An aim is concerned with the conceptual level of the research, the overall purpose, which is not necessarily time and context bound. It is research to the wider research question and any intended research outputs. It would be the answer to the question ‘What is the purpose of this research?’ If we look a sample 1.2, one aim is quite simply to answer the research question that has been identified and, having found an answer, to provide more specific detail to that answer. The overall purpose is to provide others with evidence-based guidelines for their own practice. A research aim is concerned with the why and the what, why we are doing it and what we hope to produce by doing it.