The problem statement is one of the most important elements of your APA research paper. It establishes the context and importance of the research by focusing on the problem or issue being explored. Developing a clear, detailed problem statement helps provide direction for your research and rationale for why the study is needed. Here are the key components to include when writing a problem statement for an APA research paper:
Introduce the General Topic and Context
The opening paragraph of your problem statement should introduce the general topic or subject area of your research paper. Provide sufficient context so the reader understands the scope and parameters of the problem. Clearly define any terms, concepts, populations, or phenomena discussed to establish shared understanding. For example, if studying the lack of diversity in STEM fields, you may introduce that the research will examine underrepresentation of certain groups in science, technology, engineering and mathematics careers in the United States.
Define the Specific Problem
In the next paragraph, clearly define the specific problem or issue that is the focus of your research. The problem statement should convey what the main problem is in clear, explicit language. For example, “One specific problem is the underrepresentation of women in computer science fields, which make up a significant portion of STEM careers.” Be sure to define any dependent and independent variables related to the problem. Consider using data or statistics to emphasize the scope or severity of the problem.
Establish Significance and Impact
Explain why this particular problem merits research attention. Discuss how the problem impacts individuals, communities, institutions or society. Provide evidence from previous studies, reports, or scholarly works demonstrating the problem’s significance. You may discuss social, economic or health consequences of not addressing the problem. For example, not having gender diversity in high-paying computer science careers perpetuates wage gaps and undermines opportunities for women in the workforce. This paragraph establishes why the research problem is important and worthwhile to study.
Present Gaps in Current Understanding
Discuss what is still unknown or inadequately understood about the problem based on previous research. Highlight any limitations, inconsistencies or contradictions in existing literature, theories or approaches. Identify specific knowledge gaps the proposed study aims to address. For example, previous studies have not examined intersectional factors like both gender and ethnicity that may further exacerbate underrepresentation in computer science. Or studies have provided insight at the K-12 level but not continued into college and career trajectories.
Present Hypotheses or Research Questions
Based on identified gaps, present the specific research hypotheses or questions that logically flow from the problem and will be examined over the course of the study. Clearly state the hypotheses or questions in an explicit, testable format. Ensure they are narrow enough to be answered within the scope of the paper but broad enough to meaningfully address the problem statement. For a quantitative study, hypotheses might predict relationships between variables, whereas qualitative studies may pose open-ended research questions. Present two to four hypotheses or questions.
Conclusion
Briefly summarize the key points established in the problem statement. Restate the importance and timeliness of researching this specific problem based on gaps in the literature and impact on individuals and society. Preview how the study will address the gaps and advance understanding of the problem through investigation of the hypotheses or questions outlined. This conclusion brings closure to your problem statement and transition into discussing the study’s methodology.
When writing your problem statement for an APA research paper, be sure to include each of these crucial components. Developing a thorough, well-structured problem statement is vital for obtaining Institutional Review Board approval if working with human subjects. It also establishes for your reader why this research matters and what it hopes to accomplish. A clear, compelling problem statement sets the stage for a high quality study that makes a meaningful scholarly contribution. Pay special attention to this foundational section to effectively launch your research paper.