You are a researcher who is full of ideas and questions. You have owned this position as you are good at coming up with interesting questions within your area. But there is a problem. You are clueless about where to spend the time, energy, and money. Which ideas, questions, and problems are worthy?

Here, you need the ability to state a good research problem. What is a research problem? It addresses the existing gaps in knowledge in your field of interest and paves the way for further investigation. To state a clear and useful problem statement, you must have a question and its consequences in your mind.

Defining the research problem is essential when you conduct research. This blog will guide you through the process of writing a statement of the problem for your next research proposal.

Guideline for writing a problem statement for the next research  

When you add the statement of the research problem, several key factors must be considered to make the statement clear, concise, relevant, and convincing for the readers.

Add the background of your study

When you add the research problem in context, this provides the reader with the background information they need to understand why you want to study and solve the particular stated problem and its relevance. If your search has reached this part, where there have been earlier attempts at solving the problem or solutions are available but are imperfect and need improvement, you should add this information here.

If you are writing a research paper for applied research, the problem statement should tell the readers where a certain problem arose and who is affected by it. In basic or theoretical research, you can review the relevant literature on the topic that forms the basis for the current work and tell the readers where your study will fit in and what gap is being addressed in the existing knowledge.

Establish the relevance of this research

The problem statement should tell its readers why the current research matters or what the future of the material you are writing will be. Question yourself, what will happen if the problem continues, and who will feel the most consequences? If the solution you searched for and proposed in your study has a wider relevance outside the context of the subject, then this also needs to be added.

In basic research, the advancement of knowledge is not always clear and has practical consequences. It is essential that you clearly explain to your readers how the insights of your study will fit in the bigger picture and how the potential future research could inspire. 

Explain specific aims and objectives

Now when your readers are aware of the context of your research and why it matters, introduce the design and the methods you have used or are planning to use shortly. When you are adding this, you should also formulate your precise aims more clearly, thereby bringing every element in your paper together. This will help the readers to judge themselves if they understand the rationale behind your stated study and if your approach convinces them.

This last part can be considered the actual statement of the problem of your research, but you must prepare the readers by providing all the necessary details before you begin explicitly. For instance, if the background literature you cited is too broad and the problem you introduced earlier, may seem a bit vague. The readers will face trouble understanding how to overcome the specific experiments you have suddenly described. Make sure that your readers can follow the logical structure of the presentation and that no important details are left out.

When to write a problem statement?

The research problem statement should be written at the beginning of the research process, before you begin the data collection or analyzing it. This is because the statement sets the foundation for the entire research project by clearly defining the problem that you are trying to address.

When this statement is written, it acts as guidance for the research design and methodology, making sure that the research is focused on addressing the specific problem. It also helps in ensuring that the research is relevant and addresses the gap in current knowledge or understanding.

Moreover, a well-written problem statement effectively communicates the purpose and significance of the research to potential funders, collaborators, and other stakeholders. It also helps in generating interest and support for the research project. Additionally, during the research process, the statement can be refined or updated when new information is discovered or as the research progresses. This is something normal. It is a good idea to revise the statement as needed, making sure it is still clear and concise and accurately reflecting the current focus of the research project.

FAQs

What is a statement of problem in the research?

A problem statement is a concise and concrete summary of the research problem that a researcher is seeking to address. It should contextualize the problem, describe the exact issue your research will address, show the relevance of the problem, and set the objectives. 

How lengthy should the statement of the problem be in the research?

This statement should not be too lengthy. The researcher should be able to complete his point in one page.

What is the characteristic of a good problem statement?

A good statement should not need to be complicated. They should be simple and direct. Researchers should be able to describe the problem without leaving any ambiguity about what will happen next.

How do we generate the questions to ask for research?

All the questions should focus on a single problem or issue. Collect data by using primary and secondary sources with specific and enough knowledge to answer them thoroughly. All these questions should be relevant to the field of study. 

The final thoughts

Defining and writing a clear statement of a problem is the basic and most important step of any research. The tips in this blog will help you to identify the purpose of the research you are developing.

Remember! A clear research problem statement is like the skeleton of the introduction of your final article. If you can direct your readers to an important and interesting question, they will read through your research and use and cite it in their writing in the future.