Purpose of the Study and Theoretical Rationale a mini tutorial Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Purpose of this tutorial To provide information on the use of theory in a research proposal And help you prepare these sections of your proposal Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Purpose and Rationale There are two headings in Chapter I that you will revise after your Review of the Related Literature They are: Purpose of the Study And Theoretical Rationale Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Elements of quantitative purpose statement Single sentence “The purpose of this study . . .” Theory Quantitative words (e.g. “Relate,” “Compare,” “Describe”) Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Context for the Theoretical Rationale To write your Purpose Statement, Research Question, or Hypotheses, you need to know: What is a variable? What is a theory? What elements go into these statements and questions? Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Purpose of the Study The purpose of this _______________________ (experiment? survey?) will be to test the theory of ____________________ that (compares? relates? examines?) the ___________________ (independent variable) to _______________ (dependent variable), controlling for __________________(control variables) for _____________ (participants) at ____________________ (the research site). The independent variable(s) will be generally defined as _____________________ (provide a general definition). The dependent variable(s) will be generally defined as _______________ (provide a general definition), and the control and intervening variable(s) _______________, (identify the control and intervening variables) will be statistically controlled in the study (Creswell, 2003, p. 96). Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale The theory used in this study will be _____________________ (name the theory) developed by ______________________ (identify the origin or source for the theory). It was used to study ________________(identify the topics where the theory has been found to apply). This theory indicates that ___________________ (identify the propositions or hypotheses in the theory). As applied to this study, this theory holds that it is reasonable to expect that the independent variable(s) ____________________ (state the independent variable(s)) will influence or explain the dependent variable(s) ___________________ (state the dependent variables) because ____________________ (provide a rationale based on the logic of the theory) (Creswell, 2003, p. 127-8). Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell For your study Your goal is to find out whether the independent variable influences the outcome (dependent variable) You have a “hunch” about this outcome based on personal experience, or past learning. For a major paper, you have to add to your experience and learning: research that that supports your hunch, which you will present in Chapter 2 a theory that suggests or predicts that your hunch will be supported in your study Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theory Bridges the Independent and Dependent Variables Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Explaining or predicting variables in Quantitative Research Explaining or Predicting Variables have this format: X Y Translated: The independent variable (X) influences ( ) the dependent variable (Y) Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theory in Quantitative Research Explains and predicts a possible relationship between independent and dependent variables For example, in some of your topics: manipulatives improve calculation skills group work improves communication tv watching decreases achievement Theory is a broad explanation of what you think will happen in your study Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Where does a Theoretical Rationale Come From? From your review of research related to the independent and dependent variables of your study, You learn of background studies that have shown the influence of an independent variable on a dependent variable You use the findings of those research studies (or the ones that influenced them) as the theory on which you base your “hunch” about the variables in your study Theoretical Rationale Creswell

What is a Theoretical Rationale? In short, it is a logical statement for relating the variables of your study Here’s a sample of a theoretical rationale placed in a study: Smith’s (2000) theory of gender achievement predicts that if achievement in math is gender related, and girls are socialized better than boys, then girls will perform better in math. Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Another sample of writing a theoretical rationale For a relationship study: The purpose of this study is to test Fine’s theory (1996) by relating leadership style (independent variable) to autonomy (dependent variable) for teachers (participants) in high schools in XXX State (research site) Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Another sample of writing a theoretical rationale For a comparison study: The purpose of this study is to test Smart’s theory (1999) by comparing autocratic leaders (Group 1) with consensus building leaders (Group 2) in terms of the satisfaction of teachers (dependent variable) in colleges in XXX State (research site) Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Elements of quantitative purpose statement Variables Independent Variable (1st position in sentence) Dependent Variable (2nd position in sentence) Control and/or mediating variable (3rd position in sentence) Research site Participants Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Here is the “recipe:” The theoretical rationale begins with: The purpose of this study is to describe or compare or relate . . . The independent variable is always mentioned first (not just in the Theoretical Rationale, but throughout the proposal), followed by the dependent variable Mention the theory at the beginning of the sentence Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Do you know? Which of these describes a theory in educational research? an explanation about the probable relationship between independent and dependent variables  a hunch or expectation in a study  a cause and effect proposition  the impact of the independent variables on the dependent variables Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Correct answer: an explanation about the probable relationship between independent and dependent variables Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Having done the Theoretical Rationale, you are ready to complete the Purpose of the Study section (even though it precedes the theoretical rationale in the proposal): You know the parts: Independent and dependent variables whether you are describing, comparing, or relating them You know of variables that may influence the results over which you have no control (limitations) and You have focused your study to control for certain variables Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Purpose of the Study The purpose of this _______________________ (experiment? survey?) will be to test the theory of ____________________ that (compares? relates? examines?) The purpose of this experiment will be to test the theory of self-efficacy that relates the ___________________ (independent variable) to _______________ (dependent variable), controlling for __________________(control variables) the use of self-realization sessions to persistence, controlling for grade level and gender Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Purpose of the Study for _____________ (participants) at ____________________ (the research site). for 4th grade boys at a large K-4 school in a metropolitan area The independent variable(s) will be generally defined as _____________________ (provide a general definition). The independent variable, self realization exercises, will be generally defined as a 10 minute silent reflection period, Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Purpose of the Study The dependent variable(s) will be generally defined as _______________ (provide a general definition), The dependent variable, persistence, will be generally defined as working independently to solve 50 math problems until completion and the control and intervening variable(s) _______________, (identify the control and intervening variables) And gender and grade level will be statistically controlled in the study (Creswell, 2003, p. 96). Theoretical Rationale Creswell

A complete purpose statement: The purpose of this experiment will be to test the theory of self-efficacy that relates the use of self-realization sessions to persistence, controlling for grade level and gender for 4th grade boys at a large K-4 school in a metropolitan area. The independent variable, self realization exercises, will be generally defined as a 10 minute silent reflection period. The dependent variable, persistence, will be generally defined as working independently to solve 50 math problems until completion. Gender and grade level will be statistically controlled in the study (Creswell, 2003, p. 96). Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Apply to your proposal In Chapter 1 of the APA Template, under the heading Theoretical Rationale, you will find this script: The theory used in this study will be (name the theory) developed by (identify the origin or source for the theory). The theory used in this study will be Bandura’s (1984) concept of self-efficacy. Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell It was used to study (identify the topics where the theory has been found to apply). Self-efficacy was used to study teacher and client perceptions of their abilties to take control of external situations (Campbell, 1886; Harris, 1989). Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell This theory indicates that (identify the propositions or hypotheses in the theory). The theory of self-efficacy indicates that being able to identify frustrating factors influences perceptions of control over debilitating situations. Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell As applied to this study, this theory holds that it is reasonable to expect that the independent variable(s) (state the independent variable(s)) will influence or explain the dependent variable(s) (state the dependent variables) because (provide a rationale based on the logic of the theory) (Creswell, 2003, p. 127-8). As applied to this study, it is reasonable to expect that students who participate in self realization sessions will study longer than those who don’t because a sense of control influences persistence. Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell Your turn Go to the APA template you have been using to construct your proposal Find the Purpose of the Study and Theoretical Rationale headings Using the “scripts” in this mini-tutorial to guide you, Write your Purpose Statement and your Theoretical Rationale Statement into your proposal Theoretical Rationale Creswell

Theoretical Rationale Creswell What to do with it After you complete this draft of your Purpose of the Study and Theoretical Rationale, Save this version of the proposal as: Yourlastnamepurpose.rtf Submit to Moodle. Theoretical Rationale Creswell