Writing the Statement of the Problem Dissertation Section

In simple terms, the statement of the problem in a dissertation is a concise and clear description and explanation of the research problem. It should put the problem into context, identify the exact issue, explain why it is important, and define the objectives and goals. You should start to write a draft of the statement of the problem in the early brainstorming stages of your dissertation project. Getting feedback from your advisor or professors will benefit you tremendously, so be sure to set up a handful of meetings before you embark on any in-depth academic research. Unless you want to ask a professional writer "write my thesis for me", here’s how to write this section in four simple steps:

  1. Put the Problem into Context

    The first thing you need to do is put your research problem or question in context. This involves providing some background information related to what others already know about the issue. You can achieve this by asking yourself where a problem comes up, what others already know about the problem, what the problem impacts, and what has been done to solve the problem. Your responses combined should give you enough material to write a solid paragraph (before editing) and will help you contextualize the problem within the larger subject.

  2. Identify the Exact Issue

    Take the information you have drafted above and start to narrow the focus of your study to a single issue. You may have related sub-issues or topics that you will need to address in order to go in-depth with the exact issue, but don’t focus on these entirely just yet. You will need to discuss these with your advisor when you meet. At this point, your concern should be entirely on identifying the exact issue you are going to tackle in the dissertation.

  3. Explain why it is Important

    The aim of a dissertation should be to make a significant contribution to the academic field. It will be referenced by other researchers, professors, and students and will take on an authoritative position on whatever subject you deal with. This being said, your statement should address why your study matters. Answering questions like who will be affected if the problem is solved or what will be the result if it isn’t solved can help you come to terms with the work’s relevance and importance.

  4. Define the Objectives & Goals

    Finally, you need to clearly define your goals and objectives. This is where you explain how you will go about researching and analyzing the problem and how you will address it with the data you expect to collect in the process. You don’t have to include a thesis or your predictions, but must clearly state the method of your approach and describe why it is appropriate.

If you’re still uncertain about the writing process for this section, then you should contact our writing experts for advice. Our team comprises of writers with advanced degrees in a variety of academic disciplines. Customer service can give you a quick quote and give you a list of available writers for you to choose from. You and your selected writing expert can work together or you can simply leave the assignment entirely up to him or her so that you can concentrate your energy on other important matters.