Q: What will be the statement of the problem if it is in the qualitative form?
The title of my study is ‘Calcium Carbonate out of Oyster Shell: Its Potential in Neutralizing Soil Acidity.’ I don't know how to make this a qualitative research and what should be the statement of the problem.
To begin, it is unusual that you are having to look at this as a qualitative study. A qualitative study, as you would know, looks at non-numerical data (such as opinions), whereas a quantitative study looks at numerical data (such as measurements). Qualitative studies are more suited for certain fields (such as humanities and social sciences) and topics (such as around attitudes and behaviors). Based on only the title, this would seem to suit a quantitative study. So, before beginning with this study, it would help to check this with a senior or supervisor. If this indeed needs to be a qualitative study, it probably entails seeking the opinions of experts on the potential of oyster shell-derived calcium carbonate in neutralizing soil acidity. You could also consider making this a mixed-methods study, where you both study numerical data and seek expert opinion. However, again, before further work, I would suggest consulting with someone.
To answer your main question, a problem statement is a concise expression of the research problem being studied. It has to talk about what the ideal state is, what the existing state is, and how your study will offer solutions to help attain the ideal state.
For more help on developing the problem statement, refer to the following resources:
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