Examples of strong problem statements are often more useful than any definition, since seeing the structure applied across a few fields makes it easier to spot in your own draft. Before looking at the examples, ensure that your problem statement identifies a clear and specific problem, explains why the problem is important, highlights the research gap, is supported by evidence from previous studies, and leads naturally to your research objectives.
Before looking at the examples, ensure that your problem statement:
- Identifies a clear and specific problem.
- Explains why the problem is important.
- Highlights the research gap.
- Is supported by evidence from previous studies.
- Leads naturally to your research objectives.
What Makes These Examples of Strong Problem Statements Work
Each example below follows the same four-part shape: a broader context sentence, the specific problem, the gap in existing research, and a closing sentence stating what the study will do about it. CASRAI’s guide to writing a research problem statement covers this same structure in more depth, including the common mistakes that show up when one of the four parts is missing.
Example 1: Business
Research Topic
The Impact of Social Media Marketing on Customer Loyalty.
Problem Statement
Social media marketing has become an important strategy for businesses seeking to attract and retain customers. Despite increased investment in digital marketing, many small businesses continue to experience low customer retention. Existing studies have largely focused on large organizations, leaving limited evidence on how social media marketing influences customer loyalty among small businesses. This research seeks to address this gap by examining the relationship between social media marketing and customer loyalty.
Why it works: the gap is named directly (large organisations, not small businesses), so the research objectives this leads into are already half-written.
Example 2: Education
Research Topic
Factors Affecting Academic Performance Among University Students.
Problem Statement
Universities continue to implement various strategies to improve student academic performance. However, many students still experience poor academic results despite having access to learning resources and academic support services. Previous research has identified several contributing factors, but limited studies have examined how study habits, time management, and learning environments collectively influence academic performance. This study aims to investigate these factors to provide recommendations for improving student success.
Why it works: it doesn’t claim no research exists on this topic, only that these three factors haven’t been studied together, which is a more defensible gap than claiming total originality.
Example 3: Nursing
Research Topic
Factors Influencing Medication Adherence Among Patients with Hypertension.
Problem Statement
Hypertension remains one of the leading causes of cardiovascular complications worldwide. Although effective medication is available, many patients fail to follow their prescribed treatment plans, resulting in poor health outcomes. Existing studies have identified several possible reasons for medication non-adherence, but limited evidence exists regarding the factors influencing adherence among hypertensive patients in specific healthcare settings. This study seeks to investigate these factors to support improved patient care and treatment outcomes.
Why it works: “specific healthcare settings” narrows a huge global topic down to something one study can actually investigate.
Tips for Writing Your Own Problem Statement
- Begin with the broader issue.
- Clearly identify the specific problem.
- Support the problem using credible academic sources.
- Highlight the research gap.
- Explain why the study is necessary.
- Keep your writing clear, concise, and focused.
Conclusion
A strong problem statement lays the foundation for a successful research project. By clearly identifying the problem, supporting it with evidence, highlighting the research gap and explaining the importance of the study, you create a solid basis for your research objectives, methodology and findings. Reviewing examples from different fields can help you develop the skills needed to write an effective problem statement for your own thesis. Once you’ve drafted your own, checklist: is your problem statement strong enough? walks through the same checks from the top of this page in more detail, and problem statement vs research problem is worth a read if you’re not yet sure which one you’re looking at.
