Research Questions And Objectives

Question 1

What is a research question?

Answer 1

a question which a researcher sets out to answer

Question 2

Why create a research question?

Answer 2

Curiosity is the source of our questions – we ask because we want to know;
research is the means by which we find an answer

Question 3

What is a research question?

Answer 3

Something you want to know about your discipline, or about a specific area within your discipline
- Not a topic, fragment, phrase, or sentence
- Clear and precisely stated: It is not too broad, nor is it too narrow
- Open-ended, as opposed to closed

Question 4

Explain the importance of a research question?

Answer 4

1. Helps to refine broad topics into researchable variables
2. They give greater clarity to the research process and what you wish to investigate.
3. They lead to more focused research study.
4. When linked together they help to construct a coherent argument on why the research study needs to be conducted
5. They provide more structure/framework to one’s research work
6. They help to guide literature search
7. They help to guide the research methodology
8. They help to narrow the scope of your research

Question 5

What are the characteristics of a good research question?

Answer 5

1. Relevant
2. Interesting
3. Focused and specific
4. Researchable

Question 6

What are research objectives?

Answer 6

Research objectives describe concisely what the research is trying to achieve
- Summarize what is to be achieved and delivered by the study
- They are the specific research project outputs

Question 7

What is the importance of research objectives?

Answer 7

1. Provides focus and direction to the researcher
2. Organizes the study in clearly defined parts or phases
3. Facilitate development of research methodology

Question 8

What are characteristics of good objectives?

Answer 8

1. Specific
   - State exactly what you want to accomplish
   Who, What, Where, Why
2. Measurable
   - How will you demonstrate and evaluate the extent to which the goal has been met?
3. Achievable
   - stretch and challenging goals within ability to achieve outcome
   What is the action-oriented verb?
4. Relevant
   - How does the goal tie into your key responsibilities?
   How is it aligned to objectives?
5. Time-bound
   Set 1 or more target dates, the “by when” to guide your goal to successful and timely completion (include deadlines, dates and frequency)

Question 9

Name types of research objectives?

Answer 9

1. general
2. specific

Question 10

What are general objectives?

Answer 10

Broad goal to be achieved
- Describes in general terms what the researcher expects to achieve

Question 11

What are specific objectives?

Answer 11

• Shorter, narrow with a defined time limit
• Address different aspects of the of the problem and factors that
  influence it (determinants)
• Usually broken down from the general objectives
  > General objective met by meeting the specific objectives

Question 12

How do you state objectives?

Answer 12

1. Should be brief and concise
2. Should do we the different aspects or the problem and it’s determinants on logical sequence
3. Clearly phased in operational terms using action verbs

Question 13

State action verbs?

Answer 13

To assess
* To identify
* To evaluate
* To find out
* To compare
* To verify
* To calculate
* To analyze
* To establish