SMART Research Objectives

Before beginning any research, especially paid projects, adequate time and energy should be directed toward the creation of clear and measurable research goals/objectives.

"If you don't know where you're going, any road will get you there."

• Good objectives help ensure the accuracy of the research plan.

• Clearly stated objectives help the researcher understand what they need to discover or uncover and help the client know what to expect

• Objectives provide the means by which the success of the project can be determined.

 Use of the SMART model will help ensure your objectives are well written:

• Specific: both the client and the researcher should be able to clearly identify the purpose of the research.

• Measurable: how will the client and researcher know whether the objectives have been achieved?

• Achievable: if the objective is too large or difficult, the researcher may lose hope of achieving it.  Researchers should be challenged, but be able to achieve the objective.

• Realistic: Is it realistic to expect the researcher to meet this objective given the available documents and time constraints?

• Time-Constrained: when must the researcher achieve the objective, i.e, the project due date,

SMART Model

Follow this basic process to develop objectives for your project:

1. Create objectives based on the needs of your client, not on what you want to find.
2. Check objectives against the SMART model.
3. Gain approval from the client that objectives capture what he/she wants from the project.
4. Document the objectives in the research plan.