1. statement. Read more focused and specialized articles on content, design and methodologies SIMPLE STATEMENT PROBLEM TEMPLATE 9
2. 10. This template should help you to draft your first problem statement Stable Context Describe unchanging facts about the topic/problem. For many years, people have debated about ______________________. Or ____________________ has been controversial because __________________________________________________________. Or ______________________ has dominated discussions of _____________. Status Quo State common but incorrect or incomplete assumptions Many people think ________________________________________________________. Or At first glance, it may seem like ______________________________________________. Destabilizing Moment 10
3. 11. Describe something that reveals the status quo assumptions to be incomplete or inaccurate. This initial perception fails to take into account __________________________________________________________. Or This theory can't explain __________________________________________________________. Or People have failed to notice, however, __________________________________________________________. Consequences Show readers why they should care: what bad things will happen if people continue to believe the status quo? What good things will happen once they stop believing it? If we continue to believe _______________, we'll never understand the larger question of __________________________________________________________. Or Unless we change _____________________, we will continue to have trouble with __________________________________________________________. Or 11
4. 12. Once we understand ___________________, we'll begin to see the answer to the problem __________________________________________________________. Or By rethinking our approach to ___________________, we can fix ________________. Resolution Provide a better theory/explanation to replace the status quo. State your claim. ______________________________________________________ __________________________________________________________. 12
5. 13. ONE MORE TEMPLATE FOR WRITING A STATEMENT PROBLEM 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 ... 13
6. 14. A qualitative problem statement Brain drain in Kenya is increasing (GENERAL PROBLEM). Every year about 50 professionals migrate abroad due to unsatisfactory working conditions (SPECIFIC PROBLEM WITH NUMBERS and supported with a citation). This brain drain is different from previous shortages, because it involves not only fresh graduates but also seasoned professionals (quote). This crisis in the professionals’ industry requires innovative solutions. One innovative solution may be a less structured leadership style, such as steward leadership (quote). This qualitative case study (DESCRIPTION OF STUDY TYPE) will explore perceptions of professionals in Kenya (POPULATION BEING STUDIED) about steward leadership as a strategy to alleviate or reduce factors contributing to the brain drain among professionals in the lake basin region (GEOGRAPHICAL LOCATION OF STUDY) The data to be gathered in this study may provide leaders with information relating to how they may address or mitigate factors contributing to the current brain drain. A quantitative Statement of the Problem: an American example Identity fraud is one of the fastest growing crimes in America (Adams, 2002). In 2003, at least 7 million Americans were victims of identity fraud, an increase of 79% from 2002 (AFP, 2003). GENERAL PROBLEM SUPPORTED BY LITERATURE The nation’s system of 14