Research Problem Statement

Research is a systematic investigative process employed to increase or revise current knowledge by discovering new facts. It can be divided into two general categories:

Basic research, which is inquiry aimed at increasing scientific knowledge
Applied research, which is an effort aimed at using basic research for solving problems or developing new processes, products, or techniques.

The first and most important step in any research is to identify and delineate the research problem: that is, what the researcher wants to solve and what questions he/she wishes to answer. A research problem may be defined as an area of concern, a gap in the existing knowledge, or a deviation in the norm or standard that points to the need for further understanding and investigation. Although many problems turn out to have several solutions (the means to close the gap or correct the deviation), difficulties arise where such means are either not obvious or are not immediately available. This then necessitates some research to reach a viable solution.

How to write a problem statement for a research proposal

A statement of the problem is used in research work as a claim that outlines the problem addressed by a study. The statement of the problem briefly addresses the question: What is the problem that the research will address?

What are the goals of a statement of the problem?

The ultimate goal of a statement of the problem is to transform a generalized problem (something that bothers you; a perceived lack) into a targeted, well-defined problem; one that can be resolved through focused research and careful decision-making.

Writing a statement of the problem should help you clearly identify the purpose of the research project you will propose. Often, the statement of the problem will also serve as the basis for the introductory section of your final proposal, directing your reader’s attention quickly to the issues that your proposed project will address and providing the reader with a concise statement of the proposed project itself.

A statement of problem need not be long and elaborate: one page is more than enough for a good statement of problem.

What are the key characteristics of a statement of the problem?

A good research problem should have the following characteristics:

It should address a gap in knowledge.
It should be significant enough to contribute to the existing body of research
It should lead to further research
The problem should render itself to investigation through collection of data
It should be of interest to the researcher and suit his/her skills, time, and resources
The approach towards solving the problem should be ethical

What is the format for writing a statement of the problem?

A persuasive statement of the problem is usually written in three parts:

Part A (The ideal): Describes a desired goal or ideal situation; explains how things should be.

Part B (The reality): Describes a condition that prevents the goal, state, or value in Part A from being achieved or realized at this time; explains how the current situation falls short of the goal or ideal.

Part C (The consequences): Identifies the way you propose to improve the current situation and move it closer to the goal or ideal.

Here is an example:

Example 1

Part A: According to the XY university mission statement, the university seeks to provide students with a safe, healthy learning environment. Dormitories are one important aspect of that learning environment since 55% of XY students live in campus dorms and most of these students spend a significant amount of time working in their dorm rooms.

However,

Part B: Students living in dorms A B C, and D currently do not have air conditioning units, and during the hot seasons, it is common for room temperatures to exceed 80 degrees F. Many students report that they are unable to do homework in their dorm rooms. Others report having problems sleeping because of the humidity and temperature. The rooms are not only unhealthy, but they inhibit student productivity and academic achievement.

Part C: In response to this problem, our study proposes to investigate several options for making the dorms more hospitable. We plan to carry out an all-inclusive participatory investigation into options for purchasing air conditioners (university-funded; student-subsidized) and different types of air conditioning systems. We will also consider less expensive ways to mitigate some or all of the problems noted above (such as creating climate-controlled dorm lounges and equipping them with better study areas and computing space)

Nursing research problem statement example

Here are some Nursing research problem statements examples:

Medical-Surgical Nursing

Those students who want to study Medical surgical nursing must check the following Problem statement given or you can make it according to your convenience

“EFFECTIVENESS OF SELECTED RELAXATION TECHNIQUES ON THE PHYSIOLOGICAL PARAMETERS OF PATIENTS DIAGNOSED WITH BRONCHIAL ASTHMA IN A SELECTED HOSPITAL OF DHELI.”

The flowing research seems to fall under the category of clinical research, specifically within the realm of healthcare and medicine. It focuses on assessing the effectiveness of relaxation techniques on physiological parameters (such as breathing rate, blood pressure, etc.) in patients diagnosed with bronchial asthma. This type of research typically involves conducting experiments or clinical trials to evaluate the impact of interventions, in this case, relaxation techniques, on a specific health condition.

You can download a PDF for more Examples of Medical-surgical Nursing Research by just clicking below

Community Health Nursing

Those students who want to study Community Health nursing must check the following Problem statement given or you can make it according to your convenience

“A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF VIDEO-ASSISTED TEACHING PROGRAMME ON THE KNOWLEDGE OF FARMERS REGARDING VECTOR-BORNE DISEASES AND THEIR PREVENTION AT SELECTED RURAL AREAS IN UDAIPUR”

The research described is an example of an intervention study, specifically a pre-test post-test design, aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of a video-assisted teaching program. It seeks to assess the impact of the program on the knowledge of farmers regarding vector-borne diseases and their prevention in selected rural areas in Udaipur.

You can download a PDF for more Examples of Community Health Nursing Research by just clicking below

Pediatric Health Nursing

Those students who want to study Pediatric Health Nursing must check the following Problem statement given or you can make it according to your convenience

“A STUDY TO ASSES THE EFFECTIVENESS OF AN INFORMATION BOOKLET ON KNOWLEDGE OF STAFF NURSES REGARDING BABY FRIENDLY HOSPITAL INITIATIVE WITH A VIEW TO DEVELOP AN INFORMATION BOOKLET IN SELECTED HOSPITALS AT UDAIPUR”

The research described is also an intervention study, specifically focusing on assessing the effectiveness of an information booklet on the knowledge of staff nurses regarding the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative. Like the previous example, this study aims to evaluate the impact of an intervention—in this case, the information booklet—on the knowledge of a specific group (staff nurses) regarding a particular topic (the Baby-Friendly Hospital Initiative) in selected hospitals in Udaipur.

You can download a PDF for more Examples of Pediatric Health Nursing Research by just clicking below

Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing

Those students who want to study Obstetric and Gynecological nursing must check the following Problem statement given or you can make it according to your convenience

“A STUDY TO ASSESS THE EFFECTIVENESS OF INFORMATION BOOKLET REGARDING KNOWLEDGE OF MENSTRUAL HYGIENE AMONG HIGHER SECONDARY SCHOOL GIRLS IN SELECTED SCHOOLS AT JAMMU.”

The research described is also an intervention study, specifically focusing on assessing the effectiveness of an information booklet on the knowledge of menstrual hygiene among higher secondary school girls. Like the previous examples, this study aims to evaluate the impact of an intervention — in this case, the information booklet — on the knowledge of a specific group (higher secondary school girls) regarding a particular topic (menstrual hygiene) in selected schools in Jammu.

You can download a PDF for more Examples of Obstetric and Gynecological Nursing Research by just clicking below

Psychiatric Health Nursing

Those students who want to study Psychiatric Health Nursing must check the following Problem statement given or you can make it according to your convenience

“A STUDY TO ASSESS THE PROBLEMATIC USE OF MOBILE PHONE AMONG PRE-UNIVERSITY COLLEGE STUDENTS IN SELECTED COLLEGES OF MADHYA PRADESH WITH A VIEW TO DEVELOPING AN INFORMATION PAMPHLET.”

The research described seems to be primarily focused on assessing a phenomenon, namely the problematic use of mobile phones among pre-university college students. It also involves an intervention component, with the aim of developing an information pamphlet.

In terms of research type, it could be classified as a combination of a descriptive study, as it aims to understand the extent and nature of mobile phone overuse among pre-university college students, and an intervention study, as it seeks to develop an informational pamphlet to address this issue.

You can download a PDF for more Examples of Psychiatric Health Nursing Research by just clicking below

Nanda Nursing Classes