What is a statement of the problem in a dissertation?

Researchers develop the statement of the problem by addressing:

• the context
• the main problem and aims of the study
• the existing gap and the proposed solution
• the variables associated with the theoretical aspect of the solution and the relationships between variables
• the operational definition

The researchers need to present the content in a way that could convince the research committee to accept their proposal. In doing so, they must clearly define the subject of study and explain the reasons for choosing the subject by identifying a gap in the existing knowledge. They must provide a detailed description of the research problem and introduce the variables which can solve the problem by considering the scope of the research.