The Best Way to
Write a Problem
Statement
(Series 1)
PhD Proposal/Thesis Publication
Consultation Consultation
Quantitative Qualitative
Consultation Consultation
HOW TO WRITE AN
EFFECTIVE
PROBLEM STATEMENT?
Put the • What do we already
problem in know?
context
Describe the
precise issue • What do we need to
that the
know?
research will
address
Show the • Why do we need to
relevance of know it?
the problem
Set the • What will you do to find
objectives of out?
the research
STEP
Contextualize the Problem
1
Practical research problems
For practical research, focus on the concrete details
of
the situation:
• Where and when does the problem arise?
• What does the problem affect?
• What attempt have been made to solve the
problem?
EXAMPLE OF PRACTICAL RESEARCH
PROBLEMS
Voter turnout in region X has been decreasing steadily
over the past ten years, in contrast to other areas of the
country. According to surveys conducted by organization
Y, turnout is lowest among under-25s and people on low
incomes. There have been some effective attempts at
engaging these groups in other regions, and in the last
two elections parties A and B increased their campaigning
efforts in region X, but these interventions have yet to
have any significant effect on turnout.
Theoretical research problems
For theoretical research, think about 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 literature?
EXAMPLE OF THEORETICAL RESEARCH
PROBLEMS
In the past ten years, the “gig economy” has become an
increasingly important segment of the labor market.
Under-30s are more likely to engage in freelance,
contracted or zero hour work arrangements instead of
traditional full-time jobs. Research on the reasons for and
consequences of this shift has focused on objective
measures of income, working hours and employment
conditions, but there has been little work exploring young
people’s subjective experiences of the gig economy.
The Best Way to
Write a Problem
Statement (Series
2)
STEP
Show why it is important
2
Practical research problems
For practical research: It is directly relevant to a specific
problem that affects and organization, social group, or
society more broadly. To make it clear why your research
problem matters, you should ask these questions:
• What will happen if the problem is not solved?
• Who will feel the consequences?
• Does the problem have wider relevance (i.e. are
similar issues found in other contexts)?
EXAMPLE OF PRACTICAL RESEARCH
PROBLEMS
Low voter turnout has been shown to have negative
associations with social cohesion and civic engagement,
and is becoming an area of increasing concern in many
European democracies. 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 for region X and contribute to
understanding of this widespread phenomenon.
Theoretical research problems
For theoretical research: Theoretical issues have clear
practical consequences, but sometimes their relevance is
less immediately obvious. To identify why the problem
matters, you should ask these questions:
• 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 OF THEORETICAL RESEARCH
PROBLEMS
In the literature on the gig economy, these new forms of
employment are sometimes characterized 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 and precarity in
contemporary employment, as well as potentially
informing future policy objectives.
STEP
Set Aims and Objectives
3
The aim is the overall purpose of your research. It is generally written
in the infinitive form:
The aim of this study is to determine…
This project aims to explore…
I aim to investigate…
The objectives are the concrete steps you will take to achieve the aim:
Qualitative method will be used to identify…
I will use survey to collect…
Using statistical analysis, the research will measure…
The aims and objectives should lead directly to your research
questions.
EXAMPLE OF PRACTICAL RESEARCH AIMS &
OBJECTIVES
The aim of this research is to investigate effective engagement
strategies to increase voter turnout in region X. It will identify the most
significant factors in non-voting through surveys and interviews, and
conduct experiments to measure the effectiveness of different
strategies.
EXAMPLE OF THEORETICAL RESEARCH AIMS &
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 under-30s engaged in
freelance and zero hour 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 Best Way to
Write a Problem
Statement (Series
3)
GETTING STARTED ON A
PROBLEM STATEMENT
Tip 1: Write out your vision.
Be sure to include the benefit of solving the problem.
Take the time to write your vision clearly and concisely.
Tip 2: Write out your issue statement.
Describe the problem and why solving the problem is
important. This two-sentence statement simply describes
the problems that you are encountering and specific
issues related to the problem.
Tip 3: Organize your
method.
Your method that should convey the steps that you will
take in solving the problem.
Tip 4: Use the 5’W’s.
You should incorporated the five ‘W’s, and answer them
completely in your problem statement.
You Should be thinking
About:
Who the problem affects?
What the outcome would be if the problem
was not solved?
Where the problem is taking problem?
When the problem needs to be fixed?
Why is it important for the problem to be fixed?
Examples of questions to be answered:
Is the problem short-term or will it continue into the future?
How many people are affected by this problem?
Would this research revise existing knowledge or practices? If so,
how?
Tips on Writing a Problem
Statement
You should write your own problem statement without conferring.
Compare each of the sentences/looking for common themes and wording.
Start to write an improved statement using the common themes.
Ensure that the statement focuses on existing problems.
You should include the time frame over which the problem has been
occurring.
Try to quantify the problem. If you do not have the data to hand, defer
writing the final problem statement until you have been able to quantify
the problem.
You should be able to apply the 5’W’s (Who, What, Where, When and
Why) to the problem statement.
Review your new problem statement against the following criteria:
It should only focus on only one problem.
It should be one or two sentences long.
It should not suggest a solution.
A problem statement can be refined as you start to further investigate
root cause.
EXAMPLE OF PROBLEM STATEMENT :
The staffing model in the Process Improvement Unit (PIU) has changed
(we have more staff, and some of the staff have different working
patterns) we need to have a clear way of recording status and stage of
our business activities (projects, workshops and training) that will be
used by all PIU staff, so that we can work effectively and provide good
service to our customers. A member of staff is due to go on annual
leave in two weeks time and we have no visibility or way of easily
sharing information about their work, this will make it hard for the rest
of the team to cover the work during staff absence.