Aims are statements of intent. They are usually written in broad terms.

They set out what you

hope to achieve at the end of the project. Objectives, on the other hand, should be specific
statements that define measurable outcomes, e.g. what steps will be taken to achieve the desired
outcome.

Summary
One of the most important aspects of a thesis, dissertation or research paper is the correct
formulation of the aims and objectives. This is because your aims and objectives will establish
the scope, depth and direction that your research will ultimately take. An effective set of aims
and objectives will give your research focus and your reader clarity, with your aims
indicating what  is to be achieved, and your objectives indicating how it will be achieved.

What Are Aims and Objectives?

Research Aims

 A research aim describes the main goal or the main purpose of your research project. In
doing so, it acts as a focal point for your research and provides your readers with clarity
as to what your study is all about.
 A research aim is usually formulated as a broad statement of the main goal of the
research and can range in length from a single sentence to a short paragraph. Although
the exact format may vary according to preference, they should all describe why your
research is needed (i.e. the context), what it sets out to accomplish (the actual aim) and,
briefly, how it intends to accomplish it (overview of your objectives).

To give an example, we have extracted the following research aim from a real PhD thesis:

Example of a Research Aim (Rukhsana Khan Thesis)

Research Objectives

Where a research aim specifies what your study will answer, research objectives specify how
your study will answer it.

They divide your research aim into several smaller parts, each of which represents a key section
of your research project. As a result, almost all research objectives take the form of a numbered
list, with each item usually receiving its own chapter in a dissertation or thesis. the example of
the research aim shared above, here are it’s real research objectives as an example:

Example of a Research Objective (Rukhsana Khan Thesis)

It’s worth noting that researchers sometimes use research questions instead of research
objectives, or in other cases both. From a high-level perspective, research questions and research
objectives make the same statements, but just in different formats.

Difference Between Aims and Objectives

Hopefully the above explanations make clear the differences between aims and objectives, but to
clarify:

 The research aim focus on what the research project is intended to achieve; research
objectives focus on how the aim will be achieved.
 Research aims are relatively broad; research objectives are specific.
 Research aims focus on a project’s long-term outcomes; research objectives focus on its
immediate, short-term outcomes.
 A research aim can be written in a single sentence or short paragraph; research objectives
should be written as a numbered list.

How to Write Aims and Objectives

Before we discuss how to write a clear set of research aims and objectives, we should make it
clear that there is no single way they must be written. Each researcher will approach their aims
and objectives slightly differently, and often your supervisor will influence the formulation of
yours on the basis of their own preferences.Regardless, there are some basic principles that you
should observe for good practice; these principles are described below.

Research Aims

Your aim should be made up of three parts that answer the below questions:

1. Why is this research required?

2. What is this research about?
3. How are you going to do it?
The easiest way to achieve this would be to address each question in its own sentence, although
it does not matter whether you combine them or write multiple sentences for each, the key is to
address each one.The first question, why, provides context to your research project, the second
question, what, describes the aim of your research, and the last question, how, acts as an
introduction to your objectives which will immediately follow.

Research Objectives
Each of your research objectives should be SMART:

 Specific – is there any ambiguity in the action you are going to undertake, or is it focused
and well-defined?
  Measurable – how will you measure progress and determine when you have achieved
the action?
 Achievable – do you have the support, resources and facilities required to carry out the
action?
 Relevant – is the action essential to the achievement of your research aim?
 Timebound – can you realistically complete the action in the available time alongside
your other research tasks?
In addition to being SMART, your research objectives should start with a verb that helps
communicate your intent. Common research verbs include:

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