This is lesson 5 of the course on Research Methodology conducted at the Faculty of Social Sciences and Humanities of the Rajarata University of Sri Lanka

1. Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
P.B. Dharmasena
0777-613234, 0717-613234
dharmasenapb@ymail.com, dharmasenapb@gmail.com
5. Research Objectives
Rajarata University of Sri Lanka
P.B. Dharmasena
0777-613234, 0717-613234
dharmasenapb@ymail.com, dharmasenapb@gmail.com
https://independent.academia.edu/PunchiBandageDharmasena
https://www.researchgate.net/profile/Punchi_Bandage_Dharmasena/contributions
http://www.slideshare.net/DharmasenaPb
LESSON
FIVE
EMGT 3172 (1:15)
B.A. (Special) Degree Program
Monday 12.30 am – 2.00 pm
Hall: EML

2. Research Objectives
Lesson-5
1. Having decided what to study (Research Topic), and
knowing why you want to study it (Problem
Statement), you can now formulate the study
objectives.
2. Objectives should be closely related to the
statement of the problem. For example, if the
problem identified is low utilization of health
stations in a rural district, the general objective of
the study could be to assess the reasons for this low
utilization.
3. If we break down this general objective into smaller
and logically connected parts, then we get specific
objectives.
LESSON
FIVE

3. RESEARCH METHODOLOGY
Learning objectives
1. Describe the need for the
development of research
objectives
2. Differentiate between
general and specific
objectives
3. Formulate specific
objectives and hypotheses
Lesson-5
LESSON
FIVE
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

4. What is a research objective?
• ‘A research objective is a
clear, concise, declarative
statement, which provides
direction to investigate the
variables.’
• Generally research objective
focuses on the ways to
measure the variables, such
as to identify or describe
them.
• Sometime objectives are
directed towards identifying
the relationship or difference
between two variables.

5. Contd…
• Research objectives are the
results sought by the
researcher at the end of the
research process, i.e. what
the researcher will be able
to achieve at the end of the
research study.
• The objectives of a research
project summarize what is
to be achieved by the study.
• Objective should be closely
related to the statement of
the problem.
What is a research objective?

6. CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES
• Research objective is a concrete
statement describing what the
research is trying to achieve. A
well-worded objective will be
SMART, i.e Specific, Measurable,
Attainable, Realistic, & Time-
bound.
• Research objective should be
Relevant, Feasible, Logical,
Observable, Unequivocal (very
clear) & Measurable.
• Objective is a purpose that can be
reasonably achieved within the
expected timeframe & with the
available resources.

7. Contd…
• The objective or research
project summarizes what
is to be achieved by the
study.
• The research objectives
are the specific
accomplishment the
researchers hope to
achieve by the study.
• The objective includes
obtaining answers to
research questions or
testing the research
hypothesis.
CHARACTERISTICS OF
RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

8. Need of research objectives
The formulation of
research objectives will
help researcher
to focus on the study
with clearly defined
objectives and
to avoid the collection of
data which are not
strictly necessary for
understanding & solving
problem that he or she
has defined.

9. Contd…
• The formulation of
objectives organizes the
study in clearly defined
parts or phases.
• Properly formulated,
specific objectives will
facilitate the development
of research methodology
& will help to orient the
collection, analysis,
interpretation, &
utilization of data.
Need of research objectives

10. Types of research objectives
1. General objective/s
 General objectives are
broad goals to be
achieved.
 The general objectives
of the study state what
the researcher expects
to achieve by the
study in general terms.
 General objectives are
usually less in
number.

11. Contd…2. Specific objectives
 Specific objectives are short term &
narrow in focus.
 General objectives can be broken into
small logically connected parts to
form specific objectives.
 General objective is met through
accomplishing all the specific
objectives.
 The specific objectives are more in
number & they systematically address
various aspects of problem as defined
under ‘the statement of problem’ &
key factor that is assumed to
influence or cause the problem.
 They should specify what the
researcher will do in the study, where,
& for what purpose.

12. General objectives: aim of the study in general terms
Example: In a study on ‘occurrence of kidney diseases in NCP’, the
general objective is ‘to assess geographical spread of kidney
diseases in NCP’ .
Specific objectives: measurable statements on the specific questions
to be answered.
Unlike the general objectives, the specific objectives are more
specific and are related to the research problem situation. They
indicate the variable to be examined and measured.
Example: In the study of occurrence of kidney diseases in NCP the
specific objectives could be:
– To find out the magnitude of disease spread on DS basis,
– To examine the reasons for high incidence of diseases in certain
DS Divisions (sources of drinking water , use of agro-chemicals,
day consumption of drinking water etc.)
– To map water quality distribution in NCP
Lesson-5

13. Formulation of the Research Objectives
• Why?
– Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials)
– Avoid collection of data that are not strictly necessary for
understanding and solving the identified problem
– Organize the study in clearly defined parts
• How should we state?
We have to make sure that our objectives:
– Cover the different aspects of the problem and its contributing
factors in a coherent way and in a logical sequence
– Are clearly expressed in measurable terms
– Are realistic considering local conditions
– Meet the purpose of the study
• Use action verbs that are specific enough to be measured (to
determine, to compare, to verify, to calculate, to describe, to
find out, to establish etc.)
• Avoid the use of vague non-action verbs such as to appreciate,
to understand, to study, to believe

14. Objective Statement
• Research objectives can
be stated as:
– Questions - the
objectives of this study
are to answer the
following questions ….
– Positive sentence - the
objectives of this study
are to find out, to
establish, to determine,
…
– Hypothesis - the
objective of this study
is to verify the
following hypothesis
……..
Lesson-5

15. Hypothesis
A hypothesis is a prediction
of a relationship between
one or more variables and
the problem under study.
That is, It specifies the
relationship among variables.
These variables are to be
statistically tested at a later
stage. In order to measure
the relationship among
variables to be studied the
dependent and independent
variables need to be
identified.
Lesson-5

16. Methods of stating objectives
While stating objectives of the study, the following guidelines
must be taken care of:
• The objectives should be presented briefly & concisely.
• They cover the different aspects of the problem & its
contributing factors in a coherent way & in a logical
sequence.
• The objectives are clearly phrased in operational terms,
specifying exactly what researcher is going to do, where, &
for what purpose.
• They are realistic considering local conditions.
• Use action verbs that are specify enough to be evaluated.
• Examples of action verbs are: to assess, to identify, to find
out, to determine, to compare, to find, to verify, to calculate,
to describe, to analyze, to establish, etc.

17. Example of Objective statement - 1
• Title: Traditional
Agricultural Practices to
reduce the effect of drought
and flood in South Asian
Region
• Objective: To identify local,
traditional knowledge (LTK)
and practices in agriculture
and assess to determine how
best they can be utilized to
maintain the sustainability of
farming Lesson-5

18. Example of Objective statement - 2
• Title: Revitalization and
management of ingenious
tank-village agricultural
systems in the dry zone of Sri
Lanka
• Objective: to motivate the
village community through a
participatory approach
towards the development of
their whole agricultural and
ecological situation for
facilitating the process to
develop the ingenious
agricultural heritage that they
had in the past.
Lesson-5

19. Example of Objective statement - 3
• Title: Rehabilitation
of marginal and degraded
lands of Sri Lanka
through introduction of
profitable and eco-
friendly legume-based
technology.
• Objective: to improve the
livelihoods of poor Sri
Lankan dry land farmers
through increasing crop
and animal productivity
and conserving
environment.
Lesson-5

20. Lesson-5
S M A R T

21. Goal vs. Objective
• The difference between goals and objectives is that goals
are broad, generalized statements of instructional intent,
while objectives are specific, measurable outcomes that
help a learner achieve the goals. For example:
• Goal The overall goal of this presentation is to help
participants understand how to write SMART
learning objectives.
• Objective: The objective of this presentation is to
help participants identify action verbs
that should not be included in writing
SMART learning objectives.

22. Examples of Learning Objectives
• Following this lecture, the participants will be
able to correctly explain four characteristics
of good research topic.
• After completing this class, trainees will be
able to correctly conduct an independent
research on identified intelligence problems.
Degree
Condition AUDIENCE
Condition AUDIENCE
behavior
Degree behavior
Degree

23. Examples of SMART objectives
• After the end of this course(time-bound),
participants will describe (achievable) four factors
(specific, measurable, reasonable) that increase
the risk of HIV transmission in women.
• After attending the class and studying the
assigned handouts (time-bound, reasonable),
participants will list (achievable) three types of
tests (specific, measurable) performed in Ethiopia
to detect HIV.