How to write a research problem that convinces your committee
The research problem is the heart of the thesis. Learn its four elements, common mistakes that weaken it, and a practical model for writing it.
The defense isn't an exam to fail you but a scientific dialogue in which the committee members confirm you understand your work. Good preparation turns it from a source of anxiety into an opportunity to showcase your effort.
Two weeks before the defense
- Reread your whole thesis and note every error you find, so you can acknowledge it before it's pointed out.
- Review the latest studies on your topic published after you wrote the second chapter.
- Understand every statistical table in your thesis and why each test was chosen.
Presentation
- 15 to 20 slides for 15 to 20 minutes.
- The problem, objectives and significance in the first three slides.
- The methodology in one or two slides.
- Results in figures and charts, not crowded tables.
- Recommendations and the contribution at the end.
Questions that come up in most defenses
- Why did you choose this topic? And what is your new contribution?
- Why this method and this sample?
- How did you verify the validity and reliability of the instrument?
- How do you explain a result that contradicts previous studies?
- What are the limits of your study? And what do you suggest for future studies?
After the defense
Collect the comments in a two-column table: the comment, and what you changed and where. This table makes it easier for the supervisor and department to approve the revisions.
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