Setting research objectives

Research problem/Topic
Research Question
Research
Objectives
Formulating Research Objectives
Amna Khairy abdul kareem khairy
MBBS(U of K) , MPH (NU) DRME (NU)MDCommunity Medicine
candidate
EPI Hub Centre
For research and capacity building

Session Outlines
 Importance of research objectives
 Criteria for good research objectives
 How to formulate general and specific objectives

Importance of research objectives

Importance of research objectives
• Research is an organized investigation of a problem where an
investigator attempts to gain solution to a problem
• In order to get the right solution a clearly defined objectives are very
important.
• A clearly defined objective directs a researcher in the right direction.
• A clearly defined objectives are important feature of a good research
study.
• Without focused objectives, no replicable scientific findings can
• be expected.

Definition ?
A research objective is a clear, concise, declarative
statement, which provides direction to investigate the
variables under the study.

6
Criteria of good research objective
Objectives must be SMART
Specific
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic
Time-bound

Specific:
 Objectives should provide the “who” and “what” of program activities.
 Use only one action verb since objectives with more than one verb
imply that more than one activity or behavior is being measured.
 Avoid verbs that may have vague meanings to describe intended
outcomes (e.g., “understand” or “know”) since it may prove difficult to
measure them. Instead, use verbs that document action (e.g., “At the
end of the session, the students will list three concerns...”)
 Remember, the greater the specificity, the greater the measurability.

Measurable:
 The focus is on “how much” change is expected. Objectives
should quantify the amount of change expected. It is impossible
to determine whether objectives have been met unless they can
be measured.
 The objective provides a reference point from which a change in
the target population can clearly be measured.

Achievable:
Objectives should be attainable within a given time frame and
with available program resources.

Realistic:
 Objectives are most useful when they accurately address the
scope of the problem and programmatic steps that can be
implemented within a specific time frame.
 Objectives that do not directly relate to the program goal will not
help toward achieving the goal.

Time-phased:
 Objectives should provide a time frame indicating when the
objective will be measured or a time by which the objective will
be met.
 Including a time frame in the objectives helps in planning and
evaluating the program.

SMART?
90% of registrars will participate in Research Methodology
workshops
NOT Specific :BY whom ? WHO will participate ?
Not time bound: WHEN

SMART?
90% of All R3 and R4 SMSBs registrars will participate in
Research Methodology workshops delivered by SMSB by
December 2020

SMART?
PCR for SARS-COV-2 will be done to confirm diagnosis of
COVID-19 infection
NOT Specific :BY whom ? WHO will participate ?
Not time bound: WHEN

SMART?
Rapid response teams will take sample from All patients
suspected to have COVID-19 infection according to Sudan
national protocol , and will be tested by PCR for SARS-COV-
2 to confirm the diagnosis at the national reference
laboratory within 48 hours from reporting

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General objective:
Should be clearly related to the statement of the problem
Summarizes what is to be achieved by the study

General Objective
To Determine the association between nutritional knowledge and
the nutritional status of pregnant women attending antenatal care
(ANC) in Khartoum state

Specific objectives
Logically connected parts of the general objective
Focus the study on the essentials
Direct the design of investigation
Orient collection, analysis & interpretation of data

Specific objectives
1.To assess the knowledge level among ANC attendees on the
recommended nutritional practices during pregnancy
2.To assess the nutritional status of pregnant women attending
ANC
3.To analyse the statistical association between nutritional
knowledge level and nutritional status in pregnant women
attending ANC

23
Action-verbs Vs non-action verbs
Action-verbs
To determine To compare To verify
To calculate To describe To asses
To explore To test To establish
To identify
Non-action verbs
To appreciate To understand To show
To share To believe to study

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Types of objectives
1. Estimation objectives
• Estimates magnitude of an event
2. Association objectives
• Analyses factors associated with an event
3. Evaluation objectives
• Evaluates associations

General Objectives
To Determine the psychological impact of COVID-19 pandamic on Doctors who
were working in hospitals during the pandamic Sudan 2020

Specific Objectives
 To Estimate the prevalence of depression and anxiety among Doctors
who were working in hospitals during the pandamic in Sudan 2020
 To identify predictors of depression and anxiety among Doctors who
were working in hospitals during the pandamic in Sudan 2020
 To Evaluate the impact of psychosocial support program provided by
the ministry of health , on preventing development of depression and
anxiety .

Research problem/Topic
Research Question
Research
Objectives
Formulate your
general and specific
objectives
Practice time

Setting research objectives

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