Crafting a Comprehensive Problem Statement: A Step-by-Step Guide based on Creswell's Methodology

Problem statements are critical components of research projects because they provide a clear and brief description of the research problem to be addressed. They define the context, significance, and research issues or objectives that the study seeks to address. It is critical to create an effective problem statement since it serves as the foundation for the research project and directs the entire research process. This article will walk you through the process of creating a detailed problem statement using Creswell's methodology.

Step 1: Identify the Research Problem

Identifying the research issue is the initial step in constructing a problem statement. This can be accomplished by doing a comprehensive literature analysis and finding research gaps or an issue that needs to be addressed. The research problem should be defined properly and with sufficient specificity to guide the research process. It must also be pertinent to the field and substantial enough to warrant a research study.

Step 2: Establish the Research Context

Following the identification of the research issue, the research context must be established. This entails offering a concise summary of the current state of research in the topic, including pertinent theories, concepts, and findings. This will aid in defining the significance and scope of the research problem.

Step 3: Describe the Research Objectives/Questions

The third step is to describe the objectives or questions of the research. This requires stating the particular purposes and objectives of the research study or the research questions to be answered. The research objectives or questions must be precise, succinct, and pertinent to the research issue.

Step 4: Explain the Significance of the Study

The fourth step is to explain the significance of the study. This involves explaining why the research problem is significant and why the research objectives or questions are important to address. This should include a discussion of the potential implications and contributions of the study to the field.

Step 5: Write the Problem Statement

The final step is to write the problem statement, which should be a clear and concise summary of the research problem, research context, research objectives/questions, and the significance of the study. The problem statement should be no more than one or two sentences and should accurately and succinctly capture the essence of the research project.

Conclusion

Crafting a comprehensive problem statement is an important step in the research process. It establishes the foundation for the research project and guides the entire research process. By following the steps outlined in this article, researchers can create an effective problem statement that is specific, relevant, and significant. Following Creswell's methodology can help researchers to create a problem statement that is clear and concise and provides a solid foundation for the research study.

Example Problem Statement:

Students frequently experience anxiety during speaking activities in the classroom, affecting their ability to communicate effectively and participate in class. Despite the existence of some studies on anxiety in EFL context, there is a lack of study on anxiety during classroom speaking activities. This study intends to investigate the nature of anxiety experienced by students during speaking activities in the classroom and to discover possible factors contributing to anxiety in order to develop effective techniques to assist students in overcoming their anxiety and improving their language learning results.

Explanation

This problem statement follows Creswell's methodology by addressing the key elements required in a comprehensive problem statement. It starts with a clear identification of the research problem, which is anxiety during speaking activities in the classroom. It then establishes the research context by highlighting the prevalence of anxiety among students and the lack of research on anxiety in speaking activities. The research objectives or questions are not explicitly stated in this example, but it implies that the study aims to explore the nature of anxiety and identify potential contributing factors to develop effective strategies. The significance of the study is also discussed by highlighting the need to help students overcome their anxiety and improve their language learning outcomes. Overall, this problem statement provides a clear and concise overview of the research problem, context, and significance, which can guide the entire research process.

References:

• Creswell, J. W. (2014). Research design: qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.
• Creswell, J. W., & Poth, C. N. (2017). Qualitative inquiry and research design: Choosing among five approaches. Sage publications.

Share :