5 Step Discussion post on a Problem Statement – 1. Please share what you are curious about in YOUR professional setting. State your response in a Researchable Problem statement using the 5 criteria listed below. The following refers to how to write a…
This is the Instructions :
APA Format –
Problem Statements
There are 5 important steps to this activity – read the instructions carefully and follow the steps as listed below.
1. Please share what you are curious about in YOUR professional setting. State your response in a Researchable Problem statement using the 5 criteria listed below.
The following refers to how to write a “researchable” Problem Statement (PS) (all of the answers to ABCD below need to be included into one succinct PS formula. Write down your answers to the ABCD below for your specific PS (do not skip this step).
- Which 2 groups are you going to study?
- What intervention (treatment) will you be applying to one group and withholding from the other (control) group?
- How will you measure this “objectively” (what instrument or tool or machine will you use; do not choose something “subjective” for this forum (like a survey or questionnaire)? Here are some instruments used in healthcare to measure results “objectively”> scale, BP cuff (sphygmomanometer), thermometer, ruler, BMI, fasting blood sugar, lab values such as blood gases, lipid profile, or something you can easily count, etc. Do not say “rate your pain from 1-5” because that is subjective (we want this post to be measured “objectively” with an instrument. Do not say “more effective” or “better social skills” because those are subjective and not something that all of us could measure with an instrument and all get the exact same results (outcome). We will not be using “subjective” surveys or questionnaires for this experimental study.
- What is your timeline?
2. Then compile all the answers from ABCD into one concise Problem Statement (PS) beginning with the word “Do”. NOTE: You may need to go back and forth with me a couple of times until you get the APPROVED notice from me that your PS is in the correct format (researchable) with all four components to use again later in the course. Thus, check back frequently for feedback. It is critical that your researchable problem statement is approved as you will need to use it again in Module 3.
3. Below your problem statement detail how your problem statement meets each of these 5 criteria:
• express a relationship between two or more variables
• be stated clearly, concisely and unambiguously
• imply the possibility of empirical testing
• be written in a single declarative or interrogatory sentence
• be related to a desired outcome that is not being achieved
4. Then, tell us what the Purpose of your research study is. In other words, WHY do you want to solve your Problem Statement?
5. Review your peers’ posts and respond/comment on at least one post (you may of course respond to more than one).
This course is about recognizing and using evidence. So, in order to earn full points, you will need to support each of your postings and assignments throughout this course with evidence from your textbook, course content and/or outside readings. Cite your sources using in-text and reference page citations. For example, in this forum you will be creating your own problem and purpose statements. For evidence, you could refer to your textbook for definitions of these concepts to begin your posting, and provide in-text and reference citations.
Remember, you will use this format of providing evidence to support your work (i.e., in posts and papers, etc.) in each of your assignments and posts throughout this course.
• Complete your original post by 11:59 p.m. Thursday, EST.
• Complete peer replies by 11:59 p.m. Sunday, EST.
• Remember that responses to instructor comments do not count toward the minimum post requirements.
• Failure to meet the assignment instructions, submit posts in a timely manner, respond to an instructor comment, or provide citations/references for all source material will result in a loss of points.
• Do not use quoted or copied material.
Here is some additional Information on “Problem Statements” —-
————————————————————————————————————-
PROBLEM AND PURPOSE STATEMENTS All research has been conducted because someone was curious about something. When reading a research study you can determine what the researcher was curious about by looking for one or two key statements within the Introduction of the study: the Research Problem and/or the Research Purpose statements. You may have to “read between the lines” as sometimes the research does not specifically state these using this precise terminology (i.e., The purpose of this research is to…). However, if you read the introduction carefully, you will no doubt find that the author will indicate why the study has been undertaken, what problem needs a solution, identify the goal of the study or give a rationale based upon previous studies or gaps in the research. Problem Statement A research problem is a situation or condition in need of a solution, understanding, improvement, or further investigation. The problem statement is how the researchers identify and articulate the focus of investigation. Problem statements are generated from multiple sources: 1. personal experiences 2. scientific literature 3. existing theories 4. previous research A problem statement should be clear and concise with a justification of the need for the research. This can occur through identification of a gap or conflicting findings. An identified problem should be related to a desired outcome that is not being achieved. The reader should be able to identify problem that is the focus of the research early in a research article and be able to identify the improved outcome that the research is targeting. An example of a problem statement might be: Many diseases today are connected to lifestyles and yet a patient’s lifestyle is not often known to the health care provider. It is clear from this statement that the researcher is suggesting that when appropriate lifestyles are not practiced health will suffer. We can almost “hear” the researcher’s belief that it is incumbent upon all health professionals to assess patients’ lifestyles carefully and regularly in order to assist individuals in developing appropriate lifestyles, and reduce the incidence/delay the onset of disease. The statement of the Research Problem provides the foundation for the research study, and should address 5 criteria: 1. It should express a relationship between two or more variables (i.e., salt and blood pressure) 2. It should be stated clearly, concisely and unambiguously (i.e., sodium intake is related to blood pressure) 3. It should imply the possibility of empirical testing (i.e., we can measure -if sodium intake is reduced, will blood pressure be lowered) 4. It should be written in a single declarative or interrogatory sentence (i.e., a reduction in sodium intake will reduce BP) 5. It should be related to a desired outcome that is not being achieved (i.e., high BP is a silent killer and afflicts a great many individuals; if we can find a strategy to reduce high BP, we can reduce mortality related to high BP). Can you see how my example statements meet the criteria? This was a simplified version, but the criteria are met. We want to look at the relationship between the two identified variables because high blood pressure results in many deaths each year. We can measure if sodium is directly related to high BP, then we can design strategies to help people reduce their BP levels, and we think that will reduce deaths related specifically to high BP. Purpose Statement While the Problem Statement addresses WHAT will be studied, the Research Purpose addresses WHY the study is going to be done. Note that Research reports do NOT always have both a problem statement and a purpose statement (remember the part about “reading between the lines”?). The Purpose statement is generally presented after the Problem statement to clearly identify the intent and hoped-for outcome of the research study. The researchers are illuminating the PURPOSE of their research when they refer to the “aim” of their study. There is such a thing as a “So what research” or research that is inconsequential or seemingly meaningless. Note that it might not be meaningless research after all, but it may be that the study is poorly designed, the problem statement is not clearly written or the purpose/rationale for the study is not provided or is not stated convincingly. With limited funding sources “So what research” proposals compromise their opportunities for financing. A definitive statement from the researcher regarding a valuable Purpose, or rationale for the use of the study’s results is more likely to be funded.
