Research objectives are essential aspects of any research project, whether this research is about the academic world, scientific exploration, business direction, or even in societal dimension. This will allow researchers to have a framework and guide to the direction and focus of what the researchers’ study is all about.
I believe that one of the very purposes of research objectives, although not solely, is to provide a clear direction of the path for the study. This will enable researchers like us to establish what we intend to achieve and to ensure that every step we take aligns with what we desire as an outcome. As time goes by, research can be an overwhelming endeavor, and with a clearly laid out objective, this will help us focus and narrow down the scope of our study. This way, it will help us to not spread our efforts too thinly and to remain directed on what is most important to our study.
The research objectives will help us make a blueprint of measurable outcomes. As researchers, it is our obligation to make sure that we will account for all the other factors especially how we could quantify the basis of the data. As researchers, it is our job to be able to definitively state whether we have met our objectives at the end of the research. This provides a sense of accountability and accomplishment.
As researchers, we also need to account for the resources we have. At the end of the day, it is not just energy we will need to consume, but also time, money, and manpower. This may often be limited in research, and we could plan of time on how we could allocate our existing resources more effectively and make certain that these resources are used where they are most needed. Research objectives could also help enhance the credibility of the study. A research study with clear objectives will appear more credible and rigorous to peers and stakeholders as it will show that the researchers have a clear plan in place and are not simply exploring a topic aimlessly.
These objectives will help put researchers in line through the evaluation of progress. This will serve as a benchmark and, hence will allow researchers for periodic checks to ensure that the study is still on track. It is to give inspiration and motivation to the researcher as it will give him or her a clear set of goals that can give a clear picture of what they are aiming to achieve, motivating him or her to overcome endeavors and push limitations.
In essence, research objectives act as a compass for any research endeavor, ensuring clarity, direction, and purpose throughout the process. Whether you are embarking on a small-scale study or a large research project, setting clear and concise objectives is crucial for the paper’s success.
Aside from the research objectives, it is imperative for researchers to make sure that their study is specific, measurable, attainable, realistic, and time-bound. Specific in a sense wherein the study should account for and determine all the small details of what they want, for whom they want to study, a timeframe, and the locale of the study. This will help avoid ambiguity. A measurable research study ensures that there is a way to evaluate the progress and results. One concrete example of this is to have a scale like a Likert scale with a base range to quantify an analysis. A research study should be attainable. Researchers should avoid unrealistic goals that can potentially lead to disappointment and incomplete research. For instance, researchers should focus on a smaller sample size or by narrowing down the research area rather than aiming for a larger one that will exhaust extensive resources.
A study should also be a realistic one, wherein it should be grounded in reality. Researchers should set objectives that are relevant and sensible. In application, one must have concrete evidence or related literature to back up one’s claim on a certain topic. Research should always be time-bounded, by setting clear timelines with milestones. One example of this is to decide on a certain timeframe for the research collection of data to happen, for instance, it could be within 3 months or 6 months of duration.
On a side note, both research and project objectives provide a direction and purpose, research objectives typically focus on knowledge generation and understanding, while on the other hand, project objectives are action-oriented, aiming for tangible outcomes or deliverables.
REFERENCES:
·Flinders University. (2022). Setting objectives - flinders university. https://students.flinders.edu.au/content/dam/student/slss/academic-writing/setting-objectives.pdf
·University Hospital Southampton - NHS Foundation Trust. (2021, July 11). Research: AIMS and objectives. Medicines Learning Portal. https://www.medicineslearningportal.org/2017/04/research-aims-and-objectives.html
·Stockton University. (2020). Developing Project Objectives - Stockton University. Stockton University. https://www.stockton.edu/research-sponsored-programs/documents/proposals/DevelopingProjectObjectives.pdf