Understanding the Two Types of Dissertation Problem Statements
I was reviewing a dissertation proposal last month from a DNP student who’d been stuck in revisions for six months. Her
committee kept sending back her problem statement saying it was “wrong” but not explaining what was actually wrong with
it. I read her problem statement and the problem was immediately obvious. She’d written: “It is not known how emergency
room nurses perceive the effects of workplace violence on their psychological wellbeing.” That’s a knowledge-gap problem
statement. And there’s nothing inherently wrong with it—except that she was in a Doctor of Nursing Practice program, not
a PhD program. Her committee wanted a socioeconomic problem statement focused on the real-world problem of workplace
violence, not a knowledge-gap statement focused on what we don’t know yet. One sentence. Wrong type. Six months wasted.
This is why understanding the two types of dissertation problem statements matters. Your problem statement is the
foundation of your entire dissertation. It drives your purpose statement, your research questions, your methodology,
everything. Get the type wrong and your whole study is built on the wrong foundation. Let me show you the difference
between these two types of problem statements and how to figure out which one your program expects.
Before we talk about the two types, let’s make sure we understand what a problem statement actually is. Your problem statement explains why your research needs to exist. It identifies the problem your study will address. Without a clear problem statement, your dissertation lacks justification—there’s no reason for anyone to care about your research. Think of your problem statement as answering the question: “So what? Why does this research matter?” Here’s what a good problem statement does: It identifies a specific problem: Not just a general topic area, but a particular problem that needs attention. “Healthcare” is not a problem. “Nurse burnout leading to high turnover rates in rural hospitals” is a problem. It provides evidence that the problem exists: You can’t just assert that there’s a problem. You need to cite statistics, research, reports, or other evidence demonstrating that the problem is real and significant. It explains who is affected: Who experiences this problem? Patients? Healthcare workers? Students? Organizations? Communities? Be specific about the population impacted. It shows why the problem matters: What are the consequences of not addressing this problem? What happens if we don’t solve it or better understand it? It sets up your research: Your problem statement should lead naturally into your purpose statement, which explains what your study will do to address the problem. Now here’s the key thing most students don’t understand: there are two fundamentally different types of problem statements, and which one you use depends on the type of doctoral program you’re in and the kind of research you’re doing.
The first type of problem statement focuses on real-world, applied problems. I call these socioeconomic or sociopolitical problem statements, though they’re sometimes called “practical problem statements” or “applied problem statements.”
A socioeconomic problem statement identifies a real problem that real people are experiencing right now. It’s not about gaps in academic knowledge—it’s about problems in the world that need solving or ameliorating. Here’s an example of a socioeconomic problem statement: Trauma nurses in urban emergency departments experience high levels of occupational stress and low resiliency, leading to burnout, compassion fatigue, and high turnover rates. According to the American Nurses Association (2023), 62% of emergency department nurses report symptoms of burnout, and turnover rates in urban trauma centers exceed 25% annually (Smith, 2022). This attrition costs hospitals an average of $52,000 per departing nurse in recruitment and training expenses (Johnson et al., 2023). More critically, high turnover compromises patient care quality and safety in already understaffed emergency departments (Brown, 2023). Despite initiatives to reduce nurse burnout, resiliency among trauma nurses remains problematically low, threatening both workforce stability and patient outcomes. Notice what this problem statement does:
You should use socioeconomic problem statements when your doctoral program is focused on applied professional practice rather than pure academic research. This includes: Professional doctorates:
Professional doctorate programs train practitioners who will use research to improve practice. Your dissertation isn’t primarily about contributing to academic literature (though it should do that too). It’s about addressing problems in professional contexts. A DNP student studying nurse resiliency isn’t trying to develop new theoretical frameworks about resiliency. They’re trying to help nurses cope with workplace stress so they don’t burn out and leave the profession. An EdD student studying teacher retention isn’t trying to build new theories of motivation. They’re trying to help school districts keep good teachers so students get better instruction. A DBA student studying supply chain disruptions isn’t trying to create new management theories. They’re trying to help companies avoid costly disruptions. These are practical problems requiring practical solutions. Socioeconomic problem statements frame your research as addressing these practical problems.
The second type of problem statement focuses on what we don’t yet know. These are knowledge-gap problem statements, sometimes called “theoretical problem statements” or “research problem statements.”
A knowledge-gap problem statement identifies gaps or limitations in existing research. It’s not primarily about real-world problems—it’s about what we don’t understand yet about a phenomenon. Here’s an example of a knowledge-gap problem statement: While substantial research has examined factors contributing to nurse burnout in hospital settings (Smith, 2022; Johnson et al., 2023), there is limited understanding of how emergency department nurses conceptualize and develop resiliency in high-trauma environments. Existing resiliency research has focused primarily on intensive care and oncology nursing contexts (Brown, 2023), with trauma nurses receiving minimal scholarly attention. Furthermore, most resiliency research has employed quantitative measures of resiliency as an outcome variable (Williams & Davis, 2023) without examining the lived experiences through which nurses develop and maintain resiliency. It is not known how trauma nurses in urban emergency departments describe their experiences of developing resiliency in the face of repeated exposure to traumatic patient situations. This gap in understanding limits both theoretical development regarding resiliency in high-stress healthcare contexts and practical knowledge about how to support trauma nurse wellbeing. Notice how this is different from the socioeconomic problem statement:
You should use knowledge-gap problem statements when your doctoral program is focused on advancing scholarly knowledge through research. This includes: Research doctorates:
PhD programs are about becoming a researcher. Your dissertation demonstrates your ability to identify important questions that haven’t been answered yet and design rigorous research to answer them. A PhD student studying nurse resiliency might be interested in developing theoretical models of how resiliency develops or testing whether existing resilience theories apply in trauma nursing contexts. A PhD in education student might examine fundamental questions about how people learn or how organizational structures affect educational outcomes, not just what interventions work to improve test scores. A PhD in business might develop new theories about organizational behavior or test competing theoretical explanations for business phenomena. These are fundamentally about advancing knowledge. Knowledge-gap problem statements frame your research as filling holes in scholarly understanding.
Now here’s the practical question: How do you know which type of problem statement your program wants?
Most doctoral programs have handbooks, templates, or guidelines that specify dissertation requirements. Look for sections about:
Your dissertation chair should be able to tell you which type of problem statement your program expects. Ask directly: “Should my problem statement focus on a socioeconomic problem in practice, or should it focus on a gap in the research literature?” If your chair isn’t clear about this, that’s actually a problem with your chair. This is fundamental information they should provide. But unfortunately, not all chairs are good at their jobs.
Most universities have dissertation databases where you can read dissertations from graduates in your program. Look at 5-10 recent dissertations from your specific program and specialization. Read their problem statements. You’ll probably notice a pattern. All the EdD dissertations in your program probably use socioeconomic problem statements. All the PhD dissertations probably use knowledge-gap problem statements. Follow the pattern. Don’t try to be innovative with your problem statement structure—this is not the place to break new ground.
If you still can’t get clear guidance, use these general rules: Use socioeconomic problem statements if you’re in:
Finally, think about what your study is actually trying to accomplish: If your study is trying to:
Let me tell you about the mistakes I see students make with problem statements so you can avoid them.
This is what that DNP student at the beginning did. She used a knowledge-gap statement when her program expected a socioeconomic statement. Her committee kept rejecting it because it framed the study wrong. Professional doctorate programs want to see that you’re addressing real-world problems. If you write “it is not known…” you’re framing your research as primarily about filling knowledge gaps, which isn’t what professional doctorates prioritize. Conversely, if you’re in a PhD program and you write only about practical problems without identifying gaps in scholarly literature, your committee will say you haven’t demonstrated that your research makes an original contribution to knowledge.
Both types of problem statements need evidence, but students often forget this. You can’t just assert that nurse burnout is a problem or that we don’t know something. You need citations. For socioeconomic statements: Cite statistics, reports, studies showing the extent and impact of the problem. For knowledge-gap statements: Cite the literature showing what has been studied and what hasn’t, demonstrating that the gap actually exists.
“Education is a problem in America” is not a problem statement. It’s too vague. What specific aspect of education? What specific population? What specific outcomes? “Fourth-grade reading proficiency rates in rural school districts have declined 15% over the past decade despite increased funding” is specific enough to be a good problem statement. Both types of problem statements need specificity. Focus on particular populations, contexts, and outcomes.
Students sometimes write problem statements about issues they can’t feasibly research. The problem might be real and important, but you can’t study it with the resources and access you have. “Healthcare disparities affect millions of Americans” is a real problem. But you’re one doctoral student. You can’t study millions of Americans. You need to narrow to something you can actually research—maybe healthcare access in one specific community or one specific type of disparity. Make sure your problem is something you can realistically address within the scope of a dissertation.
Your problem statement describes the problem, not your proposed solution. Students sometimes write: “The problem is that hospitals don’t have resiliency training programs for trauma nurses.” That’s not the problem. That’s a potential solution. The problem is that trauma nurses have low resiliency and high burnout. One possible solution might be training programs, but that’s your intervention or recommendation, not the problem itself. Keep the problem statement focused on the problem. Save solutions for your discussion and recommendations chapters.
Let me give you side-by-side examples of the same topic framed both ways so you can see the difference clearly. Topic: Nurse resiliency in emergency departments Socioeconomic Problem Statement (for DNP): Emergency department nurses face unprecedented occupational stress, with 62% reporting burnout symptoms and 25% leaving their positions annually. This turnover crisis costs hospitals millions in recruitment and training while compromising patient care in already understaffed emergency departments. Despite organizational initiatives to reduce burnout, resiliency among emergency nurses remains low. This problem affects nurse wellbeing, hospital financial sustainability, and patient safety outcomes. Knowledge-Gap Problem Statement (for PhD): While research has examined nurse burnout extensively, limited scholarly attention has focused on resiliency development in emergency department contexts. Existing resiliency research emphasizes quantitative measurement of resiliency as an outcome variable, with few studies examining the lived experiences through which emergency nurses develop and maintain resiliency. It is not known how emergency department nurses conceptualize resiliency or what factors they identify as supporting their resilience in high-stress environments. This gap limits both theoretical understanding of resiliency development and evidence-based approaches to supporting nurse wellbeing. See the difference? Same topic, same population, but completely different framing:
Your problem statement is the foundation of your dissertation. Get it wrong and everything built on that foundation will be wrong too. Before you write anything else in your dissertation, make sure you understand which type of problem statement your program expects. Check your handbook. Ask your chair. Look at approved dissertations. Get clarity about this before you invest weeks writing the wrong thing. If you’re still not sure, or if you need help crafting a strong problem statement that your committee will approve, that’s exactly what we help students with at Real Professors. We’ve worked with hundreds of doctoral students across different programs and fields. We know which types of problem statements different programs expect. We can help you write a problem statement that establishes the right foundation for your specific dissertation. Whether you’re in a professional doctorate program needing a socioeconomic problem statement, or a PhD program needing a knowledge-gap problem statement, we can help you craft the perfect opening for your dissertation. Learn more about our dissertation writing service and how we help students from topic development through final defense. Schedule a free consultation to talk with a professor about your dissertation. We’ll review your problem statement if you have one, or help you develop one if you’re just getting started. Don’t waste months revising the wrong type of problem statement. Get it right the first time with help from professors who’ve chaired hundreds of dissertations and know exactly what different programs expect.
What Is a Problem Statement and Why Does It Matter?
Before we talk about the two types, let’s make sure we understand what a problem statement actually is. Your problem statement explains why your research needs to exist. It identifies the problem your study will address. Without a clear problem statement, your dissertation lacks justification—there’s no reason for anyone to care about your research. Think of your problem statement as answering the question: “So what? Why does this research matter?” Here’s what a good problem statement does: It identifies a specific problem: Not just a general topic area, but a particular problem that needs attention. “Healthcare” is not a problem. “Nurse burnout leading to high turnover rates in rural hospitals” is a problem. It provides evidence that the problem exists: You can’t just assert that there’s a problem. You need to cite statistics, research, reports, or other evidence demonstrating that the problem is real and significant. It explains who is affected: Who experiences this problem? Patients? Healthcare workers? Students? Organizations? Communities? Be specific about the population impacted. It shows why the problem matters: What are the consequences of not addressing this problem? What happens if we don’t solve it or better understand it? It sets up your research: Your problem statement should lead naturally into your purpose statement, which explains what your study will do to address the problem. Now here’s the key thing most students don’t understand: there are two fundamentally different types of problem statements, and which one you use depends on the type of doctoral program you’re in and the kind of research you’re doing.
Type #1: Socioeconomic or Sociopolitical Problem Statement
The first type of problem statement focuses on real-world, applied problems. I call these socioeconomic or sociopolitical problem statements, though they’re sometimes called “practical problem statements” or “applied problem statements.”
What This Type Looks Like
A socioeconomic problem statement identifies a real problem that real people are experiencing right now. It’s not about gaps in academic knowledge—it’s about problems in the world that need solving or ameliorating. Here’s an example of a socioeconomic problem statement: Trauma nurses in urban emergency departments experience high levels of occupational stress and low resiliency, leading to burnout, compassion fatigue, and high turnover rates. According to the American Nurses Association (2023), 62% of emergency department nurses report symptoms of burnout, and turnover rates in urban trauma centers exceed 25% annually (Smith, 2022). This attrition costs hospitals an average of $52,000 per departing nurse in recruitment and training expenses (Johnson et al., 2023). More critically, high turnover compromises patient care quality and safety in already understaffed emergency departments (Brown, 2023). Despite initiatives to reduce nurse burnout, resiliency among trauma nurses remains problematically low, threatening both workforce stability and patient outcomes. Notice what this problem statement does:
- Identifies a specific problem: Low resiliency and high burnout among trauma nurses
- Provides statistical evidence: 62% burnout rate, 25% turnover, $52,000 cost per nurse
- Explains who’s affected: Trauma nurses, hospitals, patients
- Shows consequences: Financial costs, compromised patient care, workforce instability
- Establishes urgency: The problem exists despite existing initiatives
When to Use Socioeconomic Problem Statements
You should use socioeconomic problem statements when your doctoral program is focused on applied professional practice rather than pure academic research. This includes: Professional doctorates:
- Doctor of Nursing Practice (DNP)
- Doctor of Education (EdD)
- Doctor of Business Administration (DBA)
- Doctor of Public Health (DrPH)
- Doctor of Social Work (DSW)
- Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) in some programs
- Many online doctoral programs at universities like Walden, Capella, and Grand Canyon
- Programs at professional schools rather than research universities
- Programs designed for working professionals who will return to practice
- Quality improvement projects
- Program evaluations
- Needs assessments
- Implementation studies
- Policy analysis
Why This Type Works for Professional Doctorates
Professional doctorate programs train practitioners who will use research to improve practice. Your dissertation isn’t primarily about contributing to academic literature (though it should do that too). It’s about addressing problems in professional contexts. A DNP student studying nurse resiliency isn’t trying to develop new theoretical frameworks about resiliency. They’re trying to help nurses cope with workplace stress so they don’t burn out and leave the profession. An EdD student studying teacher retention isn’t trying to build new theories of motivation. They’re trying to help school districts keep good teachers so students get better instruction. A DBA student studying supply chain disruptions isn’t trying to create new management theories. They’re trying to help companies avoid costly disruptions. These are practical problems requiring practical solutions. Socioeconomic problem statements frame your research as addressing these practical problems.
Type #2: Knowledge-Gap Problem Statement
The second type of problem statement focuses on what we don’t yet know. These are knowledge-gap problem statements, sometimes called “theoretical problem statements” or “research problem statements.”
What This Type Looks Like
A knowledge-gap problem statement identifies gaps or limitations in existing research. It’s not primarily about real-world problems—it’s about what we don’t understand yet about a phenomenon. Here’s an example of a knowledge-gap problem statement: While substantial research has examined factors contributing to nurse burnout in hospital settings (Smith, 2022; Johnson et al., 2023), there is limited understanding of how emergency department nurses conceptualize and develop resiliency in high-trauma environments. Existing resiliency research has focused primarily on intensive care and oncology nursing contexts (Brown, 2023), with trauma nurses receiving minimal scholarly attention. Furthermore, most resiliency research has employed quantitative measures of resiliency as an outcome variable (Williams & Davis, 2023) without examining the lived experiences through which nurses develop and maintain resiliency. It is not known how trauma nurses in urban emergency departments describe their experiences of developing resiliency in the face of repeated exposure to traumatic patient situations. This gap in understanding limits both theoretical development regarding resiliency in high-stress healthcare contexts and practical knowledge about how to support trauma nurse wellbeing. Notice how this is different from the socioeconomic problem statement:
- Focuses on what’s unknown: “limited understanding,” “it is not known”
- Reviews existing literature: Shows what has been studied and what hasn’t
- Identifies specific gaps: Trauma nurses understudied, quantitative focus neglects lived experience
- Frames study as filling the gap: This research will address what’s not yet known
- Still connects to practice: But the emphasis is on advancing knowledge
When to Use Knowledge-Gap Problem Statements
You should use knowledge-gap problem statements when your doctoral program is focused on advancing scholarly knowledge through research. This includes: Research doctorates:
- Doctor of Philosophy (PhD) in any field
- Some Doctor of Psychology (PsyD) programs with strong research emphasis
- Research-focused programs at R1 research universities
- Studies designed to test theories
- Studies developing new theoretical frameworks
- Studies examining fundamental questions about how things work
- Basic research that may not have immediate practical applications
- Programs where your dissertation must make “original contribution to knowledge”
- Programs where your external examiner will evaluate your contribution to the field
- Programs where you’re expected to publish from your dissertation
Why This Type Works for Research Doctorates
PhD programs are about becoming a researcher. Your dissertation demonstrates your ability to identify important questions that haven’t been answered yet and design rigorous research to answer them. A PhD student studying nurse resiliency might be interested in developing theoretical models of how resiliency develops or testing whether existing resilience theories apply in trauma nursing contexts. A PhD in education student might examine fundamental questions about how people learn or how organizational structures affect educational outcomes, not just what interventions work to improve test scores. A PhD in business might develop new theories about organizational behavior or test competing theoretical explanations for business phenomena. These are fundamentally about advancing knowledge. Knowledge-gap problem statements frame your research as filling holes in scholarly understanding.
How to Determine Which Type Your Program Expects
Now here’s the practical question: How do you know which type of problem statement your program wants?
Check Your Program Handbook
Most doctoral programs have handbooks, templates, or guidelines that specify dissertation requirements. Look for sections about:
- Problem statement requirements
- Dissertation purpose and format
- Examples of approved dissertations from your program
- Language about whether dissertations should address “practical problems” or “gaps in knowledge”
Ask Your Dissertation Chair
Your dissertation chair should be able to tell you which type of problem statement your program expects. Ask directly: “Should my problem statement focus on a socioeconomic problem in practice, or should it focus on a gap in the research literature?” If your chair isn’t clear about this, that’s actually a problem with your chair. This is fundamental information they should provide. But unfortunately, not all chairs are good at their jobs.
Look at Recently Approved Dissertations
Most universities have dissertation databases where you can read dissertations from graduates in your program. Look at 5-10 recent dissertations from your specific program and specialization. Read their problem statements. You’ll probably notice a pattern. All the EdD dissertations in your program probably use socioeconomic problem statements. All the PhD dissertations probably use knowledge-gap problem statements. Follow the pattern. Don’t try to be innovative with your problem statement structure—this is not the place to break new ground.
Consider Your Program Type
If you still can’t get clear guidance, use these general rules: Use socioeconomic problem statements if you’re in:
- Any professional doctorate (DNP, EdD, DBA, etc.)
- Online doctoral programs at for-profit universities
- Programs designed for working professionals
- Programs emphasizing applied research or quality improvement
- Any PhD program
- Traditional academic programs at research universities
- Programs requiring original contribution to scholarly literature
- Programs where you’re expected to publish from your dissertation
Align with Your Study’s Purpose
Finally, think about what your study is actually trying to accomplish: If your study is trying to:
- Solve a practical problem in professional practice → Socioeconomic problem statement
- Improve outcomes for a specific population → Socioeconomic problem statement
- Evaluate the effectiveness of an intervention or program → Socioeconomic problem statement
- Inform policy or practice recommendations → Socioeconomic problem statement
- Understand a phenomenon that hasn’t been studied → Knowledge-gap problem statement
- Test or develop theoretical frameworks → Knowledge-gap problem statement
- Examine relationships between variables not previously studied → Knowledge-gap problem statement
- Explore lived experiences in understudied populations → Knowledge-gap problem statement
Common Mistakes Students Make
Let me tell you about the mistakes I see students make with problem statements so you can avoid them.
Mistake #1: Using the Wrong Type for Your Program
This is what that DNP student at the beginning did. She used a knowledge-gap statement when her program expected a socioeconomic statement. Her committee kept rejecting it because it framed the study wrong. Professional doctorate programs want to see that you’re addressing real-world problems. If you write “it is not known…” you’re framing your research as primarily about filling knowledge gaps, which isn’t what professional doctorates prioritize. Conversely, if you’re in a PhD program and you write only about practical problems without identifying gaps in scholarly literature, your committee will say you haven’t demonstrated that your research makes an original contribution to knowledge.
Mistake #2: Not Providing Evidence for the Problem
Both types of problem statements need evidence, but students often forget this. You can’t just assert that nurse burnout is a problem or that we don’t know something. You need citations. For socioeconomic statements: Cite statistics, reports, studies showing the extent and impact of the problem. For knowledge-gap statements: Cite the literature showing what has been studied and what hasn’t, demonstrating that the gap actually exists.
Mistake #3: Being Too Broad
“Education is a problem in America” is not a problem statement. It’s too vague. What specific aspect of education? What specific population? What specific outcomes? “Fourth-grade reading proficiency rates in rural school districts have declined 15% over the past decade despite increased funding” is specific enough to be a good problem statement. Both types of problem statements need specificity. Focus on particular populations, contexts, and outcomes.
Mistake #4: Picking Problems You Can’t Actually Study
Students sometimes write problem statements about issues they can’t feasibly research. The problem might be real and important, but you can’t study it with the resources and access you have. “Healthcare disparities affect millions of Americans” is a real problem. But you’re one doctoral student. You can’t study millions of Americans. You need to narrow to something you can actually research—maybe healthcare access in one specific community or one specific type of disparity. Make sure your problem is something you can realistically address within the scope of a dissertation.
Mistake #5: Confusing the Problem with Your Solution
Your problem statement describes the problem, not your proposed solution. Students sometimes write: “The problem is that hospitals don’t have resiliency training programs for trauma nurses.” That’s not the problem. That’s a potential solution. The problem is that trauma nurses have low resiliency and high burnout. One possible solution might be training programs, but that’s your intervention or recommendation, not the problem itself. Keep the problem statement focused on the problem. Save solutions for your discussion and recommendations chapters.
Putting It All Together
Let me give you side-by-side examples of the same topic framed both ways so you can see the difference clearly. Topic: Nurse resiliency in emergency departments Socioeconomic Problem Statement (for DNP): Emergency department nurses face unprecedented occupational stress, with 62% reporting burnout symptoms and 25% leaving their positions annually. This turnover crisis costs hospitals millions in recruitment and training while compromising patient care in already understaffed emergency departments. Despite organizational initiatives to reduce burnout, resiliency among emergency nurses remains low. This problem affects nurse wellbeing, hospital financial sustainability, and patient safety outcomes. Knowledge-Gap Problem Statement (for PhD): While research has examined nurse burnout extensively, limited scholarly attention has focused on resiliency development in emergency department contexts. Existing resiliency research emphasizes quantitative measurement of resiliency as an outcome variable, with few studies examining the lived experiences through which emergency nurses develop and maintain resiliency. It is not known how emergency department nurses conceptualize resiliency or what factors they identify as supporting their resilience in high-stress environments. This gap limits both theoretical understanding of resiliency development and evidence-based approaches to supporting nurse wellbeing. See the difference? Same topic, same population, but completely different framing:
- The socioeconomic version emphasizes the real-world costs and consequences
- The knowledge-gap version emphasizes what we don’t yet understand
Conclusion: Get Your Foundation Right
Your problem statement is the foundation of your dissertation. Get it wrong and everything built on that foundation will be wrong too. Before you write anything else in your dissertation, make sure you understand which type of problem statement your program expects. Check your handbook. Ask your chair. Look at approved dissertations. Get clarity about this before you invest weeks writing the wrong thing. If you’re still not sure, or if you need help crafting a strong problem statement that your committee will approve, that’s exactly what we help students with at Real Professors. We’ve worked with hundreds of doctoral students across different programs and fields. We know which types of problem statements different programs expect. We can help you write a problem statement that establishes the right foundation for your specific dissertation. Whether you’re in a professional doctorate program needing a socioeconomic problem statement, or a PhD program needing a knowledge-gap problem statement, we can help you craft the perfect opening for your dissertation. Learn more about our dissertation writing service and how we help students from topic development through final defense. Schedule a free consultation to talk with a professor about your dissertation. We’ll review your problem statement if you have one, or help you develop one if you’re just getting started. Don’t waste months revising the wrong type of problem statement. Get it right the first time with help from professors who’ve chaired hundreds of dissertations and know exactly what different programs expect.