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The Problem and Purpose Statement

This document provides guidance on developing an effective problem statement and purpose statement for a research study. It explains that a problem statement should clearly identify the problem without stating why it is a problem or how it will be addressed. It also discusses using a matrix to help frame the problem and purpose statements by visually representing the problem, evidence, causes, goals, outcomes, and potential solutions. The document demonstrates how to develop research questions aligned with the problem and purpose statements and create questions for an instrument to collect data to answer the research questions. The key is to ensure alignment between all elements of the research from the problem statement through the data collection questions.

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nour fouani
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296 views19 pages

The Problem and Purpose Statement

This document provides guidance on developing an effective problem statement and purpose statement for a research study. It explains that a problem statement should clearly identify the problem without stating why it is a problem or how it will be addressed. It also discusses using a matrix to help frame the problem and purpose statements by visually representing the problem, evidence, causes, goals, outcomes, and potential solutions. The document demonstrates how to develop research questions aligned with the problem and purpose statements and create questions for an instrument to collect data to answer the research questions. The key is to ensure alignment between all elements of the research from the problem statement through the data collection questions.

Uploaded by

nour fouani
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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The Problem and

Purpose Statement
NSU/FCE SUMMER INSTITUTE 2016
DR. DAVID WEINTRAUB, DISSERTATION SERVICES ASSOCIATE
What is a Problem Statement?

A good problem is an issue or difficulty of


some significance, urgency and priority
whose investigation will make a useful
contribution to knowledge. If you already
know the answer, if the answer can be
found by a simple search of existing studies,
or is totally predictable, there is no need to
do the study.
Problem Statement

 WHAT IS THE PROBLEM? Not "question", "topic.", or “lack”


of something. Just state what is wrong or needs to be
addressed, not WHY it’s a problem, nor how you plan on
addressing it.
 WHY IS IT A PROBLEM? Reason for and significance of
problem. These could be the “LACK” of something
 PROOF? Show the reader evidence that the problem
actually exists
 Who has done what about research on this problem?
Using a Matrix to Help you Frame
out the Problem and Purpose
 It gives you a visual representation of the process
 Problem Statement Goal
 Evidences Outcomes
 Possible Causes Proven Solutions
 Shows alignment between Problem and Purpose
Statements
 Helps you to plan for the lit review
 Helps you align the problem and purpose with your
research questions
Let’s look at the Matrix
One Step at a Time
Problem Statement: Goal:

Students in high school Students will pass the AP


Spanish 4 and 5 Classes Spanish test
are not passing the
Advanced Placement
(AP) test in Spanish
Creation of the Purpose Statement

 Basedon goals to alleviate or reduce the


problem, you can create your Purpose
Statement

“The purpose of this study is to discover what


tools are needed to better prepare high school
students for the AP Spanish exam and to
measure the level of efficacy of those tools.”
Hypothesized Causes lead to
Hypothesized Solutions
Hypothesized Causes Hypothesized Solutions
 Lack of teacher training in  Have teachers attend AP
advanced conversational training provided by the College
Spanish language Board
 Lack of test-prep materials  Incorporate AP test-prep
materials into the curriculum
 Add daily conversation time to
 Too much time spent on reading
lesson plans
Spanish, rather than natural
conversation in class
 Students are not invited to share  Students are encouraged to
what they feel is missing in the share their own experiences
Spanish 4 and 5 curriculum about learning Spanish
REMEMBER!

The LACK of something


is not a problem.

It’s what’s happening because of that


lack that is the problem
PLANNING THE LIT REVIEW

 Take some keywords you used in the Causes


and Solutions and use them to start your
preliminary lit review
 Make sure the lit review has both of the
following:
 What the Literature Says May Have Caused the
Problem
 What the Literature says are proven Interventions
to Solve the Problem
Your next step:

Create a matrix of your own using the


following blank template
Problem Goal:
Statement:
Decide if your study might be quantitative,
qualitative, or mixed-methods and
complete one or both sections below

Evidence Objectives
Quantitative Quantitative

Evidence Qualitative Objectives


Qualitative
Create Your
Purpose Statement
Hypothesized Causes Hypothesized Solutions
1 1
2 2
3 3

REMEMBER: the LACK of


something is not the
problem. The problem is
what is happening BECAUSE
of the lack of something!!!
List at Least 5 Keywords you Could
Use to Start your Literature Search
from the Cause/Solution Chart.
Research Questions

 Taking your problem and purpose statements, let’s


create at least 3 research questions (RQs):

 HINTS:
 The RQs should be something you can only answer by
conducting the local study. If the answer can be found
in the literature, you don’t need to do the study

 Note whether the questions are qualitative or


quantitative.
Creating Questions to Answer those
Research Questions
 Once you have your RQs, it’s time to design (or use another’s)
instrument to get the needed quantitative or qualitative data.

 IT’S CRITICAL THAT THAT WHAT YOU HAVE ALIGNMENT:

Problem Statement
Purpose Statement
Research Questions

Instrument Questions
For more info

Contact Dr. David Weintraub


[email protected]

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