PROBLEM STATEMENT FORMULA
Use this interactive document to help plan and develop a problem statement. Type
directly into the blue boxes below and the text size will automatically adjust so all of the
required information can be added.
Step #1: Introduce the problem (insert 2-3 sentences here):
Example: In the United States, the primary non-litigious method of
resolving formal conflict is mediation. Mediation is a conflict resolution
Provide some general process facilitated by a neutral third party mediator (Boulle, Colatrella,
background information about & Picchioni, 2008). Mediators are dispute resolution professionals who
the problem that will be the assist disputing parties to reach mutually acceptable conflict resolution
focus of the study. outcomes. Wissler (2002) noted a positive correlation between
mediator experience and successful conflict resolution, confirming that
a mediator’s proficiency optimized after facilitating approximately 35
mediation sessions.
Step #2: After presenting this general background, explicitly state the general problem:
The general problem is resulting in
State the general problem that your Include the negative
project is designed to examine. consequences of the problem.
Example: The general problem is the supply of mediators outweighs the demand for mediation in the
general population resulting in limited opportunities for mediators to gain experience (Velikonja, 2009).
Tip: The problem should be applicable and relatable beyond the context of the topic. In other words, writers
must identify a problem -- a real problem, not a situation.
Step #3: Support the problem by adding one or two sentences that DIRECTLY address the impact or
adversity of the general problem.
Think about how this problem impacts people, Example: Velikonja (2009) noted that most mediators are
society, organizations, etc. Be sure to use “constantly scrambling for work” (p. 258).
references to research to support your ideas
about the existence of this problem.
Step #4: Add one or two sentences that transition to the specific problem:
Example: This shortage of work and experience could impact the performance of mediators.
Step #5: Clearly state the specific problem:
The specific problem is resulting in
State the specific problem that your Include the negative consequences
project is designed to address. of the specific problem.
Example: The specific problem is that in addition to limited opportunities to practice mediation,
mediators are subject to long delays between mediations, resulting in lower practice frequency, and
lower quality of work (Wissler, 2002).
Tip: The specific problem should align directly with the topic of the study.
Step #6: Add one or two sentences that address the impact or adversity of the specific problem.
Think about how this specific problem Example: Velikonja (2009) reported that mediators
impacts people, society, organizations, often practice for years before mediating 35 cases.
etc. Remember to use references to Wissler (2002) suggested successful conflict
research to support your ideas about resolution outcomes increase if mediators have
the existence of this problem. more rather than less mediation experience.
Step #7: Conclude with a sentence summarizing the importance of addressing the problem.
Example: Examining the relationship between
Think about why it’s important to mediation experience, practice frequency, time
investigate this problem. What will this between mediations and successful conflict
research do for people, society, resolution outcomes could have a significant
organizations, the field of study, etc.? influence on the formalization of mediator practice
frequency and proficiency standards.
Tip: Remember to save your PDF after you have added your content to the blue boxes above.
Also, remember that this document is designed to help you develop the difference pieces of the
problem statement. You will need to take the ideas you added to this document to create your
properly formatted problem statement to use within the Letter of Intent (LOI).
