Research Objectives and Research Questions

Which of the following research questions is SMART?

• What is the impact of social media on today's youth?

• What are the factors that contribute to successful teamwork in the workplace?

• How can we reduce the crime rate in a city?

Answer explanation

"What are the factors that contribute to successful teamwork in the workplace?" follows SMART criteria.

The research question is specific and measurable, as it focuses on identifying the factors that contribute to successful teamwork in the workplace. It is also achievable, relevant, and time-bound, as the researcher can identify the factors, measure their impact, and provide recommendations for improving teamwork within a specific time frame.

"How can we reduce the crime rate in a city?" is not achievable or specific. It is not clear how the researcher plans to reduce crime, and it may not be achievable within a specific time frame. Reducing crime rates in a city is a complex issue that may require many different strategies and approaches, making it difficult to measure and achieve within a specific time-frame.

Revised RQ: To what extent can the implementation of a community policing program reduce the incidence of violent crime in Selangor?

"What is the impact of social media on today's youth?" is not specific or measurable. The term "impact" is too broad, and it is not clear how the impact will be measured. The impact of social media on today's youth may have many different aspects and factors to consider, which makes it difficult to measure and achieve within a specific time-frame.

Revised RQ: How does daily social media use affect the self-esteem of high school students in Klang Valley?

The revised RQ is more specific as it focuses on the impact of daily social media use on the self-esteem of high school students in Klang Valley. It can be measured through self-report surveys and psychological assessments. It is relevant as social media use and its potential impact on youth mental health is a growing concern.

Which of the following research questions is SMART?

• What are the effects of climate change on the environment?

• How can customer service be improved in the hospitality industry?

• What is the impact of a low-carb diet on weight loss in obese adults?

Answer explanation

What is the impact of a low-carb diet on weight loss in obese adults?

Justification: This research question is Specific (the impact of a low-carb diet on weight loss in obese adults), Measurable (can be assessed through measuring weight loss), Achievable (it is possible to study the impact of a low-carb diet on weight loss), Relevant (addresses the need to understand the effectiveness of low-carb diets for weight loss in obese adults), and Time-bound (focuses on a specific timeframe for the research).

"What are the effects of climate change on the environment?" is not measurable or time-bound. The term "effects" is too broad, and it is not clear how the effects will be measured.

Revised RQ: "What are the effects of climate change on the frequency and intensity of floods in Malaysia?"

Specific: The research question is focused on the effects of climate change on the frequency and intensity of floods in Malaysia. Measurable: The research question is measurable, as the frequency and intensity of floods can be quantified and analyzed. Achievable: The research question is achievable, as data on flood frequency and intensity in Malaysia are available and can be analyzed. Relevant: The research question is relevant, as floods are a major issue in Malaysia and climate change is expected to increase the frequency and intensity of flooding in the region.

"How can customer service be improved in the hospitality industry?" is specific, but not measurable. It is not clear how customer service will be measured, and there is no specific timeframe provided for when the improvements will be made.

Revised RQ: "What specific steps can hotels take to improve customer service satisfaction ratings among guests?"

Specific: Define the aspect of customer service in the hospitality industry that needs improvement.

Measurable: Identify specific metrics or indicators that can be used to measure the improvement of customer service in the hospitality industry.

Achievable: Ensure that the research question is realistic and can be achieved within the time frame and available resources.

Relevant: Ensure that the research question is relevant and addresses a significant problem or issue in the hospitality industry.

Which of the following research questions is SMART?

• How can we eliminate poverty worldwide?

• Why do people prefer dogs over cats as pets?

• What factors contribute to job satisfaction among nurses in the ICU?

Answer explanation

What factors contribute to job satisfaction among nurses in the ICU?

This research question is specific, measurable, relevant, and time-bound. It identifies a specific group of people (nurses in the ICU), a specific outcome (job satisfaction), and can be measured through data collection.

The researcher is investigating the factors that contribute to job satisfaction among nurses in the ICU, which is a specific and measurable outcome. The objective is achievable within a specific timeframe, and it is relevant to the field of healthcare and nursing.

"How can we eliminate poverty worldwide?" is not achievable or time-bound. It is not realistic to eliminate poverty worldwide within a specific time frame, and the objective is too broad to achieve within a specific timeframe.

Revised research question: "What strategies can be implemented to reduce poverty rates in Kuala Lumpur?"

Specific: The research question can be made more specific by narrowing down the scope to a particular region or population.

Measurable: The research question can be made measurable by identifying specific indicators of poverty.

Achievable: The research question can be made achievable by identifying feasible solutions and strategies for poverty reduction.

Relevant: The research question is relevant, as poverty is a major global issue affecting millions of people.

"Why do people prefer dogs over cats as pets?" is not specific, measurable, or time-bound. It is not clear how the researcher plans to measure preferences, and there is no specific timeframe provided for when the study will be completed.

Revised research question: "What are the factors that influence pet preference among millennials in Putrajaya?"

Specific: The research question can be made more specific by focusing on a particular geographic location or demographic group.

Measurable: The research question can be made measurable by identifying specific factors that influence pet preference and quantifying their impact.

Achievable: The research question can be made achievable by collecting data through surveys or interviews and analyzing the results.

Relevant: The research question may not be particularly relevant to a specific social or scientific issue.

Time-bound: The research question may not be particularly time-bound.

Which of the following research objectives is SMART?

• To determine the effects of meditation.

• To improve productivity in the workplace.

• To investigate the association between exercise and mental health in young adults.

Answer explanation

To investigate the association between exercise and mental health in young adults.

This research objective is Specific (the relationship between exercise and mental health), Measurable (can be assessed through measuring mental health outcomes), Achievable (it is possible to study the relationship between exercise and mental health), Relevant (addresses the need to understand the impact of exercise on mental health in young adults).

"To determine the effects of meditation" is not measurable. The term "effects" is too broad, and it is not clear how the effects will be measured.

Revised RO: "To determine the effects of meditation on stress and anxiety levels in working adults."

The revised RO is specific because it focuses on stress and anxiety levels in working adults. It is measurable because stress and anxiety levels can be quantified using validated psychological instruments. It is achievable such as it can be set as a 12-week meditation practice which is feasible for participants to complete. It is relevant because stress and anxiety are common mental health concerns in the workplace, and meditation is a potential intervention for addressing these concerns.

"To improve productivity in the workplace" is specific but not measurable. It is not clear how productivity will be measured.

Revised RO: "To investigate the relationship between employee motivation and productivity in a software development company".

The revised RO is specific because it focuses on the relationship between motivation and productivity in a software development company. It is measurable because productivity can be quantified using various metrics such as output, efficiency, and quality. It is relevant because productivity is a critical factor for business success, particularly in the competitive software development industry.

Which of the following research objectives is SMART?

• To investigate the impact of social media on mental health

• To explore the relationship between physical activity and academic performance

• To understand the experience of cancer survivors

Answer explanation

To explore the relationship between physical activity and academic performance This objective is Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound as it clearly defines the relationship between two variables (physical activity and academic performance), can be measured through GPA or exam scores or physical activity per week, is achievable within a given time frame, and is relevant to a specific area of research.

"To investigate the impact of social media on mental health" is not following the SMART criteria because it is too broad and does not specify which aspects of mental health will be investigated.

What specific mental health outcomes will be measured?

Revised RO: "To investigate the relationship between social media use and depression symptoms in college students".

"To understand the experience of cancer survivors" is not following the SMART criteria because it is too broad and does not specify which aspects of the cancer survivor experience will be investigated or which population of cancer survivors will be examined.

Revised RO: "To explore the emotional and social challenges faced by breast cancer survivors within one year of completing treatment".