重点速记：

• 问题陈述用于研究工作，用意是声明研究要处理的问题是什么。

• 一个好的问题陈述需要点出领域中的知识空白，带出进一步研究。

• 要写出有说服力的问题陈述，你需要说出：理想、现实和结果。

研究是执行系统化的调查过程，找出新的事实，提高或更正目前的知识。一般可分为两类：以提高科研知识为目标的基础研究；以运用基础研究来解决问题或发展新程序、产品或技术的应用科学。

任何研究最先也是最重要的一步是找出和叙述研究问题：也就是研究人员想要解决什么问题，他想要回答什么问题。一个研究问题可被定义为该关注的问题、与既有知识的落差或目前的规范偏差或标准，指出进一步了解和调查的必要。虽然很多问题最后可能会有多种解决办法（拉近差距或偏差的方法），但这些方法不是很明显或不是能立即可用时，就成了问题。这就需要一些研究来找出可行方案。

问题陈述 (statement of the problem) 就是声明研究工作要处理的问题。问题陈述简短说明研究问题：这个研究要处理的问题是什么？

问题陈述的目标是什么？

问题陈述的最终目标是将广义的问题（困扰你的问题、缺乏感知）转成有针对性且清楚定义的问题，一个可以通过针对性研究以及谨慎决策解决的问题。

撰写问题陈述会帮助你清楚地找出你要提案的研究项目的用途。问题陈述也经常会被当作最终研究计划中的前言 (introductory) 章节，迅速将读者的注意力带到你提案的研究项目要处理的议题上，提供读者简洁的提案计划陈述。

问题陈述不用太长，也不用铺陈太多：好的问题陈述一页就已足够。

问题陈述的关键特征有哪些？

一个好的问题陈述需要包含以下几点：

1. 点出知识落差

2. 对既有的研究的贡献够显著

3. 能够带出进一步研究

4. 问题应该要通过数据收集来进行调查

5. 解决问题的方式应该要符合伦理道德

撰写问题陈述的格式有哪些？

一个有说服力的问题陈述通常有三个部分：

第一部分（理想）：叙述想要达到的目标或理想情况；解释事情应该是如何。

第二部分（现实）：叙述目前可能会阻碍达到或实现第一部分所提的目标、陈述或价值的实际情况；解释现在的情况何以无法达成目标或理想状态。

第三部分（结果）：找出你所提议可以改善目前情况、接近目标或理想的方法。

以下提供示例：

范例1

第一部分：According to the XY university mission statement, the university seeks to provide students with a safe, healthy learning environment. Dormitories are one important aspect of that learning environment, since 55% of XY students live in campus dorms and most of these students spend a significant amount of time working in their dorm rooms.

However,

第二部分：Students living in dorms A B C, and D currently do not have air conditioning units, and during the hot seasons, it is common for room temperatures to exceed 80 degrees F. Many students report that they are unable to do homework in their dorm rooms. Others report having problems sleeping because of the humidity and temperature. The rooms are not only unhealthy, but they inhibit student productivity and academic achievement.

第三部分：In response to this problem, our study proposes to investigate several options for making the dorms more hospitable. We plan to carry out an all-inclusive participatory investigation into options for purchasing air conditioners (university-funded; student-subsidized) and different types of air conditioning systems. We will also consider less expensive ways to mitigate some or all of the problems noted above (such as creating climate-controlled dorm lounges and equipping them with better study areas and computing space).

这里有撰写问题陈述的简单四步骤：

第一步（陈述 1）：叙述某特定情况、现象等的目标情况或理想状态。勾勒出理想的情况（该期待或预期什么）。

第二步（陈述 2）：叙述目前有可能阻碍达到或实现第一步中讨论中要达到的目标、状态或价值的情况。勾勒出现实情况，构建应该要有的情况与目前的情况的落差。

第三步：利用转折语 but、however、unfortunately 或 in spite of 来连接第一步和第二步的内容。

第四步（陈述 3）：利用特定信息，表现出第二步中所述的情况除非做些什么，才有改善的希望，然后通过预测可能的解决方案能带来的结果来强调研究的好处。

以下示范如何依照上述步骤写出问题陈述：

范例 2

第一步（陈述 1）

The government of Kenya has a goal to industrialize the nation by the year 2030 (quote). In this regard it has encouraged growth-oriented micro and small enterprises (MSEs) that should graduate into medium and large enterprises capable of contributing to the industrialization goal. There are several sessional papers (quote/cite) that contain specific measures to encourage and support MSEs.

第二、三步（陈述 2）

Despite the said government efforts, there is slow growth of micro into small enterprises and even slower growth of small into medium scale enterprises (quote, show statistics). The government has officially acknowledged that there exists a “missing middle” in Kenya meaning that there is a gap between small and large enterprises in the country (cite, quote).

第四步（陈述 3）

Should the “missing middle” gap persist, the industrialization goal may be difficult to achieve. A need therefore arises to investigate why there is a persistent “missing middle” despite government efforts.

范例 3

陈述 1

In order to accomplish their missions, public universities need motivated workforces.

陈述 2

There are, however, frequent and severe disciplinary actions, absenteeism, as well as various forms of unrest in public universities which affect the accomplishment of the set missions. Our preliminary investigation reveals that both non-management and management staff are under motivated.

陈述 3

Without effective motivational packages and procedures, the said vices are likely to continue and retard the achievement of the universities’ missions.

Thus, there is a need to examine the public universities’ motivation systems and procedures, which is the aim of the proposed research.

范例 4

陈述 1

The Ministry of Youth is dedicated to allocating enterprise development funds to both the youth and women. These funds are made available in order to start entrepreneurial ventures that create and expand employment. (Provide relevant statistics and quote)

陈述 2

One of the main focuses of the ministry is consistency. Unfortunately, consistency in allocating funds to the next generation of recipients requires prior knowledge of previous allocations and established practices. The current continuous disbursement method does not allow for adequate analysis of previous disbursements before a current disbursement is done.

陈述 3

Continuing with this current disbursement method prevents consistency and causes decisions to become grossly political, which in turn inhibits the achievement of the goals of the funds. Developing a more informed disbursement system could help better implement the consistency focus of the ministry and at the same time help the ministry better monitor and evaluate its funds.

This proposed research aspires to explore options for a new funds disbursement system that would focus on consistency. To do this, the researcher will carry out a full stakeholder analysis and use it to propose appropriate policy interventions.

另一种方式

另一种撰写问题陈述的方式是使用模版，以下是对科研人员来说比较实用的模版：

There is a problem in --------------------------______________________(e.g. organization or situation where problem is occurring). Despite ___________________________(efforts to prevent or deter), _____________________(something undesirable or unexpected) is occurring (provide evidence). This problem has negatively affected_____________(victims of the problem) because_____________________________. A possible cause of this problem is ___________________________. Perhaps a study which investigates_________________ by a ___________(paradigm/method) could help resolve the situation.

以下是利用上面的模版写出的问题陈述范例：

An established trend in the small business start-up financing in Kenya is to establish funds. Some of these funds include the youth fund and women fund. These funds have helped improve the rate of start-ups in the country. However, after the start-up stage, the ventures start developing problems. First, they face problems in management which lead to a marketing problem and eventually to stagnation and early exit.

A study by the Institute of Development Studies (RoK, 2004) revealed that only 38% of the businesses are expanding while 58% have not added workers. According to the survey, more enterprises are likely to close in their first three years of operation. Four years later the same institute conducted another study in Central Kenya. This study revealed that 57% of small businesses are in stagnation with only 33% of them showing some level of growth.

In our current project, we propose to examine factors that have an impact on small business sustainability. We will employ both qualitative and quantitative approaches to gather both primary and secondary data and information with the objective of determining success factors for the growth of small business in Kenya.

Specifically, we shall employ the product life cycle (PLC) model to identify the needs of a small business at the various stages of the PLC.

参考资料

1. RoK, (2008). Economic Survey. Nairobi, Kenya. Government Printer.

2. Nyaga C.N. (2009). Non-financial constraints hindering growth of SMEs in Kenya: The case of plastic manufacturing companies in industrial area in Nairobi county.  (A masters  research thesis, University of Nairobi).

3. Nyagah C.N. (2013). Non-financial constraints hindering growth of SME’S in Kenya: the case of plastic manufacturing companies in industrial area in Nairobi County (Doctoral dissertation).

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