Most research proposals, dissertations and funding bids start off with some kind of problem statement.

A research/thesis problem statement needs to do several interconnected things to work well. At its core, it needs to articulate what specific issue or puzzle your research addresses. This is the “problem” part. But it’s not just about stating that something is wrong or missing; it’s about making a case for why this particular problem matters and deserves investigation.

The most effective problem statements establish a clear context first. They situate readers in the scholarly conversation or policy/practical domain where the problem exists, giving enough background that a reader can understand what’s at stake. This means showing what we currently and often commonly know or understand, then demonstrating where that knowledge falls short or where questions remain obscure, contentious or unanswered. These understandings are often situated in a professional or policy context as well as in the scholarly literatures.

From there, the problem statement needs to specify the puzzle/issue with enough precision that readers can grasp exactly what territory your research will explore. Vague problems lead to vague research, so clarity about scope and boundaries is essential. You’re essentially saying “here’s what’s missing, debated or unclear, and here’s roughly what investigating it would involve.”

The significance piece is crucial too. Problem statements need to articulate why addressing this puzzle/issue would matter. This might be about advancing theoretical understandings, improving practice, informing policy, or some combination of these. In other words, you have to outline the contribution your research will make and why this is important. Without the “so what?” element, readers can’t assess whether the research is worth doing.

Finally, a strong problem statement gestures toward how the research will contribute to addressing the problem, though it typically stops short of detailed methodology. It creates a sense of direction and possibility. You’re saying here’s the problem, here’s why it matters, and here’s the general approach that will help us understand it better.

The key is that all these elements work together to create a compelling argument for why your specific research project needs to exist.

And here’s a tiny example of a problem statement …

Despite their foundational role in shaping doctoral research, problem statements remain one of the most challenging elements for doctoral candidates to develop. While the methodological literature provides extensive guidance on research design, data collection, and analysis, less attention has been paid to understanding how doctoral researchers actually conceptualise and articulate their research problems. Supervisors frequently report that students struggle to distinguish between broad topic areas and specific researchable problems, often producing statements that are either too vague to guide inquiry or so narrow they offer little scholarly significance. This difficulty appears particularly acute in fields where research problems emerge from practice rather than purely theoretical gaps. However, there is patchy empirical evidence about what makes this process so challenging or what pedagogical approaches might support it more effectively.

Given that the problem statement fundamentally shapes everything that follows in a thesis – from methodology to contribution – understanding how doctoral researchers learn to craft these statements, what conceptual obstacles they encounter, and what supervisory strategies prove most helpful could significantly improve both the doctoral experience and the quality of resulting research. An investigation into the practices, challenges, and learning processes surrounding problem statement development would provide much-needed insight into this understudied but critical aspect of doctoral education.