The Problem Statement will be the heart of your dissertation because it will not only explain what your research will investigate, it also will lay out the
importance of conducting this research. You will spend considerable time refining this as you move from your Prospectus to your eventual dissertation work.
Review "Formulating a research problem," which is included in this week's assigned readings.
The NCU Dissertation Proposal and Dissertation Manuscriipt Template and Guide, which you can find in the Dissertation Center located in the Center for
Teaching and Learning, lists the requirements for a Problem Statement. The Statement of the Problem section is located in Chapter 1 and must "succinctly
discuss the problem and provide evidence of its existence". This section must not exceed 250-300 words, including the citations. Review the template, which
is included in this week's assigned readings.
You might also find it very helpful to review the Problem Statements from completed dissertations of NCU alumni. The library offers a complete list of
Psychology Dissertations included in this week's assigned readings.
Assignment instructions:
Prepare a brief problem statement (250-300 words) related to your selected topic area that you now believe represents a potential area of inquiry that you
might pursue for your dissertation. Remember, a problem statement uses critically evaluated findings from previous research to demonstrate the existence
of a gap in knowledge appropriate to a dissertation. Your problem statement must use sources to demonstrate what you know and do not know, not what
researchers have done and not done.
Next, you will prepare a paper in which you discuss:
Include a brief reflection that includes a discussion of your experience writing the Problem Statement. How did you condense the key information from your
literature review into 300 words or less? What problems or concerns did you experience during this process?
Discuss a research method and design related to this potential problem. Explain how this method and design would be appropriate to address the problem
you have identified.
Describe feasibility issues related to your proposed method/design and potential problem. What practical considerations or ethical and legal issues would
you need to consider?
Length: 250-300 word Problem Statement, 1-2 page paper, plus reference page
References: Include a minimum of 15 scholarly resources.
Your paper should demonstrate thoughtful consideration of the ideas and concepts presented in the course by providing new thoughts and insights relating
directly to this topic. Your response should reflect scholarly writing and current APA standards. Be sure to adhere to Northcentral University's Academic
Integrity Policy.
Sample Solution