dissertation problem space

Research: Establishing the Problem Space

• Establishing the Problem Space
• Finding Qualitative Research
• Finding Quantitative Research
• What is Emperical Research?
• What is Seminal Research?

What is the Problem Space?

A gap is a space between two objects or a break in continuity.  A research gap is a break or missing part of the existing research when you define the research gap or the problem space you are defining what is known and what is missing in the existing research.  The "problem space" of a study is a definition of the topic, the problem statements or research gaps mentioned by other researchers, and the steps other researchers took to answer the research question. The problem space is a way to identify and establish boundaries for your research, it helps to guide what should be included or excluded from your research.  The problem statement expresses how your study will answer or fill the research gap.

The problem space is thus comprised of identifying what is known about a topic, understanding how it has come to be known (the theories, designs, methods, instruments), and then figuring out what is not yet known (or perspective not explored) .   Problem spaces are built by taking note of the limitations and recommendations discussed in the empirical research articles you gather as you build your literature review.

• Don't know where to start? 6 Tips on identifying research gaps
• What are Gap Statements? From the Middlebury University 'Write Like a Scientist" guide.
• Farooq, R. (2017). A framework for identifying research gap in social sciences: Evidence from the past. IUP Journal of Management Research, 16(4), 66-75. Retrieved from https://uscupstate.idm.oclc.org/login?url=https://www.proquest.com/scholarly-journals/
• Robinson KA, Akinyede O, Dutta T, et al. Framework for Determining Research Gaps During Systematic Review: Evaluation [Internet]. Rockville (MD): Agency for Healthcare Research and Quality (US); 2013 Feb. Introduction. Available from: https://www.ncbi.nlm

Examples From Empirical Articles

When looking to find discussions of research that has yet to be done (AKA research gap) in existing articles there are a few keywords to look out for such as limitations identified, further research needed, needs clarification, not been reported (studied, reported, or elucidated), suggestions for further research, questions remains, poorly understood, and/or lack of studies

Below are two examples of types of passages to look for.

Example of a Limitations Section

From the article:

Spanhove, V., De Wandele, I., Kjær, B. H., Malfait, F., Vanderstukken, F., & Cools, A. (2020). The effect of five isometric exercises on glenohumeral translations in healthy subjects and patients with the hypermobility type of the ehlers-danlos syndrome (heds) or hypermobility spectrum disorder (hsd) with multidirectional shoulder instability: an observational study.  Physiotherapy ,  107 , 11–18. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.physio.2019.06.010

From this passage, an argument could be made for performing a similar study, but with 3D analysis.

Example of a Recommendation for Further Research

Some articles will go beyond discussing their limitations and describe further research that should be done. 

For example, this article:

Carey, J., Pathak, A., & Johnson, S. C. (2020). Use, Perceptions, and Awareness of LibGuides among Undergraduate and Graduate Health Professions Students.  Evidence Based Library and Information Practice ,  15 (3), 157-172. https://doi.org/10.18438/eblip29653

Suggests several different avenues of further research:

How to Use Review Articles

Review articles can help formulate a gap, or at least point out a direction to look for one. Since they provide an overview of the published literature, they can give you a head start on what kinds of research are lacking.

How to Locate Review Articles: Systematic Reviews, Literature Reviews, and Meta-Analyses

• handwashing or hand washing or hand hygiene or hand sanitation
• systematic review or meta-analysis or literature review or scoping review
• Adjust dates to be within 2 years. 
• For instance the above search was used to locate this article:

Seo, H.-J., Sohng, K.-Y., Chang, S. O., Chaung, S. K., Won, J. S., & Choi, M.-J. (2019). Interventions to improve hand hygiene compliance in emergency departments: a systematic review. The Journal of Hospital Infection , 102(4), 394–406. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.jhin.2019.03.013

• (hand antisepsis or handwash* or hand wash* or hand disinfection or hand hygiene or surgical scrub*)
• With terms that should be included when searching on this topic.
• "Further well-designed controlled studies are necessary to examine the true effects and identify which intervention modalities are more effective than others for HHC improvement in EDs."
• Reviewing the articles this article studied would then provide support for this gap.

Pursuing a health care topic? Search Cochrane Reviews or Joanna Biggs EBP as well as the more general databases.

Example of a Review Article With a Discussion of Areas Needing Research

Example of a Review Article

Review articles can clarify where a lack of research exists. To then establish the problem space fully, you will need to track down the articles cited in the review.

For instance, consider the following passage from this review article:

Martin, A. (2019). An acquired or heritable connective tissue disorder? A review of hypermobile Ehlers Danlos Syndrome. European Journal of Medical Genetics, 62(7), 103672. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ejmg.2019.103672

This is indicating a need for longitudinal studies for this condition to better understand the relationship between muscle strength and muscle waste. Further examining the cited articles would establish this avenue for a study.

Problem Formulation

• Trochim, William M.K. “Problem Formulation.” Research Methods Knowledge Base, Conjoint.ly, https://conjointly.com/kb/problem-formulation/.
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• Last Updated: Apr 17, 2023 9:51 AM
• URL: https://uscupstate.libguides.com/Advanced_Research

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How to write a dissertation problem statement, published by steve tippins on may 7, 2020 may 7, 2020.

Last Updated on: 2nd February 2024, 03:07 am

Your Problem Statement is one of the most important sections of your dissertation.

Let that sink in for a moment.

(Breathe. Say an om. Try to fend off the existential anxiety that is a natural part of the dissertation-writing process).

Okay, ready to know more?

The reason why it’s so important is that your study is essentially a response to a problem. Your Purpose Statement arises from the problem. So, essentially, your problem statement dictates what your entire dissertation will be about.

Fortunately for you, it also has some pretty specific requirements, and if you follow these, you’ll nail your problem statement and write a strong dissertation proposal.

That’s why I wrote this article: to help you understand the specific requirements of a dissertation problem statement so that you can write one effectively.

How to Find a Research Problem for your Dissertation

Before you can write your dissertation’s problem statement, you have to find the research problem.

Your problem statement arises from a gap in literature . When there’s something that hasn’t been studied, and when also a good reason to study it, that constitutes a problem. At its essence, a problem statement is essentially saying, “We don’t know enough about X, and we really should because of Y.” 

So how do you find a research problem? There are several commonly-accepted approaches.

Literature Review

Oftentimes, the easiest and most direct way to discover a research problem is through a review of the literature. You will have to conduct a literature review anyway as part of your proposal, so make sure to write notes as you go along. 

Make sure you’re familiar with seminal texts, but the real gold is often found in more recent studies. The “Recommendations for Further Research” section may explicitly state gaps in research that need to be filled, leading to your problem.

Personal Experience

Another excellent way of discovering a problem is through personal experience. Perhaps you’ve worked in a field and noticed a persistent problem that nobody has found an effective answer to. Make sure to familiarize yourself with the literature, though, before taking it too far–it could be somebody has already studied it (in which case you could still build off their study).

Discussion with Experts

Asking experts in the field is not only an expedient way to discover a research problem, it often leads to the most interesting problems as well. Those who have worked in the field for a long time have a depth and breadth of knowledge, and also often work at the frontier of knowledge in their field. They can provide a perspective that even a complete literature review on its own won’t be able to.

Discussion with Colleagues

The old over-used phrase “synergy” applies here. Sometimes, even when two people have roughly the same level of knowledge and expertise in a subject, coming together in dialogue may produce ideas that neither could have found on their own. Or maybe your colleague has just read something interesting that leads you to your research problem. Either way, getting another perspective is always helpful.

Research Agendas

An advisor or group of faculty may already be working with an established research agenda. While your scope will be limited, you may also benefit from contributing to a larger research effort.

Contradictory Evidence

Look at the literature (or ask your advisors) with an eye towards contradicting evidence. If similar studies have contradicting results, the area must be explored more. This is related to “provocative exception,” when a consistent and accepted conclusion is contradicted by the appearance of a new finding. Keeping a key eye on the research can aid your awareness of these instances.

What Makes a Good Research Problem?

You are interested in the problem. This may sound obvious, but may doctoral students have found themselves enmeshed in a research project that they have no genuine interest in because a faculty member thought they should pursue a particular topic. A dissertation is too long of a project to devote to something you’re not interested in. Plus, the quality of your research and writing will be much higher if indeed you are interested in the topic.

The scope of the problem is manageable . So many students submit problem statements that are beyond the scope of what can be explored in a single research project. Remember, the scope of the problem must be hyper-focused.

You have the time and resources to investigate the problem. This means that you can handle it with the time and resources you have now (or can count on having during the process). It’s far better to make small steps of progress than it is to bite off more than you can chew in an attempt to go in leaps and bounds.

The problem has theoretical or practical significance. This is essentially the answer to the question, “so what?” There are many problems in the world that don’t necessarily merit scientific inquiry. As I am writing at the picnic table outside, a slug appears to be trying to climb from one blade of grass to another but cannot reach the second one. This may be a problem for the slug, but doesn’t have great significance beyond this particular slug at this particular moment. Even if we were to consider the importance of this slug’s goal, it would still take longer than a day to conduct a study about how to help it, by which point I expect it will have already moved on.

It is ethical to investigate the problem. The history of scientific research is, unfortunately, marked by a trail of unethical behavior. From the scientific inquiries of the Nazis, to psychologically harmful studies here in the US, to horrific experiments that are still conducted on live animals, much harm has been done in the name of the pursuit of knowledge. As researchers, it is imperative that we consider the ethics of pursuing any research project.

Now that you’ve identified the research problem you plan to address–that is, the hyper-specific area of focus for your study– you just have to write your dissertation’s problem statement.

The Key Elements of a Dissertation Problem Statement:

Essentially, you want to establish (a) what the problem is, (b) that it matters, and (c) that it addresses a meaningful gap in the literature. 

• Give some brief background information. A few sentences to help the reader understand the context of the problem.
• State the general research problem. This is one sentence that usually starts something like, “The general problem is…”
• Establish relevancy. Here’s where you’ll cite research that supports that the general problem you just stated is relevant, current, and significant to the discipline.
• Specific Problem Statement. This sentence should be worded similarly to your title and (future) purpose statement.
• Conclusion and transition. Here, you’ll include a few sentences on the impacts of the problem on society or the relevant population, and transition to the next section.

Here are some recommended ways of beginning your dissertation problem statement:

• It is not known ___
• Absent from the literature is ___
• While the literature indicates __, it is not known in ___ if
• It is not known how or to what extent ___

After reading your problem statement, someone should have a very clear answer to the questions, “So what?” or “Why does it matter?”

Tips for Writing your Problem Statement

Be concise . The wording of your problem statement should be clear and easy to follow. Avoid complexity. One of the most common mistakes students make is making their problem statement too complex. When in doubt, simplify.

Use Citations. Make sure that every claim you make is backed up by research. The vast majority of studies build on the work of previous researchers.

Focus on only one (very specific) problem. Don’t try to roll several problems into your problem statement. Also, avoid making your problem statement too broad.

Do not offer a ready solution. At most, explore possible avenues for solutions that may be tested with the help of your research.

Stay in alignment. It is also very important that your problem statement is in alignment with your title, gap in literature, purpose statement, and research questions. That means it’s saying the same thing, that it has the same hyper-specific focus. 

How Long Is a Problem Statement?

While the actual General Problem Statement and Specific Problem Statement are one sentence each, the Problem Statement section can account for anywhere from a few paragraphs to a few pages. More than a few pages is usually too long. Remember, simplicity and specificity are key.

Dissertation Problem Statement Example

From Wiley :

The career development process is critical for the success of organizations. Research has shown that women managers experience career development differently from men. In addition, more and more African-American women are now joining the ranks of management, which presents new challenges and opportunities for these individuals.  However, little is known about the combined effects of sex and race on the career development process of individuals, and to the extent that current career development models accurately describe the process is unclear.  If career development is important for organizations and career development is viewed differently by women and men managers and more African-American women are now serving in the ranks of management, and if little is known about the combined effects of sex and race on the career development process, then more needs to be known about how African-American women perceive their career development experiences.  The purpose of this study was to focus on African-American women first-line supervisors undertake and conduct a qualitative study of their career development process.  *Adapted from: Cushnie, M. (1999). African-American women first-line supervisors: a qualitative study of their career development process.   From Wiley

From University of Houston : 

The importance of developing a constraint-free and reliable work plan has long been recognized by the [construction] industry. However, numerous construction projects are still plagued by delays and cost overruns, which can frequently be traced to ineffective identification and treatment of constraints. First, when a constraint is not properly identified during scheduling, subsequent conflicts in the field are inevitable. Today’s projects are becoming more and more technically complex and logistically challenging, which exposes construction operations to even more complex constraints.  Second, the traditional scheduling methods, bar charts and Critical Path Method (CPM) which are widely used as a basis for constraint analysis, greatly limit our capability in modeling and resolving constraints during look-ahead scheduling.  These methods have long been blamed for their limitations in modeling and communicating constraints, including inability to cope with non-time-related precedence constraints and difficulty to evaluate and communicate inter-dependencies at the field operation level (e.g. Sriprasert and Dawood 2002; Chua and Shen 2001). In summary, there is a need for a better understanding of constraints in construction and a structured approach in identifying and modeling constraints to ensure a constraint-free work plan.  From University of Houston

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Steve Tippins, PhD, has thrived in academia for over thirty years. He continues to love teaching in addition to coaching recent PhD graduates as well as students writing their dissertations. Learn more about his dissertation coaching and career coaching services. Book a Free Consultation with Steve Tippins

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Learning Resource

Defining the problem space.

This exercise will help you refine your topic, situate your problem within the management domain, and articulate your primary concepts of interest.

Part 1: Articulate the Topic

Write a short paper (three-to-five pages, double-spaced, and adhering strictly to APA style in terms of both format and referencing) that introduces your faculty mentor to your dissertation topic and describes what you envision as the key parts of your dissertation. Consider this paper a written version of an elevator speech, which conveys the facts about your dissertation in a relatively short period of time.

Clearly explain your topic using your best argument-writing skills. Present it with an implicit argument that makes the case for why the topic would be worthwhile for a dissertation effort. Your paper should address the following points (and you can even organize it in the order of the following items):

• What  topic  would you like to explore for your dissertation?
• Why is this  topic important/significant to management practitioners ? What are the  practical implications ?
• What is the nature and context of the  management problem in this topic area  that the dissertation would address?
• What  topic questions  do you think you would like to answer? What would guide your inquiry into the selected topic? (You don't have to identify formal research questions yet . . . let your faculty mentor first see your initial questions so he or she can give you some feedback.)
• You took an entire class in management theory. Considering the breadth of theories you read about in that class, what  theory or theories  do you think might be good candidates for understanding your topic/problem? If you have a theory or theories in mind other than something from the management theory course, please name, describe, cite, and explain your idea. Note that we are exploring; you're not committed to any theory you discuss here! We're just attempting to begin talking about what it means to have an appropriate theoretical framework, and how to choose one.
• What  potential challenges  do you see in pursuing this topic?

Part 2: Map the Problem Space Around Your Topic

The goal of Part 2 is to explore the major and minor problems associated with your dissertation topic, and establish the boundaries of that interest area. Once a hierarchy of these problems is established, you can examine their relationships to one another and to their managerial context. Building on the understanding of these relationships, you can then draw a map of the problem space around your dissertation topic interests. The value of this map is that it helps establish a scope for your study and provides direction for your research. Research questions—questions that beg to be answered—should emerge organically from this space.

In this part of the exercise, you will be freehand (or electronically) drawing a map or graphic. You might want to do this during a Skype call with your faculty mentor (so you can share drawings) who can help you make connections. This part of the exercise should produce a one-page refined graphic portraying how the universe of these problems, their influences, and their solutions relate to your topic.

The table shows specific steps and results of Part 2.

Dr. Markette.com

• May 12, 2022

The Problem Space (aka the Research Gap)

Updated: Jun 4, 2022

by Nicholas Markette, Ed.D.

When defending a proposed research project (i.e., dissertation), it is critical to show that there a research problem exists. A passion for a topic while important does not suffice. There must be a need for the research. The research problem space, commonly referred to as a gap in the literature, is an argument to do the study.

One quick note, the research problem space is a preferred term, and the gap comes up short. Gap suggests that if something is missing from the literature, it justifies the research. However, as Dr. Dana Shelton noted, “There is no literature studying miniature dachshunds as guard dogs, but is there a need for that research?”

In contrast, the research problem space juxtaposes what is known in the literature to what is not known . In addition to the differences between what is known and not known , the problem space introduces what is needed to be known . Finally, the savvy researcher synthesizes these three dimensions of their research into an argument. For simplicity, this can be represented in a mathematical formula.

What is Known + What is Not Known + What is Needed to be Known + Argument = Problem Space

In this case, simplicity is elegance because it orients the research strategy. While reviewing the literature, aspiring doctors can ask these three questions while compiling and annotating their articles. Ask these questions while annotating the 100+ articles needed for a comprehensive review of literature:

What is known? (What does the literature say?)

What is not known? (Where is the paucity in the literature?)

What is needed to be known? (Where in society and organizations would new research be beneficial?)

What How to Write the Dissertation Problem Space for Your EdD:

APA citation:

Markette, N. & Markette., J. [Dr. Markette]. (2021, June 29). How to Write the Dissertation Problem Space for Your EdD. [Video]. YouTube. https://youtu.be/12XL3SEl-Aw

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Table of Contents

Collaboration, information literacy, writing process, problem space, solution space.

Problem Space The Problem Space is the problem and everything associated with the problem, including such things as the history of the problem; the stakeholders (those who benefit from the problem, those who contribute to the problem, and those who feel the problem most deeply, as pain).

Solution Space The Solution Space , in contrast, constitutes the world of products, services, and policies that have been produced to address a particular problem.

Related Concepts: Invention ; Growth Mindset ; Venture Design ; Design Thinking ; Believing ; Customer Discovery ; Problem Definition

Defining the problem space and writing a problem definition is the first step taken to solve a problem.

Venture Design , Design Thinking , Customer Discovery –these are different ways of talking about Customer Discovery and methods for navigating the problem space in order to develop solutions. In general, these approaches to entrepreneurship and lean development assume creators should set aside their own presumptions about best solutions and endeavor to listen to customers

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• Section 1: Home
• Narrowing Your Topic

Defining The Problem Statement

How to write the problem statement.

• Purpose Statement
• Conceptual Framework
• Avoiding Common Mistakes
• Synthesis and Analysis in Writing Support This link opens in a new window
• Qualitative Research Questions This link opens in a new window
• Quantitative Research Questions This link opens in a new window
• Qualitative & Quantitative Research Support with the ASC This link opens in a new window
• Library Research Consultations This link opens in a new window
• Library Guide: Research Process This link opens in a new window
• ASC Guide: Outlining and Annotating This link opens in a new window
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Problem Statement 

The problem needs to be very focused because everything else from the applied doctoral project or dissertation-in-practice logically flows from the problem. If the problem is too big or too vague, it will be difficult to scope out a purpose that is manageable, given the time to execute and finish the project. The problem should be the result of a practical need or an opportunity to further an applicational study or project.

Given the above, the problem statement should do four things: 

Specify and describe the problem (with appropriate citations) 

Provide evidence of the problem’s existence  

Explain the consequences of NOT solving the problem  

Identify what is not known about the problem that should be known.

What is a problem?

Example of a proper, specific, evidence-based, real-life problem: , evidence-based, what are consequences.

Consequences are negative implications experienced by a group of people, organization, profession, or industry as a result of the problem. The negative effects should be of a certain magnitude to warrant research. For example, if fewer than 1% of the stakeholders experience a negative consequence of a problem and that consequence only constitutes a minor inconvenience, research is probably not warranted. Negative consequences that can be measured weigh stronger than those that cannot be put on some kind of scale. 

In the example above, a significant negative consequence is that women face much larger barriers than men when attempting to get promoted to executive jobs; or are 94% less likely than men to get to that level in Corporate America. 

While a problem may be referred to as a gap in traditional research, in a doctoral project or dissertation-in-practice, the problem could be a statement of the situational condition that requires a scholar-practitioner approach. For the applied degree, this may be the part of the program or procedure that is not working. 

NOTE: The applied doctoral project or dissertation-in-practice includes checklists for all sections of the document, including problem statement, purpose statement, and research questions. You should make sure you use these checklists and follow margin instructions. The present document is intended to provide additional help and examples, and also explain the importance of alignment. Alignment enables you to ensure consistency in your language and presentation of information, as well as provide a logical flow of your narrative.

Resource: Ellis, T., & Levy, Y. (2008). Framework of problem-based research: A guide for novice researchers on the development of a research-worthy problem. Informing Science , 11, 17-33.  http://proxy1.ncu.edu/login?url=https://search.ebscohost.com/login.aspx?direct=true&db= a9h&AN=36030721&site=eds-live  

• PDF Template

Option 1: Writing the Problem Statement

Do not exceed 250-300 words.

It is helpful to begin the problem statement with a sentence:  “The problem to be addressed through this project  is…”

Paragraph 1

The problem should be evidenced-based and focus on practice within your perspective field or domain.  Then, fill out the rest of the paragraph with an elaboration of that specific problem, making sure to “document” it, as your doctoral committee will look for evidence that it is indeed a problem (emphasis also on the timeliness of the problem, supported by citations within the last 5 years).  Identify the negative consequences that are occurring as a result of the problem.

Paragraph 2

Next, write a paragraph explaining the consequences of NOT solving the problem. Who will be affected? How will they be affected? How important is it to fix the problem? Again, your doctoral committee will want to see research-based citations and statistics that indicate the negative implications are significant. 

Paragraph 3

In the final paragraph, you will explain what is not known that should be known. What isn’t known about the problem? Presumably, if your problem and purpose are aligned, your research will try to close or minimize this gap by investigating the problem. Have other practitioners investigated the issue? What has their research left unanswered? 

Option 2: Writing the Problem Statement

Another way to tackle the statement of the problem: .

The Statement of the Problem section is a very clear, concise identification of the problem. It must stay within the template guidelines of 250-300 words but more importantly, must contain four elements as outlined below.

A worthy problem should be able to address all of the following points: 

• identification of the problem itself--what is "going wrong" (Ellis & Levy, 2008) 
• who is affected by the problem 
• the consequences that will result from a continuation of the problem 
• a brief discussion of 
• at least 3 authors’ research related to the problem; and 
• their stated suggestion/recommendation for further research related to the problem 

Use the following to work on the Statement of the Problem by first outlining the section as follows: 

One clear, concise statement that tells the reader what is not working in the profession or industry. Be specific and support it with current studies. 

Tell who is affected by the problem identified in #1. 

Briefly tell what will happen if the problem isn’t addressed. 

Find at least 3 current studies and write a sentence or two for each study that 

• briefly discusses the author(s)’ work, what they studied, and 
• state their recommendation for further insight or exploration about the problem 

Option 3: Writing the Problem Statement

Finally, you can follow this simple 3-part outline when writing the statement of the problem section.

Your problem statement is a short (250-300 words), 3 paragraph section, in which you:

Example of a problem statement that follows this 3-part outline (295 words):  

• Statement of the Problem Template Use this fillable PDF to help craft your Statement of the Problem
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How To Analyze a Problem Space

Learning a new problem space can be a challenge.  Especially when there’s no map.

While writing books for the past several years, I’ve learned a more effective approach for chunking up and solving problem spaces.

Each new book is a new problem domain.

I can’t afford to churn or be inefficient while ramping up.  I’ve basically learned how to get myself and my teams up to speed faster by using a process.

This process has served me well.  I hope it does the same for you.

Problem Domain Analysis

Here are the key steps:

• What are the best sources of information?
• What are the key tasks and questions for this problem space?
• What are the key hot spots this problem space?
• What are the possible answers for the key questions?
• What are the empirical results to draw from?
• Who can be my sounding board?
• What are the best answers for the key questions?
• What are the problem repros and the solution repros?

Here is an elaboration on each step.

1. What are the best sources of information?

Finding the best sources of information is key to saving time. I cast a wide net then quickly spiral down to find the critical, trusted sources of information in terms of people, blogs, sites, aliases, forums, … etc.  Sources are effectively the key nodes in my knowledge network.

2. What are the key tasks and questions for this problem space?

This step includes making al list of tasks that users would need to perform and a list of questions that users would have.  Identifying the questions and tasks is potentially the most crucial step.  If I’m not getting the right answers, I’m not asking the right questions.  Questions also focus the mind, and no problem withstands sustained thinking (thinking is simply asking and answering questions).

3. What are the key hot spots in this problem space?

This is about finding the hot spots.  This means finding the key buckets and categories for this problem space.  It’s not long before questions start to fall into significant buckets or categories.  I think of these categories as a frame for the problem space.  By framing the space, you can organize the questions and tasks in a meaningful way.  Instead of a laundry list of items, the tasks and questions are grouped into hot spots.  You can then use the hot spots or frame as a lens.  You can also use it to gather, organize, and refine more information.

4. What are the possible answers for the key questions?

When identifying the answers, the first step is simply identifying how it’s been solved before.  I always like to know if this problem is new and if not, what are the ways it’s been solved (the patterns).  If I think I have a novel problem, I usually haven’t looked hard enough.  I ask myself who else would have this problem, and I don’t limit myself to the software industry.  For example, I’ve found great insights for project management and for storyboarding software solutions by borrowing from the movie industry.

One pitfall to avoid is that just because a solution worked in one case doesn’t mean it’s right for you.  The biggest differences are usually context.  I try to find the “why” and “when” behind the solution, so that I can understand what’s relevant for me, as well as tailor it as necessary.  When I’m given blanket advice, I’m particularly curious what’s beneath the blanket.

If you know the type of problem you’re dealing with, it helps to analyze potential answers.  See 4 Types of Problems .

5. What are the empirical results to draw from?

Nothing beats empirical results.  Specifically I mean reference examples.  Reference examples are short-cuts for success.  Success leaves clues.  I try to find the case studies and the people behind them.  This way I can model from their success and learn from their failure (failure is just another lesson in how not to do something).

6. Who can be my sounding board?

One assumption I make when solving a problem is that there’s always somebody better than me for that problem.  So I then ask, well who is that and I seek them out.  It’s a chance to learn from the best and force me to grow my network.  This is also how I build up a sounding board of experts.  A sounding board is simply a set of people I trust to have useful perspective on a problem, even if it’s nothing more than improving my own questions.

7. What are the best answers for the key questions?

The answers that I value the most are the principles.  These are my gems.  A principle is simply a fundamental law.  I’d rather know a single principle, then a bunch of rules.  By knowing a single principle, I can solve many variations of a problem.   The experts and sounding board help create and vet the answers along with the research team.

8.  What are the problem repros and the solution repros?

Creating repros of the problems and repros of the solutions helps test results.  A repro is simply a reproducible set of steps.  I’m a fan of testing results … It’s one thing to have an answer that sounds good, it’s another to test it against the scenario.  I’m also a fan of scenario-based testing because this tests the answer against a specific, concrete instance.  Either it works or it doesn’t.  Rather than speculate or debate solutions, testing solutions is a more effective approach.   Once you can reproduce a problem, you can also share it with others and get more eyes on the problem.

What Do You Know, Don’t Know, and Need to Know Next?

How do you keep from getting stuck?  One of my favorite questions to ask is, “what do we know … don’t know … and need to know next?”  Asking what you know is a way to quickly remind yourself of what you’ve figured out.  It also helps show some signs of progress.  Asking what you don’t know can be an eye opener.  Now that you’ve recapped what you know, what you don’t know might expose some obvious things you’ve overlooked or some hot topics to explore.  With a firm handle on what you know and don’t know, now you can prioritize what you need to know next.  Chip away at the stone.

Now, while I’ve left some details out, I’ve hopefully highlighted enough for you here that you find something you can use in your own problem domain analysis.

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How to Write the Statement of the Problem in Research

Do you want to write a dissertation problem statement for your academic paper? In this case, you probably know already that the dissertation problem statement is the first step towards writing the research proposal. And yes, it is a very important part of your dissertation. Truth be told, everyone working on a complex paper such as a dissertation, that requires extensive research, should start with a dissertation problem statement. You will learn why in just a bit. For now, let’s explain what problem statements really are, how you write them and then show you a couple of excellent examples. We believe that you will be able to do a far better job writing the problem statement if you read a couple of examples.

What Is the Dissertation Problem Statement?

How to write a problem statement for a dissertation: the 4 steps, three dissertation problem statement examples, final word on problem statement.

First, we would like to make sure you understand what a problem statement is and what it is used for. Basically, the dissertation problem statement is a short paragraph of condensed ideas that show your readers how your research project will solve a problem. In other words, you will need to briefly state the current problem or problems, and then explain how your work solves them. You need to clearly define the problem and show how you will address it, in a very clear and concise manner. You can then use this statement to write the research proposal. Of course, you can also integrate it into the introduction of your dissertation. The bottom line, the research statement, is considered by many academics and thesis writers to be the heart of your dissertation.

Now that you know what the problem statement is and why it is so important for your dissertation, it’s time to go on to the next step. Let’s show you how to write a problem statement for a dissertation in just 4 steps. Our experienced dissertation writers have put together this guide to help you compose your statement as fast as possible. After all, you have plenty of work to do with research, analysis, writing, editing, etc. We advise you to check our tips to learn more about these steps. Without further ado, the 4 steps to write a problem statement for a dissertation:

• Think about the ideal situation or the desired goal. Start the statement with how things should be, in an ideal case.
• Think about what prevents this ideal situation. This is the problem you want to solve! Describe what is preventing the goal from being achieved and what stands in the way. In other words, use the second part of the statement to show your reader the problem you will be solving with your dissertation research and with your work.
• Enumerate all the consequences of your solution (if the solution works, of course). How will your work improve the situation? What do you aim to achieve? This is the last part of the statement; the part where you show your readers the benefits of your work.
• Read everything out loud and make sure it flows. The logic behind the statement must be strong and everything should be very clearly stated. Avoid ambiguity and don’t be afraid to cut our sections that don’t add value to the statement!

This is how a statement of the problem in the thesis generally looks like. To make things even easier for you, we have 3 examples for you.

Here are three dissertation problem statement examples that should make it clear how your statement should be organized:

• According to various studies, university students are more focused and more efficient when their dorms are equipped with modern facilities (Ideal Situation). Students in Dorm B currently don’t have AC units and temperatures are exceeding 90 degrees Fahrenheit during the summer months (Problem). My study plans to discover if students become more focused after AC units are installed in their dorm rooms (Solution).
• All children must feel safe on the playground, regardless of where the playground is located in the city (Ideal Situation). Yet children in the northern part of the city fear playing on the playground after 6 PM because of hooligans (Problem). My research shows that proper policing around playgrounds after 6 PM greatly decreases violence against children (Solution).
• Nonprofits need adequate funding and a supporting legal system to be able to help communities (Ideal Situation). The lack of funds and severe legal requirements are preventing certain foundations in the city from providing help to specific populations (Problem). My research demonstrates that softening regulations and increasing funding helps nonprofits provide assistance to 30% more people (Solution).

You can use any of the examples above as a thesis proposal template. Keep in mind that the problem statement for the dissertation must put the problem in context, describe all the details of the problem, show why the problem is important, and then clearly show what your research demonstrates. In other words, clearly and concisely show your audience why the problem is serious and how your research uncovers the best solution.

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UX Design Guides Understand the Problem Space

Purpose of this step.

In essence, this step of the UCD process is about understanding what makes the product "useful".

Here, you will define project scope and provide a basis for decision-making going forward. Your goal is to align the project team with a clear idea of what value the product (product or service) brings to:

• The problem space . Are you solving the right problem? For the right audience?
• The product's stakeholders . What will your stakeholders consider success? What assumptions do they have around your product?
• The product's users . What are your users' needs? What will your users consider success? What are their core needs in this space?

Recommended Approach

• Get ideas onto paper. Get the team into the same room and get assumptions, expectations & ideas out of people's heads. Focus on what problem(s) people think your product need to solve.
• Understand real constraints on the project.
• It is important to question assumptions and set the expectation that the project will be guided by the discovered real needs of the users.
• Define each audience type in a short and simple way.
• If you haven’t already done so, do some user research. There are many methods you can use to learn about your users.
• What are their overall goals in using the product?
• Rank use cases in terms of relative criticality of supporting them (primary/secondary/tertiary).
• Scope product (who will you ultimately support and toward what goals? Why?).
• Create workflow diagrams for each goal. These should document how the audience will realistically set out accomplishing their goal (their "workflow") for in-scope use cases. Base this on data and confident assumptions. Keep this implementation-agnostic. You are not trying to design how your users will use your product, but to document how they naturally approach completing their goals.
• Do they require answers?
• When will answers be necessary?
• Use what you have learned about users to define success from a user experience perspective.
• Is it that users met their goals?
• Is it that users feel satisfied?
• Or is it something else?
• Since user experience is a combination of interactions and perceptions, choose a combination of metrics that track interactions and perceptions .
• Interactions are what people actually do, including clicking, scrolling, and filling out a form. Commonly used interaction measures are time on task, success rate, or user errors. Perceptions are what people think and feel about an experience. Simple satisfaction or ease-of-use rating scales , for example, are measures that gauge how people perceive an experience after using it.

You don’t have to determine at this time how to gather the metrics, but it is important to know at this stage what will determine whether the product or service was successful, from a user experience perspective. When you are ready for that, however, consider if there are existing metrics, or combination of metrics, in your organization that are a good indicator of success.

• Go over scoped use cases and success criteria with team & stakeholders.
• Discuss in terms of user-benefit and user-judged success.
• Create plan for addressing any conflicts or feedback.

At every step, you want to document open questions, assumptions (need validation? when?), and facts. There is nothing inherently wrong with moving forward with unverified assumptions. It is simply a risk that you want to know about and the team can decide how to proceed.

Common Pitfalls

General pitfalls.

• Failure to identify risky assumptions
• Introducing implementation ideas at this early stage. This is about defining the problem & NOT possible solutions. To think about implementation at this point is going to constrain your thinking to what problems you think can be solved, rather than what problems should be solved.

User Research & Validation Pitfalls

• Unclear research goals (what are you trying to answer? How will data be used?)
• Trying to shoehorn all research upfront.
• Be agile and answer what is needed when you need to answer it.
• Cognitive biases in research and decision making

Pitfalls in Working with Stakeholders

• Failure to understand business requirements or expectations
• Failure to get buy in on what use cases (audiences/goals) &emdash;and consequently scope&emdash; the product needs to support in v1.
• Allowing business goals to prioritize or dictate workflows a product supports that are either unrealistic or low-priority for users.

Useful Resources

Defining the problem space.

• Defining audiences and their goals
• Are You Solving the Right Problem?
• Thinking about users' relationship to your product with the Jobs-to-be-done framework

User Research & Validation

• Cognitive biases to watch out for in research
• Facilitation, Moderation, and Observation Tips
• Gathering Qualitative Data
• Combining Qualitative & Quantitative Data
• Site analytics
• Support logs & other similar data sources
• Sample script from combination contextual inquiry and “usability study”
• Guerilla research (quick and dirty)

Success Criteria and Metrics

• Choosing the Right Metrics for User Experience
• Measuring Usability: System Usability Score (SUS)

Personas & User Stories

• How to Make Personas More Scientific by Jeff Sauro for Measuring Usability
• Writing good user stories

We would emphasize that the user stories should be written around broad user goals, rather than about functionality or micro-goals that wouldn't leave a user satisfied. (i.e. for a grading app, we had a story around "As an instructor, I want to be confident that I have successfully submitted my grades to the Registrar.", rather than "As an instructor, I need to enter grades into the system.")

Working with Stakeholders

• Getting buy-in from stakeholders

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What Is a Dissertation? | Guide, Examples, & Template

A dissertation is a long-form piece of academic writing based on original research conducted by you. It is usually submitted as the final step in order to finish a PhD program.

Your dissertation is probably the longest piece of writing you’ve ever completed. It requires solid research, writing, and analysis skills, and it can be intimidating to know where to begin.

Your department likely has guidelines related to how your dissertation should be structured. When in doubt, consult with your supervisor.

You can also download our full dissertation template in the format of your choice below. The template includes a ready-made table of contents with notes on what to include in each chapter, easily adaptable to your department’s requirements.

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• In the US, a dissertation generally refers to the collection of research you conducted to obtain a PhD.
• In other countries (such as the UK), a dissertation often refers to the research you conduct to obtain your bachelor’s or master’s degree.

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Table of contents

Dissertation committee and prospectus process, how to write and structure a dissertation, acknowledgements or preface, list of figures and tables, list of abbreviations, introduction, literature review, methodology, reference list, proofreading and editing, defending your dissertation, free checklist and lecture slides.

When you’ve finished your coursework, as well as any comprehensive exams or other requirements, you advance to “ABD” (All But Dissertation) status. This means you’ve completed everything except your dissertation.

Prior to starting to write, you must form your committee and write your prospectus or proposal . Your committee comprises your adviser and a few other faculty members. They can be from your own department, or, if your work is more interdisciplinary, from other departments. Your committee will guide you through the dissertation process, and ultimately decide whether you pass your dissertation defense and receive your PhD.

Your prospectus is a formal document presented to your committee, usually orally in a defense, outlining your research aims and objectives and showing why your topic is relevant . After passing your prospectus defense, you’re ready to start your research and writing.

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The structure of your dissertation depends on a variety of factors, such as your discipline, topic, and approach. Dissertations in the humanities are often structured more like a long essay , building an overall argument to support a central thesis , with chapters organized around different themes or case studies.

However, hard science and social science dissertations typically include a review of existing works, a methodology section, an analysis of your original research, and a presentation of your results , presented in different chapters.

Dissertation examples

We’ve compiled a list of dissertation examples to help you get started.

• Example dissertation #1: Heat, Wildfire and Energy Demand: An Examination of Residential Buildings and Community Equity (a dissertation by C. A. Antonopoulos about the impact of extreme heat and wildfire on residential buildings and occupant exposure risks).
• Example dissertation #2: Exploring Income Volatility and Financial Health Among Middle-Income Households (a dissertation by M. Addo about income volatility and declining economic security among middle-income households).
• Example dissertation #3: The Use of Mindfulness Meditation to Increase the Efficacy of Mirror Visual Feedback for Reducing Phantom Limb Pain in Amputees (a dissertation by N. S. Mills about the effect of mindfulness-based interventions on the relationship between mirror visual feedback and the pain level in amputees with phantom limb pain).

The very first page of your document contains your dissertation title, your name, department, institution, degree program, and submission date. Sometimes it also includes your student number, your supervisor’s name, and the university’s logo.

Read more about title pages

The acknowledgements section is usually optional and gives space for you to thank everyone who helped you in writing your dissertation. This might include your supervisors, participants in your research, and friends or family who supported you. In some cases, your acknowledgements are part of a preface.

Read more about acknowledgements Read more about prefaces

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The abstract is a short summary of your dissertation, usually about 150 to 300 words long. Though this may seem very short, it’s one of the most important parts of your dissertation, because it introduces your work to your audience.

Your abstract should:

• State your main topic and the aims of your research
• Describe your methods
• Summarize your main results
• State your conclusions

Read more about abstracts

The table of contents lists all of your chapters, along with corresponding subheadings and page numbers. This gives your reader an overview of your structure and helps them easily navigate your document.

Remember to include all main parts of your dissertation in your table of contents, even the appendices. It’s easy to generate a table automatically in Word if you used heading styles. Generally speaking, you only include level 2 and level 3 headings, not every subheading you included in your finished work.

Read more about tables of contents

While not usually mandatory, it’s nice to include a list of figures and tables to help guide your reader if you have used a lot of these in your dissertation. It’s easy to generate one of these in Word using the Insert Caption feature.

Read more about lists of figures and tables

Similarly, if you have used a lot of abbreviations (especially industry-specific ones) in your dissertation, you can include them in an alphabetized list of abbreviations so that the reader can easily look up their meanings.

Read more about lists of abbreviations

In addition to the list of abbreviations, if you find yourself using a lot of highly specialized terms that you worry will not be familiar to your reader, consider including a glossary. Here, alphabetize the terms and include a brief description or definition.

Read more about glossaries

The introduction serves to set up your dissertation’s topic, purpose, and relevance. It tells the reader what to expect in the rest of your dissertation. The introduction should:

• Establish your research topic , giving the background information needed to contextualize your work
• Narrow down the focus and define the scope of your research
• Discuss the state of existing research on the topic, showing your work’s relevance to a broader problem or debate
• Clearly state your research questions and objectives
• Outline the flow of the rest of your work

Everything in the introduction should be clear, engaging, and relevant. By the end, the reader should understand the what, why, and how of your research.

Read more about introductions

A formative part of your research is your literature review . This helps you gain a thorough understanding of the academic work that already exists on your topic.

Literature reviews encompass:

• Finding relevant sources (e.g., books and journal articles)
• Assessing the credibility of your sources
• Critically analyzing and evaluating each source
• Drawing connections between them (e.g., themes, patterns, conflicts, or gaps) to strengthen your overall point

A literature review is not merely a summary of existing sources. Your literature review should have a coherent structure and argument that leads to a clear justification for your own research. It may aim to:

• Address a gap in the literature or build on existing knowledge
• Take a new theoretical or methodological approach to your topic
• Propose a solution to an unresolved problem or advance one side of a theoretical debate

Read more about literature reviews

Theoretical framework

Your literature review can often form the basis for your theoretical framework. Here, you define and analyze the key theories, concepts, and models that frame your research.

Read more about theoretical frameworks

Your methodology chapter describes how you conducted your research, allowing your reader to critically assess its credibility. Your methodology section should accurately report what you did, as well as convince your reader that this was the best way to answer your research question.

A methodology section should generally include:

• The overall research approach ( quantitative vs. qualitative ) and research methods (e.g., a longitudinal study )
• Your data collection methods (e.g., interviews or a controlled experiment )
• Details of where, when, and with whom the research took place
• Any tools and materials you used (e.g., computer programs, lab equipment)
• Your data analysis methods (e.g., statistical analysis , discourse analysis )
• An evaluation or justification of your methods

Read more about methodology sections

Your results section should highlight what your methodology discovered. You can structure this section around sub-questions, hypotheses , or themes, but avoid including any subjective or speculative interpretation here.

Your results section should:

• Concisely state each relevant result together with relevant descriptive statistics (e.g., mean , standard deviation ) and inferential statistics (e.g., test statistics , p values )
• Briefly state how the result relates to the question or whether the hypothesis was supported
• Report all results that are relevant to your research questions , including any that did not meet your expectations.

Additional data (including raw numbers, full questionnaires, or interview transcripts) can be included as an appendix. You can include tables and figures, but only if they help the reader better understand your results. Read more about results sections

Your discussion section is your opportunity to explore the meaning and implications of your results in relation to your research question. Here, interpret your results in detail, discussing whether they met your expectations and how well they fit with the framework that you built in earlier chapters. Refer back to relevant source material to show how your results fit within existing research in your field.

Some guiding questions include:

• What do your results mean?
• Why do your results matter?
• What limitations do the results have?

If any of the results were unexpected, offer explanations for why this might be. It’s a good idea to consider alternative interpretations of your data.

Read more about discussion sections

Your dissertation’s conclusion should concisely answer your main research question, leaving your reader with a clear understanding of your central argument and emphasizing what your research has contributed to the field.

In some disciplines, the conclusion is just a short section preceding the discussion section, but in other contexts, it is the final chapter of your work. Here, you wrap up your dissertation with a final reflection on what you found, with recommendations for future research and concluding remarks.

It’s important to leave the reader with a clear impression of why your research matters. What have you added to what was already known? Why is your research necessary for the future of your field?

Read more about conclusions

It is crucial to include a reference list or list of works cited with the full details of all the sources that you used, in order to avoid plagiarism. Be sure to choose one citation style and follow it consistently throughout your dissertation. Each style has strict and specific formatting requirements.

Common styles include MLA , Chicago , and APA , but which style you use is often set by your department or your field.

Create APA citations Create MLA citations

Your dissertation should contain only essential information that directly contributes to answering your research question. Documents such as interview transcripts or survey questions can be added as appendices, rather than adding them to the main body.

Read more about appendices

Making sure that all of your sections are in the right place is only the first step to a well-written dissertation. Don’t forget to leave plenty of time for editing and proofreading, as grammar mistakes and sloppy spelling errors can really negatively impact your work.

Dissertations can take up to five years to write, so you will definitely want to make sure that everything is perfect before submitting. You may want to consider using a professional dissertation editing service , AI proofreader or grammar checker to make sure your final project is perfect prior to submitting.

After your written dissertation is approved, your committee will schedule a defense. Similarly to defending your prospectus, dissertation defenses are oral presentations of your work. You’ll present your dissertation, and your committee will ask you questions. Many departments allow family members, friends, and other people who are interested to join as well.

After your defense, your committee will meet, and then inform you whether you have passed. Keep in mind that defenses are usually just a formality; most committees will have resolved any serious issues with your work with you far prior to your defense, giving you ample time to fix any problems.

As you write your dissertation, you can use this simple checklist to make sure you’ve included all the essentials.

Checklist: Dissertation

My title page includes all information required by my university.

I have included acknowledgements thanking those who helped me.

My abstract provides a concise summary of the dissertation, giving the reader a clear idea of my key results or arguments.

I have created a table of contents to help the reader navigate my dissertation. It includes all chapter titles, but excludes the title page, acknowledgements, and abstract.

My introduction leads into my topic in an engaging way and shows the relevance of my research.

My introduction clearly defines the focus of my research, stating my research questions and research objectives .

My introduction includes an overview of the dissertation’s structure (reading guide).

I have conducted a literature review in which I (1) critically engage with sources, evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of existing research, (2) discuss patterns, themes, and debates in the literature, and (3) address a gap or show how my research contributes to existing research.

I have clearly outlined the theoretical framework of my research, explaining the theories and models that support my approach.

I have thoroughly described my methodology , explaining how I collected data and analyzed data.

I have concisely and objectively reported all relevant results .

I have (1) evaluated and interpreted the meaning of the results and (2) acknowledged any important limitations of the results in my discussion .

I have clearly stated the answer to my main research question in the conclusion .

I have clearly explained the implications of my conclusion, emphasizing what new insight my research has contributed.

I have provided relevant recommendations for further research or practice.

If relevant, I have included appendices with supplemental information.

I have included an in-text citation every time I use words, ideas, or information from a source.

I have listed every source in a reference list at the end of my dissertation.

I have consistently followed the rules of my chosen citation style .

I have followed all formatting guidelines provided by my university.

Congratulations!

The end is in sight—your dissertation is nearly ready to submit! Make sure it's perfectly polished with the help of a Scribbr editor.

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How to Identify a Research Problem For Your Dissertation

Updated: Jan 15, 2021

Defining a research problem forms the base of any dissertation. Once you’re done selecting the research topic, it’s time to formulate the research problem that clearly highlights your chosen area of concern. It can either be a contradiction, difficulty, specific issue, or a knowledge gap that you’re aiming to feature in your research.

While formulating your research problem, you might look for either theoretical or practical problems, depending on the type of research work you want to do. Ideally, a research problem focuses on one problem type, but some research work may involve both.

Finding the Research Problem

Identifying and presenting the precise issues you’ll address in your dissertation isn’t as simple as it sounds. Many Dissertation candidates find it difficult and spend days thinking, exploring, and studying, trying to find the right questions/problems to start with.

If you choose a vague research problem, you may end up with an unmanageable and unfocused project. To save you from wasting hours, this article shows you some practical ways that are sure to help you pick the right research problem.

Get ready to develop a strong research base that has a clear purpose and justification by following two simple steps listed below.

Step 1: Address a Broad Problem Area

As you begin exploring your selected research topic, start looking for important areas of concern that are yet to be explored or are under-explored. You can also dig deep into a controversy or conflict to come up with a problem that is less discussed and deserves peoples’ attention. Irrespective of how you choose to identify a broad problem area, always keep in mind that the ultimate goal is to identify a gap that your dissertation can fill.

Considering some dissertation candidates may be doing practical research and others may be interested in doing theoretical research, let’s discuss the process of defining a broad problem area in both cases.

Identifying Research Problem in a Practical Research

Dissertation candidates doing practical research can identify a problem by reading reports, talking to relevant people working in the select field, or following up on previous research.

You should also start looking for performance-related issues in an organization, persistent concerns being faced by practitioners working in a select field, or difficulties faced by a particular section of the society.

If you’re researching on a job or internship, make sure to define a research problem that has practical relevance. Otherwise, the dissertation won’t serve the purpose.

To help dissertation candidates get a crystal clear idea of what practical research problems look like, let’s look at some examples.

Section A of society fails to overcome the poverty line, in contrast to the remaining society sections.

A startup is facing a funding gap resulting in the halting of its operations.

Researchers failing to come up with a vaccine that eradicates a specific deadly disease

Identifying Research Problem in a Theoretical Research

Theoretical research primarily focuses on developing a better understanding or expanding knowledge rather than directly contributing to a positive change.

To identify a theoretical research problem, you can start by reading recent research or theory that throws light on the broad research problem. You can also check out recent debates around your selected research topic and identify a gap that needs to be filled.

Some actionable steps can include researching an event that is yet to be closely studied, a troubling question or problem with no definite solution, a contradiction between various perspectives, or a relationship not well understood by many.

Though theoretical problems have practical consequences, these are not primarily aimed at bringing an immediate solution or solving an issue.

Let’s check out some examples of theoretical research problems to understand them better.

The long-term effect of the COVID-19 vaccine on people of different ages and health conditions is not well known.

The relationship between income inequality and gender concerning the upcoming Gen Z gig economy is yet to be properly researched.

A segment of workers disagreeing that automation will take away their jobs.

Step 2: Dive Deeper Into the Problem

Once you complete step 1, it is time to find out the known facts about the selected problem. Doing so will help you pinpoint the exact problem that your dissertation will address.

When exploring the problem more, make sure to gather as much information as possible. You can start by preparing a list of questions that you can use as a reference for further digging down into the problem.

The list should have all the possible questions that make you think about the “how,” “what,” “whose,” “why,” and more aspects. To make your work easy, a sample list of questions has been prepared. Take a note of the questions shared below, and start finding a specific research problem.

Is this a new problem? If yes, is some research work being done on it?

Who is being affected by the problem?

Is there any research-backed solution to tackle the problem?

What is the current state of the problem, and how much is known about it? Is there a void in the current research that can be filled?

What will happen if no proven solution is found for the problem? How will it affect the different sections of society?

Who will benefit the most from the solution of this problem?

Where should you focus first, and what part of the problem can you deal with?

You can add more questions to this list based on your research work and understanding.

If you diligently follow the two steps shared in this article, creating a problem statement or research questions won’t be difficult.

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