Improving Learning (Thread 3)

Describe how you went about identifying the characteristics of a high quality problem statement.
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I started by looking through the research reference books that I have at home. I began my book search with:

Graziano, A. & Raulin, M. (2000). Research Methods: A Process of Inquiry, 4th ed. Massachusetts: Allyn and Bacon.
and
Cohen, L., Manion, L., & Morrison, K. (2000). Research methods in education, 5th ed. London: RoutledgeFalmer.

According to p. 178 of Graziano & Raulin, there are three main characteristics to look for with a quality problem statement:
- states what the expected relationship is between variables
- is stated as a question
- must imply the possibility of being empirically tested

I was unable to find helpful information in the Cohen, Manion, & Morrison textbook. I'm sure they have helpful information, I just wasn't able to find it! After striking out there, I went to Google for some help. I found a helpful page from http://www.tele.sunyit.edu/Thesis-statement.html. That page said that a problem statement should be:
- specific
- restrictive
- unified

At this point, I took a break to let this stuff sink in and to brainstorm with my husband.

The next day, I was starting to get an idea as to what I feel makes a quality problem statement, and I came up with what is in my other post!