Clarify the problem
Check whether the problem you describe is focused enough to guide the study.
See the bigger picture
Do the parts of my study still fit together?
Study Map helps you see how your problem, purpose, research questions, objectives and methods connect.
For postgraduate researchers
Practical tools for real progress
A brighter tomorrow through research
Study Map
ProblemPurpose
Research questions
Objectives
MethodsWhat this tool helps you do
Turn complexity into clarity.
Align key study parts
See how your purpose, questions, objectives and methods connect.
Spot gaps and mismatches
Notice where an important piece is missing or points in a different direction.
Move forward with confidence
Use a clearer map to discuss and refine your study.
Research proposal alignment
A clear question still needs the right study around it.
Your research question may look clear on its own but still pull in a different direction from your objectives or design. Study Map puts the parts beside one another so those tensions are easier to notice and discuss.
Use the map as a thinking aid when preparing a proposal or revisiting the design. It does not judge academic quality for you.
- Problem and purposeWhat needs to be understood, and why does this study exist?
- Questions and objectivesWhat will you ask, and what must you do to answer it?
- Methods and designCan your planned approach produce the evidence your questions require?
How it works
A simple process. A clearer study.
Add your study details
Enter your problem, purpose, research questions, objectives and methods.
Review the alignment view
See the parts together and examine the links between them.
Identify what needs attention
Use the view to plan revisions and questions for your supervisor.
Who it is for
Different roles. A shared goal.
Master’s students
Develop a more coherent proposal or thesis.
PhD students
Revisit alignment as your study evolves.
Supervisors
Discuss study structure with a clearer shared view.
Researchers
Plan, refine or review a research design.
Pricing
R299 per project
Also included in GradGuide Complete. Compare access options.
What you can take into your next discussion
A clearer basis for decisions.
A shared view
Put the main parts of your study into one view for a more focused supervisor conversation.
Questions to resolve
Identify where the purpose, questions, objectives or methods need another look.
A revision plan
Decide which connections to clarify before you spend time rewriting whole sections.
Study Map questions
What does research alignment mean?
Alignment means that the problem, purpose, research questions, objectives and methods support the same study. For example, a question about lived experience calls for a design capable of exploring experience, while an objective to measure prevalence needs an appropriate measurement plan.
Can Study Map check whether my research design is correct?
No. Study Map helps you see relationships and possible gaps so you can review them. Academic judgement, your supervisor’s feedback and your institution’s requirements remain essential.
When should I use Study Map?
Use it while developing a proposal, before a supervisor meeting, or when a change to one part of the study may affect the others. You can revisit the map as your research develops.
How much does Study Map cost?
Study Map costs R299 per project. It is also included in GradGuide Complete.
Related tools
Support for the work around your study plan.
My Researcher Profile — learn more
Reflect on your strengths and the way you work as a researcher.
Stuckness Self-Check — learn more
Identify what is holding you back and choose a practical next step.
Same research. A brighter tomorrow.
Bring the parts of your study into focus.
Start with a clearer view of what connects and what needs attention.