest you and
jot down these topics in a corner of your paper
Select one of the topics and write it in the middle of your paper
For 5 minutes, write down the topics and ideas that relate to the
main topic; connect and cluster similar ideas
When you have finished, see if you have any patterns (e.g. age
group, gender, type of person, etc.)
 Step 2.
Look at your article and see how the purpose statement is
written there.
Now write your purpose statement

Step 3.
Find the research question(s) in your article (if any)
Now write your research question(s)
Go through other qualitative articles and find out the research
questions.
Compare those research questions in the article with those of
yours