Identifying Problems — Definition

Definition

Identifying a problem means describing an evidence-supported gap between an observed outcome and a relevant standard before deciding what caused it or how to fix it. A precise statement specifies the affected population, the outcome, the time period and the comparison being made.

It distinguishes a symptom from a causal hypothesis and avoids embedding a preferred remedy in the diagnosis. The process includes checking measurements, locating where a process breaks down and deciding which additional information would best separate competing explanations.

A clear diagnosis makes later choices more relevant and testable.