Help Drafting Assignment

Respond Kindly to Student #1 (Nathan Trotter)

My research proposal will focus on the use of social media during disasters by Colorado emergency management. My current problem statement is:

"The study is aimed to evaluate the results of three studies regarding the use of social media during emergencies. Two of the three studies will be specific to emergency management programs that have utilized social media in Colorado. The results of those studies will be evaluated. The timeframe of the current study will include the periods in which social media use during emergencies was studied in each of the three source studies."

My problem statement has evolved from being very simple and broad and seemed to only restate the general aim of the proposal. According to Denscombe (2019), problem statements should give a brief background to readers but quickly become focused in detail. My problem statement could be improved by being more specific on the 5 w's. I could identify specifically which emergency management departments and be more focused on details in other areas as well.

References:

Denscombe, M. (2019). Ebook: Research Proposals 2e (2nd Edition). McGraw-Hill UK.  https://bookshelf.vitalsource.com/books/9780335248308

Respond Kindly to Student #2 (Blake Carter)

My topic has to deal with unmanned aerial vehicle (UAVs). However, more specifically it is about their use when it comes to border security. My problem statement is the following:

The proposed study will examine the use of UAVs along the Mexico–United States border by collecting data from the USBP operating in the Yuma Sector in Arizona. The objective is to determine if UAVs could contribute to safer and more efficient patrolling for Border Patrol Agents. The study is projected to begin in January of 2022 and be concluded in June of 2022.

In my view, my problem statement identifies the five Ws when it comes to research. The who consists of the USBP and the Border Patrol Agents. The what is in regard to UAVS. The where is the Yuma Sector in Arizona. When is from January of 2022 to June of 2022 and lastly why is to see if the UAVs can contribute to safer and more efficient patrolling for Border Patrol Agents.

However, my original problem statement is lacking in two areas. First, it requires citations and secondly there needs to be an actual problem that needs to be solved. I believe this can be remedied by adding the following:

The United States Customs and Border Protection (CBP) has expressed interest in the use of UAVs for homeland security purposes. The CBP often cites the great boons UAVs have provided (Barry, 2013, p. 71), however independent research into the subject has shown the opposite (p. 77). The proposed study will examine the use of UAVs along the Mexico–United States border by collecting data from the United States Border Patrol operating in the Yuma Sector in Arizona. The objective is to determine if UAVs could contribute to safer and more efficient patrolling for Border Patrol Agents. The study is projected to begin in January of 2022 and be concluded in June of 2022.

Reference

Barry, T. (2013). Drones over homeland: Expansion of scope and lag in governance. Brown Journal of World Affairs, 65-80.