Professional Documents
Culture Documents
Purpose Statements
Research Questions
Hypotheses
Research Objectives
Quantitative
Qualitative
Readers
Expectation
Example
Quantitative
Qualitative
Research Question
Narrows the purpose statement to specific
questions
Was develop before identifying the method of
the study
May consist of multiple-questions
Hypotheses
Predictions about the outcome of a
relationship among variables
narrows the purpose statements to specific
predictions
Quantitative
Hypotheses : Yes
Identifies and measures
multiple variables
Test theories
Close-ended stance
Seeks variables differences
and the magnitudes
Qualitative
Hypotheses: NO
Explore a central
phenomenon
Theories are not tested
Open-ended stance
Seeks deep understanding
of the view of one group or
single individual
Central Phenomenon
Is a concept or a process in qualitative research
At the beginning of a study, the qualitative researcher cannot
predict the nature of external forces
(i.e., Which ones will be important?)
Emerging process
Qualitative is emerging design
Participants may set the study direction
The researcher learns the participants view
Initial questions shape them (initial data
collection)
change them
Revisions may continue throughout both data
collection and analysis in a qualitative project
Guidelines
Use key identifier words to signal the reader
Consider mentioning that the study is qualitative
Become familiar with qualitative research designs, and
indicate the type of research design you plan
State the central phenomenon you plan to explore
Use words that convey intent about the exploration,
such as explore, discover, understand, and describe.
Mention the participants in the study
Refer to the research site where you will study the
participants.
Central Question
The most general you can ask
Aim:
Open up the research for participants to
provide their prespective
Not to narrow the study to your prespective
Guidelines
Begin with the word how or what rather than
why so that you do not suggest probable
cause-and-effect relationships as in
quantitative research but instead suggest
exploration in qualitative research.
Specify the central phenomenon you plan to
explore.
Identify the participants in the study.
Mention the research site for the study.
Subquestion
Open-ended
Emerging
Neutral in language
Few in number