RESEARCH

OBJECTIVES, AND
HYPOTHESIS
AYO NELSON
BPH

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 Research Objectives and Research
Questions
What are research objectives?
• Fine statements that show what is to be achieved by the study
(outcomes)
• The objectives flow logically from the problem. They
communicate what the researcher plns to do.
• Research objectives are usually stated in declarative form.
And start with infinitives like: “to determine,,” to find out,”
“to describe,” “to compare,” or “to test.”

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Research objectives……..

• The objectives of a research project summarise what is

to be achieved by the study.

• Objectives should be closely related to the statement of

the problem.

• Conceptualisation of the relationship between variables

which define the parameters of the problem.

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In conclusion therefore

• Research objective is a clear, concise,

declarative statement which provides
direction to investigate the variables under
the study.

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 Characteristics of research
objectives
• Clear: The wording should have to be very clear and very
well defined.
• Complete: Each phrase in the research objectives should
have a sense of completeness. Here completeness is
necessary because you will be able to decide the extent of
your research from your research objectives. A complete
research objective should have information about the
population to be studied.
• Specific: Research objectives should specifically focus on
the what, how when and where questions and there should be
no loopholes.
• M easurable: able to quantify the targets and benefits
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CHARACTERISTICS………
• A chievable: able to attain the objectives
(knowing the resources and capacities at the
disposal of the community);
• R ealistic: able to obtain the level of change
reflected in the objective; and
• T ime bound: stating the time period in
which they will each be accomplished.
• Identify the main variables of the study
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 TYPES OF OBJECTIVES
• General objective
It relates directly to the Research problem and states clearly
what the researcher will do and expects to find out.
• Derive from the title of the study
• Overall purpose of study
• Only one
• Express the main study variables
• States what researcher(s) expect to achieve by the study in
general terms

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Example

•To explore to what extent the

consumption of potent liquor affects the
health of the rural male poor

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Types…………

Specific objectives
• In studies with a broader coverage in terms of subjects and
variables, statement of specific objectives may be necessary.

• It may be viewed as sub-objectives or small particles of the general

objective.

• Should systematically address the various aspects of the

problem as defined under ‘Statement of the Problem’ and the
key factors that are assumed to influence or cause the problem
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Why should research objectives
be(purpose) developed?
• Focus the study (narrowing it down to essentials);
• Avoid the collection of data which are not
necessary for understanding and solving the
problem;
• Organise the study in clearly defined parts or
phases.

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Why develop research objectives?...........

• specific objectives will facilitate the

development of your research methodology
and will help to orient the collection,
analysis, interpretation and utilisation of
data.

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How should you state your specific
objectives?

Ensure that the objectives of your study:

Cover the different aspects of the problem and its
contributing factors in a coherent and in a logical
sequence;
Are realistic considering research conditions and;
Use action verbs that are specific enough to be
evaluated

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How to state research objectives……..

• Samples of active verbs

• Analyse;
• Evaluate;
• Explain ;
• Clarify;
• Verify;
• Calculate;
• Identify;
• Establish;
• Compare;
• Describe;
• Relate; Demonstrate; Discuss; Illustrate.

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Research objectives……………..
Well written i.e. concise and clear
• Begin with the most important ones

e.g.
• To identify the factors contributing to consumption of potent
gin...
• To determine the relationship between consumption of potent
gin and heath...
• To find out the level of consumption of potent gin...

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 Tips in Formulating Research
Objectives
• Use simple language
• Focus attention on the specific actions that will be
performed
• State exactly, what will be done and what variables
will be measured
• Write objectives in behavioral terms, “to
determine…,” “ to determine…” and the like.

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 HYPOTHESES
• Researchers make educated guesses to tentatively answer the
research questions and these are called hypotheses.
• An hypothesis is an educated guess about a problem solution.
It can be defined as a logically conjectured relationship
between two or more variables expressed in the form of
testable statements.
• It is defined as an educated guess or tentative answer to a
question.
• It is a statement about an expected relationship between two or
more variables.

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Hypotheses…………
• It suggests the type of analysis that must be done in order to
measure the relationship.

• An hypothesis may describe whether there is a relationship, no

relationship predicted at all, the causal direction of the
relationship, the mechanics (how) of the relationship, and may
even specify the form of the relationship.

• Hypotheses link variables, typically independent, intervening, and

dependent variables in causal assertions.

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Hypotheses…………..
• A Conceptual hypothesis links at least two
conceptual variables. Typically, this is stated in
some type of cause and effect manner.

Exercise will reduce levels of

"state of
anxiety."
Independent direction of Dependent
variable effect variable

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 Functions of Hypothesis
1. A single hypothesis might state that an
independent variable is associated with a
dependent variable.
2. Sometimes a hypothesis specifies that, under
certain conditions, variable A is associated or can
influence variable B.
3. Some hypotheses may state that a particular
characteristic of a person or object varies
according to another variable.

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Hypotheses………

• An Operational Hypothesis links at least two

operational variables. Again, some type of cause
and effect is usually present in the hypothesis
• Example: Children with an encyclopedia in their
home will achieve higher scores on intelligence
Tests.
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 Types of hypothesis
Null Hypotheses (0)
• A null hypothesis is a negative statement which indicates the absence
of a relationship/correlation between two variable, an absence of a
significant difference.
• A null hypothesis is precisely stated

• A null hypothesis will assert that:

• There is no relationship among two or more variables (Example:
the correlation between educational level and income is zero)

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Types of
Hypotheses……………
Null hypotheses cont.
• Or that two or more populations or subpopulations are
essentially the same (Example: women and men have the
same average science knowledge scores.
• For example, to rewrite the conceptual and operational
hypotheses above in null form, we have:
• Having an encyclopedia in the home has no effect on
children's scores on the Intelligence Tests
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Null hypothesis………..

• Null hypotheses are basically "directionless.“

• If the null hypothesis is rejected, typically an

alternative hypothesis (usually styled HA:) is
accepted.

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 Alternative hypotheses
• An alternative hypothesis, also called a research hypothesis is the
positive form of null hypothesis. It may state the presence of a
significant relationship between the independent and dependent
variables.
• Typically the alternative hypothesis will assert
• that a relationship among two or more variables exists or that
two or more subpopulations differ in some respect.
• a direction to the relationship (e.g., external threat raises team
cohesion) may be specified.

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 Directional vs. Non-directional
hypotheses
• A directional hypothesis states whether the relationship
between two variables is direct or inverse or positive or
negative.
• A positive or direct relationship is present when the
value of one variable increases with the increase in the
value of another.
• The relationship is negative when the value of one
variable increases as the value of another decreases.
• Example
• The greater the stress experienced in the job, the lower
the job satisfaction.

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Cont……….
• A non-directional hypothesis does not specify the
direction of relationship between variables.
• It merely states the presence or absence of a
relationship between two variables or that one
variable influences another, or there is a significant
difference in the mean of the two variables.
• In summary, Non-directional hypotheses are those
that postulate a relationship or difference, but offer
not indication of the direction of these relationships or
differences.

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• Examples
• There is relationship between age and job
satisfaction
• There is a difference between the work
ethics of African and Asian employees.

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 QUESTIONS

1. What is research?
2. Why do we carry out research?
3. Outline the basic steps in research? Why is
the process cyclic?
4. Distinguish between basic and applied
research. Which one would you prefer?

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 Questions
• 5.What are different types of applied research?
• 7.What is the difference between a research problem
and a research question?
• 8. What is the purpose of research objectives?
• 9.Explain and illustrate the following:
• Independent variable
• Dependent variable
• Moderating variable
• Intervening variable

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 QUESTIONS

• 10.
(a) What is a hypothesis?
(b) In how many different format can you write a
hypothesis? Illustrate.
(c) What is the relationship between a hypotheses and
variables?
• 11.What is a theoretical framework?
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 QUESTIONS
• 12.
(a)What are research designs?
(b)Differentiate between experimental and non-
experimental designs

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Questions

• 14.What are the strengths and weaknesses of

longitudinal designs over cross-sectional
designs?
• 15.What are the advantages of interviews
over observation as methods of data
collection?
• 16.Compare interview with mail method of
data collection

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 Questions

• 17. What would you consider as the

advantages and disadvantages of the
questionnaire as a tool of data collection?
• 18.What are the different levels of measuring
variables?
• 19.Describe the different types of sampling
• 20.Differentiate between validity and
reliability

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 References:

These notes are adopted from:

• Neumaon, W.L. (2003) Social Research Methods,
Allen and Bedcon, London
• Sekaran, U. (2003) Research Methods for Business:
A skills Building Approach, John Wileyd Sons,
Illinois

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