Aims in a research proposal identifies the direction in which the research will be carried out and the target that the research hopes to achieve. Aims is simply to provide outlines of where the research is hoping to go.
Research aim should be described clearly, and it is usually mentioned in the last paragraph of the background of the study or the after the problem statement. It is to give a clear picture of the overall purpose of the research, such as: to explain the causes or consequences of something; to criticize or evaluate some theory or belief; to describe something; to forecast some outcome; to develop good practice; or to empower a social group. Besides indicating the research direction, aims also indicate the scale and scope of the proposed research. Remember that the scope should be carefully thought out to ensure the feasibility of the research itself.
Research aims can be written in two ways: as a part of a paragraph or as a list. However, do not confuse the research aims with research objectives. Research aim refers to a broad statement indicating the general purpose of our research, and usually comes after the problem statement, before the research objectives. On the other hand, research objectives are more specific than the research aim and indicate the particular focus and approach of the project. In other words, research objectives describe what we want to achieve in our research and explain why we are pursuing it. They summarize the approach and purpose of our research project, and usually occur in the Introduction Chapter, after the Background of the Study. They should guide the steps of the research process including collecting data, building arguments, and drawing conclusions. Research objectives should establish the scope and depth of the research, contribute to the research design, and indicate how the project will contribute to existing knowledge.
Even though we only have one general aim, we can develop more than one research objectives, as the following examples:
Research aim :
To examine contributory factors to muscle retention in a group of elderly people
Research objectives :
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To assess the relationship between sedentary habits and muscle atrophy among the participants
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To determine the impact of dietary factors, particularly protein consumption, on the muscular health of the participants
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To determine the effect of physical activity on the participants' muscular health
In formulating our research objectives, it is advisable to use action verbs such as determine, assess, calculate, test, investigate, compare, explain, describe, develop, discover, explore, etc. Research objectives must fulfill SMART criteria, namely:
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Specific : not vague, clearly defined and focused objectives to get useful results
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Measurable : know exactly how to measure whether the objectives have been achieved
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Achievable : feasible, available in some sources and fields, accessible information, data and research facilities
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Relevant : directly address the research problem and contribute to the current state of research in the field
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Time-based : clear deadlines for objectives to finish on time