1. DEVELOPMENT OF RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
MD 2
By Dr. Pasiens Mapunda

2. Introduction What is research ? Search for new knowledge
Systematized effort to gain new knowledge
Moving from the unknown status to more known
Learn more
Gain more understanding
Original contribution to the existing knowledge
Add knowledge etc.

3. Motivation in Research
Related to the purpose of conducting research
To get a degree
Desire to face the challenge in solving problems
Desire of doing some creative work
Desire to be of service to the society
Desire to get respect

4. Types of research Descriptive (Ex post facto research) Analytical
Applied (operation)
Fundamental basic/pure/original research
Quantitative
Qualitative
Conceptual
Empirical
Can be done---Retrospective/cross sectional/prospectively……..
Experimental/simulation
Clinical/diagnostic, lab or field setting

5. Research approaches Quantitative Qualitative – Inferential
Experimental
Simulation
Qualitative –
subjective assessment of attitudes, opinions and behavior
It is a function of the researcher’s insights and impressions

6. What does it encompass ? Defining and redefining problems
Literature review
Formulating hypothesis or suggested solutions
Methodology….design etc
Collecting data
Organizing the data
Analyzing or evaluating the data
Interpretation
Making deductions and reaching conclusions

7. Research steps- or the process
Define the research problem
Review the literature
Formulate hypothesis/develop objectives
Research design (methodology)
Collect the data
Analyze/test hypothesis if any
Interpret and report.

8. The plan to cover the topic– the walk through
Research topic
Description and analysis of the problem through literature review
Define the problem
State your research objectives
Broad objective
Specific objective
Epidemiological Measurements employed
Strategies/research methodology, design etc.
Implementation
Activities
Data collection, compilation, analysis, Interpretation
Report writing

9. What is a research objective ?
Describes what we expect to achieve by a project
The purpose of research is to find answers to the questions that we raise,
Finding the truth
Finding the hidden knowledge
Finding the undiscovered information/knowledge
Each research study has its specific purpose.

10. 4-Broad grouping of research objectives
Exploratory or formulated research studies
To achieve new insights
To gain familiarity with a phenomenon
Descriptive
To portray accurately the characteristics of a situation, group or individual

11. 4-Broad grouping of research objectives cont’d
Diagnostic
To determine exactly what happens
Hypothesis testing
To test a hypothesis of a causal relationship between variables

12. Research objectives
Objectives of a research proposal are the key pointers to what is to be achieved by the proposed study
Objectives should be closely related to the statement of the problem
e.g. if the problem identified was low utilization of FP methods among women in Tanzania. Factors associated with the problem were identified from literature search.
Then the objective of the current study would be to identify the reasons for continued low utilization in past 5 years despite intervention efforts; in order to get scientific solutions

13. Why should research objectives be developed
Objectives are a summary of all that is to be achieved
Objectives answer the questions like: where do we want to go? What do we want to achieve by going there?
Can be simply expressed as the goals/very broad aims of what is to be achieved
Help to narrow down the study to essentials

14. cont’d
Help to avoid collection of data NOT strictly necessary for solving/understanding the problem- not helping to achieve our aims
Objectives help to organize the study in clearly defined phases (in long term studies)
Give a clearer view of the next step in proposal writing, namely development of Research Methodology

15. Broad Objective Usually one, rarely two
Identifies in general terms what is to be accomplished by the study and why
Expands the title by indicating who, when, where and what is to be studied in general terms
Provides the way for the formulation of more quantifiable aims i.e. the specific objectives

16. Specific objectives
Identify in greater detail the specific aims of the study/research project being proposed
Focus on quantifying, or specifying the problem at the material time, place
They are usually stated in clear, logical and feasible components of the broad objective
They are phrased operationally i.e. to show exactly what will be done, where, among who, and for what purpose

17. Specific objectives cont’d
Specific objectives should systematically address the various aspects of the problem as given in the Statement
The first specific objective focuses on quantifying or specifying the problem at the material time of the study…..many issues will have been defined/described as seen in Statement but not quantified. The researcher ,therefore , moves from the known …to the unknown… to make his/her contribution through research

18. Writing of specific objectives
Action verbs which can be evaluated are the ones used:
To determine ………
To compare……….
To establish……….
Actions usually avoid vague statements like …to understand, …to study….to learn….

19. Specific objectives They are stated as positive statements which are:
Measurable
Achievable
Realistic and
Time bound
SMART is an acronym to help you remember

20. Recap: The steps in conducting a research study
Introduction to the research topic
Problem Statement and Justification of the Research Project
Literature Review
Hypothesis and Objectives of the Study
Research Methodology

21. Steps in conducting a research study cont’d
Data Collection, Analysis and Evaluation of Data
Expected Results and Output of the Study
Bibliography
Appendix
, e.g. Tables, Graphs, Questionnaires etc.
Financial Budget and Timetable

22. WRITING PROBLEM STATEMENT AND RESEARCH OBJECTIVES
TOPIC : prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS in Tanzania
Research items:
Prevention of mother to child transmission of HIV/AIDS: Expert Panel Report and Recommendations to the U.S. Global Coordinator in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania ,2010
Selected References
PMTCT of HIV-1 through breast feeding by treating infants prophylactically with Lamivudine in DSM Tanzania

23. References cont’d
PMTCT of HIV1 through breastfeeding by treating mothers with triple antiretroviral therapy in Dar es Salaam, Tanzania, 2009.
Uptake of HIV and Syphilis testing of pregnant women, their male partners in a program for PMTCT of HIV in Uganda
Effect of early, abrupt weaning on HIV-free survival of children in Zambia
High uptake of exclusive breast feeding and reduced early post natal transmission of HIV from mother to child in Tanzania
Effects of early exclusive breast feeding on the risk of postnatal transmission of HIV-1 and increase of HIV free survival among children in Tanzania

24. Thank you for your attention
The end
Thank you for your attention