LESSON 6: RESEARCH PROBLEM: DEFINITION & STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

LESSON 6: RESEARCH PROBLEM: DEFINITION & STATEMENT OF THE PROBLEM

by Prof. Lydia Wambugu

Humanities, Social Sciences & Thought Science — General & History GPResearch and information: generalGPSResearch methods
🎙 Prof. Lydia Wambugu 👥 29K 📅 April 5, 2021 ⏱ 18 min 👁 34K 📄 tutorial 🧭 2026-08-17
Available in: English (current) Français

Keywords

research problemstatement of the problemknowledge gapresearch methodsacademic writing

Summary

This lesson introduces the concept of a research problem, defining it as the gap between what is and what ought to be. It emphasizes that research is conducted to address real problems anchored in data, not hearsay. The instructor distinguishes between a research problem and a statement of the problem, explaining that the latter articulates the need for research and includes three key components: statement of need, statement of knowledge gap, and statement of researcher’s intuition. The video also discusses sources of research problems, such as personal experience, literature, and societal issues. The instructor provides examples and encourages viewers to subscribe for more content. The presentation is straightforward but lacks depth and visual aids, and the audio quality is subpar.

120 words

Critical Evaluation

Value of the Information & Strength of the Argument

The video offers a basic but clear explanation of research problems and statements of the problem, which is valuable for beginners. The argumentation is logical, building from definition to components, but it lacks concrete examples and empirical evidence. The instructor’s expertise is evident, but the presentation could be more engaging and detailed.

Scientific Rigor, Source Quality, Title Accuracy

The video does not cite specific academic sources, relying instead on the instructor’s knowledge. The title accurately reflects the content. The description provides links to the instructor’s website and social media, which are not directly related to the content. The video’s rigor is moderate, suitable for introductory purposes but not for advanced research.

120 words

Title / Content Match

The title accurately reflects the content, which focuses on defining research problems and crafting statements of the problem.

Quality & Reliability

6/10

The video provides a clear and structured introduction to research problems and statements of the problem, but lacks depth and relies on generic examples. The audio quality is poor, and the content is largely based on the instructor's expertise without citing specific sources.

Key Moments

Markers derived by PSI from the transcript: the creator did not define chapters.

Cited Sources

  • Research Methods Course — Full course mentioned in the video
  • YouTube Channel — Subscription link provided in the description

Concurring Sources

Contribution & Novelties

The video provides a clear and structured introduction to research problems and statements of the problem, which is useful for students new to research methods. It emphasizes the importance of distinguishing between the two and outlines the key components of a statement of the problem. However, it lacks depth and originality, as similar content is widely available in textbooks and online resources.

Pour aller plus loin :

  • Research problem - Wikipedia — Provides a comprehensive overview of research problems and their characteristics.
  • Statement of the problem - Scribbr — Offers practical guidance on writing a statement of the problem.
  • Knowledge gap - Wikipedia — Explains the concept of knowledge gaps in research.

112 words

Radar Profile

The radar profile shows moderate scores across all dimensions, indicating a balanced but not exceptional video. The highest score is in fiabilite_globale, suggesting the content is reliable, while quantite_information and niveau_technique are lower, reflecting the introductory nature and limited depth.

Reliability 6/10

💬 No comments were provided for analysis.