Methods
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1. Restating the study's purpose, RQs or hypotheses
2. Language focus
3. Language activities

Restating the study's purpose, research questions or hypotheses (optional) (Move 4, Step 1)

Some authors prefer to begin the Methods section by restating the study’s purpose, research questions or hypothesis (if applicable), although these may have already been introduced in the previous sections. Others may prefer to move straight to discussing data collection and analysis methods adopted for the proposed study. Most studies that are exploratory, descriptive and observational in nature may introduce the research question but may not have a hypothesis to be tested (although they may develop one over the course of the study).

Examples:

  • This study investigates the writing section of an in-house, general proficiency test given annually at a foreign languages university in Japan (Fritz & Ruegg, 2013) (Linguistics).
  • The goal of this study is to analyze differences in researchers’ productivity in relation to the number of graduate students they manage (Kwon et al., 2015) (Management).
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Language for stating the study's purpose in Methods sections

Purpose statements 

Below are examples of “purpose" statements commonly found in Methods sections. These can be placed either at the beginning or end of a sentence:

To + infinitive (at the beginning or end of sentence), in order to + infinitive, for this purpose, with this aim in mind, with the intention of, for the sake of:

  • In order to develop a deeper rapport with participants, thematic interviews will be selected … as opposed to ... /In order to organize data, a password-protected excel spreadsheet will be used throughout the collection process.
  • To test the hypotheses, I plan to conduct a study in … subsidiaries in X. I consider X to be an ideal setting for this study for the following reasons … / We propose a number of criteria to determine …
  • For this purpose, we will employ an independent sample of … employees working at a large software company in X.
  • With this aim in mind, we will attempt to …
Previous topic: What is Methods
Next topic: Presenting research design
Task 1
Task 2
Task 3

Purpose statements I

Match these sentence halves:

For this purpose,
An emphasis will be put on repeating material
Little’s “missing completely at random” test was performed
Great care and precisely controlled conditions will be ensured
With this aim in mind,

Purpose statements II

Choose the best option in the sentences below:

1. the effect of anthropometric differences, the male and female samples will be divided into two groups.
2. illustrate the social values of green areas, a map of the case study area with numbered green areas will be included in the questionnaire.
3. A case study design will be employed for this .
4. The e-marketplace must meet the condition of neutrality included in the research.
5. With the intention of tourist arrivals by year 2020, a new strategy will be proposed.
6. brevity, we will not attempt to list all these properties here.

Revision

Without going back to the previous exercise, decide if the following sentences sound correct. Click Yes or No next to each sentence:

1. For measuring the effect of anthropometric differences, the male and female samples will be divided into two groups.
2. To illustrate the social values of green areas, a map of the case study area with numbered green areas will be included in the questionnaire.
3. A case study design will be employed for this purpose.
4. The e-marketplace must meet the condition of neutrality for being included in the research.
5. With the intention of doubling tourist arrivals by year 2020, a new strategy will be proposed.
6. With the purpose of brevity, we will not attempt to list all these properties here.
Previous topic: What is Methods
Next topic: Presenting research design