Formulating Research Aims and Objectives - Research.

Each specific objective consists of one infinitive sentence and should be phrased in a way that makes it possible to draw a conclusion from within the scope of the thesis. The more precisely you formulate your specific objectives, the simpler it will be to define the type of study and which method(s) you will use in your further research.

Writing your research objectives clearly helps to: Define the focus of your study. Clearly identify variables to be measured. Indicate the various steps to be involved. Establish the limits of the study. Avoid collection of any data that is not strictly necessary.

When writing your objectives try to use strong positive statements. Strong verbs - collect, construct, classify, develop, devise, measure, produce, revise, select, synthesise Weak verbs - appreciate, consider, enquire, learn, know, understand, be aware of, appreciate, listen, perceive.

Research question. Interest in a particular topic usually begins the research process, but it is the familiarity with the subject that helps define an appropriate research question for a study. Questions then arise out of a perceived knowledge deficit within a subject area or field of study.

Before forming a research objective, you should read about all the developments in your area of research and find gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed. This will help you come up with suitable objectives for your research project. You might find this course helpful: How to write a strong introduction for your research paper Related reading.

In general, research objectives describe what we expect to achieve by a project. Research objectives are usually expressed in lay terms and are directed as much to the client as to the researcher. Research objectives may be linked with a hypothesis or used as a statement of purpose in a study that does not have a hypothesis.

Qualitative research objectives samples, examples and ideas. Qualitative research has originated from sociology and psychology, two fields of science that study the human behavior, their preferences and the decision making process. But there are still several different approaches in qualitative research field.

Research objectives outline the specific steps that you will take to achieve your research aim. Objectives define the what, why, who, when and how questions. You should check your objectives regularly during your research project to ensure you are staying focused, and decide if you need to review or revise them.

Before stating the research questions and objectives, a few reflections upon the basis for formulation are provided. 1.2.1 On the formulation of research questions The specification of research questions or hypotheses (i.e., what is to be studied) and research strategy (i.e., how to conduct the study) is an extremely important part of any research project (Yin, 1989:19).

The first step in writing strong aims and objectives for your study proposal is to understand why these objectives are important. Because the school or program wants to give you a research grant or scholarship to conduct your studies, they need to know that their money and resources are going to be used appropriately.

So before you start, choose a main area to focus upon and write down what you are planning to do e.g. review the main pieces of qualitative research in your area or review the methodologies that researchers have used. Never forget that you should understand the topics before embarking on a detailed review.