How to Write a Research Problem Statement
Summary
TLDRThe video script emphasizes the importance of the problem statement in a dissertation proposal, likening it to a 'true north' guiding the research journey. It clarifies that a problem statement is distinct from a mere question or interest, requiring specificity and relevance to a theoretical or practical issue. The script outlines the three key components of a problem statement: context, knowledge gap, and significance. It advises researchers to use an early draft of the problem statement as a guide during literature review and to continually refine it as they gain deeper insights into their topic. The ultimate goal is to develop a compelling argument that justifies the necessity of the research.
Takeaways
- 🧭 The problem statement is the 'true north' of a dissertation proposal, guiding the entire research process.
- 🔍 It is typically the first section written and serves as a clear identification of the problem to be investigated.
- 🤔 A research problem is distinguished from a mere question or interest by being well-defined, specific, and outlining an issue that needs addressing.
- 📚 The problem statement is situated within the introductory chapter and is crucial for guiding the literature search and proposal writing.
- 🏢 The context component of the problem statement describes the current situation and what is wrong or needs changing.
- 🔍 The knowledge gap is defined by the context and significance, setting the boundaries for the study and preventing it from straying off-topic.
- 📈 The significance of the problem should convey a sense of urgency and importance, often supported by statistics to highlight the scope and consequences.
- 📝 The initial draft of the problem statement is a working tool for the researcher, meant to guide literature review and does not need to be perfect.
- 🔄 The problem statement should evolve as the researcher learns more about the topic, with continuous reading and refinement.
- 🧐 It's important to refer back to the problem statement when stuck to ensure that all research activities are clearly related to the problem at hand.
- 💡 As the literature review is developed, the researcher accumulates knowledge, bringing them closer to becoming an expert on the topic.
Q & A
Why is the problem statement considered the 'true north' of a dissertation proposal?
-The problem statement is the 'true north' of a dissertation proposal because it serves as a compass guiding the entire research process, from literature search to the writing of the proposal.
In what chapter of the dissertation is the problem statement typically located?
-The problem statement is typically located within the introductory chapter of the dissertation.
What is the primary role of the problem statement in a research proposal?
-The primary role of the problem statement is to clearly identify the problem the researcher intends to investigate and to outline an issue that needs to be addressed or changed.
Why is it important to articulate the problem statement effectively?
-Articulating the problem statement effectively is important because it helps the reader understand and care about the research, and it guides the researcher in their investigation and contribution to solving the problem or expanding knowledge.
What are the three components of a problem statement?
-The three components of a problem statement are context, knowledge gap, and significance.
What does the context component of the problem statement communicate?
-The context component communicates the current situation and what is wrong with it or what needs to change, focusing on the present rather than detailing the history.
How is the knowledge gap in a problem statement framed?
-The knowledge gap is framed by the context and significance, which sets the terms of the study and helps to keep the research focused and on track.
What is the purpose of stating the significance of the problem in the problem statement?
-The purpose of stating the significance of the problem is to convey a sense of urgency to the reader, making them care about the research and understand the scope and consequences of the issue being studied.
Why is it suggested to keep the initial draft of the problem statement for personal use only?
-The initial draft of the problem statement is suggested for personal use only because it is meant to guide the researcher during the literature search and development of the literature review, and it does not need to be perfect at this stage.
How should a researcher use the problem statement as they progress through their research?
-A researcher should use the problem statement as a reference point, reading and re-reading it to keep their research focused, and allowing it to evolve as they learn more about their topic.
What is the relationship between the problem-posing mentality and a researcher's identity?
-The problem-posing mentality is a cornerstone of a researcher's identity because it involves formulating questions, learning, discovering errors, and contributing to solving relevant problems, which are all integral to the research process.
How will the lessons following the script help in developing a problem statement?
-The lessons will guide the researcher through the process of developing an early draft of the problem statement, revising it as they learn more about their topic, and thinking through each component to ensure a well-reasoned and credible argument for the need of their study.
Outlines
📚 The Importance of the Problem Statement
The paragraph emphasizes the significance of the problem statement in a dissertation proposal. It is described as the 'true north', guiding the researcher through literature search and proposal writing. The problem statement is a well-defined, specific issue that is theoretical or practical, indicating something that is wrong or needs to be changed. It is situated in the introductory chapter and is the first section to identify the research problem. The paragraph also explains that a research problem is not merely a question or interest but an issue that the research aims to solve or knowledge to expand. The importance of articulating the problem to engage the reader is highlighted.
Mindmap
Keywords
💡Problem Statement
💡Research Problem
💡Context
💡Knowledge Gap
💡Significance
💡Literature Search
💡Literature Review
💡Theoretical
💡Practical
💡Scholarly Discourse
💡Researcher's Identity
Highlights
The problem statement is the 'true north' of a dissertation proposal, guiding the entire research process.
It is crucial to start with the problem statement as it sets the direction for literature search and proposal writing.
The problem statement is typically found in the introductory chapter and is the first section to identify the research problem.
A research problem is distinct from a question or interest; it is well-defined, specific, and outlines an issue requiring change or solution.
The research aims to solve the problem or expand knowledge, necessitating a clear articulation of the problem statement.
The problem statement consists of three components: context, knowledge gap, and significance.
Context provides the current situation and what is wrong or needs changing.
Knowledge gap is framed by the context and significance, defining the study's scope and preventing deviation.
Significance conveys a sense of urgency and importance, making the reader care about the research.
An early draft of the problem statement guides literature search and development of the literature review.
The problem statement should be revisited and revised as new information is learned and analyzed.
Reading the problem statement repeatedly helps in keeping the research focused and evolving with new insights.
By the time of writing the literature review, one should have a wealth of information and be closer to becoming an expert on the topic.
The problem-posing mentality is fundamental to a researcher's identity, involving positing, learning, and correcting for solving relevant problems.
The lessons will guide the development of an early draft of the problem statement to focus literature search and writing.
Revising the problem statement is an iterative process that occurs as more is learned about the research topic.
Understanding and articulating the three components of the problem statement is key to presenting a credible argument for the study's necessity.
Transcripts
[Music]
as a chair
committee member or coach when i receive
a dissertation proposal
the first thing i read is the problem
statement
now why is that out of all the important
information
writers are giving me why start here the
answer
is that the problem statement is the
true north of your proposal
you will use it as a compass to guide
your search of the literature
and writing of the proposal
the problem statement is situated within
the introductory chapter
it is often the first section of writing
that clearly identifies
the problem you intend to investigate
and this section of writing is so
important i want to take just a moment
to help you conceptualize
what a research problem actually is
quite often as researchers we have
burning questions
and we want answers our curiosity is a
wondrous gift
but a question is not a problem
a research interest is not a problem
a research problem is well-defined
specific
theoretical or practical in nature
and it outlines an issue something
that's wrong or needs to change
ultimately your research is meant to
contribute in solving the problem or
expanding knowledge in some way
so it's important to articulate the
problem in ways that help your reader
understand and care about it enter
the problem statement there are three
components to the problem statement
the context knowledge gap and
significance
the context tells me what the current
situation is
and what's wrong with the current
situation or what needs to change
this isn't where you go into detail all
about how we got here
your focus is on the here and now what
is the situation
today next is the knowledge gap
the knowledge gap is framed by the
context and significance
this frame sets the terms of your study
so you don't go astray
in order to write the knowledge gap you
need to be well versed in the scholarly
discourse on your topic
but you also need a starting point so
develop a knowledge gap statement now
and go back and revise it as you read
and analyze articles on your topic
finally you need to state the
significance of the problem
this portion of the problem statement
should give me a sense of urgency
so i care about your research this is
where some heavy hitting statistics can
really come in handy
to tell the reader about the scope of
the problem and its consequences
this early draft of the problem
statement is meant to guide you
as you search the literature and develop
your lit review
and it's for your eyes only so there's
no need to make it perfect right now
use it to focus your efforts keep your
problem statement handy so you can
access
it at any time read it before you sit
down to write
or search the literature read read read
the problem statement
again and again and allow it to evolve
as you learn more about your topic
and refer back to it if you're stuck and
ask yourself
is what i'm about to do clearly related
to my research problem
in some way and importantly layer in new
information
as you learn about your topic by the
time you write your
literature review you will have an
arsenal of information at your
fingertips
you will be that much closer to becoming
an expert on your topic
this problem-posing mentality is a
cornerstone of a researcher's identity
we posit we learn we found out where we
were wrong
and right all in service of solving
relevant problems in the world
in the lessons that follow we will guide
you through the process of developing an
early draft of your problem statement
to help you focus your search of the
literature and writing of the lit review
we'll help you go back and revise that
problem statement as you learn
more about your research topic we'll
help you think through
each of these three components of the
problem statement so you can feel
confident
that you're putting forth a
well-reasoned credible argument
that demonstrates the need for your
study let's do this
you
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