RESEARCH METHODOLOGY

OBJECTIVES OF YOUR RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Formulating objectives for your research proposal helps sculpt and guide your work
after you've decided on a topic. While your aims give your research thematic and
theoretic direction, objectives give concrete steps on how to manifest those concepts
and theories. A strong topic begins with an area you're interested in researching,
then focuses on a need, problem or unexplored issue in that area, usually from a
particular perspective or approach.

Aims Objetives should:

 Be concise and brief.

 Be interrelated; the aim is what you want to achieve, and the objective
describes how you are going to achieve that aim.

 Be realistic about what you can accomplish in the duration of the project and
the other commitments you have

Aims and Objectives should not:

 Be too vague, ambitious or broad in scope.

 Just repeat each other in different terms.
 Just be a list of things related to your research topic.

1. Aim or General Objective

An aim is a general statement, which reflects the intention or purpose of your chosen
area of research. The aim of the work, i.e. the overall purpose of the study, should
be clearly and concisely defined.

2. Specific Objectives
The specific objectives are the steps you are going to take to answer your research
questions or a specific list of tasks needed to accomplish the goals of the project.

 Goal or a step on the way to meeting the aim; how you will achieve it.

 Objectives use specific statements which define measurable outcomes.

Objectives should be S.M.A.R.T.

 Specific – be precise about what you are going to do

 Measureable –you will know when you have reached your goal

 Achievable – Don’t attempt too much. A less ambitious but completed

objective is better than an over-ambitious one that you cannot possible
achieve.

 Realistic – do you have the necessary resources to achieve the objective?

For example: time, money, skills, etc.?

 Time constrained – determine when each stage needs to be completed. Is

there time in your schedule to allow for unexpected delays?

Objective Writing Verbs

1. Knowledge

Count, Define, Describe, Draw, Enumerate, Find, Identify, Label, List, Match, Name, Quote, Read, Recall,
Recite, Record, Reproduce, Select, Sequence, State, Tell, View, Write

2. Comprehend

Classify, Cite, Conclude, Convert, Describe, Discuss, Estimate, Explain, Generalize, Give examples,
Illustrate, Interpret, Locate, Make, sense of, Paraphrase, Predict, Report, Restate, Review, Summarize,
Trace, Understand

3. Apply

Act, Administer, Articulate, Assess, Change, Chart, Choose, Collect, Compute, Construct, Contribute,
Control, Demonstrate, Determine, Develop, Discover, Dramatize, Draw, Establish, Extend, Imitate,
Implement, Interview, Include, Inform, Instruct, Paint, Participate, Predict, Prepare, Produce, Provide,
Relate, Report, Select, Show, Solve, Transfer, Use, Utilize

4. Analyze

Break down, Characterize, Classify, Compare, Contrast, Correlate, Debate, Deduce, Diagram,
Differentiate, Discriminate, Distinguish, Examine, Focus, Illustrate, Infer, Limit, Outline, Point out, Prioritize,
Recognize, Research, Relate, Separate, Subdivide

5. Synthesize

Adapt, Anticipate, Categorize, Collaborate, Combine, Communicate, Compare, Compile, Compose,

Construct, Contrast, Create, Design, Develop, Devise, Express, Facilitate, Formulate, Generate,
Incorporate, Individualize, Initiate, Integrate, Intervene, Invent, Make up, Model, Modify, Negotiate.