LESSON 3

RESEARCH OBJECTIVES AND

HYPOTHESES
Research objectives specify what the researcher wants to
do and find out. They give focus to the study and specify the
variables that are going to be measured. Once the research
objectives have been formulated, the researcher makes
educated guesses to tentatively answer the questions implied
in the objectives. These guesses are called hypotheses. In
this chapter, objectives and hypotheses are defined,
classified and differentiated. This chapter also explains how
objectives and hypotheses are formulated.
Learning Objectives
After studying this chapter, the learners shall be able to:
1. differentiate general/immediate objectives from specific
objectives
2. give examples of research objectives of descriptive,
relational, and intervention studies,
3. identify what measurable variables are,
4. formulate objectives and hypotheses for sample research
problems,
5. formulate objectives and hypotheses for their own research
problems.
What are Research Objectives?

Research objectives are statements of what the researcher

intends to do. The objectives flow logically from the problem. They
communicate what the researcher plans to do. Structurally, the
objectives are seen as small particles which constitute the
problem.

While the problem deals with broad concepts, the research

objective usually states the concepts in operational terms.
Research objectives are usually stated in declarative form
and start with infinitives like: "to determine,” to find out," "to
describe,” “to compare," or "to test.”
 Instead of stating objectives, some researchers ask
research questions. The research questions are usually
introduced with a clause, such as: "This study aims to answer
the following questions," or “This study sought answers to the
following questions."
Examples of research objective stated in declarative form:

 "To determine the extent of high school students’ participation in school activities."
 "To determine the relationship between exposure to advertising materials and expenditure
patterns of young professionals"
 "To compare the effectiveness of classroom-based and field-based training programs on the
performance of community workers”
 "To test the effectiveness of oresol in the treatment of diarrhea"

Examples of objectives stated in question form:

This study sought answers to the following questions:

1. To what extent do high school students participate in school activities?

2. Does extent of participation in school activities of male students significantly differ from the
extent of participation of female student?
3. Is there a significant relationship between the students’ extent of participation in school
activities and their school performance?
 CHARACTERISTICS OF RESEARCH
OBJECTIVES

 Research objectives is a concrete statement

describing what the research is trying to achieve.

 A well-worded objective will be SMART,

(Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Realistic, &
Time-bound).

 Research objective should be Relevant, Feasible,

Logical, Observable, Unequivocal & Measurable.
Objective is a purpose that can be reasonably
achieved within the expected timeframe &with the
available resources.

The objective or research project summarizes what is

to be achieved by the study.

The research objectives are the specific

accomplishment the researchers hopes to achieve by
the study

The objective include obtaining answers to research

questions or testing the research hypothesis.
 Why need Research Objectives?

The formulation of research objectives will help

researcher to:
 With clearly defined objectives, the researchers can
focus on the study.

 Avoid the collection of data which are not strictly

necessary for understanding & solving problem that
he or she has defined.

The formulation of objectives organize the study in

clearly defined parts or phases.
Properly formulated, specific objectives will
facilitate the development of research
methodology & will help to orient the collection,
analysis, interpretation, &utilization of data.
Types of Objectives
There are two kinds of objectives usually formulated for a
research study, the immediate/general objective and the specific
objective.
Immediate/general objectives
The immediate/general objective relates directly to the research
problem and states clearly what the researcher will do and expects to
find out. The immediate/general objective is preferably stated in
behavioural terms, - in terms of: who or what will be studied, who will
do it, when it will be done (optional), or where it will be done.
 The immediate/general objective specifies the activity/ties that take
will place and the variables that will be examined.
 The way the immediate objective is formulated suggests the type of
research that will be undertaken and the methodology that will be
adopted.
 Examples:
1. To determine the acceptability of the “Phyllostachys
edulis” Bamboo Shoot as the main ingredients in making
polvoron, as to appearance, texture, taste, aroma and
color. (Experimental Research Design)

2. To determine the Perceived Food Preparation Practices of

the carinderia establishment in District 1, Sibalom, Antique.

3. To determine the Customer Satisfaction on food service

Quality of Turo-Turo Restaurant in San Jose Antique.
(Descriptive Research Design)
Specific Objectives:
In studies with a broader coverage in terms of subjects
and variables, statement of specific objectives may be
necessary. Specific objectives may be viewed as sub-
objectives or small particles of the general objective.

 The specific variables examined in the study are identified

in the specific objectives.

 The variables are expressed in measurable terms.

 The specific objectives suggest the type of analysis to be

done.
 
 
Examples of Specific Objective for #1 General Objectives Example: (Declarative
form)

1. determine the profile of the respondent

2. determine the over – all acceptability of phyllostachys edulis “Bamboo Shoot” in
making polvoron in terms of using the different proportion as follows:
a) 50% bamboo shoot flour and 50% all – purpose flour
b) 75% bamboo shoot flour and 25% all – purpose flour
c) 100% bamboo shoot flour
3. determine the level of acceptability of phyllostachys edulis “ Bamboo Shoot” polvoron
terms of:
a) Appearance
b) Taste
c) Texture
d) Aroma
e) Color
 3. determine whether there is a significant difference in the level of acceptability of
“Phyllostachys edulis” Bamboo Shoot polvoron when they are classified according to:
a) 50% bamboo shoot flour and 50% all – purpose flour
b) 75% bamboo shoot flour and 25% all – purpose flour
c) 100% bamboo shoot flour
Examples of Specific Objective for #2 General Objectives Example: (Question
form)

1. What are the perceived food preparation practices of carinderia establishments

in terms of food selection and preparation, food handler’s personal hygiene,
sanitation of equipment, and sanitation of premises and facilities when grouped
as a whole and when classified according to sex and customer type?
 
2. Is there a significant difference in the perceived food preparation practices of
carinderia establishments in terms of food selection and preparation, food handler’s
personal hygiene, sanitation of equipment, and sanitation of premises and facilities
when classified according to sex and customer type?

Hypothesis
There is a significant difference in the perceived food preparation practices of
carinderia establishments in terms of food selection and preparation, food handler’s
personal hygiene, sanitation of equipment, and sanitation of premises and facilities
when classified according to sex and customer type.
Some Tips in Formulating Research Objectives
In formulating research objectives, be sure to:
 use simple language

 focus attention on the specific actions that will be

performed

 state exactly, what will be done and what variables will be

measured, and

 write objectives in behavioural terms, like, "to

determine...," "to describe..." to compare...," and the like.
What is a Hypotheses?

A hypotheses are defined as an educated guess or a tentative

answer to a question. It is a statement about an expected
relationship between two or more variables that can be
empirically tested.
Hypotheses are usually tested in intervention or evaluation
studies and in correlation/relational studies. Purely descriptive
studies or diagnostic and exploratory investigations do not
normally require hypothesis statements because they generally
do not test causal relationships between variables.

A hypotheses suggests the type of analysis that must be done

in order to measure the relationship
Functions of a Hypothesis
1. A single hypothesis might state that an independent variable is
associated with a dependent variable.

Examples:
 “There is a significant association between level of knowledge about
the dangers of smoking and smoking habits of young professionals”
 “Parents' extent of participation in school activities of their children is
significantly related to their children's school performance"
 “Direct selling of prepaid cell cards is more profitable than selling them
in stores”
Types of Hypotheses
Hypotheses can be classified either as null or alternative
hypothesis, and directional or non-directional hypothesis
 
Null Hypothesis vs. Alternative Hypothesis
A null hypothesis is a negative statement which indicates the
absence of a relationship/correlation between two variables, an absence
of a significant difference between the proportions of two groups of
people or objects possessing a particular characteristic or an absence of
difference between or among the means of two or more groups with
respect to a particular variable, such as, "mean age of males and mean
age of females," and "mean score in math of students who attended
tutorial classes and mean score of those who did not attend tutorial
classes."
Examples of Null Hypotheses
 "There is no significant relationship between food service
quality and customer satisfaction among food service
establishments on San Jose, Antique.“

 “There is no significant difference in the food service quality

and customer satisfaction among food service establishments
on San Jose, Antique when classified according to tourist.“
 An alternative hypothesis, also called the research
hypothesis, is the positive form of the null hypothesis. It may
state the presence of a significant relationship between the
independent and dependent variables, or the presence of a
significant difference between two means or two proportions.

Examples of Alternative Hypotheses

 There is a significant relationship between food service quality and

customer satisfaction among food service establishments on San Jose,
Antique.“

 “There is a significant difference in the food service quality and customer

satisfaction among food service establishments on San Jose, Antique
when classified according to tourist.“
How to Write Hypotheses
In writing hypotheses, one must remember the following:
 Hypotheses must be written in simple understandable language
 Hypotheses must focus on the variables.
 One must keep in mind the distinction between independent
and dependent variables.
Thank you for listening!
See you again next week!