1. What is the purpose of a study?
Purpose is the central goal of your research project and should align with your problem statement. Your research questions, design decisions and analysis should all be guided by its purpose.
A great purpose statement should be straightforward and direct, clearly outlining the goals of your study (whether quantitative or qualitative), including overarching goals that reflect how it addresses an identified problem. Furthermore, it should identify any theoretical lenses through which research will be conducted.
An effective purpose statement is key for writing effective research papers and IRB submissions, but also plays an integral part in shaping research design and submission to IRBs. When writing your IRB application, it’s crucial that your purpose statement clearly articulates what research you intend on undertaking, the question at the core of it all and the research objective – all three can influence its design and submission to IRBs.
