This document discusses key elements of developing a qualitative research study, including the problem statement, purpose statement, and research questions. It provides guidance on writing each element to properly encode and reflect the chosen qualitative approach. The problem statement should create a rationale and need for the study. The purpose statement identifies the qualitative approach, central phenomenon, and participants/site. Research questions include an overarching central question and several open-ended subquestions that further divide and explore the central question. Examples are given for how to write each element through different qualitative lenses.

1. Chapter 6
Introducing and
Focusing the
Study

2. Questions for Discussion
• What does evidence of interrelationship across the
research problem, purpose, and questions look like?
• How can the problem statement be best written to
reflect one of the approaches to qualitative research?
• How can the purpose statement be best written to
convey the orientation of an approach to research?
• How can a central question be written so that it
encodes and foreshadows an approach to qualitative
research?
• How can subquestions be presented so that they
subdivide the central question into several parts?
2Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

3. Methodological Congruence
Problem statement
Purpose statement
Research question
Subquestions
3Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

4. The Research Problem
Statement
• Need for study
• Create a rationale
• Opening passage
4Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

5. Reasons for Qualitative Studies
• Add to deficiencies in the literature
• Give voice to under-represented groups
• Probe understanding of central phenomenon
• Lead to outcomes such as
– Stories
– Essence of a phenomenon
– Generate theory
– Cultural life of group
– In-depth analysis of a case
5Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

6. Introduction: Elements
6
• Create reader interest
• Narrative hook
Topic
• Need for study
• Real life issues or literature gaps
Research problem
• Directly, generally, relatively
related to study
Scholarly literature
• Gaps that exist
• Relate to one of the approaches
Deficiencies
• How each will benefit
Audiences or
stakeholders
Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

7. Sample Introduction:
McVea, Harter, McEntarffer, & Creswell, 1999
7
Topic Conceptions & Misconceptions of Teen Smoking
Advance topic • Exploring the conceptions and misconceptions of
teen smoking in high schools
Research problem • Tobacco is leading cause of cancer
Evidence from literature • Previous research focused on 4 topics
• Fewer studies examined smoking cessation
Deficiencies in evidence • Minimal research on social context
• Existing studies quantitative, transtheoretical
• Qualitative investigations provide detailed views
• Allow high school students as co-researchers
Importance for
audiences
• Understand tobacco use in high schools
• Researchers isolate variables
• Administrators and teachers plan interventions
Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

8. Purpose Statement
• Major objective or “road map”
• Most important statement in qualitative
study
• Clear & concise
8Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

9. Purpose Statement: Script
9Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

10. Purpose Statement: Script Components
• Identify qualitative approach
• Encode with words to indicate action and
approach
• Identify central phenomenon
• Foreshadow participants and site
• General definition of central phenomenon
10Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

11. Purpose Statement: Encoding Words
11Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

12. Purpose Statement:
Narrative Example
12Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

13. Purpose Statement:
Phenomenological Example
13Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

14. Purpose Statement:
Grounded Theory Example
14Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

15. Purpose Statement:
Ethnographic Example
15Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

16. Purpose Statement:
Case Study Example
16Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

17. The Research Questions
• Open-ended, evolving, and nondirectional
• Restate purpose in specific terms
• Start with what or how
• ‘Grand tour’ (Spradley, 1979, 1980)
– ‘Tell me about yourself’
• Overarching central question
– Several subquestions
17Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

18. Research Questions: Central Question
• Write broadest question to address
research problem
• Encode language of 5 approaches
• Begin with how or what
18Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

19. Research Questions: Subquestions
• State small number of subquestions
• Subdivide central question
• Begin with ‘how’ or ‘what’
• Keep subquestions open-ended
• Form core collection questions from
subquestions
• 5-7 subquestions
19Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.

20. Subquestions by Qualitative Approach
20
Approach Subquestion Focus
Narrative study • Probe meaning of stories
Phenomenology • Establish components of ‘essence’
Grounded
Theory
• Detail emerging theory
Ethnography • Detail aspects of culture-sharing group
• Members’ rituals
• Communication
• Economic way of life
Case study • Address elements of case or issue
Creswell, Qualitative Inquiry & Research Design 4e.
SAGE Publishing, 2018.