How to write a PROBLEM STATEMENT in your THESIS: Its 2 parts with an EXAMPLE
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- Опубліковано 24 жов 2021
- “There is no study if there is no problem.”
These words were said to me when I wrote my Masters dissertation and are arguably the most important in all my years of being a young researcher. I have applied it throughout my career and instilled it in all my Master and PhD candidates.
In this video, I share with you the two parts of a problem statement applicable to research project.
I also argue the importance of having a thorough introduction and background that transitions effortlessly into the problem. This background contextualises the problem.
Finally, I work through an example that you can use as a blueprint when you write your problem statement.
I hope this video adds value to your research. Please click the LIKE and SUBSCRIBE button if it does.
Let me know if there are any other topics in your research that you would want me to make a video on?
Visit my LinkedIn and ResearchGate pages and get in touch.
Chat soon!
Johan
You know you're out of time when you find yourself watching this at 4 in the morning 😂😂
Better late than never 😉
I believe 4am, Is actually the best
10Q so much professor. I get huge knowledge. I am writing my MA thesis in sociology. I suffered a lot because I did not have more experience. You gave me very good lecture and I hope now I will complete my thesis soon. Thank you once again.
Witching after being returned by my professor twice after getting wrong .thanks all the way from africa 🇹🇿Tanzania
Ma supervisor wa Kitanzania wanasumbua sana afu nao hawajui kitu😅
Thank you, Professor. Your accent is just fine.
Thank you Professor Johan, I appreciate your mentoring and guidance.
i am from pakistan, your lecture give me clear idea about problem statement. long live
Thank you very much, I am glad it helped you.
Bless you! i got it
Thank you so much.
Knowledgeable
Thank you Prof. this is very clear and understandable, appreciated!!
Thank you so much, proff. This video is really very very helpful!
Thank you so much professor, certainly makes it clearer how to go about writing the problem statement
Thank you Prof, this made me feel very soon I am getting at the peak!🥰
Keep going…it gets easier!
Thank you prof. Would you attach the example and/or another PDF article Paper done so far??
Thanks Prof for such an informative talk. Never thought of "part two of the problem statement" that really makes everything a little more easier
I am glad it helps Nhlanhla.
Thank you Prof 🙏
You are welcome!
Thank you so much,prof. This video is really very very helpful .The efforts you put in, indeed,appreciative.
Thank you for the kind words Shaista.
Thank you Prof. for this clarification.
My pleasure Mthenjoase.
Thank you for this. Extremely useful!
My pleasure. Glad you found it useful.
Your video is so instructive and helpful. Thank you so much
You're very welcome! Glad it helped you.
Should have found you earlier. Thank you for such a clear message.
Thank you Jacqueline.
Great video 👍
Thank you so much, appreciate the comment.
Hello Professor, thank you for sharing this Problem Statement video. I appreciate it.
You are very welcome!
Wonderful job! Thank you Professor.
Glad you liked it!
This is an excellent explanation. Simple and easy to follow and understand. Thank you Prof
I am glad you found it useful Pam. Thank you for the feedback.
Thanks so much for this well articulated presentation
I am glad you enjoyed it.
Thank you for sharing this video Professor.
Thank you Caroline.
Just subcribed, very informative content
Thank you Asewe.
Thank you Prof ,well explained
You are most welcome!!
Thank you so much prof.Excellent vedio.This was really helpful.
Glad it was helpful!
Clear, precise and most importantly straight to the point!
Best explanation so far that i have gone through~ Thanks Prof.🤝
Thank you so much Amber.
Excellent video
Thank you Gabriel.
Shortly, understandable clip, thanks
Thank you.
Thank you Professor this was extremely helpful
My pleasure Emily. Thank you for the comment.
Bravo
Thank you Celeste.
thanks a lot sir, good presentation
Thank you Sey.
Asc. Nadaara. Waxbixinta mar walba wan dhageystaa waa ok
Lkn hal dhaliil ayaan ku hayaa
Fadlan erayga MACALINKA WAYN NAGADAA waa codsi
Thank yu Sir. Please make a video about the Research Gap or Research Problem in writing synopsis. I would be thankful to you.
Sounds like a good idea. Keep the channel posted.
Thank you Prof... I only have one question to this insightful lecture. so in the two highlighted parts in the problem statement there is no need to to reference? I am asking this because, phrases like "there is evidence" are used in the statement without any source acknowledged/ highlighted as it is the case in the background.
PERFECTLY DESCRIBED
Thank you.
So helpful
I am glad you enjoyed it Jia.
Sir,
With due it is submitted that ,the text and message is very good for high impact critical research article, but the problem is ,it not that easy to get the related, relevant information and data .
Dr.Gurunath. H. J.
Bangalore
India
Do like to share this video please.
Excellent video Prof. May I know from this problem statement how you translate to statement of objective and subsequently, research questions? Or you have a follow-up video on these topics? Thx.
Thank you Casey. Working on a video as we speak.
Nice presentation Prof. The example was excellent however, in your example, I did not see where you highlighted gaps from existing literature.
Hi Ekene. Thanks for the comment, I appreciate it. You raise an interesting point. The question is: are the gaps in the literature the actual problem? I don't think so - the research gap is not necessarily the research problem. If the literature does not deal with the problem, the gap exists. They are indeed related, no doubt, but the gap emanates from the problem not being addressed (in a particular context). I want to say, though, that it does depend on the type of study that you are doing - whether it being more empirical or literature-based. What are your thoughts?
Excellent video. How would this problem statement link up to the literature review?
Thanks George. Well, the problem is what your study tries to solve/address/shed light on. But in order to do this, you need to know what other studies have done on the topic of your study. So the literature review is reviewing the existing thought on the topic and that your problem is embedded in. Put differently: you cannot make a robust and rigorous contribution via addressing your problem, before not establishing what those before you have tried to establish and did establish. The literature review gives you and your contribution the integrity to withstand critique from existing thinking.
Excellent video Prof. Would you give me permission the video in my PGdip class...
Hi Anele, to use it? Of course you can 😁
dear prof thanks for part one about the problem statement lesson . it is very interesting !. I cant get the part two or the continuum. pls attach it ?
Hi Eyasu, thanks for the comment. The two parts refer to the two parts of the problem statement which are discussed in the video. There is thus not two parts to the video as such. 😃 What I would recommend is maybe watching my other video on the research gap as it plays directly into the problem statement. Good luck and enjoy!
Thanks for this, Sir. Are we not expected to include sources while writing problem statement?
Hi Oluwakemi, yes you are. It is a personal preference of mine, however, to have the sources predominantly in the background that leads up to the problem statement itself. I prefer this because when I want to read the problem statement, I want to know exactly what the problem is, and not the background and what lead to the problem. For this reason, the sources would most likely not be needed in the section of the problem. But, you must always be guided by the preferences of your university and especially your supervisor. There is no hard rule that there must be no sources in a problem statement - as long as you are clear and there is an understandable logic as to what you are doing.
Dear Prof. Coetzee, thank you very much for this useful video. If you don't mind, I have a question for you. Recently, I have been writing an article in English. The first subheading of my Introduction is Context. Do you think that the term "context" is appropriate here or should I use the term "background" for an American academic journal? Is there any significant semantic difference between context and background? Thank you very much for your kind reply.
Hi Tunc, thank you for the question. Its a difficult one to answer because it really does depend. I would suggest that you maybe 1) look at guidelines that may be provided by the journal’s ‘Guide to authors’ and also, 2) have a look at previous papers that have been published to get an idea what they have used. This latter factor is particularly important as the papers were subjected to peer review and accepted, so it would be a good indication. With regards to ‘context’ or ‘background’ being used, in my experience I would argue that the difference is negligible. I would however argue that for a paper in a journal, I would use neither and only stick with the ‘Introduction’. I say this because of the limited space and word count allowed. If I have understood you incorrectly that the paper is not for a journal but for a thesis at a university, your supervisor and the guidelines in the department would apply. At the end of the day, I have seen many papers with different headings that have been published. As long as the paper is well written and coherent, more often than not the headings as such do not matter as long as they are logical. I hope this helps. Please do not hesitate to ask any further questions. Keep well!
@@profjohancoetzee4658 Dear Prof. Coetzee, Thank you very much for your prompt reply. I will follow your suggestion. All the best.
please talk about how to write significance of the study
Hi Nana that sounds like a good idea. I will make a note of it as a future video. Thank you for the suggestion.
Challenges face by higher secondary school students in there transition from Sindhi medium of instructions in to English mediums of instruction in science subject. dear sir tell men how to write problem statement in that topic
Hi Angel
It is a bit difficult to do so without more details, but based on what you say, consider this:
- A few sentences explaining the ACTUAL challenges face by higher secondary school students in there transition from Sindhi medium of instructions in to English mediums of instruction in science subject
- Then, another few sentences arguing WHY these challenges are problematic and WHAT THE IMPLICATIONS WILL BE if they are not therefore addressed.
I hope this helps!
You lecture is indeed worth listening to...I need you personal contact
Hi Fidelis thank you for the kind words. You are welcome to contact me via LinkedIn. Keep well.