Research aims and objectives: what they are and how to write them
The difference between a research aim and research objectives, with a method for writing objectives that are specific, achievable and assessable.
8 min read · Reviewed 2026 · Written and reviewed by Chris McGarrigle
A research aim is a single sentence stating the overall purpose of your dissertation; research objectives are the three to five specific, achievable steps that, together, deliver that aim. The aim answers 'what is this dissertation trying to do overall', and the objectives answer 'what will I actually do to get there'.
Getting this distinction right matters because your methodology, findings and conclusion chapters are usually structured directly around the objectives, and a marker will check that each objective is actually addressed by the end.
This article shows how to derive objectives from your research question, and how to avoid the vague, unassessable objectives that examiners flag most often.
Aim, objectives and research question — how they relate
Your research question is the specific thing you are trying to answer. Your aim restates that in broader, purpose-driven language ('This study aims to explore...', 'to evaluate...', 'to investigate...'). Your objectives break the aim into the discrete tasks needed to answer the question.
They should read as a coherent chain: if someone completed every objective, they would necessarily have answered the research question and achieved the aim. If they would not, an objective is missing or misaligned.
Writing objectives that are actually assessable
Each objective should start with a precise verb and name a concrete output. Vague verbs like 'understand' or 'look at' cannot be assessed because there is no clear point at which they are done; verbs like 'identify', 'compare', 'evaluate' and 'test' can.
- To review the literature on [X] to identify current gaps and theoretical positions.
- To identify the factors that [population] report as influencing [phenomenon].
- To compare [group A] and [group B] responses to [variable].
- To evaluate the implications of the findings for [practice/policy/theory].
How many objectives is normal
Three to five is typical for an undergraduate or master's dissertation. Fewer than three usually means the project is under-specified; more than five often means the scope is too broad for the available word count and time.
A common and defensible pattern is: one objective for the literature review, one or two for data collection and analysis, and one for evaluating implications or making recommendations.
Aligning objectives with your methodology and findings chapters
Once objectives are fixed, use them as a structural spine. Many methodology chapters state, for each objective, which method addresses it and why. Many findings chapters then use the objectives (or the sub-questions derived from them) as section headings.
This alignment is one of the most reliable ways to make a dissertation feel coherent rather than assembled — a marker can trace, objective by objective, that the promised work was actually delivered.
Revising objectives as the project develops
It is normal and acceptable to refine objectives after the proposal stage as your reading develops or your access to data changes. Keep a short note of what changed and why, since some supervisors and viva examiners ask this directly.
Common mistakes
- Writing objectives with unassessable verbs like 'understand', 'explore' or 'look into'.
- Listing seven or eight objectives that no single dissertation could deliver in the word count.
- Writing objectives that do not, together, actually answer the research question.
- Copying objectives from a template study without checking they fit your own project's data and access.
- Never returning to the objectives in the conclusion to confirm each one was met.
Try this: Derive objectives from your research question
- Write your research question at the top of a page.
- List every distinct task someone would need to complete to answer it fully.
- Group related tasks into three to five objectives, each starting with a precise, assessable verb.
- Check that completing all objectives would fully answer the question — if not, add or merge objectives.
Do it in SuperDiss
Turn your research question into a clean set of assessable objectives.
Draft your aims and objectivesStudents also ask
- What is the difference between an aim and an objective?
- The aim is a single sentence describing the overall purpose of the dissertation. Objectives are the three to five specific, assessable steps that together deliver that aim — each objective should use a precise verb like 'identify', 'compare' or 'evaluate' rather than a vague one like 'understand'.
- How many research objectives should a dissertation have?
- Three to five is typical. Fewer usually means the project is under-specified; more than five often means the scope is too wide to deliver within a typical word count and timescale.
- Can research objectives change during the dissertation?
- Yes, refining objectives as your reading or data access develops is normal, particularly after the proposal stage. Keep a short note of what changed and why, since supervisors and viva examiners sometimes ask about this directly.
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Turn the topic into a defensible research question, aims, objectives and a proposal.
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How to write a dissertation proposal
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Continue your dissertation journey
- How to write a research question
- Dissertation structure: chapter by chapter
- How to write a dissertation proposal
- How to choose a dissertation topic
- What is a research gap?
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This guide is general educational content. Your institution's regulations, handbook and supervisor's instructions always take precedence. Where a named framework is mentioned, consult the original source text rather than relying on this summary.