ASSIGNMENT TWO: PROBLEM STATEMENT

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ASSIGNMENT TWO: PROBLEM STATEMENT

Choose a topic or problem in an area of your choosing. Write a short problem statement (3-5 pages, excluding a reference page). It must be in some standard format (APA, Chicago, MLA, etc.). A handwritten problem statement is not acceptable. Use subheadings to separate problem definition, importance and relevance of the study, and summary and conclusions. See that the problem statement includes the following elements.

STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

This includes defining the problem, justifying the importance and relevance of researching the problem, and formulation of a research question or hypothesis. It also needs references. It includes a problem definition, a justification of importance of answering the research question or testing the hypothesis..

Problem Definition

This is a concise statement of the problem you are proposing to study. Define any concepts used that might be unclear. Give an example, if necessary, to clarify what problem you are studying.

Importance Justification

Justify the problem as an important issues. Explain what is not known about the problem, how it is every severe or extensive, and why it matters in some way. Provide documentation (literature citation or statistics) if available.

Describe: 1) how your research will refine, revise, and extend existing knowledge and 2) how your research will contribute to policy and program operation. You may also cite publications that call for research addressing this issue.

REVIEW OF WHAT IS KNOWN ABOUT THE PROBLEM

Discuss: 1) prior research, theory, opinions, or practice that relates to the problem, and 2) what is known about the problem. Facts included must contain a citation of their source. Direct quotations must have a page citation. 3) your conclusions about what needs to be studied based on the literature. The review should not be comprehensive. It should document what is the problem and why it's important.

The body of the paper must contain at least five (5) citations of professional research sources. You must have these five professional research sources in your references. A research source is an article, monograph, book or other publication that presents original research findings. It may be from the list of journals listed on the my instructional website or some other professional journal. It may be from a webpage if the webpage is sponsored by a credible source of scientific knowledge (such as a professional association or research institute). Newspapers, media webpages, journalistic research summaries, or opinion pieces do not count towards the "five professional sources"; but they may be cited to justify the importance of the problem.

SUMMARIZE RESEARCH QUESTION AND CONCLUSIONS

You must have an explicit research question or hypothesis. This means stating a question that the research would answer. It must be a question that can be answered by empirical data. If you provide an hypothesis, it must be possible to demonstrate whether the hypothesis is false by reference to empirical evidence.

REFERENCES

At least five references in a recognized format. Newspaper or magazine citations do not count toward the five professional research sources unless there are no other types of sources at all.

Competency will be evaluated on how well you define the problem, justify the importance of the research, cite relevant literature, and provide a clear, empirically based research question or hypothesis. Complete references are also needed for your citations.

WRITING PORTFOLIO ELIGIBILITY

This paper may be used in a student’s writing portfolio, provided the paper meets the analytical or professional requirements for such a paper.  The student is responsible for assuring that it meets such standards.