Writing Qualitative

Research Purpose and

Questions
A Cheat Sheet
Dr. Kakali Bhattacharya

Research Purpose
The purpose of this research is to.

Explore
Understand
Investigate
Identify
Evaluate
Describe
Interrogate

Contextual Details

How many participants?

Where (use pseudonyms)
What will you explore? be specific
If exploring experience, then experience of
what? Be narrowly focused
If exploring perception, then perception of
what? Be narrowly focused
Avoid jargon use as much as possible

Operationalize Jargon
What is it that you are trying to
measure?
What are your indicators for that
measure?
How will you know that you have
measured X?
Break down your jargon to easily
verifiable constructs

Tips for Research Questions

Make sure they are aligned with the
research purpose
Generate research questions from the
operationalization of jargons
One question can be the conversion of the
purpose statement into a question
Keep it simple. Dont try to solve
everything within the topic of your interest

Tips for Research Questions

Pursue one point of inquiry in one
question i.e. dont ask how does the
participant describe experiences of
belongingness and the effects it has
on her self esteem?

Tips for Research Questions

Ask questions that have open-ended
possibilities for answers such as

What are the experiences of

How does a participant describe X
In what ways does X play a role in Y
How does the participant identify X

Tips for Research Questions

Do not ask closed ended research
questions those are quantitative
questions. (examples below)
Does this program benefit learning
experiences of students?
Do the participants like X more than
Y?
Does X cause Y?

Sample Research Questions

In what ways do 5 survivors of

Katrina who stayed in the Superdome
describe their strategies for
surviving?
How do students perceive the value
of the new math program in relation
to standardized testing?

Sample Research Questions

What are the experiences of belongingness

of 5 female African American graduate
students in the College of Education in a
mid-southern university?
How does participating in a professional
development workshop regarding
technology integration influence the
teaching practices of 5 middle school
teachers in a mid-southern town?

Sample Research Questions

What is the role of the TV show

Americas Next Top Model in
informing diet choices of 4 teenage
girls (13-17) who watch the show
regularly?