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Identifying the Inquiry and Statement of the Problem
Research Problem and Title
 Qualitative research studies can provide you with
details about human behavior, emotions, and
personality characteristics that quantitative studies
cannot match.
 In every research stating research topic or a
problem is the very basic and the very first step in
making research.
 It is always based on the researcher’s knowledge,
experience, skills, interests and expertise in
selecting a good research topic and problem
A research problem may come from:
 Social issues-topics can be from the social
and political arena
 Existing theories – research aims to
develop and test theories
 Folklores- beliefs can be right or wrong
 Brainstorming- it is a key in finding new
techniques and new questions that the
researchers are very curious of
 Consultation with experts- experts can
help give more knowledge on what they
have experienced in the past.
 Exposure to field situations- these can
help the researchers get a variety of
experience in fields
 Personal and Practical experiences can be
a good source of creating a research
problem
 Critical Appraisal of literature- this may
from books and articles which may trigger
researchers curiosity
 Question Seeking Answer- these may
refers to areas of concern to improve or
eliminate difficulty.
In selecting a good research problem, the following points
will serve as a guide:
Significant It should add more on the body of
knowledge in specific area. It should
serve a purpose on the area of
knowledge
Original Every research has to be unique and
the problem should be new. The
researcher must possess an innovative
knowledge.
Feasible It could help if the research is
appropriate or not. It would help if the
study could be carried out.
Researchable There are some problems that are very
ambiguous and somehow unsolved for
example the existence of God.
Current More researchers would be interested
in the study based on current
problems
Interesting The study must be fascinating to the
researcher
Ethical The research question is anchored on a
morally good perspective.
WRITING THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
 In every aspects in any kind of research, questions
arise and may be a catalyst for further research. in
a research paper the Statement of the Problem is
simply where all the questions pertaining to
finding all the results of the proposed topic or
problem can be found.
 SOP, is also known as Thesis Statement. It clearly
states the problem as a main problem, written
either as a declarative statement or as a question,
broken down into specific subproblems (research
questions)
 A research problem is basically the situation that is
need of a solution, improvement or alteration
what is currently happening and what the
researcher ought for things to happen.
 However, we must remember that despite
research problems uprooting different and
multitudes of questions to be answered, not all
questions that arise are considered to be good and
significant research questions.
o To be able to know if your research
question and research problem is worthy
enough to be studied, they should be able
to:
 Ask questions that guide the
researcher in gaining a
conclusion to their hypothesis
 Be able to help find results and
conclusions
 Have a valid significance in
relation to the study
These research questions should provide answers
that explain, describe, identify predict or qualify
conclusions for the research.
Problem statements generally start out as
something general that is narrowed down into a
more specific topic or objectives or research
questions.
In order to make the process if writing the
statement of the problem easier, providing a good
background of the study is imperative.
“background of the Study” should:
 Offer a “ background” or the
“context” for the current
situation presented and if
necessary.
 Describe how the current
situation needs to be changed.
Describe an ideal situation for
the issue at hand.
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 Summarize the
issue/phenomenon that the
research wants to study.
WHAT IS A RESEARCH PROBLEM?
Generally speaking a research problem is a situation that
needs a solution and for which there are possible solutions.
If a situation has no possible solutions then it makes little or
no sense expending resources researching it. Take this
statement, “everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody
wants to die”. Dying looks like a problem that needs a
solution yet there is no possible solution to it. People must
die. A research on how people can live forever makes little
or no sense.
A research problem may be described as an incongruence; a
discrepancy between what is and what ought to be. It may
be also described as the gap in knowledge that needs to be
filled.
WHAT IS A PROBLEM STATEMENT?
A problem statement is the description of an issue currently
existing which needs to be addressed. It provides the
context for the research study and generates the questions
which the research aims to answer. The statement of the
problem is the focal point of any research. A good problem
statement is just one sentence (with several paragraphs of
elaboration). For example it could be: "The frequency of
job layoffs is creating fear, anxiety, and a loss of productivity
in middle management workers."
While this problem statement is just one sentence, it should
be accompanied by a few paragraphs that elaborate on the
problem. The paragraphs could cover present persuasive
arguments that make the problem important enough to
study. They could include the opinions of others (politicians,
futurists, other professionals); explanations of how the
problem relates to business, social or political trends via
presentation of data that demonstrates the scope and
depth of the problem.
WHAT ARE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE STATEMENT
PROBLEM?
Problem statements often have three elements:
1. The problem itself, stated clearly and with enough
contextual detail to establish why it is important
2. The method of solving the problem, often stated as a
claim or a working thesis
3. The purpose, statement of objective and scope of the
project being proposed.
These elements should be brief so that the reader does not
get lost. One page is enough for a statement problem.
Criteria for Research Problem Statements:
• The statement of the problem should clearly
indicate what is to be investigated.
• The actual statement may be in a declarative or
in a question form.
• The statement should indicate the variables of
interest and the specific relationship between the variables
that are to be studied.
• Please note: In some qualitative methodologies,
a statement of variables will not be possible and should not
be done. However, an explanation of the qualitative
methodology and the parameters of the research
methodology should be explained.
PROBLEM STATEMENT 4 required parts
1. Start with a general problem identifying the
need for the study. E.g. The problem of this study is ______
2. State the specific problem proposed for
research. (use citation & usually a number to make it clear
to the reader, e.g. 30% of the farms have been affected by
the Napier grass disease
3. Introductory words describing Methodological
approach (i.e. Research Design) are given and are
appropriate to the specific proposal problem, e.g. this
qualitative study will explore... or this quantitative study will
examine ...
4. General population group of proposed study is
identified. Small scale farmers in affected locations will be
surveyed to determine ...
Writing a Research Title
A research title is the first thing a person will see, when
reading your research paper. Because of this, it should be
short, sharp and describe what your research is about.
While the research is an area of concern where there is a
gap in the knowledge base needed for professional
purposes.
The research title should explain the contents of your paper,
at the same time it should not be too long. If you think that
the title is too long, you can remove the unnecessary
words. It should also not be short and generalized. The title
needs important details with regards to your study.
Example:
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Life After Incarceration: Discrimination It is important to narrow down your thesis topic and limit
Experienced and Behavioral Adjustments of Selected Ex- the scope of your study. The researcher should inform the
convicts from Negros Occidental reader about limits or coverage of the study. The scope
identifies the boundaries of the study in term of subjects,
objectives, facilities, area, time frame, and the issues to
which the research is focused.
Statement of the Problem
Sample phrases that help express the scope of the study:
Thesis statement is written to expresses the main idea of
your paper. You should make your reader agree with your The coverage of this study……….
opinion and to do this, you should provide evidences to The study consists of ……..
prove your opinion. This sentence may call it a thesis The study covers the ……….
statement. A thesis statement is written in the form of This study is focus on……
statement not a question. Your thesis should express true The delimitation of the study is delimiting a study by
opinion not exaggerated. Like for example, we can say that geographic location, age, sex, population traits, population
cellphone is amazing or cellphone is awful. This statement size, or other similar considerations. Delimitation is used to
is seem to be exaggerated, instead , you can say that make study better and more feasible and not just for the
cellphone has more advantages that disadvantages or interest of the researcher. It also identifies the constraints
cellphone do good than harm. To prove this statement you or weaknesses of your study which are not within the
should provides evidence. control of the researcher.
Your thesis statement should be debatable as much as Sample phrases that expressed the delimitations of the
possible. For instance, we cannot say that there are high study
numbers of drug addicts living in Sta Rosa, because it is not
debatable and it stated as a fact, instead, we can say that The study does not cover the……
“There are lots of drug addicts in Sta. Rosa.” This statement The researcher limited this research to……
can be answerable by yes or no and it is debatable. This study is limited to………
A good thesis statement should be supported by well Here are some hints and tips in writing the Scope and
research supporting document to prove your claim. Like for Delimitation:
example, “People should live to other planets.” This
statement cannot be research because no person is living in – Indicate the principal variables, locale, timeframe
other planet to prove this statement so how you should and justification.
defend this claim – To whom you research is directed to?
Other characteristic of thesis statement is that it should be – What is the subject matter of the study?
specific. Specific topic example includes: “Marijuana should – Where the study will take place?
be legalized”, “Cause of autism can be linked to gut”, | – Indicate the timeframe. State the time coverage of the
School Official should fight cyberbullying” and study.
“Dependence to technology makes the students lazy”. – Don’t forget the limitation. What is the limitation of your
study?
Always makes sure that if you choose a topic in your thesis, – What is the incapability of your research?
it should be an interesting for both of you and the reader. – Is it beneficial to all? Or to a certain person/institution
only?

Scope and Delimitations of the research Sample Scope and Delimitations

What is Scope of Study Section?
The Scope of study in the thesis or research paper is
contains the explanation of what information or subject is
being analyzed. It is followed by an explanation of the
limitation of the research. Research usually limited in scope
by sample size, time and geographic area. While the
delimitation of study is the description of the scope of
study. It will explain why definite aspects of a subject were
chosen and why others were excluded. It also mention the
research method used as well as the certain theories that
applied to the data..
The main focus of this project was the design of an efficient
Energy Recovery System of Seawater Reverse Osmosis
Plant. The system will be using pressure technology by
application of pressure exchanger as an energy recovery
device. Pressure exchanger transfer pressure from a high
pressure stream to slow pressure stream in a ceramic
motor. The proposed system is limited only in reducing high
power consumption of the high pressure pump. The project
can be used in all existing Seawater Reverse Osmosis Plant
in the Philippines. Some calculations, assumptions, and
selections were made as a consideration of a proper and
realistic design.
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Purpose of the Study 1. Refer to the statement of the problem

Your problem statement can guide you in identifying the

Writing Effective Purpose Statements
A purpose statement is a declarative sentence which
summarizes the specific topic and goals of a document. It is
typically included in the introduction to give the reader an
accurate, concrete understanding what the document will
cover and what he/she can gain from reading it. To be
effective, a statement of purpose should be:
 Specific and precise - not general, broad or obscure
 Concise - one or two sentences
 Clear - not vague, ambiguous or confusing
specific contribution of your study. You can do this by
observing a one-to-one correspondence between the
statement of the problem and the significance of the study.
For example, if you ask the question “Is there a significant
relationship between the teacher’s teaching style and the
students’ long quiz scores in Mathematics?” then the
contribution of your research would probably be a teaching
style or styles (among say, three teaching styles you
evaluated) that can help students perform better in
Mathematics. Your research will demonstrate that that
teaching style really works. That could be a groundbreaking
approach that will change the way teachers teach
Mathematics which many students abhor.

 Goal-oriented - stated in terms of desired

outcomes

Some common introductory phrases for purpose

statements include:

 "The purpose of this paper/letter/document is

to..."

 "In this paper, I will describe/explain/review/etc.

the..."

 "My reason for writing is to..."

 "This paper will discuss the..."

 "The purpose of this paper is twofold: to ___ and

___"

Examples of Ineffective Purpose Statements:

(1) "The purpose of this paper is to describe the

changes that are occurring in corporate America." 2. Write from general to specific contribution

I learned this technique from a former professor while in

Critique: too vague and broad. No clear pursuing my masters degree. It works this way:
expectation of what the reader will
learn. Questions: What specific changes in
corporate America will be described? What types Write the significance of the study by looking into the
of changes? What aspects of corporate America general contribution of your study, such as its importance to
will be discussed? Will this paper also discuss the society as a whole, then proceed downwards—towards its
effects of these changes? contribution to individuals and that may include yourself as
a researcher. You start off broadly then taper off gradually
to a specific group or person.

Significance of the study
2 Tips in Writing the Significance of the Study
Coupled with reference to the problem statement, this
effectively stimulates the mind to think in a deductive
mode, i.e., from general to specific.
For example, in the study on teaching style given in #1, you
may write:
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Example significance of the study.

These two techniques will prevent your mind from
wandering wildly or aimlessly as you explore the
significance of your study. Applying them will save time thus
allow you to focus on the next section of your thesis. Who
knows, this section may also help justify why your study
deserves a grant.

Significance of the study is written as part of the

introduction section of a thesis. It provides details to the
reader on how the study will contribute such as what the
study will contribute and who will benefit from it. It also
includes an explanation of the work’s importance as well
as its potential benefits. It is sometimes called rationale.
Tips in Writing the Significance of the Study

1. Statement of the problem will guide you to write

a significance of the study. Based on your
statement of the problem you will see the
potential benefits of your study. Just answer this
question, “What are the benefits or advantages
of the study based on statement of the
problem?”

2. Determine the specific contribution of your

thesis study to the society as well as to the
individual

Significance of the Study

The study of dehydration technology and fabrication
can be a learning paradigm in the secondary level and
vocational schools to enhance the students’ knowledge
and entrepreneurial skills as well. The project’s goal is
designed to help students improve academic
competence, develop employability skills, implement a
career plan and participate in a career pathway in
preparation for post secondary education or careers in
the food manufacturing or services sector after
graduating from high school.