Problem statements: an exploratory study of their function, significance, and form

Examination of research methods textbooks and survey findings suggests that research studies should contain a problem statement. However, survey respondents disagreed over the purpose, content, and form of the statement. It would seem that researchers have referred to whatever they want as the problem statement. The research presented in this paper explores the function, form, and major attributes of a problem statement, and thereby provides a list of possible items to include when writing a problem statement