this study set out to

USAGE SUMMARY

This phrase is correct and usable in written English.
It is often used to introduce the research objectives of a study. For example: "This study set out to explore the effects of sleep deprivation on college students' academic performance."

✓ Grammatically correct

Science

Academia

Human-verified examples from authoritative sources

Exact Expressions

60 human-written examples

This study set out to address these gaps in knowledge.

Appetite

Thus, this study set out to understand the effect of repeated experiences on consumers' affective responses.

International Journal of Hospitality Management

This study set out to investigate the exposure of soil biota to engineered nanoparticles (NPs).

Chemosphere

This study set out to investigate any potential derived benefits to the Swiss population.

Public Health

This study set out to determine the importance of socioeconomic status for PEP.

Vaccine

This study set out to establish what group and individual factors affect social identification over a period of one year.

Personality and Individual Differences

This study set out to determine the effectiveness of a 6-week cognitive-behavioral streductioncoursecourse for groups.

Mental Health & Prevention

This study set out to extend the tradition of experimental decision-making research into the field of design.

Design Studies

This study set out to measure the incidence of pregnancy and the Time to Conception in at-risk teenage women following an ED visit.

Yale University

Accordingly, this study set out to include six PFCs with C4-C16 chainn chain length.

Chemistry Central Journal

This study set out to establish if the thermoresponsiveness of VMH neurons becomes modified to repeated trials of scrotal thermal stimulation.

Duke University

Expert writing Tips

Best practice

Use "this study set out to" at the beginning of your introduction to clearly state the main objective of your research. This helps readers quickly understand the study's purpose.

Common error

Avoid repeatedly using "this study set out to" in every paragraph. Vary your language by using synonyms like "the aim of this research was" or "we sought to investigate" to maintain reader engagement and prevent monotony.

Linguistic Context

The phrase "this study set out to" functions as an introductory statement in academic and research papers. It clearly defines the objective or purpose of the research being presented. Ludwig confirms that it is correct and appropriate.

Expression frequency: Very common

Frequent in

Science

50%

Academia

50%

Formal & Business

0%

Less common in

News & Media

0%

Encyclopedias

0%

Wiki

0%

Ludwig's WRAP-UP

In summary, the phrase "this study set out to" is a grammatically correct and highly common construction, predominantly used in scientific and academic writing to introduce the aims and objectives of a particular research study. As indicated by Ludwig, it serves as a clear and direct way to frame the study's purpose for the reader. While highly effective, it's important to use it judiciously, employing related phrases such as "the aim of this study was to" or "this research aimed to" to maintain variety and engagement. The phrase is appropriate for formal reports and scholarly articles and the overall quality metrics indicate strong source authority and usage consistency.

More alternative expressions

Phrases that express similar concepts, ordered by semantic similarity:

the aim of this study was to

Replaces "set out to" with "the aim of this study was to", focusing on the study's objective.

this research aimed to

Substitutes "study" with "research" and "set out to" with "aimed to", emphasizing the research's goal.

the purpose of this study was to

Emphasizes the study's reason for being, using "purpose" instead of "aim".

we sought to determine

Shifts the focus to the researchers' actions, using "sought to determine" to express the study's objective.

this investigation sought to

Replaces "study" with "investigation" and "set out to" with "sought to", highlighting the exploratory nature of the research.

our objective was to

Highlights the specific target the researchers are trying to hit.

this work endeavored to

Replaces "study" with "work" and "set out to" with "endeavored to", conveying the effort involved in the research.

we intended to explore

Focuses on the researchers' intention to investigate, using "intended to explore" to describe the study's goal.

the goal of this project was to

Substitutes "study" with "project", shifting the perspective of what's investigated.

this analysis was designed to

Changes the focus to the method of investigation, using the word analysis to express the aim of the study.

FAQs

How can I rephrase "this study set out to" in academic writing?

Consider alternatives like "the aim of this study was to", "this research aimed to", or "the purpose of this study was to" to vary your phrasing while maintaining clarity.

Is "this study set out to" appropriate for formal reports?

Yes, "this study set out to" is suitable for formal reports, especially in the introduction or methodology sections where the study's objectives are outlined. However, ensure consistency in formality throughout the document.

What's the difference between "this study set out to" and "this study attempts to"?

"This study set out to" indicates a planned objective or goal at the beginning of the research. "This study attempts to" suggests an effort to achieve something, potentially implying uncertainty in the outcome. The former is more direct in stating the initial intention.

Can I use "this study set out to" in a conclusion?

While "this study set out to" is typically used in the introduction, you can adapt it slightly in the conclusion. For example, you might say, "This study has shown what it set out to prove" or "Having set out to demonstrate X, this study has..."