Starting with a Good Problem Statement, Lecture notes of Economics

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Marilyn K. Simon, Ph.D.

Modified by Brad Arnett, Ph.D.

 The heart of a doctoral project is the Problem Statement.

 This is the place where most committee members go first to understand and assess the merits of a proposal or a final report.

 After reading the problem statement, the reader will know why you are doing this study and be convinced of its importance.

 The reader will not be asking “so what?” at the study’s conclusion.

The Heart of the Project

“Consider this, you who are engaged in investigation: If you choose to seek truth, cast aside: passion, accepted thought, and the inclination toward what you used to esteem, and you shall not be led into error.”

• Moses Maimonides Twelfth century Jewish philosopher, Torah scholar, astronomer, and physician

Seek Truth, Beware Bias

1. Do not use a problem in research as a ruse for achieving self enlightenment.
2. Do not look at a problem whose one purpose is to compare two sets of data.
3. Finding only a coefficient of correlation between two sets of data to describe a relationship between those data sets is not acceptable as a problem for scholarly research.
4. A problem that leads to a question that can be answered with “yes” or “no” is not suitable for formal, scholarly research.

Advice from Mikijanis and

Thomas

 “The purpose of this ministry project is to address the problem of numerical decline at Desperate Church by implementing a contemporary service designed to reach new members.”

 The answer to this problem is not simply “yes” or “no.” The answer is complex, which is desirable, because the questions arising from the problem are multiple.

Improved

 Suppose you wish to make history and not simply understand it.

 Suppose you want to effect change rather than simply gain insight into it.

 Suppose you are confronted with the problem of, or desire to, change the system.

 What change would you make? What challenges do you face? How could you proceed?

To Enact Positive Change

 What is the overriding problem?  Retention; inability to adapt to change; poor working conditions; inequities; poor conditions in health or economics, deficits; lack of evaluation of a program; conflict in: ethics, values, morals…  Where is the problem found?  Manufacturing; education; health administration; government; society; corporate America…  What needs to be done to solve the problem?  Survey; interview; create a new model; determine what experts believe; evaluate; meta-analyze, conduct an experiment; benchmark…

All Problem Statements

 What is the overriding problem?  Church decline; reaching the lost; families in crisis; homelessness and poverty; _______________

 Where is the problem found?  Churches; parachurch ministries; faith-based organizations; counseling practices; ______________

 What needs to be done to solve the problem?  Determine what experts believe; survey; interview; create a new model; evaluate; meta-analyze, conduct an experiment; benchmark; ________________

Ministry Problem Statements

Continued...

 The researcher will solve some part of this serious problem in a unique and clever way.  This can be a unique setting, a unique problem, or a unique method.

 You will explain what specific methodology you will use to solve the problem.

 The reader will know that it is important that this study be done with the methodology you have chosen to solve it.

Statement of the Problem

 The problem statement will state or imply the nature of the study.

 You will be judged on the degree to which you find the answer to the problem you pose and thus, achieve your purpose.

 Most researchers have difficulty formulating a concise problem statement.

 The process will likely take multiple attempts to get it right!

Statement of the Problem

According to Merriam (1988), research problems fall into three basic types:

 Conceptual Problems

 Action Problems

 Value Problems

Types of Problems

 Two juxtaposed elements that are conceptually or theoretically inconsistent.

 This is the way it should be, but this is the way it is.

 Example: Vision Church should be reaching new people for salvation, baptism, and membership. However, the church is in decline.

Conceptual Problems

 A value problem arises when there is a conflict about what people consider ethical, moral, worthwhile, and/or desirable.

 Example: Clarion Church is located in a region where homosexual behavior is considered normative. Church members are divided over the proper response to the issue.

Value Problems

 What is wrong with the ministry?

 Workers are quitting; overcrowding; inadequate productivity; underachieving programs; lack of resources; scandals; unevaluated programs; some group is being physically, economically or psychologically harmed, etc.

 What has failed in the ministry?

 An unfulfilled promise; under-representation; ethical and/or moral dilemmas; depletion of resources; inability to adjust to change, etc.

Framing Your Statement