A research problem is, without a doubt, the most important section of your dissertation. Hence it is important to understand that your research study is in response to a problem. This is because it implicates that your problem statement essentially dictates your dissertation. This article will help you in finding, and writing a good problem statement. So let’s get going with it then.
When you have the target of writing a good problem statement after hiring a dissertation writing service, you must first think of one. Finding a good research problem is an even more important task.
Finding a Research Problem for Your Dissertation
You can find a research problem using different approaches. It includes a literature review, your personal experience, and a discussion with experts and colleagues. Let’s discuss these approaches in a little more detail ahead.
Using Literature Review
As you must already know, literature review section of the dissertation provides a critical review of studies relevant to the subject matter. That is why literature review is considered as a key to finding the research problem. The critical review of previous studies directs towards research gaps. And that research gap in the literature further indicates gaps within the research that are yet to be explored. When something has not been studied already, it is a good enough reason to study it. Thus, a research gap identified within the literature review is a good enough reason to base your research problem on it.
As you review the literature before writing your dissertation, you can identify gaps within the research. Make notes as you go along the process of reviewing relevant literature. The recommendations section in previous studies is a potent start in this domain. While finding your research problem, keep one thing in mind. Explore the recent studies for finding a research problem. Otherwise, you might end up replicating a previous study.
Personal Experience
Personal experience is a good place to find your research problem. In real life, you may experience a problem that you want to explore. You may also notice a persistent problem that has not been solved. When you identify a problem through personal experience, one thing that you can do is explore relevant literature. There is a possibility that someone has already studied that problem through group research. In that case, you can identify gaps in a different dimension pertaining to the same domain.
Discussion with Experts and Colleagues
Discussing the subject matter with experts is another plausible opportunity to find a research problem. In my view, it is one way where you can find the most compelling research problems. Experts have a better grip on the subject matter. You can take advantage of their broad, and in-depth knowledge. Experts are often familiar with the latest information in the field, so their advice matters a lot. Their perspective can be valuable in identifying the research problem as well.
Aside from the experts, input from colleagues can be useful as well. When two people have a dialogue, there is a wide chance of coming up with better ideas. Even if you think that your colleague has the same knowledge and expertise, having a discussion with them can be beneficial. It is like when businesses come together to share their expertise for developing an entirely new product. It is similar to that concept of synergy for researchers as well. Two people with even the same level of knowledge have the ability to come up with ideas that are both new, and interesting. Aside from that, you may have an idea or research problem, but you might not be sure how to refine that idea. A colleague can greatly help in this regard.
Pattern of Writing a Problem Statement
Once you find a research problem, you need to make sure you’re able to deliver to the readers well too. Therefore, while writing a dissertation problem statement, you may need to answer the following;
- What is the problem?
- How does the problem matter?
- Does it address a meaningful gap in the research?
Once you’re able to answer these questions, you’re good to go to start writing your problem statement. While writing your problem statement, you can focus on the following aspects;
- It is important that you provide a context of the problem. Start with writing a few sentences on the background information first.
- This background information should lead to identifying a general problem. Write a few sentences on the general problem that you’ve experienced, or found out.
- As you discuss the general problem, you need to establish its relevance to the phenomenon under study. Here you can explain how addressing this problem can be beneficial to the discipline. You can also discuss the significance of identifying this problem.
- Relevancy indicates the importance of a general problem faced in that particular discipline. As you establish relevancy, you can move forward, and address the specific problem. It will include identifying a specific dimension of the subject matter under study. This specific problem statement should have similar words as the title in it.
Tips on Writing a Problem Statement
- The problem statement should be both concise, and clear. The wording of the problem statement should be simple, and easy to follow.
- Back up your problem statement with previous research. You need to build your problem statement based on previous research, and add citations as well to increase the readability.
- Keep your problem statement specific. Do not include several problems into one statement, as this will make the problem statement quite broad.
- Title of the research study should be aligned with your problem statement. Make sure you use similar wording to avoid any distractions for the readers in this context.
- You need to mention what kind of a solution your research will provide. It is important to propose a specific solution, therefore, don’t offer any ready-made solution.
This article discusses different approaches for finding a research problem. In addition, it also provides a brief guide to writing a problem statement. But it is important that your problem statement is both precise, and easy to understand. You can follow the tips provided in this article to avoid writing a problem statement that does not serve its purpose.
