The core components of a research problem statement often align with the journalistic approach of answering the five Ws: who, what, when, where, and why or how.
Developing a clear and effective problem statement is crucial for any research project. It defines the issue that the research aims to address, providing focus and direction. As highlighted by the reference, thinking like a journalist by focusing on the five Ws (who, what, when, where, and why/how) can help in identifying these components. While not every problem statement will explicitly contain every single component, considering each helps ensure clarity and completeness.
The Five Ws of a Research Problem Statement
Let's break down how the journalistic five Ws translate into the essential components of a research problem statement:
Who?
This component identifies the specific group, population, or entity experiencing the problem.
- Practical Insight: Specify the target group clearly. Are you studying students, patients, employees, consumers, or a particular community?
What?
This describes the problem itself – what is happening? What is the specific issue, gap, or challenge being observed?
- Practical Insight: Define the problem in concrete terms. Avoid vague language. What is the magnitude or nature of the issue?
When?
This pinpoints the timeframe during which the problem occurs or has been observed.
- Practical Insight: Is this an ongoing problem, one that occurred at a specific point in time, or one with a particular duration? Specifying the timeframe can be important, especially for historical or trend-based research.
Where?
This indicates the location or setting where the problem is observed.
- Practical Insight: Is the problem specific to a particular geographic area, organization, industry, or environment? Defining the location provides context.
Why or How?
This explores the causes of the problem (why) or the consequences, processes, and mechanisms related to it (how).
- Practical Insight: This is often the most critical component, explaining the significance of the problem and why it needs to be addressed. Why is this problem important? How does it impact the 'who' or the 'what'?
Summarizing the Components
Thinking of these elements helps structure the problem statement to clearly articulate the issue being investigated.
| Component | Description | Example Question |
|---|---|---|
| Who | The population, group, or entity affected by the problem. | Who is experiencing this problem? |
| What | The specific issue, gap, or challenge being observed. | What is the problem or phenomenon? |
| When | The timeframe or duration of the problem. | When did this problem occur or start? |
| Where | The location, setting, or context in which the problem exists. | Where does this problem manifest? |
| Why/How | The causes of the problem or its consequences and mechanisms. | Why is this a problem? How does it affect others? |
Understanding these components allows researchers to frame their study effectively, ensuring that the problem is well-defined and the research objectives are clear.
