After you have established your research
territory and identified a relevant gap in the literature, you
should show your reader how exactly your study intends to bridge
this gap. Sentences 95-160 will help you do that.
This study was…
95. commissioned by ____
96. carried out to examine ____
97. conducted in order to investigate ____
98. undertaken [18] to determine ____
Use study, paper, article, essay, report or literature review as appropriate.
This study…
99. is concerned with ____
100. is aimed at ____
101. provides an overview of ____
102. looks at how ____
103. critically reviews ____
104. addresses [19] the issue of ____
105. examines the relationship between ____ and ____
106. attempts to establish the connection between ____ and ____
107. discusses ways in which [20]____
108. provides data that will ____
109. provides detailed information on ____
110. offers an analysis of ____
111. discusses the role of ____ in ____
112. considers the role of ____ as ____
113. explores [21] the link between ____ and ____
This study sought to…
114. assess [22]____
115. describe ____
116. test ____
117. shed light on ____
118. provide detailed information on ____
The aim of this study is/was to…
119. address the issue [23] of ____
120. determine the effect of ____
121. evaluate the effectiveness of ____
122. identify the characteristics of ____
123. extend this area of investigation by ____
124. assess the impact of ____ on ____
125. provide a detailed account of ____
126. clarify the role of ____
127. investigate whether ____
128. discuss the extent to [24] which ____
129. test the feasibility of ____
130. examine the variables associated with ____
131. understand the nature of ____
132. collect and analyze [25] data on ____
133. The notion of ____ underlying this study is a broad one.
134. One of the central claims of this study is that ____
135. The aim of this study is twofold [26]. The first is to ____. The second is to ____
136. The theoretical framework underpinning this study is/was ____
In this study, I/we…
137. report on ____
138. set out to investigate ____
139. seek to determine (whether) ____
140. examine the degree to which ____
141. consider the extent to which ____
142. discuss the implications of ____
143. investigate the association between ____ and ____
144. establish the main factors behind ____
145. attempt [27] to shed some light on ____
On the use of
I/my/we/our:
Sciences: In order to sound objective and impersonal, scientific
writers tend to avoid the use of the first person. However,
conventions are changing, and in some cases the first person is
becoming more widely accepted, so ask your instructor
first.
Humanities: Scholars in these fields tend to value assertiveness
and agency (i.e., who does what), so the first person is often -
though not always -appropriate. Make sure you follow your
department’s conventions.
In the present study, I/we…
146. describe a framework for ____
147. propose a series of solutions for ____
148. provide a theoretical basis for ____
149. undertake an analysis of ____
150. highlight the key differences between ____ and ____
My/Our main goal is/was to…
151. gain a better understanding of ____
152. gain insight into ____
153. determine if/whether [28] ____
154. explore the range of factors that influence ____
155. further my/our understanding of ____
156. gather information [29] about ____
157. investigate the effect of ____ on ____
158. determine the importance of ____
159. identify the key variables affecting ____
160. understand the mechanisms underlying [30]____