Q: How can l come up with good research objectives?
My research topic is on the role that marketing information system plays on enhancing sales of airtel Malawi. What can be the best objectives of such a research topic?
It would not be possible for me to give inputs specific to your research as I am not familiar with the topic. However, I can help you understand what researh objectives are and how you can come up with them.
Research objectives summarize what a researcher wishes to achieve through the project and provides direction to the study. The research objectives should be clear and specific and provide direction to the study. Basically, they should lay down the steps, that is, the specific or direct actions that you will take to achieve your study goals.
To formulate your research objectives, these are the steps you must take:
1. You should first be clear about the research problem you wish to address.
2. Once this is done, you should come up with the aim or goal your research, that is, broadly identify what you wish to achieve through this study.
3. Next, lay down the specific steps or actions that need to be done to achieve this goal. These will form your research objectives.
Related reading:
The limitations of a study are its flaws or shortcomings which could be the result of unavailability of resources, small sample size, flawed methodology, etc. No study is completely flawless or inclusive of all possible aspects. Therefore, listing the limitations of your study reflects honesty and transparency and also shows that you have a complete understanding of the topic.
Generally speaking, the limitations are added in the Discussion section, just before the concluding paragraph. While you should definitely point out the limitations, do not get into an elaborate discussion about them. Keep this section short and crisp. The limitations of a study basically discusses any unanswered questions that your study did not address. Could you have used another means or method of data collection? Could the research design have been better? Was the sample not representative of the target population? Being self-critical and acknowledging the study’s limitations will give the impression that you are aware of what the study was not able to cover. Moreover, it would prevent the peer reviewer from pointing them out.
To learn in depth how to write an effective results section, check out this course designed exclusively for researchers: How to write the most effective results and discussion sections.
Related reading:
This content belongs to the Conducting Research Stage