Finding a research problem

Problem statements aren't easy, but:

• They are the key to good research
• They help advance knowledge
• They are much more interesting than just doing boring summaries of what you read.

Not easy, but worth the effort.

Developing a thesis statement

If you have a research question that states your problem, you can turn it into a thesis.

Autism

Just formulate a potential answer to your question.

Rise of Nazi Germany

For example: To what extent can Hitler's nationalism and current nationalistic governments be compared?

Thesis: While there are definite similarities, it is risky to make a direct comparison between Hitler's nationalism and current nationalistic governments.

Possible problem-based questions:

• What are the best strategies for helping workplaces to become supportive environments for people on the Autism spectrum?
• How can schools help parents better advocate for their children on the autistic spectrum?
• How can we convince people who continue believing in a vaccination-autism connection despite the fact that the research is fraudulent?

Marijuana legalization

Possible problem-based questions:

• How could the winners of WWI have better prepared Germany to avoid a nationalist government like Hitler's?
• To what extent can Hitler's nationalism and current nationalistic governments be compared?
• What is the best way to combat extreme nationalism as seen, for example, in Nazi Germany?

Possible problem-based questions:

• Should marijuana be legalized?
• Is it true that legalizing marijuana will eliminate illegal trade in pot?
• How should governments legalizing marijuana prepare for increased regulation costs?
• Is marijuana legalization ultimately good for the well-being of society as a whole?

Prethinking:

You want to avoid both the obvious and the impossible. The following are weak problems:

• Why did Germany embrace Hitler?
• Why do people want to legalize marijuana?
• What causes autism?

For the first two, the answer is

too easy, and in the case of

the third, it is unknown.

Finding a research problem

Let's consider some examples

• Rise of Nazi Germany
• Marijuana legalization
• Autism

Research needs a goal

If you just write ABOUT a topic, there isn't much purpose in your work.

Anyone can write ABOUT a topic.

How do I identify a problem?

This is not easy - finding a research problem is a challenging task

• Read some basic information about the topic. Look for clues to areas where there is controversy or a gap in knowledge.
• Ask yourself, "What needs investigation?"
• Even if it is an old problem, consider how you would approach it to advance toward a solution.

What sort of problem are you looking for?

The goal of research is not to summarize what you've read.

• It has to be something that requires investigation. If you can just look up the answer, it's not a true problem.
• It could be a controversy (you see more than one view on an issue), a difficulty in the topic that has not yet been resolved, or a new approach to the topic that will advance our understanding.

If you can do your whole project simply by reporting on what your sources are saying, it is not research and it has no goal.

To make this work, you need to create a problem statement.

Research must be problem-based

• A problem statement is a question or a declaration (thesis) that explains the goal of your investigation.
• It should be expressed in one sentence only, and it should have only one goal.

You need to identify something in the topic that requires investigation.

Rather than summarizing your reading, research must deal with a problem to resolve.