A Sample Problem Statement
Your first task as a doctoral researcher is to begin a search for your research problem. Consider your passion. What do you care about? What problem in your educational specialization interests you
the most? Try to express this in a single sentence that begins with the words, “The problem is…” This can be your starting point in developing your research problem.

Note that your research problem must also be considered a problem in the educational discipline by published researchers. Your work builds on, and adds to, the work other scholars have done. To
determine if your research problem is current, you need to search the most recent peer-reviewed literature. At this point in your study, seek reference literature that has been published within the
last 5 years.

To prepare:

Review the required readings, media, and resources.
Use your citation management software and Boolean logic, as you seek evidence from the literature that justifies pursuing this research problem.
Download the document titled “APA Course Paper Template With Advice (6th ed.)” from the “Walden Templates: General Templates” resource found in the Learning Resources.

Assignment:

To complete:
The Week 2 Assignment should be written in correct APA style and should include the following:
A title—a sample problem statement
A few sentences to introduce the problem and provide background
Straightforward and unambiguous sentences (1–2) that clearly state the problem (Note: Make it specific and precise.)
About 2–3 paragraphs that synthesize the evidence from research literature that this is a current, meaningful problem in the educational discipline
Statements substantiated by evidence from research (Note: Every statement must be substantiated by evidence from research.)
A short paragraph describing who would benefit from addressing this problem and in what ways they might benefit
Reference list of literature, in APA format, supporting this proposed study
Should be 3–6 pages in length, not including the title or reference pages.

Learning Resources
Required Readings
Single, P. B. (2010). Demystifying dissertation writing: A streamlined process from choice of topic to final text. Sterling, VA: Stylus Publishing.
Chapter 1, “The Single System for Academic Writing”
Figure 1.5, “The Single System for Academic Writing” (p. 16)
Chapter 2, “Choosing a Topic and an Adviser”
Section 2.4, “Entering the Conversation: Subject Matter (pp. 34–38)
Chapter 5, “Focusing on Focus Statements” (pp. 87–89)
Butin, D. W. (2010). The education dissertation: A guide for practitioner scholars. Thousand Oaks, CA: Corwin.
Chapter 3, “Focusing Your Research” (pp. 42–43)
Thomas, G. (2013). How to do your research project: A guide for students in education and applied social sciences (2nd ed.). Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage.
Chapter 1, “Your Introduction: Starting Points” (pp. 2–7)
Walden University Writing Center. (2015d). Walden templates: General templates. Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/writingcenter/templates/general
“APA Course Paper Template With Advice (6th ed.)”
Walden University Writing Center. (2015b). Modules: Introduction to references and citations. Retrieved from https://academicguides.waldenu.edu/c.php?g=410047&p=2800022#s-lg-box-8571780
“Scroll up and read the Introduction to References and Citation Modules?”
“?Then, complete the Essential Components and Purpose of APA Reference Entries”