How to Formulate a Problem Statement

A problem statement is a clear, concise description of what a particular body of research intends to focus on. The statement is used to limit the scope of the problem. It should also inform the reader of the importance of the research and cause him to want to read on. Most texts that describe the formulation of problem statements divide the process into three parts.

Instructions

1. Introduce the reader to the focus and relevance of the research. This is your opportunity to explain to your audience why they should be interested. Explain the goal or goals of your research. You must answer the question, "Why is this research important?"

2. Explain the context and the scope of your research. This is the part of the statement where you will elaborate on what questions you intend to answer. You must narrow your focus here and decide exactly what it is that you want to research.

3. Provide the framework for presenting the results of your research. Whether you are conducting a study using quantitative statistics or just explaining some idiosyncrasies in the behavior of dogs, your results must be explained. The problem statement should introduce your reader to your results and explain how your results will be presented.

References

• PSU: Formulating Problem Statements
• UTK: The Problem Statement in a Research Paper.
• PSU: Formulating a research problem.