A purpose statement is a declarative statement that summarizes a research project's main goal or goals. A purpose statement provides some guidance in establishing a research question and serves as an introduction to the resultant paper or dissertation chapter.

Developing the Purpose Statement

At the beginning of a research project, it is helpful for the researcher to use a declarative sentence to state the main goal or goals of the project in specific terms. Statements that begin with the phrase “I wish to learn …” or “I plan to examine …” can be helpful insofar as they can move the topic's abstract notions to a concrete research question, which is the springboard for the resultant research design. Furthermore, a purpose statement can ground the researcher, providing a ...

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