Research Objectives

Research Objectives

1. They indicate in detail the specific research topics the project plans to investigate.

   • Characteristics
     • °Must be lear and precise staments
       • °Present them in separate sentences/paragraphs
         • °Enumerate each research objective
     • Commonly used terms
       • Research aim
         • A statement indicating aim or purpose of a research project.
         • Research objectives
           • Specific statements indicating they key issues to be focused on in research project.
           • Research questions
             • An alternative research objectives, where the key issues are stated in the form of questions.
             • Research hypotheses
               • A prediction of a relationship between two or more variables.

2. How to develop and write them

   • 1. Think through about them.
     • 2. Analyse previous studies in the area.
       • 3. Look at how other researches frame their objectives.
         • 4. Understand the published literature on your topic.
           • 5. Draft up an initial statement of your objectives
             • 6. Use all the feedback you get from other people

3. Common errors when writing them

   • 1. Single statement combining aim and objectives
     • 2. Ambiguous aims
       • 3. Miixing objectives and questions
         • 4. Mixing research and project objectives

4. Link research objectives to research methods

   • Have a clear understanding of a project's research objectives
   • Think carefully about the relationship between your research objectives and your choice of research methods.
   • Aim to describe how the sampling, data gathering and analysis methods will help meet each of the objectives.