Why is it important to clearly state the problem

Dean of the College. Brown University; Ellis, Timothy J. Writing Center. University of Wisconsin, Madison; Thesis Statements. Purdue University; Selwyn, Neil. Types and Content. There are four general conceptualizations of a research problem in the social sciences:.

A problem statement in the social sciences should contain :. NOTE : A statement describing the research problem of your paper should not be viewed as a thesis statement that you may be familiar with from high school. Given the content listed above, a description of the research problem is usually a short paragraph in length. Sources of Problems for Investigation.

The identification of a problem to study can be challenging, not because there's a lack of issues that could be investigated, but due to the challenge of formulating an academically relevant and researchable problem which is unique and does not simply duplicate the work of others. To facilitate how you might select a problem from which to build a research study, consider these sources of inspiration:.

Deductions from Theory This relates to deductions made from social philosophy or generalizations embodied in life and in society that the researcher is familiar with. These deductions from human behavior are then placed within an empirical frame of reference through research. From a theory, the researcher can formulate a research problem or hypothesis stating the expected findings in certain empirical situations. Interdisciplinary Perspectives Identifying a problem that forms the basis for a research study can come from academic movements and scholarship originating in disciplines outside of your primary area of study.

This can be an intellectually stimulating exercise. A review of pertinent literature should include examining research from related disciplines that can reveal new avenues of exploration and analysis.

An interdisciplinary approach to selecting a research problem offers an opportunity to construct a more comprehensive understanding of a very complex issue that any single discipline may be able to provide. Interviewing Practitioners The identification of research problems about particular topics can arise from formal interviews or informal discussions with practitioners who provide insight into new directions for future research and how to make research findings more relevant to practice.

Discussions with experts in the field, such as, teachers, social workers, health care providers, lawyers, business leaders, etc. This approach also provides some practical knowledge which may help in the process of designing and conducting your study. Personal Experience Don't undervalue your everyday experiences or encounters as worthwhile problems for investigation.

This can be derived, for example, from deliberate observations of certain relationships for which there is no clear explanation or witnessing an event that appears harmful to a person or group or that is out of the ordinary. Relevant Literature The selection of a research problem can be derived from a thorough review of pertinent research associated with your overall area of interest.

This may reveal where gaps exist in understanding a topic or where an issue has been understudied. Research may be conducted to: 1 fill such gaps in knowledge; 2 evaluate if the methodologies employed in prior studies can be adapted to solve other problems; or, 3 determine if a similar study could be conducted in a different subject area or applied in a different context or to different study sample [i.

Also, authors frequently conclude their studies by noting implications for further research; read the conclusion of pertinent studies because statements about further research can be a valuable source for identifying new problems to investigate. The fact that a researcher has identified a topic worthy of further exploration validates the fact it is worth pursuing. What Makes a Good Research Statement?

A good problem statement begins by introducing the broad area in which your research is centered, gradually leading the reader to the more specific issues you are investigating. The statement need not be lengthy, but a good research problem should incorporate the following features:.

Compelling Topic The problem chosen should be one that motivates you to address it but simple curiosity is not a good enough reason to pursue a research study because this does not indicate significance.

Supports Multiple Perspectives The problem must be phrased in a way that avoids dichotomies and instead supports the generation and exploration of multiple perspectives. A general rule of thumb in the social sciences is that a good research problem is one that would generate a variety of viewpoints from a composite audience made up of reasonable people.

Researchability This isn't a real word but it represents an important aspect of creating a good research statement. It seems a bit obvious, but you don't want to find yourself in the midst of investigating a complex research project and realize that you don't have enough prior research to draw from for your analysis. There's nothing inherently wrong with original research, but you must choose research problems that can be supported, in some way, by the resources available to you.

A problem statement is an effective and essential tool to keep you on track with research and evaluate it. How can you formulate a powerful research problem? Consider 5 ways to formulate the research problem:. A clear statement that defines all objectives can help you conduct and develop effective and meaningful research. They should be manageable to bring you success. A few goals will help you keep your study relevant.

This statement also helps professors evaluation the questions your research project answers and different methods that you use to address them.

Why do you need to do that? This step can help you define if the important findings of your study will deliver enough data to be worth considering. Identify specific environmental variables that may potentially affect your research and start formulating effective methods to control all of them. Research problems may range from simple to complex, and everything depends on a range of variables and their relationships.

Some of them can be directly relevant to specific research questions, while others are completely unimportant for your project. Why should you understand their nature? This knowledge enables you to develop effective solutions. To get a deep understanding of all dimensions, think about focus groups and other relevant details to provide the necessary insight into a particular question. Scientific, social, and other studies often focus on creating a certain sequence of repeating behaviors over time.

What does your project entail? Completing the entire process involves:. Why communicate possible outcomes? Look at scientific papers to notice their research questions because they are crucial for determining the quality of answers, methods, and findings. Quantitative designs use deductive reasoning to state a testable hypothesis. Qualitative methods use inductive reasoning to make a strong statement of your future thesis. You need to formulate it during the initial stage of a scientific process or study.

For instance, literature reviews, research, and studies of previous experiments are likely to provide you with vague areas of interest. Start noting down important questions that you deem important for the research study. Many questions may arise but narrow down and choose the most important and impactful questions. The length of the research depends on the number of questions you formulate.

Choose the questions, depending on the expected length of your research. Set research objectives: You must draw a plan about the objectives of the research that you need to explore. The objectives of the research study help to identify the research questions. There is a difference between the research question and the research objective. The difference is the way they are written. Research questions generally consist of an interrogative tone.

On the other hand, the research objectives are aim-oriented. They include terms like to examine, to investigate, to explore, and to find out.

Marketing research problem example Organizations and companies use marketing research problems to gauge the risks associated with launching a new product or service. Research problem statement example A research problem question is the most important aspect of the research. Follow these examples to write a problem statement: Incorrect: What are the effects of social media on people? Extensive research problem software, platform, and tool Formulating a marketing research problem is just one crucial part of the research process.

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Uncover brand insights: Acquire insights that your brand needs to excel in. Gather honest feedback that will help you drive your business to the next level. Create a free account Advantages of formulating a research problem Here are the advantages of formulating a research problem: Understanding the research procedure: Writing research problems helps in understanding the research procedure in a better way.

Many researchers think that formulating a research problem is simple, but that is not true. The researcher needs to put a lot of effort to create a specific problem and then understand the research procedure. Determining the research objective: A research problem helps to understand the intention and goals of the research.

The methodology cannot be defined without a clear research problem. Design the research process: A research problem helps you identify the approach you must take for the research activity.

It helps in the identification of each step you must take to do your research — the sampling strategy, the research design, research analysis, and research instruments to be used. Lays the foundation for research: Formulating a good research problem is compared to laying the foundation of a building. If the research problem is well identified, you will face fewer hiccups during the research process.

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