RESEARCH QUESTIONS

AND OBJECTIVES
By: Ejalu David Livingstone

Uganda Martyrs University

(MPH-PRH, MPH-HP, MHSM)
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Email: dejalu@[Link]
 RESEARCH OBJECTIVES

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 Research Objectives
• Once the problem has been clearly formulated, understood,
then the next step is to formulate objectives of the study
• Objectives inform the reader on what you intend to achieve.
• They should clearly ask and provide answers to the question,
why are you going to do the research.
• They are the basis of judging the successfulness of a study

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 Typology of Objectives
• Objectives of the study can be categorised into two.

1. Broad objectives/ main objective/ purpose of the study

2. Specific objectives

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 The Main Objective
• The main objective or the purpose of the study should always be one
for each study.
• It is an overall statement of the main associations or relationships
that a researcher is seeking to discover.
• It should clearly reflect both the independent variable and dependent
variable
• The main objective of the study is derived directly from the study topic
i.e the study topic is converted into an objective.
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 Example
• I am intrigued by the poor performance/low productivity of
MPH students in FINAL Exams.

• The Problem:
Despite the dramatic efforts made by management of UMU in MPH training,
there is still low level of performance, which continues to worry the university
council and has proved to be costly to the university management.
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 Purpose of the study
• “The purpose of this study is to determine the relationship between class
attendance and students’ performance in of MPH students”.

• From the above purpose of study the independent variable is class

attendance and the dependent variable is students’ performance.

• The title of the study could be; Class attendance and students’ performance
of MPH students in UMU.
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 Specific Objectives:
• Also known as sub-objectives, objectives or research objectives
depending on what the researcher used in the section of purpose of
the study.
• However you should try to follow as shown below.
GENERAL OBJECTIVES SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES

Purpose of study Objectives of study

Major objective Research objectives

General Objective Specific Objectives

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 Specific Objectives: cont,d
• The specific objectives are derived directly from the general objectives,
by breaking the problem statement into manageable components
• Each objectives tackles a specific aspect (only one) of the research
problem.
• When formulating the specific objectives we should try to
operationalize the variables using their respective dimensions and
indicators
• They must be linked to the conceptual frame work

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 From the previous example
the Specific Objectives can be derived:
First determine the dimension of class attendance:
❖Time management
❖Interruption
❖Attentiveness
❖Noise pollution.
❖Etc

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 .
Specific Objectives: cont,d
•Therefore the specific objectives would be
1. To determine the relationship between Time management and students performance in of MPH
students in UMU

2. To establish the effect of Noise pollution on students’ performance in of MPH student in

UMU.

3. To asses the relationship between lesson interruption and students’ performance in UMU
• Please note that. For each of the specific objectives only one dimension of the
independent variable has been used.

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 Examples of action verbs
• To determine • To design
• To assess • To apply
• To find out • To reveal
• To ascertain • To report
• To measure • To analyze
• To explore • To specify
• To test • To establish

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 Please note the following

• Each objective must show the linkage between the

independent variable and dependent variable.

• Objectives must be clear and measurable and should

communicate the researchers intention

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 .
Specific Objectives: cont,d
• The more the number of specific objectives the more literature has to be reviewed.
• Objectives should not exceed four, but 2-3 is recommended.
• The choice of the wording of the objectives must take into consideration the type
of research being employed i.e. Qualitative or Quantitative research. i.e.
✓ Quantitative Research
➢To asses relationship between…….
✓ Qualitative Research
➢To find out the opinion of employee……

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 RESEARCH QUESTIONS

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-2019
 RESEARCH QUESTIONS
• Research questions guide inquiries in the research process.
• They are derived directly from the specific objectives and must
be consistent with them.
• The number of research questions is determined by the number
of specific objectives.
• Research questions are obtained by restating the specific
objectives into questions.
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 Use of Research questions.
1. When research questions have been answered through data
gathering and analysis, objectives of the study will have
been achieved.

2. Guide the development of research instruments

questionnaire, interview schedules, observation guide
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 Please note the following
• Research questions should be numbered using the same numbering
as the specific objectives.
• Research questions must reflect both the independent and
dependent variable.
• Unless very necessary research questions should start with the
independent variable and then the dependent variable.
• Research questions should not be questions that call for YES & NO
answers (Boolean)
• They should end with a question mark (?)
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