understood and practiced by the research team.
The research team will undertake a comprehensive search of the literature within the following databases:
Using the three terms of population, concept, context (PCC framework) an initial search will be deployed on CINAHL Plus. This will be followed by the use of search terms to identify key text words used to address the major concepts of population (healthcare professionals and patients), concept (action research studies in healthcare), and context (any part of health service that people interact with). Alternative terms for each of the concepts will also be included. Then each search strategy will be adapted for each database (PubMed and ABI/Inform) and specific Boolean operators, truncation markers, and MeSH headings where necessary will be used. The inclusion of the expertise of a research librarian is invaluable at an early stage of completing a scoping review ( McGowan et al. , 2020 ); the research team worked with the expert university librarian in designing and refining the search strategy and will be included as part of the research team. We noted that while the data bases CINAHL and ABI/Inform claim to include the Action Research Journal, this is not the case. Therefore, we plan to do a manual search of the Action Research Journal and also of Educational Action Research for the past 5 years in keeping with the timeframe of the search strategy for this protocol. Sample search terms for the PubMed database are outlined in Table 2 .
PCC concept search | |
---|---|
- healthcare professionals and patients and clients who work or come into contact with health care in any context of primary, secondary or tertiary settings | Patient* OR inpatient* OR outpatient* OR Client* OR End User* OR Service User* OR “advanced practitioner” OR Nurse* OR Midwi* OR Physician* OR Physiotherapists OR Physical Therapist* OR psychologist* OR “Industrial Psychology” OR “Occupational Psychology” OR Doctor* OR Consultant* OR Health Services Manager* OR Minority Group* OR Geriatric* OR “Disabled people” OR “people with Disabilities” OR Pregnant OR breastfeeding OR HIV OR “Human immunodeficiency virus” OR STI OR STD OR “Sexually Transmitted Diseases” OR “Intellectual Disability” OR “Chronically ill” OR “Patients"[Mesh:NoExp] OR "Inpatients"[Mesh] OR "Outpatients"[Mesh] OR "Nurses"[Mesh] OR "Physicians"[Mesh:NoExp] OR "Cardiologists"[Mesh] OR "Endocrinologists"[Mesh] OR "General Practitioners"[Mesh] OR "Geriatricians"[Mesh] OR "Oncologists"[Mesh] OR "Physicians, Family"[Mesh] OR "Rheumatologists"[Mesh] OR "Physical Therapists"[Mesh] OR "Psychology"[Mesh:NoExp] OR "Psychology, Industrial" [Mesh] OR “Psychology, Social"[Mesh] OR "Consultants"[Mesh] OR "Minority Groups"[Mesh] OR "Disabled Persons"[Mesh] OR "Pregnant Women"[Mesh] OR "Breast Feeding"[Mesh] OR "HIV"[Mesh] OR "Sexually Transmitted Diseases"[Mesh] OR "Intellectual Disability"[Mesh] |
- studies that use an action research approach in healthcare contexts | “Action Research” OR “Appreciative Inquiry” OR “Cooperative Inquiry” OR “Co-operative Inquiry” OR “Collaborative research” OR “Participatory Action Research” OR “Organisation Development” OR “Organization Development” OR “Organizational development” OR “Organisational Development” OR “Community Development” OR Co-design |
- any part of health service in any country that people (healthcare professionals and patient or clients) interact with. | “Clinical Nursing” OR “Clinical Medicine” OR “General Practice” OR “Family Practice” OR “Community Nursing” OR “Community medicine” OR “Primary Care” OR “ OR “Acute Care” OR “subacute care” OR Paediatrics OR Pediatrics OR Geriatrics OR Gerontology OR “Medication Management” OR Drug administration OR Prescribing OR Prescriptions OR “Long-term Care” OR Long term health care OR “Mental Health Services” OR Psychiatric OR “Nursing Homes” OR Rehabilitation OR Oncology OR Pain Clinic OR pain service OR Pain management OR “Cancer hospital” OR “Cancer Care” OR “Home Nursing” OR “Public Health” OR Hospital OR “Community Development” OR “Health Policy” OR ED OR “Emergency department” OR Accident and Emergency Department* OR “Emergency service” OR Emergency medical care OR Trauma Centers OR “Hospital Medicine” OR “Health Service” OR Healthcare OR “Health Care” OR Maternity OR Maternal child nursing OR Birthing Centre* OR Birthing Center* OR Health Promotion* OR “Occupational Health” OR "Clinical Medicine"[Mesh] OR "General Practice"[Mesh] OR "Community Health Nursing"[Mesh] OR "Community Medicine"[Mesh] OR "Primary Health Care"[Mesh] OR "Subacute Care"[Mesh] OR "Pediatrics"[Mesh] OR "Geriatrics"[Mesh] OR "Medication Therapy Management"[Mesh] OR "Long-Term Care"[Mesh] OR "Mental Health Services"[Mesh] OR "Psychiatric Department, Hospital"[Mesh] OR "Social Work, Psychiatric"[Mesh] OR "Nursing Homes"[Mesh] OR "Hospitals, Rehabilitation"[Mesh] OR "Oncology Service, Hospital"[Mesh] OR "Pain Clinics"[Mesh] OR "Cancer Care Facilities"[Mesh] OR "Home Nursing"[Mesh] OR "Public Health Practice"[Mesh] OR "Hospitals"[Mesh] OR "Social Planning"[Mesh:NoExp] OR "Health Policy"[Mesh] OR "Emergency Service, Hospital"[Mesh] OR "Hospital Medicine"[Mesh] OR "Health Services"[Mesh] OR "Hospitals, Maternity"[Mesh] OR "Birthing Centers"[Mesh] OR "Health Promotion"[Mesh] OR "Occupational Health Services"[Mesh] |
Key search concepts . The key search concepts for this study are ‘people in healthcare’ AND ‘action research’ AND ‘healthcare environment’.
Endnote 9 will be used to manage the identified studies from the three databases. All duplicates will be removed within Endnote 9. The process of screening the titles and abstracts will be undertaken by four members of the team and non-relevant studies based on the criteria will be removed with the assistance of Rayyan (an online open access screening software tool). To resolve any conflict regarding the difference of opinion and in the ‘undecided, category, one member from the other team will chair a discussion to reach a consensus agreement. To improve reliability of the reviewers, a short training programme on the use of Rayyan will be undertaken by all the researchers and a small percentage of the studies will be screened independently by each reviewer and then a comparison will be reviewed for consistency of decision-making between the members. The full text article review will be undertaken by the same researchers using the same iterative steps, with the researchers reviewing the full texts independently.
We will do a small pilot study to test the use of the criteria and these can be modified as the researchers become more familiar with a sample of the studies to determine if further information is required of if fields are not relevant and should be removed. Data will be extracted using specified criteria and evidence from this process will be presented in table format.
Four members of the research team will be involved in extracting the data using a charting table created by the researchers within Microsoft Excel 365 software, as suggested by Joanna Briggs Institute (JBI) ( Peters et al. , 2017 ). The extracted data will be selected and mapped according to the specified inclusion of evidence of the quality of the action research study. Using the elements identified in the PCC framework as a guide, the initial fields will include:
Data will be collected using Microsoft Excel 365 software to capture relevant information for each study by the same four members of the research team and it will be available to all members via a shared drive. Studies will be mapped according to their contextual setting, geographical location, and year of publication. All authors will discuss the data prior to analysis, which will be a descriptive analysis, as recommended by Peters et al. (2020a) . A narrative tabular report will be produced summarising the extracted data concerning the objectives and scoping review question. The PRISMA-ScR guidelines will be used for reporting the outcomes of the review ( Tricco et al. , 2018 ). Quality appraisal of the studies will not be conducted as there is no extant quality appraisal check list for action research studies. This review aims to explore how the core factors of a comprehensive framework of action research are addressed in each study and our findings will contribute to future development of such a check list for the application of action research principles in action research studies in general. The review will consist of analysis of the evidence of the quality of their action research on: i) demonstrating knowledge of the practical and academic context of the project; ii) creating participants as co-researchers; iii) enacting cycles of action and reflection in the present tense as the project is being implemented and knowledge is being co-generated; and iv) generating outcomes that are both practical for the delivery of healthcare system in the project and robust for theory development about change in healthcare. Full adherence to ethical procedures in disseminating information will be undertaken by the research team. The report will be presented both orally and through publications at national and international conferences.
At the time of publication of this protocol, preliminary database searches had commenced.
This scoping review protocol has been designed in line with the latest evidence. Action research studies were carried out in diverse healthcare settings and there are many ways of undertaking action research in healthcare that consider the research purpose, aims and theoretical underpinnings. However, there is a need demonstrate the quality of the action research studies by choosing a coherent theoretical guidance provided by scholars. This will enable the transformation and impact of action research in healthcare settings to be evaluated and thereby improve the quality of action research studies in healthcare. The results extracted from this scoping review will identify how the quality element is addressed in current empirical action research studies within a recent five-year period. Based on the outcome of the review knowledge gaps and deficits will be uncovered in relation to demonstrating adherence to quality criteria when undertaking action research studies. A Quality check list for action research studies may be generated similar in format to extant reporting criteria for qualitative and quantitative studies. Findings from the review will be shared widely with healthcare personnel both locally and nationally and also through presentations and publication of the review in an open-access journal.
[version 2; peer review: 2 approved]
The author(s) declared that no grants were involved in supporting this work.
Victor friedman.
1 Action Research Center for Social Justice, Max Stern Yezreel Valley College, Emek Yezreel, Israel
The changes to the article are sufficient.
Is the study design appropriate for the research question?
Is the rationale for, and objectives of, the study clearly described?
Are sufficient details of the methods provided to allow replication by others?
Are the datasets clearly presented in a useable and accessible format?
Not applicable
Reviewer Expertise:
Action research, organisational learning, social inclusion, conflict transformation, action science, field theory
I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard.
UCD Nursing, Midwifery & Health Systems, Ireland
Many thanks for your considered response that has helped us to improve our publication.
Kind Regards
This paper presents a protocol for a scoping literature review of how action research in health care deals with quality. It argues for the need for such a review, which promises to provide a deeper, more nuanced, and empirically based understanding of what quality actually means in action research in the health care field. The paper reviews a small sample of the literature on quality in action research and points to a variety of criteria/factors for evaluating/generating quality. For their scoping review, the authors choose “four factors” for quality as presented by Coghlan and Shani (2018). The paper then presents the research question, the methods to be used for (1) identifying and selecting relevant studies to be reviewed, (2) charting the data, and (3) collating, summarising and reporting the results.
The paper makes a convincing argument for the need for such a scoping review and prevents a very clear, systematic, and well though-out protocol that should generate very useful and important knowledge.
At the same time, I question the authors choice of a single, pre-existing framework for quality (Coghlan & Shani,2018). After presenting a number of varying approaches to quality, they write, “a connection that integrates their different forms of expertise and different initial frameworks is needed in order to generate a third framework of the local situation.” However, the authors do not actually explain how these frameworks are integrated within the Coghlan and Shani (2018) model. It seems to me that some things are missing or need to be developed a bit more:
To sum up, Coghlan & Shani (2018) provides a very good foundation on which to build the integrative model, but a bit more work needs to be done to make it integrative and more comprehensive.
There are also a number of editing issues:
Finally, I want to raise a thought I had about the relationship between action research and academic writing that may, or may not, be relevant to this project and the protocol. Understandably, the authors exclude research that lacks “information and descriptions on the core tenets of action research”. However, as an associate editor of the Acton Research Journal and a frequent reviewer of action research papers, I am often struck by the difference between doing action research and writing about it for academic journals. Unlike normal research, which can be planned and controlled to a high degree, action research, by its very nature as a participative process, is emergent and responsive to changing situations, rarely actually occurring according to “plan.” Sometimes I read manuscripts that are based on quite interesting and high quality action research, but this research is not framed or presented in a way that meets academic standards. Writing up action research for academic journals is often a post hoc reflective process that addresses the question “What did we learn from this project? What kind of knowledge did we produce?” In my experience, many manuscripts fail because they do not adequately frame a question, connect with the relevant literature, or adequately present the data to back up their claims. All of these problems have more to with writing than with the action research itself. In this respect, I believe that this project looks not so much at the quality of action research as the quality of action research as reflected in academic writing. I am not sure how important this distinction is, if at all, but I did want to put it on the table.
I wish the authors all the best in carrying out this important study.
action research, organisational learning, social inclusion, conflict transformation, action science, field theory
I confirm that I have read this submission and believe that I have an appropriate level of expertise to confirm that it is of an acceptable scientific standard, however I have significant reservations, as outlined above.
1 Centre for Person-Centred Practice Research, Queen Margaret University Edinburgh, Musselburgh, UK
Thanks for asking me to review this protocol. It is great to see this work happen and it is to be welcomed, as it is needed. Generally the protocol is really thorough and is very clear and should produce some good outcomes.
A couple of comments:
Well done and I wish you luck with the project.
action research. participatory research. person-centred research. nursing and healthcare research
Ai generator.
Understanding and analyzing your actions is vital for self-improvement. It would help if you recognized how your actions affect your future. Examining your progress is called action research. This method applies to psychology, marketing, and education. Action research is used by teachers to find solutions to problem areas or formulate research plans for factors that need improvement. The results of action research are useful to the participants since it helps them better themselves for the next tasks. This research has guaranteed relevance because the researchers get to decide what the focus of the study is. They are also the ones who will make use of the results.
Every action someone makes has a ripple effect on the future. One small act of kindness can lead to great fortunes. Likewise, any lousy act can turn into something terrible. A person’s mistakes are what makes him who he is today. Ziad K. Abdelnour even said, “Never erase your past. It shapes who you are today and will help you to be the person you’ll be tomorrow.” For one to grow as a person, one needs to be able to recognize one’s mistakes and learn from them. Perhaps you need to create an action plan or conduct action research to help yourself out.
Not all types of research are useful for all fields; some are effective only on specific studies. Luckily, action research can serve many disciplines. Although most applicable to educational research settings, the action research design works for an endless variation of studies. This research approach can also be used by individuals or by groups of researchers. The difference in researchers also signifies a difference in purpose.
Reflective Practitioner When an individual practitioner decides to look into his way of teaching, he unconsciously analyzes his actions to improve the instruction. The more he studies himself, the more he masters the science and process of it all.
Large-Scale Progress In education, as the school progresses, the students progress with it. That is why many schools continuously seek ways to strengthen their instruction to build schoolwide improvement. When instructors come together to fix a single issue, organizational growth is bound to occur.
Professional Culture Medical and educational professionals don’t always agree on particular methods. Sometimes they need to do what they think is appropriate. The only important thing is that they lean towards the same organizational goal . With their differing approaches, they can share their own discoveries to their colleagues, making for more holistic improvement.
The best way to improve yourself is by analyzing your actions and making adjustments along the way. This is a research method called action research. To help you further understand what action research is, here are multiple action research examples you can check out.
Size: 63 KB
Size: 26 KB
Size: 32 KB
Size: 260 KB
Size: 296 KB
Size: 179 KB
Size: 327 KB
Size: 61 KB
Size: 182 KB
Size: 263 KB
Size: 441 KB
Size: 52 KB
Size: 25 KB
Action research is an approach that lets an individual study one’s action to help enhance their basic skills and knowledge of a given task or topic. There is a cycle that this research follows to make continuous improvements to a group or individual. As with any research projects, there are steps you need to follow to accomplish your project goals.
The action research cycle begins with identifying an area that you think needs improvement. Only the researcher can assess if the research focus is worth the time. The outcome of the focus should be the betterment of a practitioner’s work. Thus, picking the right center is extremely important.
The next step is figuring out what approach works best for the problem area. You can try out different methods to solve your problem. This way, you can identify what process flow you are going to follow for the duration of the research. Studying various methods, beliefs, and theories can help you decide what you feel is most effective.
Your data should be valid and reliable to guarantee improvement. That is why it would be wrong to just stick to one source of data. If you can find various academic references to answer any of your questions, you should utilize them. This way, you can match the right technique with the unique qualities your research holds.
When conducting data analysis , you need not use complex calculations and statistical methods; you just need to examine the data you have collected. In studying the patterns and trends in your research data, you just need to answer two questions. What story does the data tell? Why is the story executed this way?
In a day, teachers face more students than fellow teachers. That’s why, given a chance to speak with their colleagues, teachers make share their discoveries from their research. This way, they get to express organizational knowledge they think is useful for other teachers while gaining insight as well.
The last step of the research action plan is, of course, to take action. This part is where teachers make their lesson plans . This part is satisfying to teachers because they feel they have gotten wiser with every piece of knowledge they have uncovered.
Everyone should learn from their mistakes. With every trial and error is a new way of looking at things. You just need to be vigilant with all your actions and know that there is always a better way of doing things. Once you’ve refined your skills, you are sure to become a master.
Text prompt
10 Examples of Public speaking
20 Examples of Gas lighting
Discover the world's research
One of the most important aspects of a thesis, dissertation or research paper is the correct formulation of the aims and objectives. This is because your aims and objectives will establish the scope, depth and direction that your research will ultimately take. An effective set of aims and objectives will give your research focus and your reader clarity, with your aims indicating what is to be achieved, and your objectives indicating how it will be achieved.
There is no getting away from the importance of the aims and objectives in determining the success of your research project. Unfortunately, however, it is an aspect that many students struggle with, and ultimately end up doing poorly. Given their importance, if you suspect that there is even the smallest possibility that you belong to this group of students, we strongly recommend you read this page in full.
This page describes what research aims and objectives are, how they differ from each other, how to write them correctly, and the common mistakes students make and how to avoid them. An example of a good aim and objectives from a past thesis has also been deconstructed to help your understanding.
Research aims.
A research aim describes the main goal or the overarching purpose of your research project.
In doing so, it acts as a focal point for your research and provides your readers with clarity as to what your study is all about. Because of this, research aims are almost always located within its own subsection under the introduction section of a research document, regardless of whether it’s a thesis , a dissertation, or a research paper .
A research aim is usually formulated as a broad statement of the main goal of the research and can range in length from a single sentence to a short paragraph. Although the exact format may vary according to preference, they should all describe why your research is needed (i.e. the context), what it sets out to accomplish (the actual aim) and, briefly, how it intends to accomplish it (overview of your objectives).
To give an example, we have extracted the following research aim from a real PhD thesis:
The role of diametrical cup deformation as a factor to unsatisfactory implant performance has not been widely reported. The aim of this thesis was to gain an understanding of the diametrical deformation behaviour of acetabular cups and shells following impaction into the reamed acetabulum. The influence of a range of factors on deformation was investigated to ascertain if cup and shell deformation may be high enough to potentially contribute to early failure and high wear rates in metal-on-metal implants.
Note: Extracted with permission from thesis titled “T he Impact And Deformation Of Press-Fit Metal Acetabular Components ” produced by Dr H Hothi of previously Queen Mary University of London.
Where a research aim specifies what your study will answer, research objectives specify how your study will answer it.
They divide your research aim into several smaller parts, each of which represents a key section of your research project. As a result, almost all research objectives take the form of a numbered list, with each item usually receiving its own chapter in a dissertation or thesis.
Following the example of the research aim shared above, here are it’s real research objectives as an example:
It’s worth noting that researchers sometimes use research questions instead of research objectives, or in other cases both. From a high-level perspective, research questions and research objectives make the same statements, but just in different formats.
Taking the first three research objectives as an example, they can be restructured into research questions as follows:
Hopefully the above explanations make clear the differences between aims and objectives, but to clarify:
Before we discuss how to write a clear set of research aims and objectives, we should make it clear that there is no single way they must be written. Each researcher will approach their aims and objectives slightly differently, and often your supervisor will influence the formulation of yours on the basis of their own preferences.
Regardless, there are some basic principles that you should observe for good practice; these principles are described below.
Your aim should be made up of three parts that answer the below questions:
The easiest way to achieve this would be to address each question in its own sentence, although it does not matter whether you combine them or write multiple sentences for each, the key is to address each one.
The first question, why , provides context to your research project, the second question, what , describes the aim of your research, and the last question, how , acts as an introduction to your objectives which will immediately follow.
Scroll through the image set below to see the ‘why, what and how’ associated with our research aim example.
Note: Your research aims need not be limited to one. Some individuals per to define one broad ‘overarching aim’ of a project and then adopt two or three specific research aims for their thesis or dissertation. Remember, however, that in order for your assessors to consider your research project complete, you will need to prove you have fulfilled all of the aims you set out to achieve. Therefore, while having more than one research aim is not necessarily disadvantageous, consider whether a single overarching one will do.
Each of your research objectives should be SMART :
In addition to being SMART, your research objectives should start with a verb that helps communicate your intent. Common research verbs include:
(Understanding and organising information) | (Solving problems using information) | (reaching conclusion from evidence) | (Breaking down into components) | (Judging merit) |
Review Identify Explore Discover Discuss Summarise Describe | Interpret Apply Demonstrate Establish Determine Estimate Calculate Relate | Analyse Compare Inspect Examine Verify Select Test Arrange | Propose Design Formulate Collect Construct Prepare Undertake Assemble | Appraise Evaluate Compare Assess Recommend Conclude Select |
Last, format your objectives into a numbered list. This is because when you write your thesis or dissertation, you will at times need to make reference to a specific research objective; structuring your research objectives in a numbered list will provide a clear way of doing this.
To bring all this together, let’s compare the first research objective in the previous example with the above guidance:
Research Objective:
1. Develop finite element models using explicit dynamics to mimic mallet blows during cup/shell insertion, initially using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum.
Checking Against Recommended Approach:
Q: Is it specific? A: Yes, it is clear what the student intends to do (produce a finite element model), why they intend to do it (mimic cup/shell blows) and their parameters have been well-defined ( using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum ).
Q: Is it measurable? A: Yes, it is clear that the research objective will be achieved once the finite element model is complete.
Q: Is it achievable? A: Yes, provided the student has access to a computer lab, modelling software and laboratory data.
Q: Is it relevant? A: Yes, mimicking impacts to a cup/shell is fundamental to the overall aim of understanding how they deform when impacted upon.
Q: Is it timebound? A: Yes, it is possible to create a limited-scope finite element model in a relatively short time, especially if you already have experience in modelling.
Q: Does it start with a verb? A: Yes, it starts with ‘develop’, which makes the intent of the objective immediately clear.
Q: Is it a numbered list? A: Yes, it is the first research objective in a list of eight.
1. making your research aim too broad.
Having a research aim too broad becomes very difficult to achieve. Normally, this occurs when a student develops their research aim before they have a good understanding of what they want to research. Remember that at the end of your project and during your viva defence , you will have to prove that you have achieved your research aims; if they are too broad, this will be an almost impossible task. In the early stages of your research project, your priority should be to narrow your study to a specific area. A good way to do this is to take the time to study existing literature, question their current approaches, findings and limitations, and consider whether there are any recurring gaps that could be investigated .
Note: Achieving a set of aims does not necessarily mean proving or disproving a theory or hypothesis, even if your research aim was to, but having done enough work to provide a useful and original insight into the principles that underlie your research aim.
Be realistic about what you can achieve in the time you have available. It is natural to want to set ambitious research objectives that require sophisticated data collection and analysis, but only completing this with six months before the end of your PhD registration period is not a worthwhile trade-off.
Each research objective should have its own purpose and distinct measurable outcome. To this effect, a common mistake is to form research objectives which have large amounts of overlap. This makes it difficult to determine when an objective is truly complete, and also presents challenges in estimating the duration of objectives when creating your project timeline. It also makes it difficult to structure your thesis into unique chapters, making it more challenging for you to write and for your audience to read.
Fortunately, this oversight can be easily avoided by using SMART objectives.
Hopefully, you now have a good idea of how to create an effective set of aims and objectives for your research project, whether it be a thesis, dissertation or research paper. While it may be tempting to dive directly into your research, spending time on getting your aims and objectives right will give your research clear direction. This won’t only reduce the likelihood of problems arising later down the line, but will also lead to a more thorough and coherent research project.
Finding a PhD has never been this easy – search for a PhD by keyword, location or academic area of interest.
Join thousands of students.
Join thousands of other students and stay up to date with the latest PhD programmes, funding opportunities and advice.
Already Registered?
13.4.1 What other sources should you consult?
Summary of Study Session 13
If you create an account, you can set up a personal learning profile on the site.
The final part of clarifying your research project involves thinking in more detail about your research objectives . Research objectives should be closely related to the statement of the problem and summarise what you hope will be achieved by the study. For example, if the problem identified is low utilisation of antenatal care services, the general objective of the study could be to identify the reasons for this low uptake, in order to find ways of improving it.
Writing your research objectives clearly helps to:
What do you think might happen if you started a research project, but hadn’t written any clear research objectives?
Without clearly written research objectives, you might be confused about the limits of the study, what data should be collected, or how to conduct the research.
Objectives can be general or specific. The general objective of your study states what you expect to achieve in general terms. Specific objectives break down the general objective into smaller, logically connected parts that systematically address the various aspects of the problem. Your specific objectives should specify exactly what you will do in each phase of your study, how, where, when and for what purpose.
Your objectives should be stated using action verbs that are specific enough to be measured, for example: to compare, to calculate, to assess, to determine, to verify, to calculate, to describe, to explain, etc. Avoid the use of vague non-active verbs such as: to appreciate, to understand, to believe, to study, etc., because it is difficult to evaluate whether they have been achieved.
A research study designed to assess the accessibility and acceptability of the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Services for HIV infection in kebele X had the following general and specific objectives:
General objective: To identify factors that affects the acceptability of VCT services and to assess community attitudes towards comprehensive care and support for people living with HIV/AIDS.
Specific objectives:
What is the difference between the specific objectives and the general objective of a research project? You can use the example in Case Study 13.3 to help you answer this question.
Specific objectives are detailed objectives that describe what will be researched during the study, whereas the general objective is a much broader statement about what the study aims to achieve overall.
In the next study session, we will move on to teach you about research strategies and alternative study designs that you may choose to conduct for a small-scale research project in your community.
For further information, take a look at our frequently asked questions which may give you the support you need.
Have a question?
If you have any concerns about anything on this site please get in contact with us here.
Report a concern
Introduction.
Research objectives play a crucial role in any research study. They provide a clear direction and purpose for the research, guiding the researcher in their investigation. Understanding research objectives is essential for conducting a successful study and achieving meaningful results.
In this comprehensive review, we will delve into the definition of research objectives, exploring their characteristics, types, and examples. We will also discuss the relationship between research objectives and research questions, as well as provide insights into how to write effective research objectives. Additionally, we will examine the role of research objectives in research methodology and highlight the importance of them in a study. By the end of this review, you will have a comprehensive understanding of research objectives and their significance in the research process.
A research objective is defined as a clear and concise statement that outlines the specific goals and aims of a research study. These objectives are designed to be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART), ensuring they provide a structured pathway to accomplishing the intended outcomes of the project. Each objective serves as a foundational element that summarizes the purpose of your study, guiding the research activities and helping to measure progress toward the study’s goals. Additionally, research objectives are integral components of the research framework , establishing a clear direction that aligns with the overall research questions and hypotheses. This alignment helps to ensure that the study remains focused and relevant, facilitating the systematic collection, analysis, and interpretation of data.
Characteristics of research objectives include:
By incorporating these characteristics into research objectives, researchers can ensure that their study is focused, achievable, and contributes to the body of knowledge in their field.
Research objective can be broadly classified into general and specific objectives. General objectives are broad statements that define the overall purpose of the research. They provide a broad direction for the study and help in setting the context. Specific objectives, on the other hand, are detailed objectives that describe what will be researched during the study. They are more focused and provide specific outcomes that the researcher aims to achieve. Specific objectives are derived from the general objectives and help in breaking down the research into smaller, manageable parts. The specific objectives should be clear, measurable, and achievable. They should be designed in a way that allows the researcher to answer the research questions and address the research problem.
In addition to general and specific objectives, research objective can also be categorized as descriptive or analytical objectives. Descriptive objectives focus on describing the characteristics or phenomena of a particular subject or population. They involve surveys, observations, and data collection to provide a detailed understanding of the subject. Analytical objectives, on the other hand, aim to analyze the relationships between variables or factors. They involve data analysis and interpretation to gain insights and draw conclusions.
Both descriptive and analytical objectives are important in research as they serve different purposes and contribute to a comprehensive understanding of the research topic.
Here are some examples of research objectives in different fields:
1. Objective: To identify key characteristics and styles of Renaissance art.
This objective focuses on exploring the characteristics and styles of art during the Renaissance period. The research may involve analyzing various artworks, studying historical documents, and interviewing experts in the field.
2. Objective: To analyze modern art trends and their impact on society.
This objective aims to examine the current trends in modern art and understand how they influence society. The research may involve analyzing artworks, conducting surveys or interviews with artists and art enthusiasts, and studying the social and cultural implications of modern art.
3. Objective: To investigate the effects of exercise on mental health.
This objective focuses on studying the relationship between exercise and mental health. The research may involve conducting experiments or surveys to assess the impact of exercise on factors such as stress, anxiety, and depression.
4. Objective: To explore the factors influencing consumer purchasing decisions in the fashion industry.
This objective aims to understand the various factors that influence consumers’ purchasing decisions in the fashion industry. The research may involve conducting surveys, analyzing consumer behavior data, and studying the impact of marketing strategies on consumer choices.
5. Objective: To examine the effectiveness of a new drug in treating a specific medical condition.
This objective focuses on evaluating the effectiveness of a newly developed drug in treating a particular medical condition. The research may involve conducting clinical trials, analyzing patient data, and comparing the outcomes of the new drug with existing treatment options.
These examples demonstrate the diversity of research objectives across different disciplines. Each objective is specific, measurable, and achievable, providing a clear direction for the research study.
Research objectives and research questions are essential components of a research project. Research objective describe what you intend your research project to accomplish. They summarize the approach and purpose of the project and provide a clear direction for the research. Research questions, on the other hand, are the starting point of any good research. They guide the overall direction of the research and help identify and focus on the research gaps .
The main difference between research questions and objectives is their form. Research questions are stated in a question form, while objectives are specific, measurable, and achievable goals that you aim to accomplish within a specified timeframe. Research questions are broad statements that provide a roadmap for the research, while objectives break down the research aim into smaller, actionable steps.
Research objectives and research questions work together to form the ‘golden thread’ of a research project. The research aim specifies what the study will answer, while the objectives and questions specify how the study will answer it. They provide a clear focus and scope for the research project, helping researchers stay on track and ensure that their study is meaningful and relevant.
When writing research objectives and questions, it is important to be clear, concise, and specific. Each objective or question should address a specific aspect of the research and contribute to the overall goal of the study. They should also be measurable, meaning that their achievement can be assessed and evaluated. Additionally, research objectives and questions should be achievable within the given timeframe and resources of the research project. By clearly defining the objectives and questions, researchers can effectively plan and execute their research, leading to valuable insights and contributions to the field.
Writing research objective is a crucial step in any research project. The objectives provide a clear direction and purpose for the study, guiding the researcher in their data collection and analysis. Here are some tips on how to write effective research objective:
1. Be clear and specific
Research objective should be written in a clear and specific manner. Avoid vague or ambiguous language that can lead to confusion. Clearly state what you intend to achieve through your research.
2. Use action verbs
Start your research objective with action verbs that describe the desired outcome. Action verbs such as ‘investigate’, ‘analyze’, ‘compare’, ‘evaluate’, or ‘identify’ help to convey the purpose of the study.
3. Align with research questions or hypotheses
Ensure that your research objectives are aligned with your research questions or hypotheses. The objectives should address the main goals of your study and provide a framework for answering your research questions or testing your hypotheses.
4. Be realistic and achievable
Set research objectives that are realistic and achievable within the scope of your study. Consider the available resources, time constraints, and feasibility of your objectives. Unrealistic objectives can lead to frustration and hinder the progress of your research.
5. Consider the significance and relevance
Reflect on the significance and relevance of your research objectives. How will achieving these objectives contribute to the existing knowledge or address a gap in the literature? Ensure that your objectives have a clear purpose and value.
6. Seek feedback
It is beneficial to seek feedback on your research objectives from colleagues, mentors, or experts in your field. They can provide valuable insights and suggestions for improving the clarity and effectiveness of your objectives.
7. Revise and refine
Research objectives are not set in stone. As you progress in your research, you may need to revise and refine your objectives to align with new findings or changes in the research context. Regularly review and update your objectives to ensure they remain relevant and focused.
By following these tips, you can write research objectives that are clear, focused, and aligned with your research goals. Well-defined objectives will guide your research process and help you achieve meaningful outcomes.
Research objectives play a crucial role in the research methodology . In research methodology, research objectives are formulated based on the research questions or problem statement. These objectives help in defining the scope and focus of the study, ensuring that the research is conducted in a systematic and organized manner.
The research objectives in research methodology act as a roadmap for the research project. They help in identifying the key variables to be studied, determining the research design and methodology, and selecting the appropriate data collection methods .
Furthermore, research objectives in research methodology assist in evaluating the success of the study. By setting clear objectives, researchers can assess whether the desired outcomes have been achieved and determine the effectiveness of the research methods employed. It is important to note that research objectives in research methodology should be aligned with the overall research aim. They should address the specific aspects or components of the research aim and provide a framework for achieving the desired outcomes.
The research objectives of a study play a crucial role in guiding the research process, ensuring that the study is focused, purposeful, and contributes to the advancement of knowledge in the field. It is important to note that the research objectives may evolve or change as the study progresses. As new information is gathered and analyzed, the researcher may need to revise the objectives to ensure that they remain relevant and achievable.
In summary, research objectives are essential components in writing an effective research paper . They provide a roadmap for the research process, guiding the researcher in their investigation and helping to ensure that the study is purposeful and meaningful. By understanding and effectively utilizing research objectives, researchers can enhance the quality and impact of their research endeavors.
Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.
Change the world
Action Research Unit
To contribute towards whole school improvement : to encourage and assist teachers to conduct action research as a means of effecting positive social and educational change in their immediate environments and spheres of influence.
To effect improvement in the personal/ professional practice of teachers : the process of conducting action research has been shown to have positive consequences for the professional and personal development of the participants, as they learn to become more proactive and take responsibility for effecting change.
To provide opportunities for Faculty to become involved in research projects : the expertise of various staff members can be solicited for specific projects identified by teachers.
To raise the community engagement and research profile of the Faculty : Engaging in projects in collaboration with schools/educators raises the community engagement profile of the Faculty and also provides opportunity for both faculty members and students to become involved in research projects for higher degree and/or for publication purposes.
To provide undergraduate students with opportunities for research : the unit provides a perfect conduit for undergraduate students to engage in research, either on their own or in collaboration with teachers.
Work@Mandela
FindIt@Mandela
Commercial Services@Mandela
Tel: +27 (0) 41 504 1111
Fax: +27 (0) 41 504 2574 / 2731
Email: [email protected]
PO Box 77000, Nelson Mandela University
Gqeberha, 6031, South Africa
Connect@Mandela
Privacy statement Mail & Portals --> BEE & Tax Certificate PAIA ISPA FAQ Sitemap A - Z Index --> WCMS
Transform teamwork with Confluence. See why Confluence is the content collaboration hub for all teams. Get it free
How to write effective okrs: examples and tips, browse topics.
As a manager, executive, or key leader, you must become an expert in writing objectives and key results, otherwise known as OKRs. You’ll likely write OKRs quarterly and share them with team members, other departments, or sometimes the entire company.
OKRs are a framework for tracking key project outcomes, helping teams identify target goals and project milestones. When written correctly, OKRs are simple, direct, and clearly defined.
This article explains OKRs and provides examples of good OKRs for different teams. It also discusses best practices for writing OKRs, equipping you with all the tools you need to boost your strategic agility.
Start with a free Confluence OKR template that makes sharing your OKRs with your company easy.
OKRs, short for objectives and key results, are goal-setting frameworks used to define and track the progress of your key objectives and their outcomes.
Objectives are what you want to happen. Key results are the metrics that make those objectives measurable. OKRs are a crucial part of strategic planning .
Knowing the differences between an OKR and a KPI is important for setting and measuring goals effectively.
A KPI is a key performance indicator. It's a quantitative measure of a team or individual's performance in service of a specific goal. KPIs often align with SMART goals —specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound.
OKRs and KPIs are both popular goal-setting methods. They help teams set meaningful goals and execute effective strategies to achieve them. Incorporating OKRs and KPIs into your goal-setting methodologies enhances your project documentation and overall strategic planning.
Below are some objective and key results examples that you can apply in frameworks to set measurable goals and gauge success. These sample OKRs cover marketing and sales, as well as examples for both team and company levels.
Objective : Increase sales revenue.
Objective description : Increase sales revenue by changing team behaviors and processes.
Key results:
Objective : Increase web traffic.
Objective description : Increase web traffic by enacting marketing best practices.
Key results :
Objective : Improve employee retention.
Objective description : Concentrate on activities that increase employee satisfaction and engagement.
Objective : Deliver integrations faster.
Objective description : Engage product and engineering teams in finding time-saving solutions for integration delivery.
Objective : Improve overall project quality.
Objective description : Meet or exceed customer expectations on project delivery, including speed of delivery.
The more specific your OKRs are, the more they will support you and your team. OKRs help plan and motivate teams by providing clear, measurable, and time-bound goals. Well-crafted OKRs are a guiding light throughout the project, offering direction and focus.
The examples listed above can help inform how to write OKRs that pertain to your company, but if you need a more in-depth playbook for creating the best OKRs for your team, follow these steps:
To write good OKRs, first define a basic objective. This initial objective can be improving quality, increasing sales, or shipping projects faster. It doesn't need to be highly specific, as you'll refine it into detailed, actionable steps in the next phase.
After defining the objective of your OKR, you'll determine the key results you want from it. These key results should be specific, measurable, and time-bound.
Align your OKRs by communicating them across all teams throughout the company. This helps each team member work on team OKRs while staying congruent with company OKRs.
Once you set your OKRs, properly communicate them to your team. Confluence makes it easy to share your OKRs in a way that will make them easy to access and achieve.
Keeping OKRs in a centralized workspace helps everyone involved track and review their progress over time, ensuring your OKRs are taking the right trajectory. Centralized workspaces like Confluence enable teams to move faster and make better decisions.
To ensure effective and reliable OKRs, follow these best practices:
Setting effective OKRs requires attention to detail and strategic planning. To ensure your projects stay on track, avoid these common pitfalls:
Confluence makes it easy to create and share OKRs that resonate with your company. Regardless of the size of your team, Confluence allows you to keep company knowledge and project pages updated and accessible. Its intuitive navigation and powerful research capabilities allow your work to stay organized and connected to the right teams, projects, and goals.
Confluence lets you centralize company-wide and project-related knowledge in a single source of truth, making your OKRs instantly accessible and ready to move your business forward. With Confluence, you can easily find what you’re looking for. Confluence surfaces important information before you even know you need to look for it.
Start writing better OKRs in Confluence today with a free Confluence OKR template .
Smart goals template.
Use the SMART goals framework to keep your team on track
Set ambitious goals with your team and track how you’ll reach them
Copyright © 2024 Atlassian
IMAGES
COMMENTS
Examples of Specific Research Objectives: 1. "To examine the effects of rising temperatures on the yield of rice crops during the upcoming growth season.". 2. "To assess changes in rainfall patterns in major agricultural regions over the first decade of the twenty-first century (2000-2010).". 3.
Research objectives describe what your research project intends to accomplish. They should guide every step of the research process, including how you collect data, build your argument, and develop your conclusions. Your research objectives may evolve slightly as your research progresses, but they should always line up with the research carried ...
Action research is a research method that aims to simultaneously investigate and solve an issue. In other words, as its name suggests, action research conducts research and takes action at the same time. It was first coined as a term in 1944 by MIT professor Kurt Lewin.A highly interactive method, action research is often used in the social ...
Action research is a qualitative method that focuses on solving problems in social systems, such as schools and other organizations. The emphasis is on solving the presenting problem by generating knowledge and taking action within the social system in which the problem is located. The goal is to generate shared knowledge of how to address the ...
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 ...
Stage 1: Plan. For an action research project to go well, the researcher needs to plan it well. After coming up with an educational research topic or question after a research study, the first step is to develop an action plan to guide the research process. The research design aims to address the study's question.
Action-oriented research seeks to identify practical solutions to social problems and to promote positive change in society. Conceptual Objectives: These objectives aim to develop new theories, models, or frameworks to explain a particular phenomenon or set of phenomena. Conceptual research seeks to provide a deeper understanding of the subject ...
Action research is used in the practice of health and social care because it has two fundamental aims: to improve and to involve. This chapter outlines how this is evident, using examples from the research literature (see Table 7.1.). Action research as involvement. Action research is a collaborative process between researchers and community ...
This paper analyzed the action research reports (ARRs) in terms of objectives, methodologies, citations and references, structures, areas covered in the problem, and lengths purposively selecting ...
tioners. Examples of action research projects undertaken by healthcare practitioners in a range of situations are provided later in this chapter. The development of action research: a brief background Whether the reader is a novice or is progressing with an action research project, it would be useful to be aware of how action research has devel-
ACTIVITY 1: UNDERSTANDING ACTION RESEARCH. Objectives: Understand the concept and importance of action research; Analyze action research done in the school. ... Evaluate a sample action research based on the following criteria: Parts of the Research Comments. Introduction a. Is the background and rationale clear and logical? yes b.
Research objectives focus on the action to be taken to achieve the aims. They make the aims more practical and should be specific and actionable. Example: To observe the retail HR employees throughout the digital transformation. Q: What are the examples of research objectives, both general and specific? A: Here are a few examples of research ...
The methods of action research in education include: conducting in-class observations. taking field notes. surveying or interviewing teachers, administrators, or parents. using audio and video recordings. The goal is to identify problematic issues, test possible solutions, or simply carry-out continuous improvement.
research can become objective, the research approaches are premised on a narrow definition of knowing. The personal experience of the researcher as a basis for enquiry is denied. In fact, effort is made to eliminate or control the in ... Action - research assumes this normative aspect of social science research. The
Stage 1: Identifying the research question. The review aims to identify, explore and map the literature regarding the application of action research in either individual, group or organisational domains in any healthcare context. Objectives.
This is a research method called action research. To help you further understand what action research is, here are multiple action research examples you can check out. 1. Research Action Plan Template. Details. File Format. MS Word. Google Docs. Apple Pages.
The aims and objectives of this action research is to improve students' active participation in the classroom teaching and learning, explore the reasons why students hardly participate in the ...
This review highlights action research studies from across four subject areas—English language arts, mathematics, science, and social studies—and is premised on the notion that changing teaching practice is connected to understanding how teachers learn. Specifically, it focuses on understanding changes in teacher pedagogical content ...
Summary. One of the most important aspects of a thesis, dissertation or research paper is the correct formulation of the aims and objectives. This is because your aims and objectives will establish the scope, depth and direction that your research will ultimately take. An effective set of aims and objectives will give your research focus and ...
A research study designed to assess the accessibility and acceptability of the Voluntary Counselling and Testing (VCT) Services for HIV infection in kebele X had the following general and specific objectives: . General objective: To identify factors that affects the acceptability of VCT services and to assess community attitudes towards comprehensive care and support for people living with HIV ...
Here are some examples of research objectives in different fields: 1. Objective: To identify key characteristics and styles of Renaissance art. ... Use action verbs. Start your research objective with action verbs that describe the desired outcome. Action verbs such as 'investigate', 'analyze', 'compare', 'evaluate', or ...
Aims of Action Research. To contribute towards whole school improvement: to encourage and assist teachers to conduct action research as a means of effecting positive social and educational change in their immediate environments and spheres of influence. To effect improvement in the personal/ professional practice of teachers: the process of ...
HR team OKR examples . Objective: Improve employee retention.. Objective description: Concentrate on activities that increase employee satisfaction and engagement.. Key results:. Reduce employee turnover rate by 20%. Increase employee engagement by implementing three employee resource groups.