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Writing a Research Problem Statement

The document outlines the importance of writing a clear statement of the problem for research proposals, emphasizing that it should define a specific issue that the research aims to address. It details the characteristics of a good research problem and provides a structured format for writing the statement, which includes describing the ideal situation, the current reality, and the proposed consequences. Additionally, it offers an example related to small business sustainability in Kenya to illustrate the application of these principles.

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0% found this document useful (0 votes)
39 views5 pages

Writing a Research Problem Statement

The document outlines the importance of writing a clear statement of the problem for research proposals, emphasizing that it should define a specific issue that the research aims to address. It details the characteristics of a good research problem and provides a structured format for writing the statement, which includes describing the ideal situation, the current reality, and the proposed consequences. Additionally, it offers an example related to small business sustainability in Kenya to illustrate the application of these principles.

Uploaded by

oukolyzz
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© All Rights Reserved
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THE BASICS OF WRITING A STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM FOR YOUR

RESEARCH PROPOSAL

Research is a systematic investigative process employed to increase or


revise current knowledge by discovering new facts. It can be divided into two
general categories: (1) Basic research, which is inquiry aimed at increasing
scientific knowledge, and (2) Applied research, which is effort aimed at using
basic research for solving problems or developing new processes, products,
or techniques.

The first and most important step in any research is to identify and delineate
the research problem: that is, what the researcher wants to solve and what

questions he/she wishes to answer. A research problem may be defined as

an area of concern, a gap in the existing knowledge, or a deviation in the

norm or standard that points to the need for further understanding and

investigation. Although many problems turn out to have several solutions

(the means to close the gap or correct the deviation), difficulties arise where

such means are either not obvious or are not immediately available. This

then necessitates some research to reach a viable solution.

A statement of the problem is used in research work as a claim that

outlines the problem addressed by a study. The statement of the problem

briefly addresses the question: What is the problem that the research will

address?

What are the goals of a statement of the problem?

The ultimate goal of a statement of the problem is to transform a generalized

problem (something that bothers you; a perceived lack) into a targeted, well-
defined problem; one that can be resolved through focused research and

careful decision-making.

Writing a statement of the problem should help you clearly identify the

purpose of the research project you will propose. Often, the statement of the

problem will also serve as the basis for the introductory section of your final

proposal, directing your reader’s attention quickly to the issues that your

proposed project will address and providing the reader with a concise

statement of the proposed project itself.

A statement of problem need not be long and elaborate: one page is more

than enough for a good statement of problem.

What are the key characteristics of a statement of the problem?

A good research problem should have the following characteristics:

1. It should address a gap in knowledge.


2. It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing body of
research

3. It should lead to further research

4. The problem should render itself to investigation through collection of


data

5. It should be of interest to the researcher and suit his/her skills, time,


and resources

6. The approach towards solving the problem should be ethical

What is the format for writing a statement of the problem?

A persuasive statement of problem is usually written in three parts:


Part A (The ideal): Describes a desired goal or ideal situation; explains how

things should be.

Part B (The reality): Describes a condition that prevents the goal, state, or

value in Part A from being achieved or realized at this time; explains how the

current situation falls short of the goal or ideal.

Part C (The consequences): Identifies the way you propose to improve the

current situation and move it closer to the goal or ideal.

Here is an example:

Statement 1

The Ministry of Youth is dedicated to allocating enterprise development

funds to both the youth and women. These funds are made available in

order to start entrepreneurial ventures that create and expand

employment. (Provide relevant statistics and quote)

Statement 2

One of the main focuses of the ministry is consistency. Unfortunately,

consistency in allocating funds to the next generation of recipients

requires prior knowledge of previous allocations and established

practices. The current continuous disbursement method does not allow

for adequate analysis of previous disbursements before a current

disbursement is done.

Statement 3
Continuing with this current disbursement method prevents consistency

and causes decisions to become grossly political, which in turn inhibits

the achievement of the goals of the funds. Developing a more informed

disbursement system could help better implement the consistency

focus of the ministry and at the same time help the ministry better

monitor and evaluate its funds.

This proposed research aspires to explore options for a new funds

disbursement system that would focus on consistency. To do this, the


researcher will carry out a full stakeholder analysis and use it to

propose appropriate policy interventions.

Sample statement of a problem

An established trend in the small business start-up financing in Kenya is to

establish funds. Some of these funds include the youth fund and women

fund. These funds have helped improve the rate of start-ups in the country.

However, after the start-up stage, the ventures start developing problems.

First, they face problems in management which lead to a marketing problem

and eventually to stagnation and early exit.

A study by the Institute of Development Studies (RoK, 2004) revealed that

only 38% of the businesses are expanding while 58% have not added

workers. According to the survey, more enterprises are likely to close in their

first three years of operation. Four years later the same institute conducted

another study in Central Kenya. This study revealed that 57% of small

businesses are in stagnation with only 33% of them showing some level of

growth.
In our current project, we propose to examine factors that have an impact on

small business sustainability. We will employ both qualitative and

quantitative approaches to gather both primary and secondary data and

information with the objective of determining success factors for the growth

of small business in Kenya.

Specifically, we shall employ the product life cycle (PLC) model to identify

the needs of a small business at the various stages of the PLC.

Common questions

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A concise statement of the problem is critical because it directs the reader’s attention quickly and efficiently to the core issues the research will address, ensuring clarity and focus. An overly elaborate statement could dilute focus, making it harder for readers to grasp the main problem and potentially hindering the proposal’s persuasive capacity .

The reality component in a statement of the problem identifies the current conditions that prevent the achievement of the ideal goal described in the ideal component. It highlights the shortfall from the desired situation. The consequences component then proposes improvements to bridge the gap between the reality and the ideal, outlining potential solutions or changes to achieve the ideal state .

Using the PLC model helps identify specific needs and challenges of small businesses at each life cycle stage—introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. This targeted understanding enables researchers to tailor strategies that address stage-specific issues, thereby enhancing sustainable growth and decision-making .

Stakeholder analysis helps identify diverse needs, expectations, and potential impacts of stakeholders, ensuring that policy interventions are well-informed and contextually relevant. When applied to fund allocation, this approach promotes transparency, fairness, and alignment with strategic goals, improving consistency and effectiveness in resource distribution .

The approach to solving a research problem should be guided by ethical considerations such as transparency, honesty, and respect for subjects. These ensure the research is conducted responsibly, maintaining the integrity of findings and protecting those involved. Ethical considerations are crucial for gaining public trust and securing funding .

A research problem should address a gap in existing knowledge, significantly contribute to current research, lead to further inquiries, be investigable through data collection, resonate with the researcher's skills, time, and resources, and follow an ethical approach. Such characteristics ensure the research is meaningful, feasible, and ethically sound .

The suggested methodological approach employs both qualitative and quantitative data collection to determine success factors for small business growth, along with the product life cycle (PLC) model to identify business needs at different stages. This mixed-method approach is effective as it provides a comprehensive understanding through diverse data types and contextual analysis .

Transforming a generalized problem into a targeted problem is crucial because it helps clearly define the research purpose, making the problem solvable through focused research and careful decision-making. It ensures the problem is well-defined, allowing researchers to address specific gaps in knowledge or deviations from the norm effectively .

Yes, allocation practices can be improved by developing a system that involves thorough analysis of past fund allocations before making new disbursements. Implementing a consistency-focused disbursement system, supported by stakeholder analysis and tailored policy interventions, could ensure more informed and equitable fund distribution .

Consistency is crucial in research disbursement systems as it allows for continuous and informed allocation of funds, facilitating predictable and equitable distribution. Currently, this consistency is undermined by the lack of prior analysis of previous allocations, which leads to politically influenced, inconsistent decision-making that does not align with the fund's goals .

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