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

2. 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

3. 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

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

5. 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

6. 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

7. 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 ).
Theoretical Rationale Creswell

8. 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

9. Theory Bridges the Independent and Dependent Variables
Theoretical Rationale Creswell

10. 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)
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11. 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

12. 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

13. 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.
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14. 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

15. 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

16. 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

17. 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

18. 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
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19. Theoretical Rationale Creswell
Correct answer:
an explanation about the probable relationship between independent and dependent variables
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20. 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

21. 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

22. 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

23. 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

24. 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

25. 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.
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26. 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).
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27. 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

28. 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 ).
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

29. 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

30. 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