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Research Aims, Objectives & Questions

By: David Phair (PhD) and Alexandra Shaeffer (PhD) | June 2022

T he research aims , objectives and research questions (collectively called the “golden thread”) are arguably the most important thing you need to get right when you’re crafting a research proposal , dissertation or thesis . We receive questions almost every day about this “holy trinity” of research and there’s certainly a lot of confusion out there, so we’ve crafted this post to help you navigate your way through the fog.

Overview: The Golden Thread

• What is the golden thread
• What are research aims ( examples )
• What are research objectives ( examples )
• What are research questions ( examples )
• The importance of alignment in the golden thread

What is the “golden thread”?

The golden thread simply refers to the collective research aims , research objectives , and research questions for any given project (i.e., a dissertation, thesis, or research paper ). These three elements are bundled together because it’s extremely important that they align with each other, and that the entire research project aligns with them.

Importantly, the golden thread needs to weave its way through the entirety of any research project , from start to end. In other words, it needs to be very clearly defined right at the beginning of the project (the topic ideation and proposal stage) and it needs to inform almost every decision throughout the rest of the project. For example, your research design and methodology will be heavily influenced by the golden thread (we’ll explain this in more detail later), as well as your literature review.

The research aims, objectives and research questions (the golden thread) define the focus and scope ( the delimitations ) of your research project. In other words, they help ringfence your dissertation or thesis to a relatively narrow domain, so that you can “go deep” and really dig into a specific problem or opportunity. They also help keep you on track , as they act as a litmus test for relevance. In other words, if you’re ever unsure whether to include something in your document, simply ask yourself the question, “does this contribute toward my research aims, objectives or questions?”. If it doesn’t, chances are you can drop it.

Alright, enough of the fluffy, conceptual stuff. Let’s get down to business and look at what exactly the research aims, objectives and questions are and outline a few examples to bring these concepts to life.

Research Aims: What are they?

Simply put, the research aim(s) is a statement that reflects the broad overarching goal (s) of the research project. Research aims are fairly high-level (low resolution) as they outline the general direction of the research and what it’s trying to achieve .

Research Aims: Examples

True to the name, research aims usually start with the wording “this research aims to…”, “this research seeks to…”, and so on. For example:

“This research aims to explore employee experiences of digital transformation in retail HR.”   “This study sets out to assess the interaction between student support and self-care on well-being in engineering graduate students”  

As you can see, these research aims provide a high-level description of what the study is about and what it seeks to achieve. They’re not hyper-specific or action-oriented, but they’re clear about what the study’s focus is and what is being investigated.

Need a helping hand?

Research Objectives: What are they?

The research objectives take the research aims and make them more practical and actionable . In other words, the research objectives showcase the steps that the researcher will take to achieve the research aims.

The research objectives need to be far more specific (higher resolution) and actionable than the research aims. In fact, it’s always a good idea to craft your research objectives using the “SMART” criteria. In other words, they should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant and time-bound”.

Research Objectives: Examples

Let’s look at two examples of research objectives. We’ll stick with the topic and research aims we mentioned previously.  

For the digital transformation topic:

To observe the retail HR employees throughout the digital transformation. To assess employee perceptions of digital transformation in retail HR. To identify the barriers and facilitators of digital transformation in retail HR.

And for the student wellness topic:

To determine whether student self-care predicts the well-being score of engineering graduate students. To determine whether student support predicts the well-being score of engineering students. To assess the interaction between student self-care and student support when predicting well-being in engineering graduate students.

  As you can see, these research objectives clearly align with the previously mentioned research aims and effectively translate the low-resolution aims into (comparatively) higher-resolution objectives and action points . They give the research project a clear focus and present something that resembles a research-based “to-do” list.

Research Questions: What are they?

Finally, we arrive at the all-important research questions. The research questions are, as the name suggests, the key questions that your study will seek to answer . Simply put, they are the core purpose of your dissertation, thesis, or research project. You’ll present them at the beginning of your document (either in the introduction chapter or literature review chapter) and you’ll answer them at the end of your document (typically in the discussion and conclusion chapters).

The research questions will be the driving force throughout the research process. For example, in the literature review chapter, you’ll assess the relevance of any given resource based on whether it helps you move towards answering your research questions. Similarly, your methodology and research design will be heavily influenced by the nature of your research questions. For instance, research questions that are exploratory in nature will usually make use of a qualitative approach, whereas questions that relate to measurement or relationship testing will make use of a quantitative approach.  

Let’s look at some examples of research questions to make this more tangible.

Research Questions: Examples

Again, we’ll stick with the research aims and research objectives we mentioned previously.  

For the digital transformation topic (which would be qualitative in nature):

How do employees perceive digital transformation in retail HR? What are the barriers and facilitators of digital transformation in retail HR?  

And for the student wellness topic (which would be quantitative in nature):

Does student self-care predict the well-being scores of engineering graduate students? Does student support predict the well-being scores of engineering students? Do student self-care and student support interact when predicting well-being in engineering graduate students?  

You’ll probably notice that there’s quite a formulaic approach to this. In other words, the research questions are basically the research objectives “converted” into question format. While that is true most of the time, it’s not always the case. For example, the first research objective for the digital transformation topic was more or less a step on the path toward the other objectives, and as such, it didn’t warrant its own research question.

So, don’t rush your research questions and sloppily reword your objectives as questions. Carefully think about what exactly you’re trying to achieve (i.e. your research aim) and the objectives you’ve set out, then craft a set of well-aligned research questions . Also, keep in mind that this can be a somewhat iterative process , where you go back and tweak research objectives and aims to ensure tight alignment throughout the golden thread.

The importance of strong alignment

Alignment is the keyword here and we have to stress its importance . Simply put, you need to make sure that there is a very tight alignment between all three pieces of the golden thread. If your research aims and research questions don’t align, for example, your project will be pulling in different directions and will lack focus . This is a common problem students face and can cause many headaches (and tears), so be warned.

Take the time to carefully craft your research aims, objectives and research questions before you run off down the research path. Ideally, get your research supervisor/advisor to review and comment on your golden thread before you invest significant time into your project, and certainly before you start collecting data .  

Recap: The golden thread

In this post, we unpacked the golden thread of research, consisting of the research aims , research objectives and research questions . You can jump back to any section using the links below.

As always, feel free to leave a comment below – we always love to hear from you. Also, if you’re interested in 1-on-1 support, take a look at our private coaching service here.

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41 Comments

Thank you very much for your great effort put. As an Undergraduate taking Demographic Research & Methodology, I’ve been trying so hard to understand clearly what is a Research Question, Research Aim and the Objectives in a research and the relationship between them etc. But as for now I’m thankful that you’ve solved my problem.

Well appreciated. This has helped me greatly in doing my dissertation.

An so delighted with this wonderful information thank you a lot.

so impressive i have benefited a lot looking forward to learn more on research.

I am very happy to have carefully gone through this well researched article.

Infact,I used to be phobia about anything research, because of my poor understanding of the concepts.

Now,I get to know that my research question is the same as my research objective(s) rephrased in question format.

I please I would need a follow up on the subject,as I intends to join the team of researchers. Thanks once again.

Thanks so much. This was really helpful.

I know you pepole have tried to break things into more understandable and easy format. And God bless you. Keep it up

i found this document so useful towards my study in research methods. thanks so much.

This is my 2nd read topic in your course and I should commend the simplified explanations of each part. I’m beginning to understand and absorb the use of each part of a dissertation/thesis. I’ll keep on reading your free course and might be able to avail the training course! Kudos!

Thank you! Better put that my lecture and helped to easily understand the basics which I feel often get brushed over when beginning dissertation work.

This is quite helpful. I like how the Golden thread has been explained and the needed alignment.

This is quite helpful. I really appreciate!

The article made it simple for researcher students to differentiate between three concepts.

Very innovative and educational in approach to conducting research.

I am very impressed with all these terminology, as I am a fresh student for post graduate, I am highly guided and I promised to continue making consultation when the need arise. Thanks a lot.

A very helpful piece. thanks, I really appreciate it .

Very well explained, and it might be helpful to many people like me.

Wish i had found this (and other) resource(s) at the beginning of my PhD journey… not in my writing up year… 😩 Anyways… just a quick question as i’m having some issues ordering my “golden thread”…. does it matter in what order you mention them? i.e., is it always first aims, then objectives, and finally the questions? or can you first mention the research questions and then the aims and objectives?

Thank you for a very simple explanation that builds upon the concepts in a very logical manner. Just prior to this, I read the research hypothesis article, which was equally very good. This met my primary objective.

My secondary objective was to understand the difference between research questions and research hypothesis, and in which context to use which one. However, I am still not clear on this. Can you kindly please guide?

In research, a research question is a clear and specific inquiry that the researcher wants to answer, while a research hypothesis is a tentative statement or prediction about the relationship between variables or the expected outcome of the study. Research questions are broader and guide the overall study, while hypotheses are specific and testable statements used in quantitative research. Research questions identify the problem, while hypotheses provide a focus for testing in the study.

Exactly what I need in this research journey, I look forward to more of your coaching videos.

This helped a lot. Thanks so much for the effort put into explaining it.

What data source in writing dissertation/Thesis requires?

What is data source covers when writing dessertation/thesis

This is quite useful thanks

I’m excited and thankful. I got so much value which will help me progress in my thesis.

where are the locations of the reserch statement, research objective and research question in a reserach paper? Can you write an ouline that defines their places in the researh paper?

Very helpful and important tips on Aims, Objectives and Questions.

Thank you so much for making research aim, research objectives and research question so clear. This will be helpful to me as i continue with my thesis.

Thanks much for this content. I learned a lot. And I am inspired to learn more. I am still struggling with my preparation for dissertation outline/proposal. But I consistently follow contents and tutorials and the new FB of GRAD Coach. Hope to really become confident in writing my dissertation and successfully defend it.

As a researcher and lecturer, I find splitting research goals into research aims, objectives, and questions is unnecessarily bureaucratic and confusing for students. For most biomedical research projects, including ‘real research’, 1-3 research questions will suffice (numbers may differ by discipline).

Awesome! Very important resources and presented in an informative way to easily understand the golden thread. Indeed, thank you so much.

Well explained

The blog article on research aims, objectives, and questions by Grad Coach is a clear and insightful guide that aligns with my experiences in academic research. The article effectively breaks down the often complex concepts of research aims and objectives, providing a straightforward and accessible explanation. Drawing from my own research endeavors, I appreciate the practical tips offered, such as the need for specificity and clarity when formulating research questions. The article serves as a valuable resource for students and researchers, offering a concise roadmap for crafting well-defined research goals and objectives. Whether you’re a novice or an experienced researcher, this article provides practical insights that contribute to the foundational aspects of a successful research endeavor.

A great thanks for you. it is really amazing explanation. I grasp a lot and one step up to research knowledge.

I really found these tips helpful. Thank you very much Grad Coach.

I found this article helpful. Thanks for sharing this.

thank you so much, the explanation and examples are really helpful

This is a well researched and superbly written article for learners of research methods at all levels in the research topic from conceptualization to research findings and conclusions. I highly recommend this material to university graduate students. As an instructor of advanced research methods for PhD students, I have confirmed that I was giving the right guidelines for the degree they are undertaking.

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What are you doing and how are you doing it? Articulating your aims and objectives.

Mar 6, 2019

Have you checked out  the rest of  The PhD Knowledge Base ? It’s home to hundreds more free resources and guides, written especially for PhD students.

How long does it take the person reading your thesis to understand what you’re doing and how you’re doing it? If the answer is anything other than ’in the opening paragraphs of the thesis’ then keep reading.

If you tell them as early as possible what you’re doing and how you’re doing it – and do so in clear and simple terms – whatever you write after will make much more sense. If you leave them guessing for ten pages, everything they read in those ten pages has no coherence. You’ll know where it is all leading, but they won’t.

Unless you tell them.

If you tell the reader what you’re doing as early as possible in clear and simple terms, whatever you write after will make much more sense. 

What are aims & objectives?

If you build a house without foundations, it’s pretty obvious what will happen. It’ll collapse.  Your thesis is the same;  fail to build the foundations and your thesis just won’t work .

Your aims and objectives are those foundations. That’s why we’ve put them right at the top of our PhD Writing Template (if you haven’t already downloaded it, join the thousands who have by clicking   here ).

If you write your aims and objectives clearly then you’ll make your reader’s life easier.

A lot of students fail to clearly articulate their aims and objectives because they aren’t sure themselves what they actually are.

Picture this: if there’s one thing that every PhD student hates it’s being asked by a stranger what their research is on.

Your PhD thesis. All on one page.

Use our free PhD structure template to quickly visualise every element of your thesis. 

Research aims

Your research aims are the answer to the question,   ‘What are you doing?’ 

1. You need to clearly describe what your intentions are and what you hope to achieve. These are your aims.

2. Your aims may be to test theory in a new empirical setting, derive new theory entirely, construct a new data-set, replicate an existing study, question existing orthodoxy, and so on. Whatever they are, clearly articulate them and do so early. Definitely include them in your introduction and, if you’re smart, you’ll  write them in your abstract .

3. Be very  explicit . In the opening paragraphs, say, in simple terms, ‘ the aim of this thesis is to …’

4. Think of your aims then as a statement of intent. They are  a promise to the reader  that you are going to do something. You use the next two hundred pages or so to follow through on that promise. If you don’t make the promise, the reader won’t understand your follow-through. Simple as that.

Because they serve as the starting point of the study, there needs to be a flow from your aims through your objectives (more on this below) to your research questions and contribution and then into the study itself. If you have completed your research and found that you answered a different question (not that uncommon), make sure your original aims are still valid. If they aren’t, refine them.

If you struggle to explain in simple terms what your research is about and why it matters, you may need to refine your aims and objectives to make them more concise.

When writing up your aims, there are a number of things to bear in mind.

1. Avoid listing too many. Your PhD isn’t as long as you think it is and you won’t have time or room for more than around two or three.

2. When you write them up, be very specific. Don’t leave things so vague that the reader is left unsure or unclear on what you aim to achieve.

3. Make sure there is a logical flow between each of your aims. They should make sense together and should each be separate components which, when added together, are bigger than the sum of their parts.

Research objectives

Your aims answer the question, ‘What are you doing?’ The   objectives are the answer to the question, ‘How are you doing it?’ 

Research objectives refer to the goals or steps that you will take to achieve your aims.

When you write them,   make sure they are SMART. 

• S pecific: talk in a precise and clear way about what you are going to do.
• M easurable: how will you know when you have achieved your aim?
• A chievable: make sure that you aren’t overly ambitious.
• R ealistic: recognise the time and resource constraints that come with doing a PhD and don’t attempt to do too much.
• T ime constrained: determine when each objective needs to be completed.

You need to be as explicit as possible here.  Leave the reader in no doubt about what you will do to achieve your aims.  Step by step. Leave no ambiguity. At the same time, be careful not to repeat your methods chapter here. Just hint at your methods by presenting the headlines. You’ll have plenty of space in your methods discussion to flesh out the detail. 

Elsewhere in the thesis you will necessarily have to talk in a complex language and juggle complex ideas. Here you don’t. You can write in clear, plain sentences.

What is the difference between research aims and objectives?

The aims of a study describe what you hope to achieve. The objectives detail how you are going to achieve your aims.

Let’s use an example to illustrate.

• To understand the contribution that local governments make to national level energy policy.

Objectives:

• Conduct a survey of local politicians to solicit responses.
• Conduct desk-research of local government websites to create a database of local energy policy.
• Interview national level politicians to understand the impact these local policies have had.
• Data will be coded using a code book derived from dominant theories of governance.

If you’re still struggling, Professor Pat Thompson’s great blog has   a guide   that will help.

Leave the reader in no doubt about what you will do to achieve your aims.  Step by step. Leave no ambiguity.

I can’t articulate them clearly, my research is complicated!

Of course your research is complex. That’s the name of the game. But   the sign of someone being able to   master   complexity is their ability to   summarise   it . Sure, you’re not looking to capture all the richness and detail in a short summary of aims and objectives, but you are looking to tell the reader what you’re doing and how you’re doing it.

If you’re struggling to clearly articulate your aims and objectives, then try the following task. At the top of a Post-it note write the sentence: ‘In this research I will…’. Then keep trying until you can fit an answer onto one single Post-it note. The answer should answer two questions: what are are you doing and how are you doing it?

Remember – whenever you write, make it as clear as possible. Pay attention to the words ‘as possible’ there. That means you should write as clearly as you can given the fact that your subject and research is necessarily complex. Think of it the other way: it’s about not making things more complicated and unclear than they need to be.

In other words, make your reader’s job as easy as you can. They’ll thank you for it.

If you’re still having trouble, get in touch to arrange a one-on-one coaching session and we can work through your aims and objectives together.

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32 comments.

The write up is quite inspiring.

My topic is setting up a healing gardens in hospitals Need a aim and objectives for a dissertation

Dis is really good and more understandable thanks

Crisp, concise, and easy to understnad. Thank you for posint this. I now know how to write up my report.

Great. Glad you found it useful.

Good piece of work! Very useful

Great. Glad you found it useful!

The write up makes sense

Great. Thanks!

I love this article. Amazing, outstanding and incredible facts.

Glad you found it useful!

Well written and easy to follow

Thank you for the comment, I’m really glad you found it valuable.

I’m currently developing a dissertation proposal for my PhD in organizational leadership. I need guidance in writing my proposal

Hey – have you checked out this guide? https://www.thephdproofreaders.com/writing/how-to-write-a-phd-proposal/

Indeed I’m impressed and gained a lot from this and I hope I can write an acceptable thesis with this your guide. Bello, H.K

Great. Thanks for the kind words. Good luck with the thesis.

Thumbs up! God job, well done. The information is quite concise and straight to the point.

Glad you thought so – good luck with the writing.

Dear Max, thank you so much for your work and efforts!

Your explanation about Aims and Objectives really helped me out. However, I got stuck with other parts of the Aims and Objectives Work Sheet: Scope, Main Argument, and Contribution.

Could you please explain these as well, preferably including some examples?

Thanks for your kind words. Your question is a big one! Without knowing lots about your topics/subject I’m not able to provide tailored advice, but broadly speaking your scope is the aims/objectives, your main argument is the thread running through the thesis (i.e. what your thesis is trying to argue) and the contribution (again, broadly speaking) is that gap you are filling.

I love your website and you’ve been so SO helpful..

DUMB QUESTION ALERT: Is there supposed to be a difference between aims and research question?

I mean, using your own example.. if the aim of my research is: “To understand the contribution that local governments make to national level energy policy” then wouldn’t the research question be: “How do local governments contribute to energy policy at national level”?

I am sorry if this comes out as completely obvious but I am at that stage of confusion where I am starting to question everything I know.

Sorry it’s taken me so long to reply! It’s not a dumb question at all. The aim of the study is what the study as a whole is seeking to achieve. So that might be the gap it is filling/the contribution it is making. The research questions are your means to achieving that aim. Your aim might be to fill a gap in knowledge, and you then may have a small number of questions that help you along that path. Does that make sense?

Thank you Max for this post! So helpful!

Thanks Anna!

Thanks so much this piece. I have written both bachelor’s and master’s thesis but haven’t read this made me feel like I didn’t know anything about research at all. I gained more insight into aims and objectives of academic researches.

Interesting explanation. Thank you.

I’m glad you found it useful.

Hi… I really like the way it is put “What are you going?” (Aims) and “How are you doing it?” (Objectives). Simple and straightforward. Thanks for making aims and objectives easy to understand.

Thank you for the write up it is insightful. if you are ask to discuss your doctoral aims. that means: what you are doing how you are doing it.

I was totally lost and still in the woods to the point of thinking I am dull, but looking at how you are coaching it tells me that i am just a student who needs to understand the lesson. I now believe that with your guidance i will pass my PhD. I am writing on an otherwise obvious subject, Value addition to raw materials, why Africa has failed to add value to raw materials? Difficult question as answers seem to abound, but that is where i differ and i seem to be against the general tide. However with your guidance I believe i will make it. Thanks.

Thanks for your lovely, kind words. So kind.

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Understanding your research objectives and aim is crucial to determining the success of your project. However, many students struggle with this aspect, which results in poor performance. We strongly recommend you read this article in its entirety if you suspect that you belong to this group of students.

Learn the essential techniques for creating precise and effective dissertation aims and objectives in our guide on 'how to write dissertation aims and objectives,' ensuring your research is on the right track.

Find out More about How to Aims and Objectives in this Article

The purpose of this article is to explain what research aims and objectives are, how they differ from one another, and how to write them correctly.

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What are the aims and objectives of research.

For your research project to be successful, it is imperative that you have clearly defined aims and objectives. Below is a detailed section of these two and how they help shape a research paper and dissertation. 

Research Aims

You can define your research aim as the overarching purpose of your study. Therefore, it provides your readers with clarity about what your study is about while acting as a focal point for your research. This is why research aims are almost always positioned under their subsection in the introduction section of any research document, regardless of whether it is a thesis, dissertation, or research paper.

The length of a research goal can vary. It might be just a short sentence or a brief paragraph. It's all about explaining the main point of your research. No matter how it's written, all research goals should explain why you're doing the research (the reason) and what you want to achieve (the actual goal) and give a quick idea of how you'll do it (a summary of your plans).

An example of a real PhD thesis research aim is as follows:

Example of a Research Aim

Despite its importance, diametrical cup deformation has not been widely investigated as a contributing factor to implant failure. In this thesis, we sought to understand the acetabular cup and shell diametrical deformation after impaction into the reamed acetabulum. We investigated various factors to determine if cups and shells may deform significantly enough to contribute to early failure and high wear rates in metal-on-metal implants.

Research Objectives

An objective describes how you intend to accomplish the research goal. Several smaller key sections within the aim are categorized into specific statements. Setting appropriate objectives allows you to stay focused and conduct research according to your goals.

There should be at least three to six realistic objective in a dissertation , each achievable. Using the previously mentioned dissertation aim as an example, here are the objectives.

Example of a Research Objective

• To simulate mallet blows during cup/shell insertion, develop finite element models using explicit dynamics, initially using a simplified foam model validated experimentally to represent the acetabulum.
• Analyze how many impacts are required to insert a cup and their velocity and position.
• Different cup types exhibit different relationships between interference and deformation.
• Examine how non-uniform cup support and varying component orientation affect deformation.
• Inspect the effect of reaming errors on the cavity shape during the acetabulum reaming process.
• Analyze the effects of changes in the component's geometry on the deformation of different cup designs.
• Using a range of patients with varying bone quality, develop three-dimensional pelvis models with non-uniform bone properties.
• Define the range of deformations that might occur using the anatomical models and determine if these deformations are clinically significant based on the key parameters that influence deformation.

What is the Difference Between Aims and Objectives?

In your childhood, you might have dreamed about becoming an astronaut, a doctor, or a teacher. A person's life goals are what he or she wishes to accomplish in the course of their lives. It is often mistaken for the word objective to refer to what an individual or entity hopes to accomplish. In both instances, the desired result is the result of an individual's efforts, but their concepts are different. Aims are general statements about what should be achieved.

Objectives, on the other hand, are steps taken to accomplish the long-term goals of the company. The correct implication of these terms is only possible when they are used in the correct context. To find out what the difference between aim and objective is, take a look at the section below.

Key Differences Between Aims and Objectives

Regarding the difference between aim and objective, the following points are crucial:

• Aims are the ultimate goals that individuals or entities seek to achieve. A person or entity's objective is what they strive to achieve by continually pursuing it.
• Objectives indicate the entity's short-term goals while its aim reflects its long-term outcomes.
• An individual or company's aim is the general direction or intent it has. In contrast, an objective is a company's or an individual's specific goal.
• It is the aim of the company that relates to its goals, whereas the objectives relate to the accomplishments it has made.
• An aim answers the question, what do we want to accomplish? An objective, on the other hand, answers the question, "How are we going to accomplish it?"?
• The entity's goals are not time-bound. That is, there are no deadlines within which the entity's goals must be achieved. It is hard to estimate how long the process will take. Alternatively, objectives are always accompanied by a deadline within which they must be accomplished.
• The last difference between them lies in the measurable nature of objectives versus aims.

Why are Aims and Objectives Important in Research?

A research grant application can be made more persuasive by focusing on the goals and objectives.

In a well-written proposal, the overarching purpose is identified based on a broad research question . There is a description of a research project that will answer three or four smaller questions arising from this big question. As a result of the intricate design of the project, it makes sense that the reader should fund it. It is possible that the intricacy of a project lies more in the writing than in its design. A pre-designed project can be linked to an existing big question by crafting matching aims and objectives.

What is the Process of Writing Aims and Objectives in Dissertation?

The aims and objectives can be written in any way or according to any standard. It is possible for researchers to have different writing styles, as well as supervisors who can influence their writing styles. However, when writing aims and objectives for a dissertation, you should follow some basic principles, which are explained below. 

Defining the Goal

There are a number of essential elements that should be included in the aim statement.

• What is the purpose of the research? It describes the problem that will be investigated (the underlying issue)
• In what context does the research take place? A description of the research title (description of the research)
• What is your plan for conducting it? The intended research methods (a brief description)

The research purpose should be clearly defined in the aim without confusing the reader. Consider refining your research if you have difficulty explaining the importance of your research in simpler terms.

Creating Objectives for Writing

What you want to achieve with your research is described in the objectives. Here are the steps you can follow:

• Literature reviews can be used to meet the first one to two objectives. The following verbs should be used: investigate, examine, study.
• Methodology can be categorized according to one objective. Collection, selection, demonstration, estimation (verbs to use)
• You can use two to three objectives in the critical evaluation or discussion chapters (Verbs to use: analyze, compare, evaluate).
• Conclusions or recommendations will be covered in the final objective. (Use the verbs "conclude" and "recommend")

In order to make the objectives more clear, they should be written as a numbered list instead of as a paragraph.

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How Many Aims and Objectives Should Be there?

Essentially, it depends on the topic of your research and the requirements of your supervisor. The research aim of a dissertation is generally stated in one broad statement. In addition to the main objective, two or three subsidiary objectives can be included.

To measure progress towards the achievement of the research goal, the number of objectives should also be realistic and sufficient. In general, their number ranges from three to six, depending on their purpose.

What are Some Mistakes in Writing Research Aims and Objectives?

1. researching too broadly.

It is very difficult to accomplish a research goal that is too broad. In most cases, this occurs when students develop their research aim before they understand what they want to study. If your research goals are too broad, it will be almost impossible to prove you have achieved them at the end of your project and during your viva. Focusing on a specific area should be your first priority when you begin a research project. Studying existing literature, questioning their current approaches, findings and limitations, and considering whether there are any recurring gaps that can be addressed is a good way to accomplish this.

2. Do not Set Too Ambitious Research Goals

Take into account the amount of time you have available and what you are able to accomplish. A PhD research objective requiring sophisticated data collection and analysis is a natural goal, but completing this work with just six months left in your registration period does not make sense.

3. Formulating Repetitive Research Objectives

There should be a distinct purpose and measurable outcome for each research objective. Therefore, it is a common mistake to form research objectives that overlap heavily. The lack of information on when an objective is truly complete also makes estimating the duration of objectives difficult when constructing a project timeline. Additionally, it makes it more challenging to structure your thesis into unique chapters, which makes it more difficult for you to write and for your audience to understand.

It is fortunately easy to avoid this oversight by using SMART objectives.

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What are Some Tips and Tricks to Write Exceptional Aims and Objectives?

Here are some fun tricks and tips for your convenience. 

1. Clearly State Your Research's Aims and Objectives.

It is common for researchers to omit to state their research goal clearly. Most thesis has become directionless as a result of this omission. A guide is usually read before a proposal is read by most readers.

Try to define your focus on the proposal. Provide a list of variables that will be estimated. Describe how you will take action. There should be limits to your studies, and you should state them.

If you are starting your research aim, do not include unnecessary points. What are the aim and objective of my research? Use action-verb words to describe your research objective. Use words that aren't slack or dull. If possible, use verbs in your statements.

2. Keep it Short

A very short research objective and the aim should be included in your research proposal. In this way, your readers will be reminded of your dreams and goals. Using complex sentences is not a good idea. There should not be more than 500 to 1000 words in your proposal's aim and objectives.

3. Decide How Many Aims You Should Include in Your Proposal

There should be one predominant research aim and at least one subsidiary research aim, according to most supervisors.

A thesis should have a reasonable number of objectives, although there is no hard and fast rule.

4. Use Broad Terms When Writing them

It is important to use a broad term to describe research aims. It is also crucial that objectives are concise, as they describe what needs to be done to achieve those objectives.

5. Relate them

Let your aims and objectives flow together when stating them. In the absence of a relationship between your goals, you undermine the credibility of your work. In your statement, you stated your goals and objectives.

FAQs About Dissertation Aims and Objectives

• The purpose of Objectives is to accomplish goals within a short period of time, which is why they're called objectives.
• The emphasis is on achieving Aims rather than achieving Objectives. It is therefore important to set goals and work toward them simultaneously.

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