Litmus Test for a Doctoral-Level Research Problem

Background on these “litmus test” questions
  • The distinguishing characteristic of doctoral-level research (as opposed to masters level) is that it must make an original contribution to the field. However, students may struggle to identify what will authentically contribute to their field or discipline.
  • The most critical step in making such a contribution is to first identify a research problem with the 4 doctoral hallmarks below. Identifying a doctoral-level research problem is “necessary, but not sufficient,” to produce doctoral-level capstone.
REQUIRED DOCTORAL HALLMARKS OF THE RESEARCH PROBLEM
  In Walden’s scholar-practitioner model, a research problem shows promise of contributing meaningfully to the field ONLY if the answer to ALL of the following questions is “yes.” Yes No
1. JUSTIFIED? Is there evidence that this problem is significant to the professional field?

 

There must be relevant statistics (expressing an unjust inequality, financial impact, lost efficiency, etc.), documentable discrepancies (e.g., two models that are difficult to reconcile), and/or other scholarly facts that point to the significance and urgency of the problem. The problem must be an authentic “puzzle” that needs solving, not merely a topic that the researcher finds interesting.

 
   
2. GROUNDED IN THE LITERATURE?

 

 Can the problem be framed in a way that will enable the researcher to either build upon or counter the previously published findings on the topic?

 

For most fields, this involves articulating the problem within the context of a theoretical or conceptual framework. Although there are multiple ways to ground a study in the scientific literature, the essential requirement is that the problem is framed in such a way that the new findings will have implications for the previous findings.

 
   
3. ORIGINAL? For research doctorates (Ph.D.):

Does the problem reflect a meaningful gap in the research literature?

 

For the professional doctorates (Ed.D. and D.B.A.):

Does the problem describe a meaningful gap in practice?

 

    
4. AMENABLE TO SCIENTIFIC STUDY? Can a scholarly, systematic method of inquiry be applied to address the problem?

 

The framing of the problem should not reveal bias or present a foregone conclusion. Even if the researcher has a strong opinion on the expected findings, scholarly objectivity must be maximized by framing the problem in the context of a systematic inquiry that permits multiple possible conclusions.