IAN MARU – SIANMA1911

Discuss the role of research problem in academic writing

A research problem is a clear statement about an area of concern, a condition to improved upon,

a problem to be eliminated, or a troubling question that exists in scholarly literature, in theory, or

within existing practice that points to a need for meaningful understanding and deliberate

investigation. A research problem does not state how to do something, offer a vague or broad

proposition, or present a value question. Research is a process that you have to complete in a

sequence. A research problem helps you formulate that sequence. Research problem also helps

you avoid unnecessary steps during the research.

Its purpose is to introduce the reader to the importance of the topic being studied. This is

achieved by orienting him or her to the significance of the study. It also anchors the research

questions, hypotheses or assumptions to follow. It offers a concise statement about the purpose

of your paper. It places the topic in a particular context that defines the parameter of what is to be

investigated. It provides the framework for reporting the results and indicates what is probably

necessary to conduct the study and explain how the findings will present this information.

The research problem establishes the means by which you must answer the “So What?” question.

Answering the “So What?” question requires a commitment on your part to not only show that

you have reviewed the literature, but that you have thoroughly considered the significance of the

research problem and its implications applied to creating new knowledge and understanding.

This question refers to a research problem surviving the relevancy test.