Mining the 1880 Census Mother Lode: Insanity and Idiocy

Before beginning any research, especially paid projects,
adequate time and energy should be directed toward the creation of clear and
measurable research goals/objectives.
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.”
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:
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,
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SMART Model |
Follow this basic process to develop objectives for your
project:
project:
- Create objectives
based on the needs of your client, not on what you want to find. - Check objectives
against the SMART model. - Gain approval from
the client that objectives capture what he/she wants from the project. - Document the
objectives in the research plan.
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