Research Objectives

and Data Analysis

Research Objectives
Statements of goals of a study or
research questions that the study
wants to answer
Primary objectives

Main questions, involves primary

variables measured

Secondary objectives
Supporting evidence, involves other
related variables

Why are research objectives

necessary?

Determines what data to collect

and from whom

Methods and procedures depend

on objectives

Determines scope of the study

Content of research
objectives?

Population studied

Outcome variables

Interventions/factors

Research Objectives

To determine the prevalence of HIV infection

among injecting drug users
To determine the prev - alence of blindness
according to sex and age among Filipinos
To determine the average length of time for a
wound to heal after treatment with a herbal
extract among patients with burns
To compare the median time to recovery after
operation between the old procedure and under a
modified resection procedure among breast
cancer patients who underwent mastectomy

Source of variables for a

study

Objectives

Independent
Dependent

Review of Literature/Conceptual
Framework

Extraneous Variables
Intervening Variables

Identifying Variables
Research

Objectives

To describe the sexual behavior of

adolescents (15-24 years old)
To determine the prevalence of smoking
among adolescents
To determine the prevalence of obesity
among adolescents
To describe the dietary practices among
adolescents

To describe the sexual behavior of adolescents (15-24

years old)
age at first sexual intercourse
teenage pregnancy
abortions
To determine the prevalence of smoking among
adolescents
age at smoking initiation
age started smoking regularly
no. of cigarettes smoked per day
To determine the prevalence of obesity among
adolescents
weight
height

Conceptual Framework

Socio-Demographic Factors
Age
Sex
Monthly Family Income
Educational Attainment

Behavioral
Factors
Alcohol
Consumption
Cigarette
smoking
Salt Intake

Medical Factors
Duration of Diabetes
Body Mass Index
Insulin Treatment
Family History of
Hypertension

Hypertension among
NIDDM Patients

Characteristics of variables in
research objectives

Relevant important/useful
Quantifiable variables can be measured
Valid measures the intended construct
Objective same interpretation by
different observers
Reliable consistent measurements
Sensitive detect small effects
Specific unaffected by other factors
Precise small variability

Types of Variables
Qualitative variable -attributes are categories, labels
Ex. Region of residence, gender, race,
Quantitative variable- expressed numerically and can
be categorized into discrete or continuous
Discrete quantitative variable-numeric values can
only have whole numbers
Ex. Parity, number of hospital beds
Continuous quantitative variable-numeric values
which can have decimal places
Ex. Height, systolic blood pressure

Levels of Measurement
Nominal scale - labeling of categories; assignment of
numbers are liberal Ex.Gender, region
Ordinal scale - ranking of categories; qualitative or a quantitative
variable; cannot determine the magnitude of the differences
between categories Ex.Disease status: normal, mild,
moderate and severe; Age: 18-25 26-35 36-45
Interval scale - differences between categories are equally
scaled; no zero point
Ex.IQ Test scores, temperature
Ratio scale - ratios have meaning; zero point is fixed Ex.Height in
cm.

Exercises
For the following research topics, transform
each into research objectives. Identify
the populations to be studied. List the
independent and dependent variables
and other variables to be controlled.
Describe them as to their type of variable
and level of measurement.

Objective 1
To determine the effect of coconut
oil on cholesterol levels

Objective 2
To

determine the effect of

anemia on status of newborn

Objective 3
To

determine whether pollution

has an effect on the health of
residents of the city of Manila

Objective 4
A

national survey for blindness is

being planned. Sex and age
prevalences are desired. Provincial
estimates of blindness are also
wanted.