A good qualitative purpose statement contains information about the central phenomenon explored in the study, the participants in the study. and the research site. It also conveys an emerging design and uses research words drawn from the language of qualitative inquiry (Schwandt. 2007). Thus, one might consider several basic design features for writing this statement:

– Use words such as purpose, intent, or objective to signal attention to this statement as the central controlling idea.

– Focus on a single phenomenon (or concept or idea). Narrow the study to one idea to be explored or understood. This focus means that a purpose does not convey relating two or more variables or comparing two or more groups. as is typically fonnd in quantitative research.

– Use action verbs to convey how learning will take place. Action verbs and phrases. such as describe. understand. develop, examine the meaning of. or discover, keep the inquiry open and convey an emerging design

– Use neutral words and phrases-nondirectionallanguage-such as, exploring the “experiences of individuals” rather than the “successful experiences of individuals.”

– Provide a general working definition of the central phenomenon or idea, especially if the phenomenon is a term that is not typically understood by a broad audience.

– Include words denoting the strategy of inquiry to be used in data collection, analysis, and the process of research, such as whether the study will use an ethnographic, grounded theory, case study, phenomenological, narrative approach, or some other strategy.

– Mention the participants in the study, such as whether there might be one or more individuals, a group of people, or an entire organization.

– Identify the site for the research, such as homes, classrooms, organizations, programs, or events. Describe this site in enough detail so that the reader knows exactly where a study will take place.

– As a final thought in the purpose statement, include some language that delimits the scope of participation or research sites in the study.

To assist you, here follows a script that should be helpful in drafting a complete statement. A script, as used in this book, contains the major words and ideas of a statement and provides space for the researcher to insert information.

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).

Source: Research Design, Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches by John W. Creswell