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What Are Research Objectives and How to Write Them (with Examples)

Table of Contents

Introduction

Research is at the center of everything researchers do, and setting clear, well-defined research objectives plays a pivotal role in guiding scholars toward their desired outcomes. Research papers are essential instruments for researchers to effectively communicate their work. Among the many sections that constitute a research paper, the introduction plays a key role in providing a background and setting the context. 1 Research objectives, which define the aims of the study, are usually stated in the introduction. Every study has a research question that the authors are trying to answer, and the objective is an active statement about how the study will answer this research question. These objectives help guide the development and design of the study and steer the research in the appropriate direction; if this is not clearly defined, a project can fail!

Research studies have a research question, research hypothesis, and one or more research objectives. A research question is what a study aims to answer, and a research hypothesis is a predictive statement about the relationship between two or more variables, which the study sets out to prove or disprove. Objectives are specific, measurable goals that the study aims to achieve. The difference between these three is illustrated by the following example:

• Research question : How does low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) compare with a placebo device in managing the symptoms of skeletally mature patients with patellar tendinopathy?
• Research hypothesis : Pain levels are reduced in patients who receive daily active-LIPUS (treatment) for 12 weeks compared with individuals who receive inactive-LIPUS (placebo).
• Research objective : To investigate the clinical efficacy of LIPUS in the management of patellar tendinopathy symptoms.

This article discusses the importance of clear, well-thought out objectives and suggests methods to write them clearly.

What is the introduction in research papers?

Research objectives are usually included in the introduction section. This section is the first that the readers will read so it is essential that it conveys the subject matter appropriately and is well written to create a good first impression. A good introduction sets the tone of the paper and clearly outlines the contents so that the readers get a quick snapshot of what to expect.

A good introduction should aim to: 2,3

• Indicate the main subject area, its importance, and cite previous literature on the subject
• Define the gap(s) in existing research, ask a research question, and state the objectives
• Announce the present research and outline its novelty and significance
• Avoid repeating the Abstract, providing unnecessary information, and claiming novelty without accurate supporting information.

Why are research objectives important?

Objectives can help you stay focused and steer your research in the required direction. They help define and limit the scope of your research, which is important to efficiently manage your resources and time. The objectives help to create and maintain the overall structure, and specify two main things—the variables and the methods of quantifying the variables.

A good research objective:

• defines the scope of the study
• gives direction to the research
• helps maintain focus and avoid diversions from the topic
• minimizes wastage of resources like time, money, and energy

Types of research objectives

Research objectives can be broadly classified into general and specific objectives . 4 General objectives state what the research expects to achieve overall while specific objectives break this down into smaller, logically connected parts, each of which addresses various parts of the research problem. General objectives are the main goals of the study and are usually fewer in number while specific objectives are more in number because they address several aspects of the research problem.

Example (general objective): To investigate the factors influencing the financial performance of firms listed in the New York Stock Exchange market.

Example (specific objective): To assess the influence of firm size on the financial performance of firms listed in the New York Stock Exchange market.

In addition to this broad classification, research objectives can be grouped into several categories depending on the research problem, as given in Table 1.

Table 1: Types of research objectives

Characteristics of research objectives

Research objectives must start with the word “To” because this helps readers identify the objective in the absence of headings and appropriate sectioning in research papers. 5,6

• A good objective is SMART (mostly applicable to specific objectives):
• Specific—clear about the what, why, when, and how
• Measurable—identifies the main variables of the study and quantifies the targets
• Achievable—attainable using the available time and resources
• Realistic—accurately addresses the scope of the problem
• Time-bound—identifies the time in which each step will be completed
• Research objectives clarify the purpose of research.
• They help understand the relationship and dissimilarities between variables.
• They provide a direction that helps the research to reach a definite conclusion.

How to write research objectives?

Research objectives can be written using the following steps: 7

• State your main research question clearly and concisely.
• Describe the ultimate goal of your study, which is similar to the research question but states the intended outcomes more definitively.
• Divide this main goal into subcategories to develop your objectives.
• Limit the number of objectives (1-2 general; 3-4 specific)
• Assess each objective using the SMART
• Start each objective with an action verb like assess, compare, determine, evaluate, etc., which makes the research appear more actionable.
• Use specific language without making the sentence data heavy.
• The most common section to add the objectives is the introduction and after the problem statement.
• Add the objectives to the abstract (if there is one).
• State the general objective first, followed by the specific objectives.

Formulating research objectives

Formulating research objectives has the following five steps, which could help researchers develop a clear objective: 8

• Identify the research problem.
• Review past studies on subjects similar to your problem statement, that is, studies that use similar methods, variables, etc.
• Identify the research gaps the current study should cover based on your literature review. These gaps could be theoretical, methodological, or conceptual.
• Define the research question(s) based on the gaps identified.
• Revise/relate the research problem based on the defined research question and the gaps identified. This is to confirm that there is an actual need for a study on the subject based on the gaps in literature.
• Identify and write the general and specific objectives.
• Incorporate the objectives into the study.

Advantages of research objectives

Adding clear research objectives has the following advantages: 4,8

• Maintains the focus and direction of the research
• Optimizes allocation of resources with minimal wastage
• Acts as a foundation for defining appropriate research questions and hypotheses
• Provides measurable outcomes that can help evaluate the success of the research
• Determines the feasibility of the research by helping to assess the availability of required resources
• Ensures relevance of the study to the subject and its contribution to existing literature

Disadvantages of research objectives

Research objectives also have few disadvantages, as listed below: 8

• Absence of clearly defined objectives can lead to ambiguity in the research process
• Unintentional bias could affect the validity and accuracy of the research findings

Key takeaways

• Research objectives are concise statements that describe what the research is aiming to achieve.
• They define the scope and direction of the research and maintain focus.
• The objectives should be SMART—specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and time-bound.
• Clear research objectives help avoid collection of data or resources not required for the study.
• Well-formulated specific objectives help develop the overall research methodology, including data collection, analysis, interpretation, and utilization.
• Research objectives should cover all aspects of the problem statement in a coherent way.
• They should be clearly stated using action verbs.

Frequently asked questions on research objectives

Q: what’s the difference between research objectives and aims 9.

A: Research aims are statements that reflect the broad goal(s) of the study and outline the general direction of the research. They are not specific but clearly define the focus of the study.

Example: This research aims to explore employee experiences of digital transformation in retail HR.

Research objectives focus on the action to be taken to achieve the aims. They make the aims more practical and should be specific and actionable.

Example: To observe the retail HR employees throughout the digital transformation.

Q: What are the examples of research objectives, both general and specific?

A: Here are a few examples of research objectives:

• To identify the antiviral chemical constituents in Mumbukura gitoniensis (general)
• To carry out solvent extraction of dried flowers of Mumbukura gitoniensis and isolate the constituents. (specific)
• To determine the antiviral activity of each of the isolated compounds. (specific)
• To examine the extent, range, and method of coral reef rehabilitation projects in five shallow reef areas adjacent to popular tourist destinations in the Philippines.
• To investigate species richness of mammal communities in five protected areas over the past 20 years.
• To evaluate the potential application of AI techniques for estimating best-corrected visual acuity from fundus photographs with and without ancillary information.
• To investigate whether sport influences psychological parameters in the personality of asthmatic children.

Q: How do I develop research objectives?

A: Developing research objectives begins with defining the problem statement clearly, as illustrated by Figure 1. Objectives specify how the research question will be answered and they determine what is to be measured to test the hypothesis.

Q: Are research objectives measurable?

A: The word “measurable” implies that something is quantifiable. In terms of research objectives, this means that the source and method of collecting data are identified and that all these aspects are feasible for the research. Some metrics can be created to measure your progress toward achieving your objectives.

Q: Can research objectives change during the study?

A: Revising research objectives during the study is acceptable in situations when the selected methodology is not progressing toward achieving the objective, or if there are challenges pertaining to resources, etc. One thing to keep in mind is the time and resources you would have to complete your research after revising the objectives. Thus, as long as your problem statement and hypotheses are unchanged, minor revisions to the research objectives are acceptable.

Q: What is the difference between research questions and research objectives? 10

Q: Are research objectives the same as hypotheses?

A: No, hypotheses are predictive theories that are expressed in general terms. Research objectives, which are more specific, are developed from hypotheses and aim to test them. A hypothesis can be tested using several methods and each method will have different objectives because the methodology to be used could be different. A hypothesis is developed based on observation and reasoning; it is a calculated prediction about why a particular phenomenon is occurring. To test this prediction, different research objectives are formulated. Here’s a simple example of both a research hypothesis and research objective.

Research hypothesis : Employees who arrive at work earlier are more productive.

Research objective : To assess whether employees who arrive at work earlier are more productive.

To summarize, research objectives are an important part of research studies and should be written clearly to effectively communicate your research. We hope this article has given you a brief insight into the importance of using clearly defined research objectives and how to formulate them.

• Farrugia P, Petrisor BA, Farrokhyar F, Bhandari M. Practical tips for surgical research: Research questions, hypotheses and objectives. Can J Surg. 2010 Aug;53(4):278-81.
• Abbadia J. How to write an introduction for a research paper. Mind the Graph website. Accessed June 14, 2023. https://mindthegraph.com/blog/how-to-write-an-introduction-for-a-research-paper/
• Writing a scientific paper: Introduction. UCI libraries website. Accessed June 15, 2023. https://guides.lib.uci.edu/c.php?g=334338&p=2249903
• Research objectives—Types, examples and writing guide. Researchmethod.net website. Accessed June 17, 2023. https://researchmethod.net/research-objectives/#:~:text=They%20provide%20a%20clear%20direction,track%20and%20achieve%20their%20goals .
• Bartle P. SMART Characteristics of good objectives. Community empowerment collective website. Accessed June 16, 2023. https://cec.vcn.bc.ca/cmp/modules/pd-smar.htm
• Research objectives. Studyprobe website. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.studyprobe.in/2022/08/research-objectives.html
• Corredor F. How to write objectives in a research paper. wikiHow website. Accessed June 18, 2023. https://www.wikihow.com/Write-Objectives-in-a-Research-Proposal
• Research objectives: Definition, types, characteristics, advantages. AccountingNest website. Accessed June 15, 2023. https://www.accountingnest.com/articles/research/research-objectives
• Phair D., Shaeffer A. Research aims, objectives & questions. GradCoach website. Accessed June 20, 2023. https://gradcoach.com/research-aims-objectives-questions/
• Understanding the difference between research questions and objectives. Accessed June 21, 2023. https://board.researchersjob.com/blog/research-questions-and-objectives

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• Research Objectives | Definition & Examples

Research Objectives | Definition & Examples

Published on July 12, 2022 by Eoghan Ryan . Revised on November 20, 2023.

Research objectives describe what your research is trying to achieve and explain why you are pursuing it. They summarize the approach and purpose of your project and help to focus your research.

Your objectives should appear in the introduction of your research paper , at the end of your problem statement . They should:

• Establish the scope and depth of your project
• Contribute to your research design
• Indicate how your project will contribute to existing knowledge

Table of contents

What is a research objective, why are research objectives important, how to write research aims and objectives, smart research objectives, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about research objectives.

Research objectives describe what your research project intends to accomplish. They should guide every step of the research process , including how you collect data , build your argument , and develop your conclusions .

Your research objectives may evolve slightly as your research progresses, but they should always line up with the research carried out and the actual content of your paper.

Research aims

A distinction is often made between research objectives and research aims.

A research aim typically refers to a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear at the end of your problem statement, before your research objectives.

Your research objectives are more specific than your research aim and indicate the particular focus and approach of your project. Though you will only have one research aim, you will likely have several research objectives.

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Research objectives are important because they:

• Establish the scope and depth of your project: This helps you avoid unnecessary research. It also means that your research methods and conclusions can easily be evaluated .
• Contribute to your research design: When you know what your objectives are, you have a clearer idea of what methods are most appropriate for your research.
• Indicate how your project will contribute to extant research: They allow you to display your knowledge of up-to-date research, employ or build on current research methods, and attempt to contribute to recent debates.

Once you’ve established a research problem you want to address, you need to decide how you will address it. This is where your research aim and objectives come in.

Step 1: Decide on a general aim

Your research aim should reflect your research problem and should be relatively broad.

Step 2: Decide on specific objectives

Break down your aim into a limited number of steps that will help you resolve your research problem. What specific aspects of the problem do you want to examine or understand?

Step 3: Formulate your aims and objectives

Once you’ve established your research aim and objectives, you need to explain them clearly and concisely to the reader.

You’ll lay out your aims and objectives at the end of your problem statement, which appears in your introduction. Frame them as clear declarative statements, and use appropriate verbs to accurately characterize the work that you will carry out.

The acronym “SMART” is commonly used in relation to research objectives. It states that your objectives should be:

• Specific: Make sure your objectives aren’t overly vague. Your research needs to be clearly defined in order to get useful results.
• Measurable: Know how you’ll measure whether your objectives have been achieved.
• Achievable: Your objectives may be challenging, but they should be feasible. Make sure that relevant groundwork has been done on your topic or that relevant primary or secondary sources exist. Also ensure that you have access to relevant research facilities (labs, library resources , research databases , etc.).
• Relevant: Make sure that they directly address the research problem you want to work on and that they contribute to the current state of research in your field.
• Time-based: Set clear deadlines for objectives to ensure that the project stays on track.

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If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Research objectives describe what you intend your research project to accomplish.

They summarize the approach and purpose of the project and help to focus your research.

Your objectives should appear in the introduction of your research paper , at the end of your problem statement .

Your research objectives indicate how you’ll try to address your research problem and should be specific:

Once you’ve decided on your research objectives , you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement .

Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one.

I will compare …

A research aim is a broad statement indicating the general purpose of your research project. It should appear in your introduction at the end of your problem statement , before your research objectives.

Research objectives are more specific than your research aim. They indicate the specific ways you’ll address the overarching aim.

Scope of research is determined at the beginning of your research process , prior to the data collection stage. Sometimes called “scope of study,” your scope delineates what will and will not be covered in your project. It helps you focus your work and your time, ensuring that you’ll be able to achieve your goals and outcomes.

Defining a scope can be very useful in any research project, from a research proposal to a thesis or dissertation . A scope is needed for all types of research: quantitative , qualitative , and mixed methods .

To define your scope of research, consider the following:

• Budget constraints or any specifics of grant funding
• Your proposed timeline and duration
• Specifics about your population of study, your proposed sample size , and the research methodology you’ll pursue
• Any inclusion and exclusion criteria
• Any anticipated control , extraneous , or confounding variables that could bias your research if not accounted for properly.

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Research Questions, Objectives and Hypotheses

Sep 17, 2014

390 likes | 777 Views

Research Questions, Objectives and Hypotheses. Lecture by Dr Amna Rehana Siddiqui September 2013. SESSION OBJECTIVES. Participants will be able to Differentiate between goals & objectives Learn formulation of research question

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Presentation Transcript

Research Questions, Objectives and Hypotheses Lecture by Dr Amna Rehana Siddiqui September 2013

SESSION OBJECTIVES Participants will be able to • Differentiate between goals & objectives • Learn formulation of research question • Define the specific objectives in terms of the stated problem 4. Describe the study hypothesis

GOALS and OBJECTIVES Goals: long-term benefits Objectives*: specific, measurable activities within a time frame to reach towards your goal Tasks : detailed steps performed to achieve research objectives * ~ Specific Aims

Example • You are interested in Hazards from smoking ; list them • Why is this important or u r interested? • Because smoking is highly prevalent in Saudi Arabia (SA) • Outcomes of smoking ? read the hazards / diseases / …long list…which outcome you are interested? which is feasible?, common in Saudi Arabia so that you can achieve your goals • You realize; that it may not be feasible to study lung /other cancers , CHD, COPD for studying smoking hazards that are beyond year 3 time… the hazards of second hand smoke (SHS) relatively less studied in SA; as a large population may be exposed to it ? • What type of population is exposed to SHS ? Women? Children? • What are the outcomes reported for SHS in women and children ; e.g. children, sudden infant death syndrome? Respiratory infections? Rhinitis? Pneumonias? asthma ? Low birth weight? …keep learning the topic to learn reading and then formulate question, objectives, and hypothesis

How to Formulate a Research Question ? • Be inspired by observing patients and practices, by attending seminars, conferences, & symposia • Review local, national, and regional problems • Discuss, collaborate and get input from your colleagues - make your team. • Read about the topic, reviews, & research done; to find out gaps in existing knowledge? •  Write the question with an outline of the solutions ( methods and expected results); draft an abstract  

Ref: Prevalence of diabetes mellitus in a Saudi community. Ann Saudi Med. 2011 Jan-Feb;31(1):19-23

What research questions come to your mind? • For example you are concerned about high prevalence of diabetes mellitus and wish that this disease could be reduced or well controlled in Saudi Arabia? What research questions will come to your mind? • ………….(class responds) • All the stated responses will lead towards the goal of reducing the impact of DM in Saudi Arabia and each research question will be answered by stating clear objectives

Ask following questions initially • Do I have the time for this at this point in my life? • Is this really the burning topic for me? • Will this be worth it? • Is this a major and relevant public health problem or is it too esoteric? • Are my goals/objectives too big ? Am I covering too much? • Will available methods answer my questions? • What are the ethical and human subject issues here?

GOOD RESEARCH QUESTION • Feasible: • Logical: • Novel: • Ethical: • Relevant:

FINER criteria: a good research question F Feasible • Adequate number of subjects • Adequate technical expertise • Affordable in time and money • Manageable in scope I Interesting • Getting the answer intrigues investigator, peers & community N Novel • Confirms, refutes or extends previous findings E Ethical • Amenable to a study that institutional review board (IRB) will approve R Relevant • To scientific knowledge • To clinical and health policy • To future research

Research Question • A well-defined and specific research question is the key for making decisions about study design and population and subsequently what type of data will be collected and analyzed.

HOW TO START ? Outline your idea / thoughts /abstract* Specific Aims Background and Significance Preliminary Studies Interest: Risk factors of coronary heart disease. hypertension ? Obesity ? smoking? Other?

SOURCES OF QUESTIONS • What background information is required • Preliminary studies by researcher (self/supervisor) • Other studies read by researcher • Conferences/presentations/seminars • Verify (validate) predictions of existing theories • Conflicting results from different studies • Qualitative studies • Observation • Curious mind / in search of answers/ a gift • Applying new technology

Evaluation of Research Question • How good and appropriate is the idea ? • Critique appropriateness of your Question • Merit of your question • Relationship of proposal to problem

REQUIREMENTS • What are the items required to support feasibility of my research question ? • Your background knowledge reflects in the question • Background information (critical appraisal) stated in intro/background section

Subject knowledge • Familiarity with the subject helps define an appropriate research question for a study. • Questions arise out of a perceived knowledge deficit within a subject area or field of study. (pathways of current knowledge and uncertainty ) • The challenge in developing an appropriate research question is in determining which uncertainties could or should be studied and also rationalizing the need for their investigation.

Types of Research Questions • Descriptive: describing in a group, exploring • Relational: associations between two variables in a group • Comparable: associations between two or more variables in two or more groups (Causality / prediction / intervention)

Relational into Comparable Is concentration of blood cholesterol directly related to dietary intake of saturated fat in Saudi population? (hereditary?/ dietary/ metabolic ? Reasons in Saudi Population could differ from other settings) Is daily saturated fat intake by persons with hypercholesterolemia differ from persons with cholesterol in normal range in Saudi population ? (physical activity is in the pathway?)

Potential Problems & Solutions • Vague • Not feasible • Too broad • Methods inadequate • Not relevant • Uncertain ethical suitability • Finding importance • Write a plan • Change the methods • Focus / inclusion/excl • Consult/learn/collaborate • Modify research Question • Consult Ethics Review expert • Preliminary (pilot) study

PURPOSE OF OBJECTIVES TO SPECIFY THE OUTCOME OF YOUR PROJECT S- I- M- P- L- E

S-I-M-P-L-E • SPECIFIC: Indicate precisely what you intend to change through your project • IMMEDIATE:Indicate the time frame …. • MEASURABLE:proof of project success • PRACTICAL:How each objective is a real solution to a real problem,… realistic & feasible, • LOGICAL:Systematic contribution for goals • EVALUABLE: Indicate how much change has to occur for the project to be effective

Examples Goal: To reduce risk of cardiovascular diseases in Saudi population by developing evidence based interventions Question: Is dietary intake of saturated fats over the past xx weeks related to atherosclerosis in Saudi adult population ? Question: Is dietary intake of saturated fats over a period of xx months is associated with risk of coronary heart disease in Saudi adult population

Example contd. Specific Aim 1: To determine the daily intake of saturated fats in the past 4 weeks in Saudi adults Specific Aim 2: To determine the relationship of diet intake of saturated fats and blood levels of Low density lipoprotein (LDL) in Saudi adults Specific Aim 3: To determine the association of dietary intake of saturated fats and intimal thickness of coronary artery in Saudi adults

Using the previous example • SPECIFIC: exposure assessment dietary intake, LDL levels, outcome assessment by intimal thickness • IMMEDIATE: average daily consumption, past weeks, months, or follow up in weeks of intervention (if any) • MEASURABLE: diet, LDL, Intimal thickness (valid) • PRACTICAL: % with higher (defined) intake; magnitude of relationship, biological plausibility • LOGICAL: initiates with intake, LDL blood levels, and then intimal thickness (mixture of known and unknown reasons) • EVALUABLE: Cut offs used for fat intake, LDL levels, intimal thickness; when repeated could be confirmed. In addition after a time period a difference in the above could be evaluated for intervention

Question Example • Question: Can reduction in dietary intake of saturated fat over xx months reduce serum cholesterol concentration in Saudi Population ? • Objective: To compare the concentration of serum cholesterol between the two adult groups with hypercholesterolemia ; each one randomized for a routine diet group and a diet reduced in saturated fats by x% over a period of six weeks • Hypothesis: The serum cholesterol concentration will be reduced by x% in the group on reduced saturated fat intake compared to those on routine Saudi diet

PICOT criteria for Experimental studies Population - What specific population are you interested in? Intervention (for intervention studies only) - What is your investigational intervention? Comparison group - What is the main alternative to compare the intervention? Outcome of interest - What do you intend to accomplish, measure, improve or affect? Time - What is the appropriate follow-up time to assess outcome

Objective formulation • Clarity and concisely written text • Intended outcomes stated; e.g. by how much serum cholesterol will be reduced; the dietary intake of saturated fat in the top two quartiles will be related to hypercholesterolemia/ artherosclerosis • Likelihood that research will lead to generation of new information and basis of further research

Hypothesis formulation • This is based on existing knowledge, deriving it through critical reading of literature and facts Descriptive: • It is hypothesized that average daily intake of saturated fat in Saudi adult population is more than 20% of recommended intake when measured by xxx test and yyy standards to define dietary saturated fat intake. Tasks: Saturated fat content of common food items like dairy products, cooking fat, meat, & others will be determined by.......

Hypothesis formulation Specific Aim: To determine the relationship of dietary intake of saturated fat and intimal thickness of coronary artery Hypothesis • It is hypothesized that > 20% of recommended saturated fat intake in Saudi population will be associated with 50% increased intimal thickness of coronary artery when compared to the normal intimal thickness measured by XYZ

Descriptive / Systems related 1.Behavioral change: human action anticipated. Hypothesis: 60% of ICU workers will wash hands before examining a patient after the establishment of surveillance for nosocomial infection 2. Performance — A specific time frame within which a behavior will occur, at an expected proficiency level, is expected. Hypothesis: 80% of first aid workers will be able to give cardiac resuscitation to trauma patients after six months of XYZ training Define Tasks for type of training

Descriptive / Systems related 3. Process — The manner in which something occurs is an end in itself. Example: > 70 % of first aid workers will perform cardiac resuscitation when monitored using a checklist by an observer 4.Product — A tangible item results. Example: A user friendly illustrated manual will be created for cardiac resuscitation in areas stricken with natural disasters

Summary • Perform a systematic literature review to increase knowledge for the topic • Learn about current trends and technological advances on the topic. • Seek careful input from experts, mentors, colleagues and collaborators • Use the FINER criteria in the development of the research question. • Ensure that the research question follows PICOT format if experiment • Develop a research hypothesis from the research question. • Develop clear and well-defined objectives using SIMPLE criteria • Ensure that the research question and objectives are answerable, feasible and relevant.

References • Stephen B Hulley. Designing Clinical Research. 3rd Edition . Wolters Kluwer Health Lippincott Williams and Wilkins 2007 • Daniel P Schuster & William J Powers. Translational and Experimental Clinical Research. Introduction: Lippincott Williams and Wilkins 2005

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Research Methodology: Part 2 - Selection and Formulation of Research Problem

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Formulating a Research Problem

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Identification and formulation of research problem

A presentation by

Dr. Rajendra Kumbhar

Dept. of Library & Information Science

University of Pune, Pune

Current status of LIS Research: some observations

• Inadequate education, training
• Lack of sufficient guidance from practitioners
• Increased expectations and compulsions for research
• LIS professionals need to be both producers and consumers of research
• Increased availability of research funding
• It’s time to research and rule the world of librarianship

What is a research problem?�

• First step in research
• A question that need to be answered
• A concept the researcher wants to understand
• A crisis that need to resolved
• A situation that need to be changed
• A reason of dissatisfaction

Sources for identification of Research Problem-1

• Reading different types of documents
• Research articles: limitations, hypotheses, suggestions for further research
• Review articles, books
• Titles of books Titles of books and articles
• Library association’s websites
• Publisher’s websites
• Blogs of experts and libraries
• Discussion forums

Sources for identification of Research Problem-2

• Observations- in and around the library
• Issues related with
• Staff: job satisfaction, retention,
• Users: Needs of different types of users [students, children, senior citizens, writers, social workers]

Sources for identification of Research Problem-3

• Reading material:
• New formats (e-journals, e-books, collaborative,

Q&A, social media)

• Impact on users, staff, budget
• Collection development
• Problems in selection
• Quality v/s discount
• Study of supplier’s attitudes, performance

Sources for identification of Research Problem-4

• Usability testing
• Testing use pattern of DDC, OPAC, Library software, library portal, database
• Testing Performance :
• Time taken to use …
• Number of steps taken…
• Testing Accuracy :
• Number of mistake made
• How did they rectify the mistake
• Emotional response:
• User’s feelings about the use, usability – confident, stressed?
• Would he recommend it to others?

Sources for identification of Research Problem-5

• Innovations, evaluation, modification
• OPAC, Classification systems, Software, FRBR

Sources for identification of Research Problem-6

• Current social issues and trends:
• Reading ability/skills of children? Can libraries help?
• More books are published and sold? Any correlation?
• Political issues:
• Banned books, banning books, impact?
• Publishing world:
• What and why publishers publish?
• Changes in the publishing world: normal book size 170 pages- reasons and impact on reading, librarianship?
• Open access initiative- rationality, impact on libraries

Sources for identification of Research Problem-7

• Ideological issues:
• Internet, repositories, digital libraries- Competitors or facilities?
• Study of theories/principles/laws
• Bradford’s /Lotka’s law – are they still valid?
• Methodological issues: adapt methods
• Scope for experimentation
• Comparative / Benchmarking studies
• Exploratory studies
• Imagination
• Reading consultancy for parents/children
• Reading research in the other related subjects

Sources for identification of Research Problem-8

• Critical thinking:
• Ask questions
• Challenge ideas and claims in research papers
• A stem from present research
• Seminars/workshops/ refresher courses
• Personal interest: your favourite area
• Mentorship: working with experts

Check list for a researchable problem-1

• Advancement of knowledge, solving problem
• Development of innovative tools/services
• Considers people not studied so far
• Availability of data

Check list for a researchable problem-2

• Interesting
• Subject of researcher’s knowledge

� Formulation of research problem-1

Formulation of research problem-2

Formulation of research problem-3

Formulation of research problem-4

To formulate research problem one must-

• Know all aspects of the subject
• Understand relationship between variables
• Must have theoretical background

This can be done by-

• Literature review
• Discussions with experts having positive and negative views
• Concept mapping, brainstorming
• Identification of broad subject
• Read literature on the broad subject
• Identify few sub-themes
• Read thoroughly on the sub-themes
• Identify single topic for research

Simplified version of the problem identification process

�Examples of research problems-1

• Role of library in developing lifelong learning skills
• Reflection of institutions mission in library operations and services
• Impact of new communication methods on libraries
• Is organizational structure of libraries changing if so what are the forces and impacts?
• What is impact of growing distance education

Examples of research problems-2

• Retention: a new issue in personnel management
• Staff formula for libraries
• Criteria for evaluation of libraries
• Do we need college/university libraries?
• Negotiation skills for librarians
• What are the implications of –
• Barcode, RFID, CCTV
• Role of libraries in epidemics
• Criteria for evaluation of library professionals

Your experiences, please