ThezisHow to write research aims and objectives that match your question
The aim is the study’s overall purpose. Objectives are the concrete pieces of work that make that purpose achievable. They are not a list of hopes for what the research will prove.
Align question, aim, and objectives
Question: How do commuter undergraduates describe uncertainty about study-space access? Aim: To explore how commuter undergraduates describe uncertainty about study-space access. Objectives: (1) identify conditions participants associate with uncertain access; (2) examine how they describe adapting their study schedules; (3) identify exceptions to the pattern.
The verbs align with an exploratory interview study. A survey or experiment would need different objectives.
| If your design can | Use verbs such as | Be cautious with |
|---|---|---|
| Describe experiences | explore, describe, identify | prove, demonstrate causation |
| Compare measured groups | compare, estimate, test association | explain why without supporting evidence |
| Evaluate an intervention | assess, evaluate, examine effects | guarantee, establish universal impact |
Count the work before you commit
Each objective needs a method, evidence, and a place in the final paper. If you cannot say where the evidence will come from, the objective may be a broad interest rather than a workable task. University of Edinburgh: Research aims and objectives
- Put the main question beside every objective.
- Remove an objective that answers a different question.
- Check that the number of objectives fits the project length.
- Use the same terms in proposal, method, results, and conclusion.