Are you going to start your research for your bachelor's, master's, PhD or post-doctorate degree? Then you should create a problem statement before you set to work. You may know what it is or have created one if you are already a researcher. However, you will need to learn how to write a statement of the problem if you are a first-time researcher.
In any case, our assignment writing service experts have created a full guide on the subject with examples.
But before we start, let us shed some light on what a problem statement is. Well, it is a succinct and solid recap of the issue you wish to resolve in your study. It should first contextualise the issue, which means the information we already have. Then it should explain the problem your study will focus on and the questions that haven't been answered yet.
A problem statement should also demonstrate the pertinence of the issue and the reasons why we should work on this challenge. Finally, it must also encompass the objectives of the research and the means with which you are going to reach them.
We have divided the whole process of writing a problem statement into three steps. So now we will describe them individually with examples.
The following are the steps that you need to follow in order to write your problem statement.
Your problem statement should formulate the issue that you aim to address in your research and provide some context on the existing research.
You should concentrate on the solid information regarding the circumstance for practical research, such as
In the span of the last academic year, university canteens in ABC University have been disposing of an average of 200 kilograms of uneaten food per day. This is not only costly in terms of operation, but it also adds to the environmental waste. Despite the introduction of awareness campaigns, the level of food waste remains the same. The need to find effective interventions, i.e., portion control, menu planning, and behavioural nudges, to reduce food wastage in university dining halls remains.
Identify a historical, scientific, geographical or social context for your theoretical research.
Despite the existence of earlier studies that determined that student motivation determines the outcome of learning, little is known about the interaction between the different kinds of motivation — intrinsic and extrinsic motivation — and the cognitive load in determining the outcome of the performance of the students. The existing motivation studies in educational psychology fail to explain this interaction. Theoretical understanding of the role of motivational factors in influencing learning in a digital learning setup requires further theoretical investigation in order to come up with a more detailed framework.
You should write a problem statement that also focuses on the relatability of your study. Ask yourself this. Why does addressing this challenge matter?
Having said that, remember that your research problem doesn't have to be something that revolutionises your industry or changes the world. You just have to make sure that your problem can be researched, possible and clearly focuses on a pertinent challenge in your domain.
Practical study correlates to a particular issue that impacts a company, entity, community or society in a general sense. The following are some of the questions that you need to consider to clarify why your research problem is significant.
Since the adoption of remote work, XYZ Tech has experienced a decrease in teamwork and an increase in project delays. The existing digital tools appear to help complete tasks and not for sharing ideas on the spur of the moment or working in a team.
The significance of solving this problem is that ineffective teamwork may decrease the innovative power, demotivate employees, and influence the general efficiency. The knowledge of how to reinforce virtual teamwork can guide businesses to build more effective hybrid work settings.
Theoretical problems can have straightforward pragmatic repercussions, however their pertinence can be less instantly evident. Try asking these questions to recognise the importance of the issue.
Although there is existing knowledge related to motivation influencing the results of learning, there is little information regarding the interactions of intrinsic and extrinsic motivation and cognitive load in online learning conditions. This relationship is also worth exploring since it would enhance our theoretical knowledge on the effects of motivation in the learning processes, thus showing teachers how to model digital learning more effectively.
The last step in writing your problem statement is to add the ways in which you plan to acknowledge and solve the challenge. Your objective is not to come up with a final solution but instead to present more efficient methods for handling or comprehending it.
The study’s objective is the full aim of your research. Most researchers write it in the infinitive form.
The study’s goals are the solid steps you will take to accomplish the target. You will write it as:
Even though emotional intelligence (EI) has been associated with leadership effectiveness, it is not clear how the relationship works. The available theories fail to explain comprehensively how EI relates to the process of making decisions and to team dynamics.
To come up with a theoretical framework that describes the correlation between emotional intelligence and leadership effectiveness.
The digital payment system is not always available to small business shops in the city because of a lack of technical expertise and high transaction rates. This restricts their competitive ability and access to customers in a gradually becoming cashless economy.
To identify the barriers preventing small retailers from adopting digital payment systems.
The following is an example of a problem statement that initially gives a background of the challenge or problem being addressed, then addresses the significance of this problem and proceeds to give the goals and objectives of the research that is intended to address this problem.
The consumption of news via social media has been growing fast in the past few years, particularly among young adults. Nevertheless, false news and prejudiced information on these websites have questioned the capability of users to assess the credibility of news.
This is a serious matter since the distribution of false information may influence the opinion of the population, democratic procedures, and the lack of confidence in the lawful sources of news. It is important to understand how young people evaluate online information to encourage the media to be consumed responsibly.
To investigate the extent to which young adults trust news circulated on social media platforms.
| Domain | Problem Statement |
|---|---|
| Education | Although more high school students in rural regions are now investing in digital learning, there are still many students who are performing worse than the rest of the country in the subjects of STEM. The lack of access to the internet and the absence of training of the teachers are the barriers to the successful integration of the technology in the classroom. |
| Business / Marketing | The level of customer interactions on the social media sites of ABC Company has declined by 35% over the last year. The company has no specific digital content strategy, which means that the branding is not consistent, and the interaction with the audience is limited. |
| Healthcare | City Hospital has a lot of waiting time in the outpatient department, with an average of 2.5 hours per visit. Poor patient satisfaction and overcrowding are caused by ineffective scheduling of appointments and an insufficiency of staff. |
| Environmental Studies | Poor waste management and low recycling rates have also led to an increase in plastic waste in coastal areas by 40 per cent over the past five years. This pollution threatens marine ecosystems and local tourism industries. |
| Information Technology | The existing learning management system used in the university is also prone to collapsing at the time when it is most needed, thus interfering with online sessions and the grading of assignments. The old architecture of the system is not able to meet the greater user demand. |
| Psychology / Social Sciences | Social media has increased anxiety and depression in teens despite the fact that it is associated with connectivity. The processes that describe this relationship are not well comprehended. |
| Engineering | The current battery storage solutions for renewable energy are not very efficient and have low life cycles. The renewable energy sources need to be made more reliable by improving their energy storage capacity. |
| Public Policy | The use of electric vehicles is low despite the government subsidies. The most important obstacles to sustainable transportation are the absence of charging infrastructure and people having a limited understanding of sustainable transport. |
| Economics | The results of income inequality within urban areas has increased within the last ten years despite the general economic growth. This disparity is caused by unequal opportunities in education and employment. |
| Media & Communication | The emergence of information-driven news feeds has changed the way the audience takes information. It is feared that this kind of algorithm will result in an echo chamber, which does not expose people to different opinions. |
You can write a superb problem statement that will act as a road map for your research if you create one following all of the above-mentioned steps. A good problem statement is immensely helpful as it explains and lays out the problems in question, which can drive your research team into action.
We know that problem statements also depend on other elements like the complexity and extent of the challenge, but great statements usually talk about the main cause of the problem by objectively explaining it in a super extensive manner.
Dissertation writing services often assist students in writing problem statements. If you choose to seek help from one, make sure you explain all aspects of your research problem to them so that they can create a good statement for you.
