Identify
Explore
Discover
Discuss
Summarise
Describe
Last, format your objectives into a numbered list. This is because when you write your thesis or dissertation, you will at times need to make reference to a specific research objective; structuring your research objectives in a numbered list will provide a clear way of doing this.
To bring all this together, let’s compare the first research objective in the previous example with the above guidance:
Research Objective:
1. Develop finite element models using explicit dynamics to mimic mallet blows during cup/shell insertion, initially using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum.
Checking Against Recommended Approach:
Q: Is it specific? A: Yes, it is clear what the student intends to do (produce a finite element model), why they intend to do it (mimic cup/shell blows) and their parameters have been well-defined ( using simplified experimentally validated foam models to represent the acetabulum ).
Q: Is it measurable? A: Yes, it is clear that the research objective will be achieved once the finite element model is complete.
Q: Is it achievable? A: Yes, provided the student has access to a computer lab, modelling software and laboratory data.
Q: Is it relevant? A: Yes, mimicking impacts to a cup/shell is fundamental to the overall aim of understanding how they deform when impacted upon.
Q: Is it timebound? A: Yes, it is possible to create a limited-scope finite element model in a relatively short time, especially if you already have experience in modelling.
Q: Does it start with a verb? A: Yes, it starts with ‘develop’, which makes the intent of the objective immediately clear.
Q: Is it a numbered list? A: Yes, it is the first research objective in a list of eight.
1. making your research aim too broad.
Having a research aim too broad becomes very difficult to achieve. Normally, this occurs when a student develops their research aim before they have a good understanding of what they want to research. Remember that at the end of your project and during your viva defence , you will have to prove that you have achieved your research aims; if they are too broad, this will be an almost impossible task. In the early stages of your research project, your priority should be to narrow your study to a specific area. A good way to do this is to take the time to study existing literature, question their current approaches, findings and limitations, and consider whether there are any recurring gaps that could be investigated .
Note: Achieving a set of aims does not necessarily mean proving or disproving a theory or hypothesis, even if your research aim was to, but having done enough work to provide a useful and original insight into the principles that underlie your research aim.
Be realistic about what you can achieve in the time you have available. It is natural to want to set ambitious research objectives that require sophisticated data collection and analysis, but only completing this with six months before the end of your PhD registration period is not a worthwhile trade-off.
Each research objective should have its own purpose and distinct measurable outcome. To this effect, a common mistake is to form research objectives which have large amounts of overlap. This makes it difficult to determine when an objective is truly complete, and also presents challenges in estimating the duration of objectives when creating your project timeline. It also makes it difficult to structure your thesis into unique chapters, making it more challenging for you to write and for your audience to read.
Fortunately, this oversight can be easily avoided by using SMART objectives.
Hopefully, you now have a good idea of how to create an effective set of aims and objectives for your research project, whether it be a thesis, dissertation or research paper. While it may be tempting to dive directly into your research, spending time on getting your aims and objectives right will give your research clear direction. This won’t only reduce the likelihood of problems arising later down the line, but will also lead to a more thorough and coherent research project.
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The research objective of a research proposal or scientific article defines the direction or content of a research investigation. Without the research objectives, the proposal or research paper is in disarray. It is like a fisherman riding on a boat without any purpose and with no destination in sight. Therefore, at the beginning of any research venture, the researcher must be clear about what he or she intends to do or achieve in conducting a study.
How do you define the objectives of a study? What are the uses of the research objective? How would a researcher write this essential part of the research? This article aims to provide answers to these questions.
Definition of a research objective.
A research objective describes, in a few words, the result of the research project after its implementation. It answers the question,
The research objective provides direction to the performance of the study.
The uses of the research objective are enumerated below:
The research design serves as the “blueprint” for the research investigation. The University of Southern California describes the different types of research design extensively. It details the data to be gathered, data collection procedure, data measurement, and statistical tests to use in the analysis.
The variables of the study include those factors that the researcher wants to evaluate in the study. These variables narrow down the research to several manageable components to see differences or correlations between them.
Specifying the data collection procedure ensures data accuracy and integrity . Thus, the probability of error is minimized. Generalizations or conclusions based on valid arguments founded on reliable data strengthens research findings on particular issues and problems.
In data mining activities where large data sets are involved, the research objective plays a crucial role. Without a clear objective to guide the machine learning process, the desired outcomes will not be met.
A research objective must be achievable, i.e., it must be framed keeping in mind the available time, infrastructure required for research, and other resources.
Before forming a research objective, you should read about all the developments in your area of research and find gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed. Readings will help you come up with suitable objectives for your research project.
The following examples of research objectives based on several published studies on various topics demonstrate how the research objectives are written:
Finally, writing the research objectives requires constant practice, experience, and knowledge about the topic investigated. Clearly written objectives save time, money, and effort.
Evans, K. L., Rodrigues, A. S., Chown, S. L., & Gaston, K. J. (2006). Protected areas and regional avian species richness in South Africa. Biology letters , 2 (2), 184-188.
Yeemin, T., Sutthacheep, M., & Pettongma, R. (2006). Coral reef restoration projects in Thailand. Ocean & Coastal Management , 49 (9-10), 562-575.
© 2020 March 23 P. A. Regoniel Updated 17 November 2020 | Updated 18 January 2024
A critique on the cooperative writing response groups, the yaya dub phenomenon: why videos go viral, lingoconomics – an emerging theory in language acquisition, about the author, patrick regoniel.
Dr. Regoniel, a faculty member of the graduate school, served as consultant to various environmental research and development projects covering issues and concerns on climate change, coral reef resources and management, economic valuation of environmental and natural resources, mining, and waste management and pollution. He has extensive experience on applied statistics, systems modelling and analysis, an avid practitioner of LaTeX, and a multidisciplinary web developer. He leverages pioneering AI-powered content creation tools to produce unique and comprehensive articles in this website.
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Aligning research questions and objectives is a critical step in conducting a successful study. This alignment ensures that the research remains focused, relevant, and methodologically sound. By clearly defining and interconnecting research questions and objectives, researchers can enhance the clarity, direction, and impact of their study.
Research questions and objectives are fundamental components of any research study. Understanding their relationship is crucial for ensuring the coherence and success of your research. Research questions are specific inquiries that guide your investigation, while research objectives are the goals you aim to achieve through your study. These elements are interdependent and must be aligned to provide a clear direction for your research.
Research questions are the foundation of your study. They are specific, focused, and designed to address the core issues you wish to explore. Crafting effective research questions involves structured conversations: crafting effective interview protocols. identify objectives, define audience, determine key questions, design structure, create guide for focused and valuable insights. A well-formulated research question should be clear, concise, and researchable.
Research objectives are the specific goals that a researcher aims to achieve through their research study. These objectives are developed to guide the research process and provide a clear plan for how the research will be conducted, analyzed, and evaluated. They are broader than research questions and often encompass multiple aspects of the study. Maximizing resources: smart budgeting for successful research projects. key strategies include defining objectives, analyzing research questions, and budgeting for resources effectively.
The relationship between research questions and objectives is inherently interdependent. Research questions help to narrow down the focus of the study, while research objectives provide a roadmap for achieving the desired outcomes. This interdependence ensures that the research remains focused and relevant, ultimately leading to more robust and impactful findings.
Formulating clear and concise research questions is a critical step in the research process. A well-crafted research question serves as the foundation for your study, guiding your methodology and analysis. A strong research question goes beyond mere inquiry; it embodies a set of distinct qualities that elevate it from the realm of casual pondering to that of rigorous academic investigation.
Steps to define research objectives.
To define research objectives, start by clearly understanding your research questions . This involves breaking down the questions into specific, actionable goals. Ensure each objective is directly related to a research question to maintain alignment. Follow these steps:
When developing research objectives, it is crucial to ensure they are both measurable and achievable. This means setting objectives that can be quantified and realistically accomplished within the scope of your study. Use the SMART criteria (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) to evaluate your objectives. For example, instead of stating an objective as "improve understanding of a topic," specify it as "increase the number of correct responses on a topic-related quiz by 20%."
To illustrate the alignment between research questions and objectives, consider the following examples:
By following these guidelines, you can ensure that your research objectives are well-aligned with your research questions, leading to a more focused and successful study.
A literature review is a comprehensive summary and analysis of the existing research on a particular topic. It serves several critical purposes in the research process. Conducting a thorough literature review can help you understand what research has been done in the area and what gaps exist in the literature. This understanding is crucial for aligning your research questions and objectives effectively.
When you conduct a literature review, you are essentially mapping out the existing knowledge landscape. This helps in identifying gaps where further research is needed. Recognizing these gaps allows you to formulate research questions that address unexplored areas, thereby making your study more relevant and impactful.
The literature review not only helps in formulating research questions but also in supporting your research objectives. By reviewing relevant literature, you can find evidence and theoretical backing for your objectives, ensuring they are grounded in existing research. This step is essential for the credibility and validity of your study.
As you delve deeper into the literature, you may find that your initial research questions need refinement. The insights gained from the literature can help you tweak your questions to be more precise and aligned with your objectives. This iterative process ensures that your research questions are both relevant and feasible.
In summary, the literature review is an indispensable tool in the research process. It aids in identifying research gaps, supports your objectives with existing knowledge, and helps refine your research questions. Utilizing resources like the Literature Navigator can streamline this process, making it easier to find literature and align your study components effectively.
The process of aligning research questions and objectives is inherently iterative. This means that you will need to revisit and refine your research questions and objectives multiple times throughout your study. This iterative approach ensures that your research remains focused and relevant.
Ensuring methodological consistency is crucial for the success of your research study. Consistency in the title, problem, purpose, and research question improves the logic and transparency of your research. When these components are aligned, research design and planning become more coherent, and research reports are more readable. This alignment is an important issue in a research project because one's research questions are derived from the research objective. Research questions further distill the objective by more clearly focusing the research objective, and the purpose provides clues to the type of research design.
Evaluating the alignment of research questions and objectives is a critical step in ensuring the success of your study. This process involves a thorough examination of how well your research questions reflect and support your objectives. Crafting a well-aligned thesis statement is crucial in academic writing. Regularly refine it to guide readers and maintain coherence with research goals.
Evaluating the alignment of research questions and objectives is crucial for the success of any academic project. Ensuring that your research questions are well-aligned with your objectives can significantly enhance the clarity and focus of your study. If you're struggling with this aspect of your thesis, our step-by-step Thesis Action Plan can guide you through the process. Visit our website to learn more and claim your special offer now !
In conclusion, the alignment of research questions and objectives is a critical aspect of conducting a successful study. This alignment ensures that the research is focused, coherent, and methodologically sound. By clearly defining research objectives and formulating research questions that directly address these objectives, researchers can maintain a clear direction throughout their study. This process not only enhances the relevance and impact of the research but also facilitates the development of a robust research design. As such, meticulous attention to aligning research questions with objectives is indispensable for producing high-quality, meaningful, and impactful research outcomes.
What is the difference between a research question and a research objective.
A research question is a specific query the study aims to answer, while a research objective outlines the goals the research intends to achieve. Research questions guide the focus of the study, and objectives provide a roadmap for achieving the desired outcomes.
Effective research questions should be clear, focused, and researchable. They should address a specific problem, be feasible to answer within the scope of the study, and be significant to the field of research.
Aligning research questions with research objectives ensures that the study remains focused and coherent. This alignment helps in systematically addressing the research problem and achieving the desired outcomes, leading to a successful study.
Sure! Example: Research Question: 'What are the effects of remote work on employee productivity?' Aligned Objective: 'To assess the impact of remote work on employee productivity levels in various industries.'
A literature review helps identify existing research gaps and supports the formulation of research objectives. It provides a theoretical foundation for refining research questions and ensures that the study is grounded in existing knowledge.
Common pitfalls include formulating vague or overly broad questions, setting unrealistic objectives, and failing to ensure that the questions and objectives are researchable and relevant. It's important to be precise, realistic, and ensure a clear connection between the two.
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What is the scope of a study, what is a research scope example, what is the purpose of the research scope, what considerations are relevant to the research scope, how do i write the scope in a report.
The scope of a research project is one of the more important yet sometimes understated aspects of a study. The scope of the study explains what the researchers are examining and what environment they are studying.
This article explains the general purpose of the research scope, how it informs the broader study at hand, and how it can be incorporated in a research paper to establish the necessary transparency and rigor for your research audience.
Scientific knowledge very rarely, if ever, produces universal axioms. The boiling point of water changes depending on the amount of pressure in the air and, by extension, the altitude you are at relative to sea level when you boil water. What looks like polite behavior in a given culture may look rude in another. The definition of beauty is bound to change as people get older.
Similarly, research findings that aren't contextualized are less persuasive. If you are reading a study that looks at interactional patterns between parents and their children, it's important to have a clear sense of the theoretical lens , data collection , and analysis in order to determine the extent to which the findings are applicable across contexts.
In a nutshell, the scope tells you what the researchers are looking at and are not looking at. It provides the context necessary to understand the research, how it was conducted, and what findings it generated.
Conversely, establishing the bounds of the scope also clarify what research inquiries are not addressed in the study, ensuring that the study's argumentation is clearly grounded in the theory, data, and analysis.
Let's imagine an example of a research study examining best practices for mental health. The research design centers on a survey study with a target population of college students with part-time jobs in addition to their coursework.
The researchers can focus on any number of things affecting mental health, including lifestyle factors such as sleep, socioeconomic factors such as income, and even influences further afield like the political alignment of friends and family.
Certainly, any of these things can have a profound impact on one's mental health. But when there are so many things to examine, it's necessary to narrow down what the research project at hand should examine.
The scope of the study can come down to any number of things, including the researchers' interest, the current state of theoretical development on the subject of mental health, and the design of the study, particularly how the data is collected. It might even boil down to influences like geographical location, which can determine the kind of research participants involved in the study.
All of these factors can inform an explicit description of the scope, which might look like this if found in the methodology section of a paper:
"In this study, the researchers focused on surveying college students over four months, roughly the same time frame as a semester at a university in the United States. Surveys were distributed to all college students, but this paper will narrow the data analysis to those students who reported having part-time jobs. This refined lens aligns with our interest in examining work-related factors contributing to negative mental health outcomes, as established in previous studies."
The above example of a study's scope highlights what the researchers focused on during the study and while analyzing the data. The researchers chose to study a narrow subset of their data to generate insights most applicable to their research interests. The researchers might also analyze the proportion of students that reported having part-time jobs to give a broader description of the study body, but they clearly focus on understanding the mental health of students with part-time jobs.
Moreover, the narrow scope allows the researchers to focus on a small number of elements in the relationship between mental health and work, which allows the researchers to make deeper contributions to this specific part of the conversation around students' mental health.
Defining the scope of the study benefits both the researcher and their audience. Ultimately, establishing transparency in a research project focuses the data collection and analysis processes and makes the findings more compelling and persuasive.
Describing the scope can clarify what specific concepts should be used and examined during the course of the study. A good scope can keep the researcher focused on what data to collect and what ancillary developments, however interesting or useful, should be discarded or left to another study. Setting a clear scope can greatly help researchers maintain a coherent fit between their research question, collected data, and ultimate findings. Journal editors and reviewers often reject papers for publication because of a lack of fit between these important elements, which highlights the value of a clear research scope for conducting rigorous research.
In logistical terms, a well-defined scope also ensures the feasibility of a study by limiting the researcher's lens to a small but manageable set of factors to observe and analyze during the course of the study. Conversely, an unfocused study makes the collection of data a significant challenge when the researcher is left to document as much as possible, potentially gathering all kinds of data that may not be relevant to a given research question , while not gathering enough of the appropriate data that can address a research inquiry.
The research audience also requires an understanding of the scope of the study to determine the relevance of the findings to their own research inquiry. Readers of research bring their own assumptions and preconceived notions about what to look at in a given context. A well-written scope, on the other hand, gives readers clear guidance on what to look for in the study's analysis and findings.
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Besides the research area being studied, the scope of a study has a clear description of most of the following aspects. Understanding what makes rigorous research and what readers of research look for in a well-crafted study will be useful for describing the scope of a research project.
The kind of research participants you are including in a study informs what theories are relevant and how the study should be designed. Are you researching children, young adults, or older professionals? Do they belong to a specific culture or community? Are they connected or related to each other in some way or do they just happen to belong to the same demographic?
Because qualitative, social science research seldom yields universal theories, it's important to narrow the scope of a study down to a specific set of the population. The more specific the scope, the more that the findings and resulting theoretical developments can be appropriately contextualized and thus inform how other researchers can build on those insights.
The geographical location covered by the study provides a necessary context for any study in the social sciences. Even if you narrow the targeted population to a specific demographic, what is true for that population in one country or region may not be true for another.
As a result, a scope that describes the location of the study explains where the findings are most relevant and where they might be relevant for further study.
If you are conducting observational or ethnographic research , it may seem like you are facing a firehose when it comes to collecting data. Even interviews , focus groups , and surveys can provide a torrent of data, much of which may not be relevant to your inquiry if the study design isn't refined.
Without a sufficiently defined scope that identifies what aspects of the world you are looking at, the data you collect may become unmanageable at best. When crafting your study, develop the scope to determine the specific topics and aspects worth exploring.
In academic publishing , reviewers and editors need a clear understanding of the scope of the study in a manuscript when evaluating the research. Despite its importance, however, the scope doesn't necessarily have its own explicit section in a research paper.
That said, you can describe the study's scope in key areas of your research writing. Here are some of the important sections in a typical research paper for academic writing where a description of the scope is key.
Any study disseminated for academic publishing requires a thorough understanding of the current research and existing theories that are relevant to your study. In turn, the literature review also defines the aspects of the phenomenon or concepts that you can study for the purpose of theoretical development.
Rely on the key theories in the literature review to define a useful scope that identifies key aspects of the theoretical framework that will inform the data collection and analysis .
A well-crafted problem statement generally sets the stage for what knowledge is missing and what novel and interesting insights can be uncovered in new research. As a result, a clear understanding of the research scope helps define the problem that a new research project seeks to address.
When incorporating a problem statement in your research paper, be sure to explicitly detail the rationale for problematizing the phenomenon you are researching.
Research questions define the relationships between the relevant concepts or phenomena being explored, and thus provide evidence of a scope that has been thoughtfully planned. Use the wording of your research question to highlight what is the central focus and, thus, the scope of the study.
At minimum, the scope of the study should narrow the focus of data collection and data analysis to the study of certain concepts relevant to addressing the given research question. Qualitative research methods can often result in open-ended data collection that can yield many insights, only a few of which may directly address the research inquiry.
Narrowing the collection of data to a set of relevant criteria can help the researcher avoid any unnecessary rabbit holes that might complicate the later analysis with irrelevant information.
Research scope and limitations go hand in hand because, together, they define what is studied within a research project and what is not. Moreover, a good description of the study's scope can also provide direction, by way of the description of limitations, about what inquiries other researchers could pursue next.
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Project profile, age group(s).
Proposed data sets and target populations:, evaluation:, publications.
A new study demonstrates that eating primarily minimally processed foods, as they are defined by the NOVA classification system, does not automatically make for a healthy diet, suggesting that the types of foods we eat may matter more than the level of processing used to make them.
Comparing two menus reflecting a typical Western diet -; one emphasizing minimally processed foods and the other emphasizing ultra-processed foods, as categorized by the NOVA classification system -; the researchers found that the less processed menu was more than twice as expensive and reached its expiration date over three times faster without delivering any additional nutritional value.
"This study indicates that it is possible to eat a low-quality diet even when choosing mostly minimally processed foods," said Julie Hess, PhD, a research nutritionist at the USDA-ARS Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center, who led the study. "It also shows that more-processed and less-processed diets can be equally nutritious (or non-nutritious), but the more-processed diet may have a longer shelf life and be less costly."
Mark Messina, PhD, director of nutrition science and research at Soy Nutrition Institute Global, will present the findings at NUTRITION 2024, the flagship annual meeting of the American Society for Nutrition held June 29–July 2 in Chicago.
The new research builds on a study the team published last year, which demonstrated that it was possible to build a high-quality menu that aligns with dietary guidelines while deriving most of its calories from foods classified as ultra-processed. For the new study, the researchers asked the opposite question: Is it possible to build a low-quality menu that derives most of its calories from "simple" foods?
To find out, they constructed a less-processed menu, which derived 20% of its calories from ultra-processed foods, and a more-processed menu, which derived 67% of its calories from ultra-processed foods. The level of processing involved in each menu was determined according to the NOVA system of classification.
The two menus were calculated to have a Healthy Eating Index score of about 43-44 out of 100, a relatively low score that reflects poor adherence to the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. The researchers estimated that the less-processed menu would cost $34.87 per day per person compared with $13.53 per day for the more-processed menu. They also calculated that the median time to expiration of the less-processed menu items was 35 days versus 120 days for the more-processed menu items.
The study draws attention to the disconnects between food processing and nutritional value. Hess noted that some nutrient-dense packaged foods can be classified as ultra-processed, such as unsweetened applesauce, ultrafiltered milk, liquid egg whites and some brands of raisins and canned tomatoes.
The results of this study indicate that building a nutritious diet involves more than a consideration of food processing as defined by NOVA. The concepts of 'ultra-processed' foods and 'less-processed' foods need to be better characterized by the nutrition research community." Julie Hess, PhD, research nutritionist at the USDA-ARS Grand Forks Human Nutrition Research Center
Messina will present this research at 12:45-1:45 p.m. CDT on Sunday, June 30, during the Food Choice, Markets and Policy poster session in McCormick Place ( abstract ; presentation details below).
Objectives: The “clean eating” trend of consuming primarily foods with simple ingredients suggests that consuming fewer processed foods is a requisite aspect of healthy dietary patterns. Yet research indicates that a menu containing mostly ultra-processed foods (UPFs) can meet nutrient and diet quality recommendations from the Dietary Guidelines for Americans. Whether a diet comprised mostly of simple ingredient foods can provide a low-quality diet remains unexplored. The objective of this study was to compare the diet quality, shelf stability, and cost of two similar Western-style menus, one containing primarily energy from UPFs and the other containing primarily energy from less processed foods, as defined by the Nova food classification system. Methods: First, a less-processed version of a Western menu (less-processed Western, LPW; more-processed Western MPW) with a Healthy Eating Index (HEI) score of approximately 43 was developed to align with the HEI score of the previously developed MPW. Processing level was determined by Nova categorizations assigned by external graders. The final menu was assessed for nutrient content and HEI score. Shelf stability of foods was determined with information from food storage guidance manuals. The condition of each food item when purchased (shelf stable, frozen, refrigerated) was used to estimate the number of days until expiration. Food and menu costs were determined using retail prices at a Midwestern grocery chain in Fall 2023. Results: The LPW and MPW had similar nutrient densities and HEI scores (44 and 43, respectively). The LPW included 20% energy (kcal) from UPFs, while the MPW included 67% energy from UPFs. Relative percentages of shelf-stable, frozen, and refrigerated foods were similar between the two. Using the Kaplan-Meier survival analysis method, median time to expiration of the LPW menu items was 35 days versus 120 days for the MPW menu items. The “per person” cost was $34.87/day for the LPW and $13.53/day for the MPW. Conclusions: The less-processed and more-processed menus both provided low-quality diets. However, the LPW was more than twice as expensive as the MPW and had a shorter overall shelf life. Level of processing is not a proxy indicator of diet quality, and less processed foods can be more expensive and have a shorter shelf life. Funding Sources : USDA Agricultural Research Service project grant #3062-51000-057-00D
American Society for Nutrition
Posted in: Medical Research News | Healthcare News
Tags: Bread , Breakfast , Diet , Education , Food , Nutrition , Research , students
Would love to see this study take into account biology and chemistry of ultra processed foods vs whole foods. Ultra processed foods contain preservatives for longer shelf, which isn't good for bacteria. Your gut is full of bacteria that work to help you digest and absorb food. If the food has preservatives, it can't be good for your gut. Ulta-processed food also breaks down fiber, which is used to feed the gut bacteria and build the lining of your gut. If you break down the fiber, it gets absorbed too quickly to make it's way down the lower intestine, therefore it doesn't feed the bacteria appropriately, which leads to that bacteria starving, feeding on your gut lining and ultimately dying. That leads to a leaky gut, inflammation and possible autoimmune disease.
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Employees who use AI as a core part of their jobs report feeling more isolated, drinking more, and sleeping less than employees who don’t.
The promise of AI is alluring — optimized productivity, lightning-fast data analysis, and freedom from mundane tasks — and both companies and workers alike are fascinated (and more than a little dumbfounded) by how these tools allow them to do more and better work faster than ever before. Yet in fervor to keep pace with competitors and reap the efficiency gains associated with deploying AI, many organizations have lost sight of their most important asset: the humans whose jobs are being fragmented into tasks that are increasingly becoming automated. Across four studies, employees who use it as a core part of their jobs reported feeling lonelier, drinking more, and suffering from insomnia more than employees who don’t.
Imagine this: Jia, a marketing analyst, arrives at work, logs into her computer, and is greeted by an AI assistant that has already sorted through her emails, prioritized her tasks for the day, and generated first drafts of reports that used to take hours to write. Jia (like everyone who has spent time working with these tools) marvels at how much time she can save by using AI. Inspired by the efficiency-enhancing effects of AI, Jia feels that she can be so much more productive than before. As a result, she gets focused on completing as many tasks as possible in conjunction with her AI assistant.
Microplastics are popping up all over the place, including your body . More specifically, in your penis, if you have one.
A study published this month in the International Journal of Impotence Research found – as far as researchers can tell – the first detection of microplastics in penises. Microplastics are the breakdown products of plastics in our daily lives that are smaller than 5 millimeters long. Think residue from water bottles or food containers.
The theory is that whether it's drinking from plastic water bottles or from eating food in a plastic container, people are ingesting microplastics that are then deposited throughout the body. They may also be exposed through inhaling these tiny pieces, too, or even directly through the skin. "These particles can penetrate the body directly via the atmosphere, drinking water, and sea salt or indirectly through the food chain," according to the study.
But "there's been a big question as to whether or not these have an effect on people's lives in any way," says Dr. Boback Berookhim , a urologist and director of male fertility and microsurgery at Northwell Lenox Hill Hospital in New York, who was not involved in the study. "There have been a few studies that have actually found microplastics in other tissues within the body, including within the heart and within the testicles."
The research remains inconclusive on how microplastics might affect humans, but it's fair to say that foreign objects of this nature aren't a great sign.
"We're not sure what if anything this means yet, but those plastics don't belong there," Berookhim says. "That's not something that people should have in there."
Researchers in the study took a handful of patients scheduled for penile implant surgery – an operation done for patients with severe erectile dysfunction , which means they're either not responding to medication treatment or they're unhappy with said medications. As they put the implant in, they took a small sample of penile muscular tissue and examined it to check for microplastics. They found them in 80% of the samples.
The conclusion? "All that can say is that we're finding plastics in human tissue, and within the penile tissue as well," Berookhim says. "It does not say that these plastics were playing a role in erectile dysfunction."
The study represents a step in understanding microplastics. In the case of male reproductive health, "there is some evidence that's suggestive of declining sperm production rates and potential decline in fertility over time," Berookhim says. "And so the question is, well, what could there be environmentally that could be adding to this? So people are looking, and one of those things that we're looking at is this whole concept of microplastics, so whether it's in reproductive health or in heart health or cardiovascular health, or in other arenas, that's kind of what we're trying to figure out at this point."
To understand if microplastics were leading to these patients' erectile dysfunction, you'd need healthy volunteers to participate too, though Berookhim guesses "you're going to have a hard time recruiting patients to agree to that."
For those concerned about fertility, Berookhim isn't advising patients to stop drinking out of plastic water bottles (the study specifically references previous research about microplastics' impact on sperm production and quality). Lifestyle changes like moderate exercise and a healthy diet are often first-line suggestions. As for erectile dysfunction, "if patients are starting to present with erectile dysfunction and there isn't a anxiety or performance anxiety component to it, there may be something else going on."
Erection shockwave therapy: It may help with erectile dysfunction, but it's shrouded in shame
Men's erections are a good indicator of cardiovascular health, according to Berookhim, so if they're in the early stages of heart disease, recommendations might include to exercise or stop smoking.
And as for microplastics, keep an eye out for evolving research. But for now: "It's an interesting study. It gives something to build on."
Research/Study Research/Study
Written by Jack Wheatley , Jacina Hollins-Borges & Sophie Lawton
Published 07/02/24 2:47 PM EDT
Project 2025 partners are taking a victory lap after the Supreme Court’s July 1 decision in Trump v. United States , which ruled that “former President Donald Trump is entitled to immunity from federal prosecution for official actions he took while in office, a landmark decision at the height of an election season that further delays the start of his criminal trial in Washington, D.C.”
Project 2025 is a comprehensive transition plan to guide a potential second Trump administration with policy proposals and staffing recommendations led by right-wing think tank The Heritage Foundation, which joined other members of the project’s advisory board in celebrating the ruling on presidential immunity as a win for Trump and a defeat for Democrats. Last week, Project 2025 partners also praised the Supreme Court decision overturning Chevron deference in a ruling that will restrict federal agencies' regulatory abilities and make it easier for corporations to challenge environmental protections, climate action, and rules that protect workers or regulate drugs and financial practices, among other issues..
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Formulating research objectives has the following five steps, which could help researchers develop a clear objective: 8. Identify the research problem. Review past studies on subjects similar to your problem statement, that is, studies that use similar methods, variables, etc.
Example: Research aim. To examine contributory factors to muscle retention in a group of elderly people. Example: Research objectives. To assess the relationship between sedentary habits and muscle atrophy among the participants. To determine the impact of dietary factors, particularly protein consumption, on the muscular health of the ...
7. Field: Sociology. Aim: To investigate the influence of home offices on work-life balance during remote work. Objective 1: To survey remote workers on their perceptions of work-life balance since setting up home offices. Objective 2: To conduct an observational study of daily work routines and family interactions in a home office setting. Objective 3: To assess the correlation, if any ...
Research Objectives. Research objectives refer to the specific goals or aims of a research study. They provide a clear and concise description of what the researcher hopes to achieve by conducting the research.The objectives are typically based on the research questions and hypotheses formulated at the beginning of the study and are used to guide the research process.
The objectives provide a clear direction and purpose for the study, guiding the researcher in their data collection and analysis. Here are some tips on how to write effective research objective: 1. Be clear and specific. Research objective should be written in a clear and specific manner.
Research objectives are integral to the research framework as the nexus between the research problem, questions, and hypotheses. They translate the broad goals of your study into actionable steps, ensuring every aspect of your research is purposefully aligned towards addressing the research problem.
Research Aims: Examples. True to the name, research aims usually start with the wording "this research aims to…", "this research seeks to…", and so on. For example: "This research aims to explore employee experiences of digital transformation in retail HR.". "This study sets out to assess the interaction between student ...
For example, with clear research objectives, your study focuses on the specific goals you want to achieve and prevents you from spending time and resources collecting unnecessary data. However, sticking to research objectives isn't always easy, especially in broad or unconventional research. This is why most researchers follow the SMART ...
In order to write effective research aims and objectives, researchers should consider all aspects of their proposed work. For example, the sample(s) to be approached for participation in the primary data collection. Identifying research objectives that are SMART is key to ensuring key aspects of the work are considered prior to any data collection.
The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is ...
To develop a set of research objectives, you would then break down the various steps involved in meeting said aim. For example: This study will investigate the link between dehydration and the incidence of urinary tract infections (UTIs) in intensive care patients in Australia. To achieve this, the study objectives w ill include:
To ensure that your research objectives are well-defined and effectively guide your study, you can apply the SMART framework. SMART stands for Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound. Here's how you can make your research objectives SMART: Specific: Clearly state what you want to achieve in a precise and specific manner ...
Specificity: Objectives should be specific and narrowly focused on the aspects of the research topic that the study intends to investigate. They should answer the question of "what" or "which" rather than "how" or "why.". Measurability: Research objectives should be formulated in a way that allows for measurement and evaluation.
Summary. The importance of research aims and objectives cannot be over-stressed. It is vital to have a very clear understanding of what the research is about and what you are actually trying to achieve. You need to know this. And you need to be able to communicate it to others. Carrying out a research project is rather like going on a journey.
Summary. One of the most important aspects of a thesis, dissertation or research paper is the correct formulation of the aims and objectives. This is because your aims and objectives will establish the scope, depth and direction that your research will ultimately take. An effective set of aims and objectives will give your research focus and ...
Here are three simple steps that you can follow to identify and write your research objectives: 1. Pinpoint the major focus of your research. The first step to writing your research objectives is to pinpoint the major focus of your research project. In this step, make sure to clearly describe what you aim to achieve through your research.
5 Examples of Research Objectives. The following examples of research objectives based on several published studies on various topics demonstrate how the research objectives are written: This study aims to find out if there is a difference in quiz scores between students exposed to direct instruction and flipped classrooms (Webb and Doman, 2016).
Answer: Research objectives summarize the accomplishments a researcher wishes to achieve through the project and provides direction to the study. Before forming a research objective, you should read about all the developments in your area of research and find gaps in knowledge that need to be addressed. You may use these gaps in literature to ...
Aligning research questions and objectives is a critical step in conducting a successful study. This alignment ensures that the research remains focused, relevant, and methodologically sound. By clearly defining and interconnecting research questions and objectives, researchers can enhance the clarity, direction, and impact of their study.
Consider a study that aims to determine the antioxidative effect of XXX plant extract. The objectives of this study could be written as follows: (1) To test reactive oxygen species generation in the XXX cell line following treatment with XXX plant extract. (2) To determine the activity of antioxidant enzymes SOD and CAT in a rat model following ...
You don't want to be too deep into your research plan before realizing the set of participants you recruited aren't the right people for answering the questions you want to answer with your research. I highly recommend writing your qualitative research objective first, and socializing it before beginning any study. Here's a quick guide:
Here are three simple steps that you can. follow to identify and write your research objectives: Pinpoint the major focus of your research. The first step to writing your research objectives is to ...
Research objectives can help to guide a research project in the right direction. They provide guiding principles for the entire piece of work and drive the methods and nature of data collection, analysis and evaluation. Furthermore, they help researchers to pinpoint the ultimate focus of their work and identify key variables.
Understanding what makes rigorous research and what readers of research look for in a well-crafted study will be useful for describing the scope of a research project. Target population. The kind of research participants you are including in a study informs what theories are relevant and how the study should be designed.
Study progress will be evaluated across 3 phases: data acquisition/cleaning model building/analytics and post-study/dissemination phase. The CATS outcomes databases have already undergone an extensive data cleaning process; thus supporting the feasibility of successfully completing this study within the proposed timeline.
The new research builds on a study the team published last year, which demonstrated that it was possible to build a high-quality menu that aligns with dietary guidelines while deriving most of its ...
Summary. The promise of AI is alluring — optimized productivity, lightning-fast data analysis, and freedom from mundane tasks — and both companies and workers alike are fascinated (and more ...
Introduction. Objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), first described in 1975 [Citation 1], is an examination method dedicated to assess clinical competence in under- or post-graduate medical and allied healthcare students through a series of simulated tasks and interactions [Citation 2].Since its initial description, OSCE method has been the object of worldwide research, with ...
A study published this month in the International Journal of Impotence Research found - as far as researchers can tell - the first detection of microplastics in penises. Microplastics are the ...
Last week, Project 2025 partners also praised the Supreme Court decision overturning Chevron deference in a ruling that will restrict federal agencies' regulatory abilities and make it easier for ...