Grade the Problem Statement of Your Dissertation

The problem statement of your dissertation or proposal is very important. It is a go-to section for your supervisor and examiners.

So, why not grade your own problem statement?

Here are 7 criteria.

Score 1 point for each criterion if your problem statement deserves it, ? a point if you’re undecided, and no point if it doesn’t stack up ?.

Your problem statement:

1. States the problem clearly.
2. Has context – clarifies the perspective from which you are viewing the problem.
3. Summarises previous sections of the chapter – no new sources are cited.
4. States a clear knowledge gap in previous research/theory.
5. Identifies a potential diagnosis/solution to the problem within the theoretical literature.
6. Provides a logical argument for the importance of addressing the problem.
7. Is (well) under a page (< 150-250 words).

If you’d like to improve your problem statement and other important sections of your introduction chapter like the purpose statement and research questions, join my (free) webinar on Thursday 7th March. Register here.

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Merle Werbeloff, PhD (Wits)