What is a

Problem
Statement?
AR. AM RUTH D. DELANTO
What is a
Problem
Statement?
A problem statement is a clear and concise description of
an issue or challenge that needs to be addressed. It
typically outlines the existing gap between the current
state (what currently is) and the desired state (what
should be). Crafting a well-defined problem statement is
critical for problem-solving, research, or project planning,
as it serves as a guidepost and sets the direction for the
subsequent steps.
Research Problem
and Research
Method – A
Cyclical Process
The type of research strategy used in research determines whether
you will be analysing theoretical problems to add value to existing
knowledge, discussing practical issues to become an agent of change
for an organisation or industry or looking at both aspects in relation to
any given problem.
However, the kind of problem you aim to tackle with your research, to
begin with, will also help you narrow down which research design,
method or strategy to opt for.
This is therefore a cyclical process. Your research aim guides your
research design can help you focus on a specific kind of research
gap/problem.
However, generally, your research will focus on one or the other.
Here is all you need to know about how to write a statement of the
problem in research, also called problem statement by some research
writers.
Writing Problem Statement
for Academic Research
On the other hand, the use of problem
statements in academic research is slightly
different. A problem statement helps
researchers to understand and realise the
significance of a research problem. It can be
limited to just a few sentences or expanded
to several paragraphs, depending on your
academic level.
Problem
Statement –
How to Write it
Ask yourself the following questions before writing the
problem statement:
1. What is wrong in the research area/subarea XYZ?
2. Where did it happen?
3. When did it happen?
4. To what extent (how much)?
5. I know that because…(evidence)
‘What’ always defines the defect of the problem at hand and
explains why it matters? ‘Where’ defines the geological
location of the problem. ‘When’ defines the history and the
pattern of the problem, the goal of the stated problem and the
scope of research.
‘How much’ defines the trend of the problem as to how many
objects are facing the same defect and to what extent. The
last part, ‘I know this because…’, will help the researcher
identify the standard(s) that he must meet.
Problem Statement – How to Write it
Theoretical Research Problem Statement
According to USC Libraries, “A theoretical framework consists
of concepts and, together with their definitions and reference
to relevant scholarly literature, existing theory that is used for
your particular study…theoretical framework must
demonstrate an understanding of theories and concepts…
relevant to the topic of your research paper and that relate to
the broader areas of knowledge being considered.”
The theoretical research indirectly contributes to the change
by identifying the problem, expanding knowledge and
improving understanding. The researcher can find a specific
problem by brainstorming the topic and reviewing already
published theories and research.
When writing a problem statement based on a theoretical
research problem, it is important to recognise the historical,
geographical, social and scientific background. Here are the
elements of the theoretical problem statement framework that
you should consider:
What are the facts about the problem?
Does the problem relate to a certain geographical area or
time period?
How is the problem discussed and explained in the existing
literature?
Example of Theoretical Research
Problem Statement
The production of a company is low for July and August every
year. Initial research has been conducted by the company,
which revealed poor production in July and August is due to
the unavailability of local raw material. The company has made
some effective attempts to engage the local suppliers to
ensure an uninterrupted raw material supply. Still, these
efforts are yet to have any significant impact on the
production levels.
Problem Statement – How to Write it
Step 2 – Show why it’s Important and Relevant
By discussing the importance of the problem under investigation, you are
demonstrating the relevance of your research. However, this does not mean that
you will end up discovering something unimaginable or extraordinary.
The objective here is to clearly state how and why your research problem is
relevant in your chosen area of study and why it requires further research.
Practical Research Problem Statement
As indicated previously, practical research deals with a problem affecting society,
social group, firm or organisation on a broader scale. To elaborate on why it is
important to solve this problem and why your research is significant, you could
consider the following questions:
What will be the consequences if the problem remains unsolved?
Who do these consequences have the most implications for?
What is the wider relevance of the problem being investigated?
Problem Statement – How to Write it
Step 2 – Show why it’s Important and Relevant
By discussing the importance of the problem under investigation, you are
demonstrating the relevance of your research. However, this does not mean that
you will end up discovering something unimaginable or extraordinary.
The objective here is to clearly state how and why your research problem is
relevant in your chosen area of study and why it requires further research.
Practical Research Problem Statement
As indicated previously, practical research deals with a problem affecting society,
social group, firm or organisation on a broader scale. To elaborate on why it is
important to solve this problem and why your research is significant, you could
consider the following questions:
What will be the consequences if the problem remains unsolved?
Who do these consequences have the most implications for?
What is the wider relevance of the problem being investigated?
Example of Practical Research
Problem Statement
Low production in July and August negatively affects the company’s marketing
capital, thereby becoming an area of deep concern for the directors and
stakeholders. The marketing budget cut in July and August is hindering its ability to
promote its products uninterruptedly.
Addressing this problem will have practical benefits for the company and help
establish the reasons for disruption in raw material supply.
Step 3 – Declaring the Problem
Before you jump on to state your research’s problem statements, it’s important to
devote a sentence or two to let your readers know the precise, narrowed-down
research problem you will be discussing about.
For language clarity purposes, here are some strong opening statements to achieve
this step:
Recently, there has been growing interest in …
The possibility of…has generated wide interest in …
The development of…is a classic problem in…
The development of…has led to the hope that …
The…has become a favourite topic for analysis …
Knowledge of…has great importance for …
The study of…has become an important aspect of …
A central issue in…is…
The…has been extensively studied in recent years.
Many investigators have recently turned to …
The relationship between…has been investigated by many researchers.
Many recent studies have found out…
Step 4 – Establishing Aim and
Objectives
The last step in writing a problem statement is to provide a framework for solving
the problem. This will help you, the researcher, stay focused on your research aims
and not stray; it will also help you readers keep in mind the reason as to why you
conducted this study, to begin with.
A good problem statement does not provide the exact solution to any problem.
Rather, it focuses more on how to effectively understand or tackle a problem by
establishing the possible causes.
The aim of a research study is its end goal or overall purpose. Following are some
examples of how you can craft your research aim statements:
This research study aims to investigate…
This paper is aimed at exploring…
This research aims to identify…
Practical Research Aim and Objectives
This project aims to identify the causes of disturbed supply of raw material in the region, which resulted
in low production for the company in July and August. This will be achieved by conducting interviews and
surveys with the suppliers to understand why the supply is unpredictable in those two months and what
can be done to ensure orderliness. Practical experiments will also be conducted to observe the
effectiveness of proposed solutions.

Theoretical Research Aim and

Objectives
This study aims to understand and unearth the experiences of fresh graduates in the modern economy.
The sample population will participate in this study through qualitative research methods, which are
expected to provide a deeper insight into the perceptions and motives of these fresh graduates working
as freelancers and contract-based employees. The data collected from this exercise and the existing
literature on the topic will be analysed in statistical analysis software.
Thank you
very much!
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