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Identifying the Inquiry and Statement of the Problem Current More researchers would be interested
in the study based on current
problems
Interesting The study must be fascinating to the
Research Problem and Title researcher
Ethical The research question is anchored on a
morally good perspective.
Qualitative research studies can provide you with
WRITING THE STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM
details about human behavior, emotions, and
personality characteristics that quantitative studies In every aspects in any kind of research, questions
cannot match. arise and may be a catalyst for further research. in
In every research stating research topic or a a research paper the Statement of the Problem is
problem is the very basic and the very first step in simply where all the questions pertaining to
making research. finding all the results of the proposed topic or
It is always based on the researcher’s knowledge, problem can be found.
experience, skills, interests and expertise in SOP, is also known as Thesis Statement. It clearly
selecting a good research topic and problem states the problem as a main problem, written
either as a declarative statement or as a question,
A research problem may come from: broken down into specific subproblems (research
Social issues-topics can be from the social questions)
and political arena A research problem is basically the situation that is
Existing theories – research aims to need of a solution, improvement or alteration
develop and test theories what is currently happening and what the
Folklores- beliefs can be right or wrong researcher ought for things to happen.
Brainstorming- it is a key in finding new However, we must remember that despite
techniques and new questions that the research problems uprooting different and
researchers are very curious of multitudes of questions to be answered, not all
Consultation with experts- experts can questions that arise are considered to be good and
help give more knowledge on what they significant research questions.
have experienced in the past. o To be able to know if your research
Exposure to field situations- these can question and research problem is worthy
help the researchers get a variety of enough to be studied, they should be able
experience in fields to:
Personal and Practical experiences can be Ask questions that guide the
a good source of creating a research researcher in gaining a
problem conclusion to their hypothesis
Critical Appraisal of literature- this may Be able to help find results and
from books and articles which may trigger conclusions
researchers curiosity Have a valid significance in
Question Seeking Answer- these may relation to the study
refers to areas of concern to improve or These research questions should provide answers
eliminate difficulty. that explain, describe, identify predict or qualify
conclusions for the research.
In selecting a good research problem, the following points
Problem statements generally start out as
will serve as a guide:
something general that is narrowed down into a
more specific topic or objectives or research
Significant It should add more on the body of
questions.
knowledge in specific area. It should
In order to make the process if writing the
serve a purpose on the area of
statement of the problem easier, providing a good
knowledge
background of the study is imperative.
Original Every research has to be unique and
“background of the Study” should:
the problem should be new. The
Offer a “ background” or the
researcher must possess an innovative
“context” for the current
knowledge.
situation presented and if
Feasible It could help if the research is
necessary.
appropriate or not. It would help if the
Describe how the current
study could be carried out.
situation needs to be changed.
Researchable There are some problems that are very
Describe an ideal situation for
ambiguous and somehow unsolved for
the issue at hand.
example the existence of God.
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Generally speaking a research problem is a situation that • The statement should indicate the variables of
needs a solution and for which there are possible solutions. interest and the specific relationship between the variables
If a situation has no possible solutions then it makes little or that are to be studied.
no sense expending resources researching it. Take this
statement, “everybody wants to go to heaven but nobody • Please note: In some qualitative methodologies,
wants to die”. Dying looks like a problem that needs a a statement of variables will not be possible and should not
solution yet there is no possible solution to it. People must be done. However, an explanation of the qualitative
die. A research on how people can live forever makes little methodology and the parameters of the research
or no sense. methodology should be explained.
WHAT ARE KEY COMPONENTS OF THE STATEMENT A research title is the first thing a person will see, when
PROBLEM? reading your research paper. Because of this, it should be
short, sharp and describe what your research is about.
Problem statements often have three elements: While the research is an area of concern where there is a
gap in the knowledge base needed for professional
1. The problem itself, stated clearly and with enough purposes.
contextual detail to establish why it is important
The research title should explain the contents of your paper,
2. The method of solving the problem, often stated as a at the same time it should not be too long. If you think that
claim or a working thesis the title is too long, you can remove the unnecessary
words. It should also not be short and generalized. The title
3. The purpose, statement of objective and scope of the
needs important details with regards to your study.
project being proposed.
Example:
These elements should be brief so that the reader does not
get lost. One page is enough for a statement problem.
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?
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.
2 Tips in Writing the Significance of the Study For example, in the study on teaching style given in #1, you
may write:
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