This academic article explains how to write a research problem statement and provides examples of a problem statement in research. Examples and Samples of Problem Statements in Quantitative Research.
Problem Statement in Research
A problem statement in research is a concise, precise synopsis of the research problems the study intends to address. It also identifies the knowledge gap that motivates the research and contributes to the body of knowledge.
The problem statement section analyzes what is known and what remains unknown regarding the research problems and issues. The ‘known’ vs ‘unknown’ needs to be analyzed, synthesized, and defended rather than written descriptively. Arguments for the existence of the problem may be supported by highlighting inconsistencies, controversies, conflicts, or contradictions in prior studies.
It also proposes variables that identify the research gaps contributing to the resolution of the research problem. Additionally, the research problem statement highlights the weaknesses of prior findings. Moreover, it emphasizes the expected knowledge or what is required (still unknown) to enable you to contribute to the body of knowledge.
A good problem statement certainly answers the following questions: what issue needs to be addressed, and why?
Does the research problem statement differ between quantitative and qualitative research?
The answer is no, and there is no difference. The writing style of the research problem statement is similar across research strategies. Consequently, the research candidates follow the same style for writing research problems for quantitative, qualitative, and other research approaches.
How To Write a Problem Statement
The author explains how to write a research problem statement for students’ research proposals, papers, theses, and dissertations.
Elements of a Research Problem Statement
The problem statement contains these four elements:
- Context or Background
- Problem or Literature Gap
- Relevance or Significance
- Objective or Purpose
The context is the background of what is currently known and unknown about the research issue. The problem statement establishes context for the audience and defines the problem within that context.
The issue concerns what we need to know. It clearly states the specific problem the research aims to address. It highlights a gap in the current knowledge or literature that your study intends to address.
Relevance refers to the significance of the study. It justifies why it is an essential issue to research and the value of research.
Finally, the objective is the aim of the study: what you want to discover, clarify, or confirm. It proposes a solution to the problem.
Problem Statement Writing Steps
The author divides the process into three stages to define four elements.
The Three Stages of Writing a Problem Statement are:
- Review the Literature From Previous Findings
- Identifying the Problem With Research Gaps
- Contribute to the Body of Knowledge
1. Review the Literature From Previous Findings
First, the researchers must read industry reports, government statistical reports, and newspaper articles to understand the broader context better. They also read relevant research papers, review papers, and dissertations previously published to deepen their knowledge.
Many scholars suggest that researchers systematically review journal articles to advance knowledge. According to Mark Petticrew and Helen Roberts, the systematic literature review is closely aligned with the acquisition of knowledge in a particular area. The PRISMA systematic literature review is the most widely used and well-accepted strategy for synthesizing prior studies.
The literature review from past findings has to answer the following question:
- What research has already been conducted on this topic?
It summarizes and organizes existing knowledge to provide a background for the current work.
- What are the main themes, trends, or patterns that have emerged from prior research?
It classifies previous research and identifies dominant views or areas of controversy.
- What has been established, and what remains unknown or unresolved?
The primary goal is to identify knowledge gaps, inconsistencies, or under-explored areas that the current study will address.
- How does the past research lead to the author’s current study?
It situates the new research within the broader academic field and clarifies how it builds upon or departs from previous work.
- What do we know about the problem from the real world and academic literature?
Knowledge from the real world, often gained through practical or personal experience, defines the problem in a tangible, immediate context
2. Identifying the Problem With Research Gaps
Researchers must identify research gaps, including inconsistencies, controversies, conflicts, or contradictions in prior studies. Among approaches to identifying research gaps, the most common involve concepts, perspectives, theories, methodologies, methods, and analyses. Research gaps must be systematically identified as the basis for an investigation. Therefore, researchers need to state the research gaps precisely and clearly, and specify the type of research they intend to study.
The seven types of research gaps are:
- Evidence gap
- Knowledge gap
- Practical knowledge gap
- Methodological gap
- Empirical gap
- Theoretical gap
- Population gap.
Researchers must identify key gaps, inconsistencies, and controversies in the literature to establish the need for additional research. Researchers can conduct research based on one, two, or more than two research gaps. This section also defines the study process and methods to achieve the goals.
The Problem with research gaps must answer the following questions:
- What do we not know about the problem from the real world and academic literature?
- What does your research want to achieve by this study?
- How do we want to resolve the problems?
3. Contribute to the Body of Knowledge
Finally, the research problem includes the importance and significance of the study. It explains why and how it contributes to the body of knowledge. The empirical evidence contributes to the literature. It also highlights the study’s theoretical and practical significance in resolving the issues.
The section answers the following questions:
- Why do we need to know what we do not know about the problem?
- What might happen if the problem is not resolved?
- What are the future benefits of solving the issues, including the impact on society, community, and people’s lives?
Examples of Problem Statement in Research
The author presents examples of research problem statements based on different research titles. Thus, examples of problem statements in research help students approve the research proposal. These samples illustrate how to write a research problem statement for qualitative and quantitative research.
Example of Problem Statement in Review Research (SLR)-1
Research Title: A Comprehensive Literature Review on the Impact of Artificial Intelligence in Entrepreneurial Activities
Problem Statement
Entrepreneurship is a popular topic (Indrianti et al., 2020), and researchers such as Audretsch and Moog (2022) argue that it warrants special attention given its connection to current economic and social challenges. The emergence of Artificial Intelligence (AI) tools has become particularly important in the digital transformation of businesses, as entrepreneurs must constantly adapt and stay informed on emerging trends (Kraus et al., 2018). Therefore, AI has been propelled by ongoing market transformations and the rising needs of an expanding population. The information technology (IoT) surge has played a crucial role in advancing AI and has sparked interest among both business and government leaders (Zhang & Lu, 2021).
Nonetheless, there remains a scarcity of literature specifically addressing the relationship between entrepreneurship and AI (Popkova & Sergi, 2020), despite findings by Obschonka & Audretsch (2019) indicating that the integration of AI into entrepreneurship marks the beginning of a new era.
Among various systematic literature reviews, Giuggioli & Pellegrini (2022) notably emphasize the advantages of AI in fostering entrepreneurial growth.
However, our research not only addresses the previously overlooked semantic analysis but also extends and builds upon analyses conducted over the past two years, which is particularly pertinent in light of the digital acceleration following the Covid-19 pandemic.
Additionally, Di Vaio et al. (2020) review the literature on AI and business models. In recent years, various literature reviews have examined connections between topics such as education (Tahiru, 2021); health (Shah & Chircu, 2018); public administration (Reis et al., 2019); and consumer behavior (Mariani et al., 2022). The absence of comprehensive systematic literature reviews concerning the role of AI in entrepreneurship highlights the significance of the current study.
Problem Statement in Research Example-2
Research Title: The Antecedent Of Artificial Intelligence Adoption Among Hr Professionals In the Tourism & Hospitality Industry In Malaysia.
Problem Statement
Recently, Human resource professionals have been introduced to many advanced technologies, including nanotechnology, autonomous vehicles, quantum computing, and artificial intelligence in the 4.0 industrial era (Chatterjee, Rana, Dwivedi & Baabdullah, 2021). The new technology, especially AI tools, challenges conventional human resource management practices. The current era demands that organizations employ competent employees who are experts in advanced technologies. Innovative employees welcome new technology to enhance performance and market competitiveness.
HR professionals regard AI as a powerful tool for increasing productivity. Very few studies have examined the antecedents of artificial intelligence (AI) adoption among HR professionals (Pan et al., 2022). These studies have not articulated how AI tools enhance organizational employee productivity (Chatterjee et al., 2021).
Many studies demonstrate that large companies such as IBM adopt AI tools to reduce human resource costs (Lim, 2023) and enhance employee performance (Islam, Aldaihani, & Saatchi, 2023). Academic demands have increased for the use, application, and adoption of AI technology among scholars globally (Akter et al., 2022).
Example of Problem Statement in Quantitative Research -3
Review the Literature From Previous Findings
Limited research has investigated the influence of High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS) on employee outcomes, including health and job satisfaction, which are particularly important during the COVID-19 pandemic (Kloutsiniotis and Mihail, 2020a; Adikaram et al., 2021).
Stressful and uncertain environments have exacerbated burnout, which was already a significant issue among hotel staff before the COVID-19 crisis (Ayachit & Chitta, 2021; Tsui, 2021; Wong et al., 2019).
Earlier studies have confirmed that HPWS directly affects employees’ social identity and also plays a mediating role in the relationship between HPWS and “psychological empowerment” (Bartram et al., 2014; Mihail and Kloutsiniotis, 2016).
Identifying the Problem With Research Gaps
Given the significance of High-Performance Work Systems (HPWS) in the hospitality and tourism sectors, researchers emphasize the need for further exploration, particularly within hotel contexts. Therefore, this study aims to address gaps in the existing literature by examining the relationships between HPWS and outcomes, with particular focus on the hotel industry. Specifically, we discuss the pathways linking employees’ perceptions of HPWS implementation to their overall well-being. Furthermore, we provide empirical evidence to support the link between employee well-being and individual job performance.
Contribute to the Body of Knowledge
This study offers valuable theoretical and managerial insights to the field. We initially respond to ongoing calls in the literature for more empirical research in the hospitality and tourism industry and investigate how HPWS influences employee outcomes. By doing so, we contribute to the growing body of research on how employees’ perceptions of HPWS affect outcomes such as quality of life (QoL).
Importance of a Strong Problem Statement
The statement of the problem is the most crucial component of securing acceptance for the research proposal or project. The candidates must identify research problems with knowledge gaps systematically to write a problem statement for a research proposal, project, dissertation, or thesis. A strong problem statement impresses examiners and reviewers and helps secure the proposal’s acceptance. It is the first step in conducting any academic research.
The researcher sets the research objective, research question, and hypothesis based on the problem statement. Hence, candidates or students cannot continue their research without a strong problem statement. The research problem is an inevitable part of quantitative, qualitative, and other research. No research can be conducted without identifying the research problem.
A good research proposal must include a research problem statement that identifies weaknesses in prior studies. Accordingly, it provides empirical evidence that enriches the literature. A strong problem statement must explain how to fulfill the research gaps.
Ph.D. and Master of Science (by research) students undergo a proposal defense. In this presentation, examiners may ask candidates which research problem they aim to address. Thus, a concise and strong problem statement is essential for overcoming proposal defense (PD).
Poorly Written Problem Statement of the Research Proposal
A research proposal may be rejected due to a poorly written problem statement. The authority might deny the research proposal for the following reasons:
- A research proposal can be rejected if this section is poorly defined and discussed.
- The research proposal may also be declined if the candidate merely states the Research Proposal without critically discussing why it is a problem.
- The candidate did not successfully highlight the connections between constructs with the theory used to explain the framework.
- How does Contingency theory support the moderator?
- How does the theory support and justify the relationships in the framework?
