3 Mistakes When Formulating Research Objectives

The first mistake consists of confusing activities with objectives. It is essential to understand that objectives must be clear, specific, and oriented toward the generation of new knowledge. They should not be confused with the actions that will be carried out during the research. For example, instead of setting an objective such as “conducting interviews with 50 people,” you need to formulate an objective that reflects the purpose of the research and the knowledge you expect to obtain through those interviews.

The second mistake relates to constructing objectives that are not the product of systematic inquiry. In other words, these objectives are based on imagination or reflection rather than on a methodical search for new knowledge. It is important to remember that research objectives must emerge from rigorous and systematic inquiry, and not simply from creative ideas. For example, “creating a new teaching method” may be an interesting idea, but it is not a research objective, since it does not involve a methodical search for new knowledge.

The third mistake occurs when posing objectives that do not involve any search or inquiry, and that likewise do not generate new knowledge, even though they solve a practical problem. It is crucial to understand that solving a practical problem does not always require carrying out additional research. Sometimes, existing knowledge may be sufficient to address the problem. Therefore, research objectives should focus on generating new knowledge rather than simply applying existing knowledge to solve practical problems.

Formulating research objectives appropriately is fundamental to ensuring the generation of new and meaningful knowledge. Avoiding mistakes such as confusing activities with objectives, building objectives based on imagination or reflection, and posing objectives that do not involve any search or inquiry is essential to achieving rigorous, high-quality research. By avoiding these mistakes, researchers can ensure that their objectives are focused on generating new knowledge and that they contribute meaningfully to the advancement of their field of study.

If you would like to learn more about this topic, you can purchase the book “How to Formulate Research Objectives” by Professor Jacqueline Hurtado de Barrera.