The general and specific objectives are fundamental elements for the accomplishment of academic works, like for example, a thesis of degree.
The general objective is a statement that summarizes the central idea and purpose of a work.
The specific objectives detail the processes necessary for the complete accomplishment of the work.
| General objectives | Specific objectives | |
|---|---|---|
| Function | Summarize and present the central idea of an academic paper. | Present in detail the results that are intended to be achieved through the investigation. |
| Sense | Wider. | More detailed. |
| Elements | It must contain the hypothesis or the problem that will be investigated in the work, as well as the delimitation of the topic. | It should describe the stages of the search in the sequence of execution. It must also relate the object of the work with its particularities, with greater delimitation. |
Index
General objective
The general objective should present the central idea of an academic work, succinctly and objectively stating the purpose of the study and the goal to be achieved.
In other words, the general objective synthesizes the hypothesis or problem to be investigated, specifies the purpose of the study and defines the topic.
General objective example
“Verify if there is a relationship between the increase in Internet access and the decrease in the use of television in the southwestern region of Mexico.”
The purpose of the work is expressed in “verifying if there is a relationship between the increase in Internet access and the decrease in the use of television.” The delimitation is expressed in “in the southwestern region of Mexico.”
Specific objectives
The specific objectives are directly related to the general objectives, detailing the processes necessary for their realization. In this way, the specific objectives serve as a guide for how the work will be approached.
The specific objectives should present in detail the goals of the project. This is how the object studied is related to its particularities and the steps to be followed to meet the general objective are identified.
Example of specific objectives
Continuing with the previous example, the specific objectives could be:
- Analyze the increase in Internet access in the last year;
- Analyze the number of televisions in homes in the southwestern region of Mexico;
- Verify the use of television in homes in the southwestern region of Mexico;
- Compare the standard of increasing Internet access with a decrease in the use of televisions.
See also Goal and objective .
