How to Write the Problem Statement for Your Masters Dissertation?

The worth of a dissertation in a masters degree is even more than its course work. About two-thirds of a Masters degree comprises the dissertation writing process. Besides this, the quality concerns for a masters dissertation are far greater than that of a Bachelor’s degree. However, whether you are writing a masters dissertation or a Bachelor’s one, it must start by describing a clear and focused problem statement. The main purpose of a problem statement is only to tell readers about the importance of the topic being studied. Without a clear problem statement, the reader may remain confused about a particular research project’s nature, aims, and objectives. Furthermore, the formulation of research questions and hypotheses is based on the problem statement. Thus, this article will explain methods for writing a research problem statement for master’s dissertation in a few simple steps.

Problem Statement- A brief introduction:  

In simple and clear words, the problem statement must be a claim describing the actual problem that needs to be solved by using the most appropriate method in detailed research. Just stating what a researcher wants to do and why it is important to pursue research on a selected topic is more than enough for the Bachelor’s dissertation; however, in the light of increasing research and writing standards for the masters level. Hiring masters dissertation help can let you know a few more things that must be considered while writing problem statements.

The foremost important thing is that the problem statement must be concise and focused. It must have the potential to align all information in the dissertation 100 to 120 pages. It must not be vague to leave ambiguities in the reader’s mind. The nature of the research depicted by the problem statement must give the sense that the problem must need to be solved for the welfare of mankind. In addition, the statement must be a result of some practical needs. In the light of the above information, a problem statement for a masters dissertation must have four essential qualities:

1. Must clearly describe the problem that needs suggestions and solutions to get solved.
2. Must provide evidence to prove the real-world existence of a problem.
3. It must support by details to show the consequences of not solving a problem.
4. Should identify gaps in the past research to solve the same problem (if any) and must tell which aspect of the problem will be addressed throughout a dissertation.

Steps to Write Problem Statements for Masters Dissertation:

A problem statement comprises two or three statements that a project striving for innovation or betterment should address. Generally, a problem statement outlines the drastic effects of the current problem and elaborates on why this matter is important. The style of writing a problem statement depends on whether you are writing a dissertation on a real-world problem or stating the significance of a matter based on theoretical knowledge. Thus, the following are the three most important steps to writing a dissertation problem statement:

Step #1: Contextualise the Problem:

The first step in writing a problem statement is to find a problem that is creating difficulties for the public in the true sense. Thus, to declare a situation problematic, the author must give some contextual and background information to inform about the already researched or solved aspects of a particular problem under study. The following are some aspects that may help masters students in contextualising a research problem:

1. What are the root causes of a problem?
2. What is the point of origin of a problem?
3. What are feasible methods to address certain problems?

These are some questions to consider if the problem is of real-world type. However, the following questions will be more appropriate for solving a theoretical research problem.

1. What do people already know about a topic?
2. Are there any geographical and time-dependent constraints related to a problem under study?
3. How can a theoretical problem be addressed in the light of the scholarly literature?

Step #2: Show why it Matters:

‘Why does a research problem matter?’ aims to explain the relevance of a research problem. This step helps researchers and readers find whether a research problem is worth-noted or would be praised by the research community. However, it does not mean that a research problem must be word-changing or groundbreaking. Instead, this step aims to prove that a problem is researchable, clear, feasible, and worth conducting in the local setup. Showing relevancy is not difficult for a real-world problem. The questions like what will happen when a problem is not solved? Or Who will be most affected by the adverse effects of a problem? may help prove the relevancy. But for theoretical research problems, proving the relevancy is a bit more difficult, so the questions like what are the future benefits of a research project? Or whether the research has direct or indirect consequences on a certain group of people? are important.

Step #3: Set Out the Aims and Objectives:

This step is important for developing a clear perception of the problem under study. The well-defined aims and objectives are vital for developing a detailed research map for navigating the right path to solve a particular problem. Defining aims and objectives is important in making a good problem statement as it helps find a conclusive solution. More specifically, the aims of the research are its purpose that should be written in the infinitive form such as:

1. The aims of a study are to determine.
2. The study will investigate.
3. The research is conducted to investigate.

Likewise, objectives are concrete steps taken to achieve aims. For example, qualitative methods, surveys, and statistical techniques are some steps essential to achieving the research aims.

Final Thoughts:

If somebody wants to kick start a masters dissertation writing, special attention must be given to the problem statement. The right way to write a problem statement is first to identify the background of the area of interest and answer a list of questions mentioned under the head of each step in this article. Answers to these questions are equally important for proving the relevance of a problem. Finally, well-defined aims and objectives help clarify the problem under study. After completing these steps, the last step left is to write two or three-line statements clearly for adding the problem statement in the masters dissertation.