The document discusses the importance and purpose of a qualitative research study's purpose statement. It notes that the purpose statement indicates why the study is being done and what it aims to accomplish. It should advance the overall focus of the study in one or two sentences. While purpose statements may emerge or change during the qualitative research process as the researcher learns from participants, guidelines are provided for writing an effective initial qualitative purpose statement, including mentioning the central phenomenon and intended participants/research site. Sample purpose statements are also included.

1. S U B M I T T E D B Y : K I N Z A A F Z A L
R O L L N U M B E R : 1 3 1 1 4 0
A qualitative purpose statement

2. 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” (p. 9).
 Purpose statement provides critical information
about direction of a research study. They also raise
question that research will answer through the data
collection procedure.

3. The Purpose statement
 A statement that advance the overall direction of focus
for the stud 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

4. IMPORTANCE OF PURPOSE STATEMENT
 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.

5. Emerging process in qualitative research
 Purpose statement may change in during research
process.
 Emerging process indicates that the purpose of a
study asked may change based on the inquiry from
participant because qualitative 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.

6. Writing qualitative purpose statement
 Care need to be given to writing a good purpose
statement that reflects the direction of the study.
 Indicates the intent to explore or understand the
central phenomenon with specific individuals at a
certain research site.
 Inquirers write this purpose statement as a single
sentence and typically include it in a study at the end
of the introduction.

7. Guidelines
 Use key identifier words to single the reader, such as
“The purpose of the study is……”
 Mentioning that the study is “qualitative” since audience
may not be familiar with qualitative research.
 Become familiar with qualitative research designs, and
indicate the type of research you plan to use in your
study.
 State the central phenomenon you plan to explore.
 Use word that convey intent about the exploration, such
as explore, discover, understand and describe.
 Mention the participant in the study.
 Refer to research site where you will study the
participant.

8. You have a good purpose statement if
 There are no dissertations or major studies that have
already fulfilled your purpose.
 There are articles, dissertations and other existing
research that will help address this area.
 Data are available that you can access legally.
 You have permission to conduct the research at the
research site you listed.

9. Sample Script
 The purpose of this qualitative study is to
(explore/discover/understand/describe) (the central
phenomenon) of/for (participants) at/in (research site)
 Examples:
 The purpose of this qualitative study is to describe the
impact of customer service representatives on the
satisfaction of corporate customers at a major retail
center in central Florida.
 The purpose of this qualitative study is to understand
how change in corporate leadership resulted in employee
policy changes for hourly workers at a major retail center
in Atlanta, Georgia.

10. References:
 http://www.slideshare.net/MuhammadNaus
hadGhazanfar/specifying-a-purpose
 http://dissertationrecipes.com/wp-
content/uploads/2011/04/Problem-
Statement-Checklist.pdf
 http://apps.fischlerschool.nova.edu/toolbox/
Dissertation/Handouts/The%20Purpose%20
Statement%20Handout%20Sep%2019%2020
12.pdf

11. Thank You