How to write a problem statement in 4 minutes with an example

Summary

This video script offers a concise guide on crafting a problem statement, a crucial step in problem-solving across various domains including daily life and business. It emphasizes the importance of identifying the problem, understanding its characteristics, and proposing potential solutions. The script outlines the structure of a problem statement, including the background, a single-sentence problem statement, problem definition, and the magnitude of the issue. It also highlights the need for context, statistics, and ranking problems by severity. An example is provided, focusing on the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among university students, and how a study aims to identify students who would benefit from interventions.

Takeaways

• 🧩 Human advancement has been driven by constant problem-solving from the Ice Age to the Age of Artificial Intelligence.
• 📝 Writing a problem statement is essential for clarifying a problem and identifying a methodology to address it.
• 🕵️‍♂️ Problem statements are useful in daily life for tackling issues like procrastination and punctuality, as well as in business for solving important problems.
• 🏢 A problem statement helps businesses prioritize resources and is a requirement for academic research and grant proposals.
• 📑 The first paragraph of a problem statement should indicate the presence of a problem, describe the phenomenon, and propose a solution.
• 🔍 Problem statements should detail who is affected, where the problem occurs, and the time period of the issue.
• 📈 Providing context and statistics is crucial for illustrating the severity and scope of the problem to the audience.
• 🌟 An example problem statement discusses the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among university students due to various pressures.
• 📚 The problem is defined further by specifying the most affected groups, such as first-year health-related course students at public universities.
• 📊 Studies and statistics, like a 28.9 percent prevalence found by UMED, are used to quantify and rank the problem's severity.
• 🛠️ The script provides an example of a potential solution involving biomedical and behavioral interventions to manage anxiety disorders.

Q & A

What is the significance of problem-solving in human advancement?

Problem-solving has been a driving force behind human advancement from the Ice Age to the Age of Artificial Intelligence, as it allows for the identification and resolution of issues that hinder progress.

What is the first step in problem-solving?

The first step in problem-solving is identifying the problem and its characteristics, including potential solutions, and documenting these in a concise statement known as a problem statement.

Why is writing a problem statement important?

Writing a problem statement is important because it clarifies the problem, helps identify a relevant methodology for addressing it, and is useful in both personal and professional contexts, including academic research and business.

What are the contents of a problem statement?

A problem statement includes a sentence indicating the presence of a problem, details about who is affected, where it is occurring, and when it occurs, as well as a proposed solution or hypothesis.

How does a problem statement help in a business context?

In a business context, a problem statement helps prioritize resources and focus on solving particular problems of importance, which is crucial for the success and growth of the business.

What is the role of a problem statement in academic research?

In academic research, a problem statement is a requirement for research proposals and grant proposals, which are necessary for graduation or applying for project funding.

Can you provide an example of a problem statement from the script?

An example from the script is the problem of generalized anxiety disorder being highly prevalent among university students, particularly affecting first-year students and those doing health-related courses at public universities.

How can statistics be used in a problem statement?

Statistics can be used in a problem statement to illustrate the magnitude or severity of the problem, as seen in the script where a study found a 28.9 percent prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among university students.

What is the purpose of providing context in a problem statement?

Providing context in a problem statement helps to bring the problem closer to the audience by explaining the circumstances surrounding the problem, such as what led to it and what factors increase or decrease its occurrence.

How does the script suggest ranking problems in terms of severity?

The script suggests using additional information to rank problems in terms of severity, such as the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder being highest among young girls from families with low socioeconomic status, low psychosocial support, and a family history of the disorder.

What is the proposed solution in the example problem statement from the script?

The proposed solution in the example is that generalized anxiety disorder can be managed with biomedical and behavioral interventions such as anxiolytics and cognitive behavior therapy.

How does the script's example study aim to address the problem?

The study aims to answer the question of whether students most in need of interventions for generalized anxiety disorder can easily be identified, which ties into the proposed solution of managing the disorder with appropriate interventions.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Introduction to Problem Solving and Problem Statement

The video script begins with an overview of human advancement, highlighting the importance of problem-solving from the Ice Age to the present age of artificial intelligence. It emphasizes the first step in problem-solving, which is identifying the problem and its characteristics, including potential solutions. The script introduces the concept of a problem statement, a concise statement that clarifies a problem and helps identify a relevant methodology for addressing it. This is crucial for both everyday life problems like procrastination and punctuality, as well as for business and academic research proposals. The video promises to teach viewers how to write a problem statement in under four minutes.

📝 Components of a Problem Statement

This section of the script delves into the specific components of a problem statement. It explains that the first paragraph should include a sentence indicating the presence of a problem, which could describe a phenomenon, injury, death, falling attendance, or a change in habit. It also mentions that a problem statement should provide details about who is affected, where the problem is occurring, and the time period of the issue. Additionally, it should propose a solution, which could be a business idea, research question, or research hypothesis. The script advises providing context and statistics to make the problem relatable and significant to the audience.

👨‍🎓 Example of a Problem Statement: University Students' Mental Health

The script provides an example of a problem statement related to the mental health of university students. It outlines the background, stating that attending university can be stressful due to various pressures and expectations, which can affect students' mental health. The problem is then stated in one sentence, highlighting the prevalence of generalized anxiety disorder among university students. The problem is further defined by specifying the affected group—first-year students and those in health-related courses at public universities. The script also presents statistics from a study to illustrate the magnitude of the problem, showing a prevalence of 28.9 percent among university students. It discusses the ranking of problems based on severity and consequences, such as substance abuse and poor performance, and suggests that the study aims to identify students most in need of interventions like anxiolytics and cognitive behavior therapy.

Keywords

💡Problem Solving

Problem solving is a cognitive process used to find solutions to various challenges or difficulties. In the context of the video, it is presented as a fundamental aspect of human advancement from the Ice Age to the Age of Artificial Intelligence. The video emphasizes that the first step in problem solving is identifying the problem, which sets the stage for the entire process. This concept is central to the video's theme, as it discusses how to write a problem statement, a crucial tool in problem solving.

💡Problem Statement

A problem statement is a concise and clear description of an issue that needs to be addressed. It is a critical component in academic research, business planning, and everyday decision-making. The video focuses on teaching viewers how to write an effective problem statement in a short amount of time. The script provides a structured approach, starting with identifying a problem and moving towards proposing a solution, as seen in the example of university students facing mental health issues.

💡Academic Research

Academic research refers to the systematic investigation and study of materials and sources to establish facts and reach new conclusions. The video mentions that a problem statement is a requirement for academic research proposals, which are essential for students who wish to graduate or apply for funding for a project. This highlights the practical application of problem statements in the academic world and their importance in facilitating scholarly pursuits.

💡Generalized Anxiety Disorder

Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD) is a common mental health condition characterized by excessive, uncontrollable worry about various aspects of life. In the video, GAD is used as an example to illustrate how a problem statement can define and contextualize a specific issue. The script mentions that GAD is highly prevalent among university students, which is a key point in the problem statement being discussed.

💡Mental Health

Mental health refers to a person's emotional, psychological, and social well-being. It affects how individuals think, feel, and act, and also determines how they handle stress, relate to others, and make choices. The video uses mental health as a central theme, particularly focusing on the challenges faced by university students and how these can impact their well-being, as evidenced by the prevalence of GAD mentioned in the script.

💡University Students

University students represent a specific demographic that the video uses to illustrate the application of a problem statement. The script discusses the various pressures faced by university students, such as academic pressure, peer pressure, and social expectations, which can affect their mental health. This group is used as an example to define the scope of the problem being addressed in the problem statement.

💡Prevalence

Prevalence in a medical or psychological context refers to the proportion of a particular population found to be affected by a medical condition at a given time. The video script cites a study that found a 28.9 percent prevalence of GAD among university students, using this statistic to highlight the magnitude of the problem and to provide empirical evidence supporting the need for a problem statement.

💡Biomedical Interventions

Biomedical interventions encompass a range of treatments that are based on the application of medical science and technology. In the video, biomedical interventions are mentioned as potential solutions for managing GAD among university students. This includes the use of anxiolytics, which are medications used to treat anxiety disorders, illustrating a practical approach to addressing the problem identified.

💡Cognitive Behavior Therapy

Cognitive Behavior Therapy (CBT) is a type of psychological treatment that helps patients understand and change thought patterns that lead to harmful actions or feelings. The video presents CBT as a behavioral intervention that can be used alongside biomedical interventions to manage GAD in university students. This demonstrates a multifaceted approach to problem-solving in the context of mental health.

💡Research Hypothesis

A research hypothesis is a proposed explanation or prediction made as a starting point for further investigation. In the video, the script suggests that the ability to easily identify students most in need of interventions for GAD is a question that the study aims to answer. This represents the research hypothesis, which is a key element of the problem statement and guides the direction of academic research.

Highlights

Human advancement from the Ice Age to the age of artificial intelligence has been a result of constant problem-solving.

The first step of problem-solving is identifying the problem and its characteristics.

Writing a problem statement in a concise manner helps clarify a problem and identify a relevant methodology.

Problem-solving is useful in daily life for tackling issues like procrastination and punctuality.

In business, the best companies are those that solve significant problems.

A problem statement is essential for academic research proposals and grant proposals.

The first paragraph of a problem statement should indicate the presence of a problem.

Problem statements describe a phenomenon, injury, death, or a change in a particular habit.

Details in a problem statement include who is affected, where, and when the problem occurs.

A problem statement also proposes a solution, such as a business idea or a research hypothesis.

Providing context and statistics is crucial to bring a problem close to the audience.

An example problem statement discusses the stress university students face and its impact on mental health.

Generalized anxiety disorder is highly prevalent among university students.

First-year students and those in health-related courses at public universities are most affected.

A study found a 28.9 percent prevalence of mental health issues among university students.

Problems can be ranked in terms of severity using statistics.

Consequences of not addressing problems, such as substance abuse and poor performance, can be compared.

An example solution involves biomedical and behavioral interventions for managing anxiety.

The study aims to answer how students most in need of interventions can be easily identified.

Transcripts

human advancement from the ice age to

the age of artificial intelligence has

been as a result of constant problem

solving

the first step of problem solving is

identifying the problem and its

characteristics including potential

solutions documenting these in a concise

statement also referred to as a problem

statement in today's video we are going

to learn how to write a problem

statement in under four minutes

writing a problem statement clarifies a

problem and helps you identify a

relevant methodology for addressing the

problem this is useful in our day-to-day

lives as we tackle problems such as

procrastination

punctuality issues or in business since

the best businesses are those that are

solving particular problems of

importance a problem statement also

helps a business to prioritize its

resources most importantly though a

problem statement is a requirement for

academic research proposals and grant

proposals these are necessary if one

wishes to graduate or apply for funding

for a project

so let's look at the contents of a

problem statement

the first paragraph of a problem

statement should contain a sentence

indicating the presence of a problem

such statements typically describe a

phenomenon injurising matano death or

falling opd attendance or a change in a

particular habit

a problem statement also contains

details to the problems in terms of who

is affected where the problem is

occurring and the period in which it

occurs

a problem statement also proposes a

solution to the problem this is usually

a business idea or a research question a

research

hypothesis

okay

in order to bring your problem close to

your audience you may need to provide

some context in terms of the

circumstances surrounding their problem

e.g what led to the problem what

increases or decreases their problem you

also need to provide some statistics

that show how bad the problem is

let's read an example of a problem

statement

and you get an idea of what we've just

talked about

so let's look at a background of a

problem an example attending university

can be a stressful time for many

students as students cope with academic

pressure peer pressure social

expectations separation and

individuation from their family of

origin these challenges can affect the

mental health and well-being of

university students next let's look at a

problem stated in one sentence

no wonder generalized anxiety disorder

one of the commonest mental health

disorders is highly prevalent among

university students

now let's look at the problem defined

using the

person place and time

first year students and students doing

health related courses at public

universities are the most affected

now let's look at some information

indicating the presence of our problem

this can also be known as the magnitude

a study by umed al found a prevalence of

28.9 percent among university students

if you have several problems this can

also be used to rank the problems in

terms of severity

so let's look at some

information ranking problems so god is

highest among young girls from families

with low socioeconomic status

low psychosocial support and family

history of generalized anxiety disorder

let's look at some more information

ranking a problem this may be

consequences

if you have different problems you can

compare the consequences so guy defined

check leads to substance abuse and poor

performance

okay

now let's look at an example of a

solution

guide can be managed with biomedical and

behavioral interventions such as

anxiolytics and cognitive behavior

therapy so how does our study tie into

the solution

okay so whether students most in need of

these interventions can easily be

identified remains a question that this

study aims to answer

and that is it