Most students wonder how to choose a dissertation topic while they are in college. There are many ways to find the answer, but it can be overwhelming.
Review the specifications
Checking the prerequisites before choosing a dissertation topic is the first step. This determines the range of what you can research.
Does the word count have a minimum and maximum?
What time is the cutoff?
If the research shall be professional or academic.
Do any methodological requirements exist?
Specifications for some programs are more stringent than others. A limited list of themes and techniques may be provided to you, or you may only be given a word count and a deadline. Always consult your supervisor or the department coordinator if you need clarification on what is expected of you.
Pick a broad area of study
Consider your areas of interest within your subject before choosing a dissertation topic. Examples of wide concepts are:
Literature from the 20th century
Economic history Public health
Find books and articles to read
Look through a few recent issues of the best journals in your field to gain a more detailed feel of the current level of research on your potential topic. Pay close attention to the publications that have received the most citations. As you read, list the ideas that attract you and shortlist a few potential subjects.
Choose a niche
It’s time to begin limiting the alternatives for your chosen topic after conducting some preliminary research. This may be a gradual process that becomes increasingly detailed as you proceed.
These subjects are all still wide enough that many books and articles have been written on them. Look for a niche in which you can stand out, such as an area where little research has been done, a topic still up for debate, or a pressing practical concern.
Think about the nature of the study
There are many various forms of research, so consider your topic’s strategy at this point in the process. Will you mostly concentrate on the following:
Collecting original data (for example, by experimentation or fieldwork)?
Examining already-available information (such as national statistics, public documents, or archives)?
Interpreting works of culture (such as books, movies, or paintings)?
Contrasting academic methodologies (such as theories, procedures, or interpretations)?
More than one of these will frequently be combined in dissertations. Sometimes the type of research is obvious: for example, if your subject is post-World War II Irish poetry, you will likely spend most of your time deciphering pieces. However, there are several alternatives in other circumstances.
Identify the significance
While your topic must interest you, you must also ensure that it has academic, social, or professional value in your sector.
Academic relevance is the ability of the research to close a knowledge gap or advance a scholarly discussion in your area of study.
Socially relevant research can help us better understand society and influence social change.
Practical relevance refers to the research’s ability to solve specific issues or enhance operational procedures.
Ensure that your research is relevant and the relevance is explicit.
Verify the plausibility
Look at the size of your dissertation before choosing a topic. Also, consider the deadline for finishing it and the study’s feasibility.
Will you have enough time to read the entire key scholarly body of work on this subject? If you have too much information to process, think about focusing even more.
The answer to how to choose a dissertation topic’ is tough to find, but it gets easier with the tips provided above. Consider these tips before you choose a topic for your dissertation.
