Identifying and Defining a Researchable Problem in Doctoral Research

Identifying and Defining a Researchable Problem in Doctoral Research

Conducting Research

A researcher usually follows an organized procedure of inquiry to come across the problem amenable to scientific research. This involves going through the already existing literature, identifying gaps or contradictions in knowledge, and recognizing areas where further investigation is warranted. Furthermore, researchers tend to investigate problems that personally touch them from the perspective of their day-to-day experiences, through what they see around them, or in their professional atmosphere.

Finding a Researchable Problem

Finding a researchable problem entails a comprehensive process integrating various strategies. Researchers begin by conducting a thorough literature review and analyzing existing research accomplishments to identify gaps and areas needing further study. They also leverage personal interests, experiences, and specialization to uncover compelling themes for investigation. Collaboration with peers and mentors provides diverse perspectives, enhancing problem-solving abilities. Meticulous observation and analysis of issues within specific contexts help recognize promising research problems. Further, practical considerations like resource availability and ethical constraints guide researchers to identify complex and applicable problems. In summary, researchers employ literature review, personal engagement, collaboration, observation, and practical considerations to identify meaningful research questions contributing to knowledge advancement.

 What Differentiates a Problem from a Situation or a Statement of Opinion or Fact

Distinguishing a researchable problem from a situation or statement of opinion/fact is crucial for focused inquiry. An issue, as it is given in “Strategies to Win,” is an opening for attribution of what is to be investigated to generate “why” or “how” questions and therefore emerge a solution to the problem. For example, working within the field of health care administration, one can formulate a problem by looking at the relevance of telemedicine in correctional facilities (Tobar-Muñoz et al., 2020). Unlike a description that only describes the present circumstances and implies nothing about the requirement to resolve something, a narrative implies that. Oppositely, a neutral statement of fact/opinion includes straightforward claims or observations without necessarily implying a scholarly gap through which a researcher can show a deficiency.

The Problem Statement as One of the Most Important Components of a Doctoral Dissertation

The problem statement is of paramount importance in a doctoral dissertation because of its essential, significant explanatory, guiding, evaluative, and alignment roles. By the teachings of Writing Your Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis Faster, the problem statement pinpoints the focus of the research, encouraging its usefulness and significance within the area. It is a guide, which makes the message stronger and more concentrated. Furthermore, it eases the process of assessment as it provides results and implications. Finally, it bridges research objectives with methodology, adding to the rigour and clarity.

My position as a healthcare professional in the Arizona Department of Corrections in Medical Records has emphasized the significance of accurate problem identification in medical care delivery through dealing with healthcare challenges. Moreover, Jones and Smith (2019) shed light on how to set research questions to solve problems, which corresponds with what I have gone through as well. Smith et al. (2020) also add to the importance of coherence between the problem statement, research objective, and research methodology, reinforcing the alignment aspect in PhD research.

References

Luft, J. A., Jeong, S., Idsardi, R., & Gardner, G. (2022). Literature reviews, theoretical frameworks, and conceptual frameworks: An introduction for new biology education Researchers. CBE—Life Sciences Education, 21(3). https://doi.org/10.1187/cbe.21-05-0134

Smith, J. D., & Hasan, M. (2019). Quantitative approaches for the evaluation of implementation research studies. Psychiatry Research, 283, 112521. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.psychres.2019.112521

Springer, J. (2023, April 24). LibGuides: Chapter 1: Problem statement. Resources.nu.edu. https://resources.nu.edu/c.php?g=1006886&p=7294692

Tobar-Muñoz, H., G. Cárcamo, J., Solarte, H., Ventes, C., & H. Mesa, J. (2020). Videogames and Innovation: Fostering Innovators’ Skills in Online-Learning Environments. Sustainability, 12(21), 9264. https://doi.org/10.3390/

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Please refer to this week’s learning materials. They are intended to help you engage effectively in this discussion.

Due Thursday

Review the following resources:

Ch. 2, “Do You Have an Idea for a Topic?” of Writing Your Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis Faster: A Proven Map to Success from the Week 2 University Library readings

Identifying and Defining a Researchable Problem in Doctoral Research

“Strategies to Win: Six-Steps for Creating Problem Statements in Doctoral Research” and Ch. 3, “Do You Have Some Idea How You Will Study Your Topic? Bridging Topic and Methods,” of Writing your Doctoral Dissertation or Thesis Faster: A Proven Map to Success from this week’s University Library readings

Write a 250- to 300-word response to the following:

How does a researcher find a researchable problem?
What differentiates a problem from a situation or a statement of opinion or fact?
Why is the problem statement one of the most important components of a doctoral dissertation?