PAD 644: Problem Statement, Objective, Rationale and Hypothesis Worksheet
In developing your problem statement and supporting information as the foundation of your Capstone Project in week one, please present your information as follows on
the Sample Worksheet to organize your thoughts as you present your problem statement (which is your research question: the heart of the research project) and the other
three sections which support the problem statement.
Problem statement: This is your research question – the heart of your research project to be structured as follows: Because of x and y, there is a problem in society
or gap in a public policy/delivery of public services. If we only knew more about z, we could better address the problem or gap in a public policy/service delivery.
Objectives: Three or four component parts of your research question.
Rationale: The reasons for examining the elements described in objectives. Other words, justifying why the specific objective is important in order to effectively
understand “z.”
Hypotheses: Fundamental predictions about the answer to each objective. Other words, what you predict you research will show (you’ll be discussing whether your
hypothesis was proven, proven in part or disproven in your Results section – chapter 4).
Sample Worksheet:
Problem Statement: Because of a lack of affordable housing resources and mental health services along with the warm climate, thousands of individuals are homeless in
San Diego County every year, including veterans. If we only knew more about what programs are most effective at reducing San Diego’s homeless population, financial
resources and interagency collaborative endeavors could be targeted more strategically resulting in a substantial reduction of homeless individuals.
Objective 1: The first objective is to determine if the current scarcity of affordable housing in San Diego County is creating an impassable barrier to the
effectiveness of services and programs aimed at transitioning homeless individuals into permanent housing.
Rationale 1: The first objective focuses on gathering data and facts to understand the extent to which cost and availability of housing is an obstacle for
government and nonprofit agencies seeking to provide transitional housing for homeless individuals.
Hypothesis 1: First, research will reveal that innovative collaborative strategies generate new financial resources and interagency relationships that dissolve
scarcity obstacles regarding affordable housing.
Objective 2: The second objective is to determine if collaborative efforts like the 25 Cities San Diego initiative is making a drastic impact on the homeless
populace through effective collaborations and funding allocation.
Rationale 2: The second objective focuses on the value added of agencies working together collaboratively to increase transition rates of homeless individuals into
permanent housing.
Hypothesis 2: Second, that increased efficiency in interagency collaborations, like the 25 Cities San Diego initiative, results in better results than homeless
organizations working independently.
Objective 3: The third objective is to determine if the abundance of San Diego homeless services and mental health services are effective at successfully serving
San Diego’s homeless populace without the degenerating effects of funding source disruption due to competition.
Rationale 3: The third objective focuses on reducing funding source disruptions due to competition by improving collaborations between government agencies and
charitable organizations to support lateral goals and increased transition rates.
Hypothesis 3: Third, strategic efforts regarding financial resource allocation among the multitude of homeless assistance programs yields increased effectiveness at
transitioning homeless individuals into permanent housing.
Objective 4: The last objective is to determine if programs that assist the vast amount of military veterans in the San Diego region with services, training and
resources for maintaining a successful and healthy lifestyle are effective at reducing the rate of veteran homelessness.
Rationale 4: The last objective focuses on improving collaborative methods designed to support veteran stability, sustainability and success which therefore
decrease the rate of veteran homelessness.
Hypothesis 4: Finally, programs that promote the successful sustainment and transition to civilian life for military veterans are most effective when tactical
interagency collaborative efforts augment accessibility, referrals, awareness, and ease of use.
