Indeed, sometimes you may find that only a few studies were already published on that specific topic. Here is my suggestion. Statement of the problem can come from two sides. First, you read the existing articles and try to find the gap that is not addressed in their paper. Second, if you cannot find such a paper, you have to make some strong assumptions about the problem you want to solve in your scientific work and list your own statement of the problem. Remember: if you get a few articles that are already published, you can formulate your statement of problem based on those.

The purpose statement is a key component of a scientific article, and it should be addressed clearly and directly in the introduction section of the paper. Here are some tips for addressing the purpose statement in your scientific article:

1. Start with a clear statement of the research question or problem: The purpose statement should begin with a clear and concise statement of the research question or problem that the study is addressing. This should be stated in a way that is easily understandable to readers who may not be familiar with the specific area of research.

2. Provide background information: After stating the research question or problem, provide some background information to help readers understand why this research is important and relevant. This can include a review of the relevant literature or a discussion of the practical implications of the research.

3. State the specific aims or objectives of the study: Once the research question or problem has been introduced, state the specific aims or objectives of the study. This should include a clear statement of what the study is aiming to achieve and how it will address the research question or problem.

4. Provide a brief overview of the methods: After stating the aims or objectives of the study, provide a brief overview of the methods that will be used to achieve these aims. This can include a description of the study design, sample size, data collection methods, and data analysis techniques.

5. Conclude with a statement of the significance of the research: Finally, conclude the purpose statement with a statement of the significance of the research. This should explain why the research is important, what the potential implications of the research are, and how it will contribute to the field of study.

By following these tips, you can address the purpose statement of your scientific article clearly and effectively, setting the stage for the rest of your paper.

The guidance as per the following publications may further help:

• Hernon, P. and Swartz, C. (2007) Editorial: What is a Problem Statement?, Library and Information Science Research, 29, 3, pp. 307-309.
• Jacobs, R. L. (2011) Developing A Research Problem and Purpose Statement, in Rocco, T.S., Hatcher, T. and Creswell, J.W. (eds.) The Handbook of Scholarly Writing and Publishing. San Francisco, CA: Jossey-Bass, pp. 125-141.
• Kurniawan, A. L., Ardiansyah, W., Aryanti, N., Ujihanti, M. and Meirani, W. (2021) Writing the Purpose Statements in Qualitative, Quantitative and Mixed Method Research, Holistics Journal, 13, 2, pp. 52-63.
• Librero, F. R. (2012) Writing Your Thesis (A Practical Guide for Students). Diliman, Quezon City: UP Open University. (See: Presenting the Research Problem / Tips in the selection of a research problem, pp. 15-19).
• Mauch, J. E. and Park, N. (2003) The Problem / Statement of the Problem, in Mauch, J.E. and Park, N. (eds.) Guide to the Successful Thesis and Dissertation: A Handbook for Students and Faculty. 5th ed. New York: Marcel Dekker, Inc., pp. 109-111.
• Terrell, S. R. (2016) Writing a Proposal for Your Dissertation: Guidelines and Examples. New York, NY: The Guilford Press. (See: Developing the Problem Statement for Your Dissertation Proposal, pp. 1-19.)