Research_Objectives_Nursing for nursing students

In research, objectives are the specific statements that describe what a researcher aims to achieve in a study. They guide the whole research process and help in formulating research questions, methodology, and data analysis.
Types of Research Objectives:
General Objective (Broad Aim):
Also called the overall objective.
States the broad purpose of the study in one or two sentences.
Example: To assess the effectiveness of simulation integrated OSCE in improving evaluation skills among teaching faculty.
Specific Objectives (Narrow, Measurable Goals):
Derived from the general objective.
Focused, clear, and measurable.
They usually begin with action verbs like to assess, to determine, to compare, to evaluate, to identify, to analyze, to explore.
Characteristics of Good Research Objectives (SMART):
Specific – clearly state what you want to study.
Measurable – possible to quantify or assess.
Achievable – realistic and practical.
Relevant – aligned with the purpose of the study.
Time-bound – feasible within a given timeframe.
Example in Nursing Research:
Title: A study to assess the knowledge and practice regarding toilet training among mothers of preschool children.
General Objective:
To assess the knowledge and practice regarding toilet training among mothers of preschool children.
Specific Objectives:
To assess the knowledge of mothers regarding toilet training.
To evaluate the practice of mothers regarding toilet training.
To find the association between knowledge and practice regarding toilet training among mothers with selected demographic variables.

1. Research Objectives in Nursing LECTURE - II AARTI SHARMA

2. Introduction • Research objectives are statements that describe what the researcher aims to achieve. • They act as a roadmap for the research process. • Without clear objectives, research may lose focus. • In nursing, objectives help to focus on patient care, education, and community needs.

3. Importance of Research Objectives in Nursing • Provide clear direction to the study. • Help in planning methodology. • Focus on specific nursing problems. • Assist in data analysis and interpretation. • Improve applicability of findings in clinical practice.

4. Characteristics of Good Research Objectives • SMART: - Specific - Measurable - Achievable - Relevant - Time-bound • Clear, concise, and feasible. • Aligned with the research problem.

5. Types of Research Objectives 1. General Objective (Broad Aim): Overall purpose of the study. Example: To assess effectiveness of a teaching program on breastfeeding practices among postnatal mothers. 2. Specific Objectives (Stepwise Goals): Smaller, measurable tasks. Example: • To assess mothers’ baseline knowledge. • To implement structured teaching. • To compare pre- and post-test knowledge.

6. Example 1 – Nursing Education General Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of simulation-integrated OSCE in improving evaluation skills among nursing faculty. Specific Objectives: • To assess baseline evaluation skills of faculty. • To provide OSCE training using simulation. • To compare pre- and post-test evaluation skills. Why Important? → Improves teaching and evaluation quality in nursing colleges.

7. Example 2 – Community Nursing General Objective: To assess knowledge and practice of mothers regarding toilet training of preschool children. Specific Objectives: • To assess pre-test knowledge and practice. • To implement a structured teaching program. • To assess post-test knowledge and practice. Why Important? → Helps prevent infections, behavioral issues, and poor hygiene in children.

8. Example 3 – Child Health Nursing General Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of video-assisted teaching on road safety among school children. Specific Objectives: • To assess baseline knowledge about road safety. • To provide video-assisted teaching. • To assess post-test knowledge. • To compare pre- and post-test scores. Why Important? → Reduces accidents and injuries among children.

9. Example 4 – Medical-Surgical Nursing General Objective: To assess knowledge and practice of staff nurses regarding standard precautions for infection control. Specific Objectives: • To assess knowledge of nurses about standard precautions. • To observe current practices. • To implement training on infection control protocol. • To evaluate post-test knowledge and practice. Why Important? → Prevents hospital-acquired infections and improves patient safety.

10. Steps in Formulating Research Objectives 1. Identify nursing problem (e.g., anemia in girls). 2. Review related literature. 3. Write general objective. 4. Break into specific objectives that are measurable. 5. Check SMART criteria.

11. Common Mistakes by Students • Objectives too broad or vague. • Using non-measurable terms like 'to know' or 'to understand'. • Having too many objectives. • Objectives not matching research problem. • Unrealistic objectives for student research.

12. Conclusion • Research objectives are the foundation of nursing research. • They provide clarity, direction, and focus. • Always include one General Objective and 3–5 Specific Objectives. • Must be SMART for success.

13. References • Polit & Beck, Nursing Research. • Sharma S.K., Nursing Research and Statistics. • Recent Nursing Dissertations.