Writing a problem statement
In academic research, writing a problem statement is helpful in contextualizing and
understanding the significance of our research problem. It is often several paragraphs long,
and serves as the basis for research proposal. Alternatively, it can be condensed into just a
few sentences in the [Link] can look different depending on whether it is dealing with
a practical, real-world problem or a theoretical issue. Regardless,all problem statements
follow a similar process.
Step 1: Contextualize the problem
The problem statement should frame research problem, giving some background on what is
already known.
Practical research problems
For practical research, focus on the concrete details of the situation:
Where and when does the problem arise?
Who does the problem affect?
What attempts have been made to solve the problem?
Example
Voter turnout in the urban areas is low, in contrast to rural areas of the country. According to
surveys conducted by local nonprofits, turnout is lowest among those under 25 years of age.
There have been some effective attempts at engaging these groups in all the regions, and in
the last two elections, major parties increased their campaigning efforts. However, these
interventions have yet to have any significant effect on turnout.
Theoretical research problems
For theoretical research, think about the scientific, social, geographical and/or historical
background:
What is already known about the problem?
Is the problem limited to a certain time period or geographical area?
How has the problem been defined and debated in the scholarly literature?
Example
In the past ten years, the “gig economy” has become an increasingly important
segment of the labor market. People under 30 are now more likely to engage in
freelance arrangements (rather than full-time jobs) than in the past. Research on the
reasons for and consequences of this shift has focused on objective measures of
income, working hours, and employment conditions. However, there has been little
work exploring young people’s subjective experiences of the gig economy.
Step 2: Show why it matters
Why is it important that the problem is addressed?The problem statement should also address
the relevance of the research. It’s more important that the problem is researchable, feasible,
and clearly addresses a relevant issue in your field.
Practical research problems
Practical 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, these questions will reveal importance of the reseach problem.
What will happen if the problem is not solved?
Who will feel the consequences?
Does the problem have wider relevance? Are similar issues found in other contexts?
Example
Low voter turnout has been shown to have negative associations with overall civic
engagement. It is becoming an area of increasing concern in many areas of the country. When
specific groups of citizens lack political representation, they are likely to become more
excluded over time, leading to an erosion of trust in democratic institutions. Addressing this
problem will have practical benefits, and will contribute to understanding of this widespread
phenomenon.
Theoretical research problems
Sometimes theoretical issues have clear practical consequences, but sometimes their
relevance is less immediately obvious. To identify why the problem matters, ask:
How will resolving the problem advance understanding of the topic?
What benefits will it have for future research?
Does the problem have direct or indirect consequences for society?
Example
Literature on the gig economy characterizes these new forms of employment sometimes as a
flexible, active choice and sometimes as an exploitative last resort. To gain a fuller
understanding of why young people engage in the gig economy, in-depth qualitative research
is required. Focusing on workers’ experiences can help develop more robust theories of
flexibility in contemporary employment, as well as potentially informing future policy
objectives.
Step 3: Set your aims and objectives
Finally, the problem statement should frame how problem is addressed. The 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 the research. It is generally written in the infinitive
form:
The aim of this study is to determine…
This project aims to explore…
This research aims to investigate…
The research objectives are the concrete steps taken to achieve the aim:
Qualitative methods will be used to identify…
This work will use surveys to collect…
Using statistical analysis, the research will measure…
Practical research aims and objectives
The aim of this research is to investigate effective engagement strategies to increase voter
turnout in urban areas. It will identify the most significant factors in non-voting using surveys
and interviews, followed by conducting experiments to measure the effectiveness of different
strategies.
Theoretical research aims and objectives
This project aims to better understand young people’s experiences in the gig economy.
Qualitative methods will be used to gain in-depth insight into the motivations and perceptions
of those under 30 engaged in freelance work across various industries. This data will be
contextualized with a review of recent literature on the gig economy and statistical analysis of
demographic changes in the workforce.
The aims and objectives should lead directly to research questions.
A research question describes exactly what we want to find out in our work. A good
research question is essential to guide a research paper, dissertation, or thesis.
All research questions should be:
Focused on a single problem or issue
Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
Specific enough to answer thoroughly
Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadl
Research questions guides the progress in a research paper or academic [Link]
answer then forms thesis statement—the central assertion or position that the paper
will argue for. A bigger research project, such as a thesis or dissertation, may
necessitate multiple research questions or problem statements. However, they should
all be clearly connected and focused around a central research problem.
How to write a research question
These are the steps to develop a strong research question:
Choose a topic
Do some preliminary reading about the current state of the field
Narrow the focus to a specific niche
Identify the research problem to be addressed
The way you frame your question depends on what your research aims to [Link]
are formulated by keeping in mind what type of descriptions,explorations, explaininatin,
testing, evaluations and actions are mentioned in our objectives. Using your research problem
to develop your research question
Example research problem Example research question(s)
Teachers at the school do not have the skills to What practical techniques can teachers
recognize or properly guide gifted children in the use to better identify and guide gifted
classroom. children?
What makes a strong research question?
These questions anchor whole research project, so it’s important to spend some time refining
them. The criteria below can help you evaluate the strength of your research question.
Focused and researchable research question clearly tie back to the central aim. question must
be answerable using quantitative and/or qualitative data, or by reading scholarly sources on
the topic to develop argument. If such data is impossible to access, likely need to rethink
question. Avoid subjective words like good, bad, better and worse. These do not give clear
criteria for answering the question. Value judgement should be avoided
Feasible and specific data needed should be accessible and specific. All the terms used in the
research question should have clear meanings. Avoid vague language, jargon, and too-broad
ideas. Research is about informing, not instructing. Even if the project is focused on a
practical problem, it should aim to improve understanding rather than demand a ready-made
solution. If ready-made solutions are necessary, consider conducting action research instead.
Action research is a research method that aims to simultaneously investigate an issue as it is
solved. In other words, as its name suggests, action research conducts research and takes
action at the same time. Closed-ended, yes/no questions are too simple to work as good
research questions—they don’t provide enough scope for robust investigation and discussion.
A good research question requires original data, synthesis of multiple sources, and original
interpretation and argumentation prior to providing an answer
Relevant and original A research question should be developed based on initial reading
around the topic. It should focus on addressing a problem or gap in the existing knowledge in
the field or discipline. The question should aim to contribute to an existing and current
debate in the field or in society at large. It should produce knowledge that future researchers
or practitioners can later build on. No need to ask something that nobody has ever thought of
before, but the question should have some aspect of originality. For example, focus on a
specific location, or explore a new angle.
Using sub-questions to strengthen main research question
Chances are that main research question likely can’t be answered all at once. That’s why sub-
questions are important: they allow to answer the main question in a step-by-step manner.
Good sub-questions should be:
Less complex than the main question
Focused only on 1 type of research
Presented in a logical order
Sometimes our project requires some sub questions but they are not mandatory. They should
only be asked if there is a need to answer our main question. As a rule of thumb, the more
complex a subject is, the more sub-questions are [Link] should be limited to 4 or 5 sub
questions