MSc Computer Science with Emerging Technologies
Lecture 5
Problem Statement
Research Methodologies
by Dr Vinaye Armoogum
Professor
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Learning Topics
This lecture will address the following:
1. Define and identify a research problem and explain its importance in a study
2. Distinguish between a research problem and other parts of the research process
3. Identify criteria for deciding whether you can or should study a research
problem
4. Learn the five elements that compromise a “statement of the problem” section
5. Identify strategies useful in writing a “statement of the problem” section
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Problem Statement
▪ The research problem serves as the starting point for the research and
is a unifying thread that runs throughout all the elements of the
research endeavor (Leedy & Ormrod, 2005).
▪ Metaphors: A Problem Statement is like…
✓ The DNA of the research.
✓ A snapshot of the research.
✓ The foundation of the research.
✓ The Heart of the research.
✓ A “taste” of the research.
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✓ A blueprint for the study.
What is NOT a problem statement?
1. It is not a thesis statement.
= a statement indicating writer’s main
position or argument in an argumentative
paper.
2. It is not the background of the study.
3. It is not the description of issues without
identification of research
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What Is a Research Problem?
• A research problem is an educational issue or concern that an
investigator presents and justifies in a research study.
• In general, it refers to some difficulty which a researcher experiences
in the context of either a theoretical or practical situation and wants
to obtain a solution for the same.
• The research problem undertaken for study must be carefully
selected. Help may be taken from a research guide in this connection.
Ask yourself one key question: where do YOUR interests lie?
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What is a problem statement?
▪ A distinct “statement of the question or issue that is to be
investigated” (Sekaran, 2003, p. 70).
▪ It is the core element of Chapter 1 and the focal point of a
thesis:
➢ Objectives, Research questions, Significance, and
Delimitations stem from this element.
▪ Although it can be condensed into just one paragraph, it
should be accompanied by a few or several paragraphs
which support the problem.
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What is a problem statement?
▪ You need to clearly identify the problem or
knowledge gap that your research is responding
to. This section should:
➢Answer the question: “What is the research gap(s)
that needs to be filled?” and/or “What is the
problem that needs to be solved?”
➢Limit the variables you address in stating your
problem or question.
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What is a problem statement?
(Wisker, 2012, p. 129)
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Locating the Research Problem
Look in the opening paragraphs of the study for one or more of the
following:
• What is the issue or problem?
• What controversy leads to the need for a study?
• What concern is being addressed behind the study?
• Is there a sentence such as, “The problem being addressed in this study
is…”?
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Why the Research
Problem Is Important?
• It establishes the importance of the topic.
• It creates reader interest.
• It focuses the reader’s attention on how the study
will add to the literature.
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How the Problem Differs From
Other Parts of Research?
• A research problem is an educational issue or problem in the
study.
• A research topic is the broad subject matter being addressed in a
study.
• A purpose is the major intent or objective of the study.
• Research questions are those that the researcher would like to
answer or address in the study.
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Differences among the Topic,
Problem, Purpose, and Questions
Example 1 – Social Science
General Topic Introducing Blended Learning in Mauritius due to
the New Coronavirus Pandemic
Research Lack of students in distance and online classes at
Problem Undergraduate level
Purpose To study why students do not attend online distance
Statement education classes in universities in Mauritius
Research Does the use of Online Technology deter students from
Question enrolling in a distance education class?
Specific Are specific LMS used by tutors not comfortable for
students to learn via online mode?
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Differences among the Topic,
Problem, Purpose, and Questions
Example 2 – Computer Science
General Topic Analysis of network issues due to the New
Coronavirus Pandemic
Research The severe rise of threats and attacks since March
Problem 2020 on data and voice networks
Purpose To study what have caused this drastic rise and why.
Statement
• Do the security systems used for voice and data not
Research catering for big data caused by these attacks?
Question • Are the protocols obsolete for these new attack rates?
Specific
• Are IDS not intelligent enough to cater for these
attacks? Here we want to address the lack of AI-IDS.
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What to consider in selecting a
research problem? (MERIT)
Manageable – fits the level of researcher’s level of research skills,
needed resources, and time restrictions
Ethical – does not harm or embarrass or annoy participants.
Researchable – can be investigated through the collection and analysis
of data.
Interesting – keeps the researcher interested in it throughout the
research process.
Telling – contributes to the improvement and understanding of
educational theory and practice.
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How Research Problems Differ for
Quantitative and Qualitative Research?
Example 1 – Social Science
Use quantitative research if your Use qualitative research if your research
research problem requires you to: problem requires you to:
• Learn about the views of the people (e.g
• Measure variables
students and parents) you plan to study
• Assess the impact of these variables • Assess a process over time
on an outcome • Generate theories based on participant
• Test theories or broad explanations perspectives
• Obtain detailed information about a few
• Apply results to a large number of people or research sites
people
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How Research Problems Differ for
Quantitative and Qualitative Research?
Example 2 – Computer Science
Use quantitative research if your research In general in computer science, the qualitative study is a
problem requires you to: rare thing.
• Measure variables (e.g. attacks, threats, etc.) In this case, Example 2 is related to a national and
• Assess the impact of these variables on an worldwide issue, interviews and case study may be
outcome (e.g. a defense system by viewing conducted to understand the problems in a deeper
the output – depended variables) perspective, hence, qualitative study is used.
• Test models, systems, algorithms, theories or
broad explanations Use qualitative research if your research problem requires
• Benchmark with other models, systems, you to conduct a case study:
frameworks, etc. • Learn about the views of the people (system
• Apply results to a large system or a real administrators, system engineers, network designers,
system experts at Network security Alliance and related
organizations) you plan to study
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Generate theories based on participant perspectives
Example of the Flow of Ideas in
the Problem Statement
Five Elements of a “Problem Statement”
Flow of Ideas
Topic Research Justification Deficiencies in Relating the
Problem for Research the Evidence Discussion
Problem to Audiences
Subject • Concern or issue •Evidence from the •In this body of •How will addressing
area •A problem literature evidence, what is what we need to know
• Something that •Evidence from missing or what do help researchers,
needs a solution practical we need to know educators, policy,
experience more about? makers, and other
individuals?
An Example •Assessing violations
Ethical issues Description
Ethical •Helps students develop better
in educational identifying and
violations •Gap in the literature ethical standards
institutions in characterizing
among students •Reports of violations
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Mauritius violations
issues
Element 1: Advancing the Topic
The topic
• is introduced in the first paragraphs.
• includes the general subject matter.
• must be introduced so that the reader can relate
to it.
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Element 1: Advancing the Topic
with a Narrative Hook
• The narrative hook should be the first sentence of the study.
• Functions of the narrative hook
– Causes the reader to pay attention
– Elicits an emotional or attitudinal response from the reader
– Causes the reader to continue reading
• Information that can be included in the narrative hook
– Statistics
– A provocative question
– Need for research
– Intent of the study Vinaye Armoogum 19
Element 2: Stating the
Research Problem
• State the problem in the opening paragraph
• Identify an issue
– Research-based research problems
– Practical problems
• Reference the problem using the literature
• Common pitfall: defining the problem based on the
solution
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Element 3: Justifying the Importance
of the Research Problem
Justifying the Importance of the Research Problem
• Justification based on what other researchers have found
• Justification based on personal or workplace experiences
• Justification based on the experiences others have had in the
workplace
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Element 3: Justifying the Importance
of the Research Problem
Locating the Research Problem
• Read the opening paragraphs of existing studies for one
or more of the following:
– What is the issue or problem?
– What controversy leads to the need for a study?
– What concern is being addressed behind the study?
– Is there a sentence such as, “The problem being
addressed in this study is…”?
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Element 3: Justifying the Importance
of the Research Problem
Determining Whether a Problem Should Be Researched
• Can you study the problem?
– Do you have access to the research site?
– Do you have the time, resources, and skills to carry
out the research?
• Should you study the problem?
– Does it advance knowledge?
– Does it contribute to practice?
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Element 3: Justifying the Importance
of the Research Problem
Determining Whether a Problem Should Be Researched
• Will your study fill a gap or void in the existing literature?
• Will your study replicate a past study but examine different
participants and different research sites?
• Will your study extend past research or examine the topic more
thoroughly?
• Will your study give voice to people not heard, silenced, or rejected in
society?
• Will your study inform practice?
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Element 4: Identifying Deficiencies in the
Evidence
• What do we still need to know?
• What else do we need to know to improve
practice?
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Element 5: Identify the
Audience
Ask the following question: “Who will profit from
reading my study?”
• Other researchers
• Practitioners
• Policy makers
• Special populations (e.g., parents)
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Writing the Statement of the
Problem Section
• Include one paragraph for each of the five
elements
• Heavily reference this section to the literature
• Provide statistics to support trends
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How to Identify the Problem:
Strategies
1. Annotation: Paying attention to
• Possibility of replication
• Suggestions for further research
• Research gap signals.
2. Saving: Systematic filing system (Order of chapter and the core elements; Order of
topics)
• Verbatim
• Paraphrase
• Summary
• Annotated comments
3. Conceptual Map or Literature Map:
• A literature map (Cresswell, 2011) is a two dimensional diagrammatic
representation of information where links are made between concepts by drawing
arrows (which could be annotated to define the nature of these links).
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Research Gap Signals
According to Sani (2016: p. 124), you can can get indication of research gaps
in literature if you see the following sentenses:
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Research Proposal
The following is showing the first three chapters of a research proposal.
▪ Chapter 1: Introduction
➢ Background of the study and Motivation
➢ Problem Statement
➢ Objectives of the study
➢ Research questions
➢ Significance of the study
➢ Definition of the terms
➢ Limitations of the study
▪ Chapter 2: Background Information and Literature Study
▪ Chapter 3: Research Methodology
➢ Research design
➢ Instruments (developing algorithms, models, systems)
➢ Data collection procedures
✓ Experimental test
➢ Data analysis procedures Vinaye Armoogum 30
Example of a
From Harrington (2004)
Conceptual Map
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Application of the
concept of ORIGINALITY
According to Francis (1976),
And, according to Phillips (1993),
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Summary: Role of
Problem Statement
Conceptual Map of the Problem-Based Research Cycle
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Homework – Discussion in the next session
Download any Elsevier or Springer or IEEE journal article in the
fields of either Cloud Computing or Internet of Things or AI &
machine learning or Computer Networking & Security, and
conduct the following:
a) Describe and present the Research Problem from the General
Topic to the more specific research questions as per Slide 13.
b) Identify the 5 elements of the Problem Statement and present
the flow of ideas as shown in Slide 17.
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