Published on November 6, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. A problem statement is a concise and concrete summary of the
research problem you seek to address. It should: There are various situations in which you might have to write a problem statement. In the business world, writing a problem statement is often the first step in kicking off an improvement project. In this case, the problem statement is usually a stand-alone document. In academic research, writing a problem statement can help you contextualize and understand the significance of your
research problem. It is often several paragraphs long, and serves as the basis for your research proposal. Alternatively, it can be condensed into just a few sentences in your introduction. A problem statement looks different depending on whether you’re dealing
with a practical, real-world problem or a theoretical issue. Regardless, all problem statements follow a similar process. The problem statement should frame your research problem, giving some background on what is already known. For practical research, focus on the concrete details of the situation:
Theoretical research problemsFor theoretical research, think about the scientific, social, geographical and/or historical background:
Receive feedback on language, structure and formattingProfessional editors proofread and edit your paper by focusing on:
See an example Step 2: Show why it mattersThe problem statement should also address the relevance of the research. Why is it important that the problem is addressed? Don’t worry, this doesn’t mean you have to do something groundbreaking or world-changing. It’s more important that the problem is researchable, feasible, and clearly addresses a relevant issue in your field. Practical research problemsPractical research is directly relevant to a specific problem that affects an organization, institution, social group, or society more broadly. To make it clear why your research problem matters, you can ask yourself:
Theoretical research problemsSometimes theoretical issues have clear practical consequences, but sometimes their relevance is less immediately obvious. To identify why the problem matters, ask:
Step 3: Set your aims and objectivesFinally, the problem statement should frame how you intend to address the problem. Your goal here should not be to find a conclusive solution, but rather to propose more effective approaches to tackling or understanding it. The research aim is the overall purpose of your research. It is generally written in the infinitive form:
The research objectives are the concrete steps you will take to achieve the aim:
The aims and objectives should lead directly to your research questions. Learn how to formulate research questions Problem statement exampleYou can use these steps to write your own problem statement, like the example below. Problem statement example Step 1: Contextualize the problem Step 2: Show why it matters Step 3: Set your aims and objectives Frequently asked questions about problem statementsHow do I write a research objective? Once you’ve decided on your research objectives, you need to explain them in your paper, at the end of your problem statement. Keep your research objectives clear and concise, and use appropriate verbs to accurately convey the work that you will carry out for each one. Example: Verbs for research objectivesI will assess …I will compare … I will calculate … Cite this Scribbr articleIf you want to cite this source, you can copy and paste the citation or click the “Cite this Scribbr article” button to automatically add the citation to our free Citation Generator.
Is this article helpful?You have already voted. Thanks :-) Your vote is saved :-) Processing your vote... Which is the first task in the information research process?The first step in the research process is to develop a research question. This can be a problem that needs to be solved, or some piece of information that is missing about a particular topic. Answering this question will be the focus of the research study.
Is information collected specifically for a current research problem or opportunity quizlet?Secondary data is information collected for a current research problem or opportunity. Advances in gatekeeper technologies are used to protect one's privacy against intrusive marketing practices.
Which of the following data collection techniques is used in exploratory research study?Unstructured interviews are the most popular primary data collection method with exploratory studies. Additionally, surveys, focus groups and observation methods can be used to collect primary data for this type of studies.
Which of the following is true of Frugging quizlet?Frugging means: Claiming that a survey is for research purposes and then asking for a sale or donation. Which of the following is true of frugging? It creates a negative impact on the entire industry.
|