{"id":4005,"date":"2022-11-11T13:44:38","date_gmt":"2022-11-11T12:44:38","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.nl\/?p=4005"},"modified":"2023-05-31T12:44:10","modified_gmt":"2023-05-31T10:44:10","slug":"dissertation-topic","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.scribbr.com\/research-process\/dissertation-topic\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow"},"content":{"rendered":"<p>Choosing your <strong>dissertation topic<\/strong> is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. When choosing a topic, it\u2019s important to consider:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"kb-checklist\">\n<li>Your institution and department\u2019s requirements<\/li>\n<li>Your areas of knowledge and interest<\/li>\n<li>The scientific, social, or practical relevance<\/li>\n<li>The availability of data and resources<\/li>\n<li>The timeframe of your dissertation<\/li>\n<li>The <a href=index-3257.html>relevance<\/a> of your topic<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>You can follow these steps to begin narrowing down your ideas.<\/p>\n<p><!--more--><\/p>\n<div style=\"margin-bottom: 20px; text-align: left;\">\n<h2>Step 1: Check the requirements<\/h2>\n<p>The very first step is to check your program&#8217;s requirements. This determines the <a href=index-3270.html>scope<\/a> of what it is possible for you to research.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Is there a minimum and maximum word count?<\/li>\n<li>When is the deadline?<\/li>\n<li>Should the research have an academic or a professional orientation?<\/li>\n<li>Are there any methodological conditions? Do you have to conduct fieldwork, or use specific types of sources?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Some programs have stricter requirements than others. You might be given nothing more than a word count and a deadline, or you might have a restricted list of topics and approaches to choose from. If in doubt about what is expected of you, always ask your supervisor or department coordinator.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 2: Choose a broad field of research<\/h2>\n<p>Start by thinking about your areas of interest within the subject you\u2019re studying. Examples of broad ideas include:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Twentieth-century literature<\/li>\n<li>Economic history<\/li>\n<li>Health policy<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<h2>Step 3: Look for books and articles<\/h2>\n<p>To get a more specific sense of the current state of research on your potential topic, skim through a few recent issues of the <a href=index-4717.html>top journals<\/a> in your field. Be sure to check out their most-cited articles in particular. For inspiration, you can also search <a href=index-3449.html>Google Scholar<\/a>, <a href=index-4718.html#credible-sources-for-journal-articles\">subject-specific databases<\/a>, and your university library\u2019s resources.<\/p>\n<p>As you read, note down any specific ideas that interest you and make a shortlist of possible topics. If you&#8217;ve written other papers, such as a 3rd-year paper or a conference paper, consider how those topics can be broadened into a dissertation.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 4: Find a niche<\/h2>\n<p>After doing some initial reading, it\u2019s time to start narrowing down options for your potential topic. This can be a gradual process, and should get more and more specific as you go. For example, from the ideas above, you might narrow it down like this:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"kb-checklist\">\n<li>Twentieth-century literature\u00a0\u00a0<i class=\"fa fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>Twentieth-century Irish literature\u00a0\u00a0<i class=\"fa fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>Post-war Irish poetry<\/li>\n<li>Economic history\u00a0\u00a0<i class=\"fa fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>European economic history\u00a0\u00a0<i class=\"fa fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>German labor union history<\/li>\n<li>Health policy\u00a0\u00a0<i class=\"fa fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>Reproductive health policy\u00a0\u00a0<i class=\"fa fa-arrow-right\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/i>Reproductive rights in South America<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>All of these topics are still broad enough that you\u2019ll find a huge amount of books and articles about them. Try to find a specific niche where you can make your mark, such as: something not many people have researched yet, a question that\u2019s still being debated, or a very current practical issue.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"kb-textbox border-left yellow\"><figcaption>Tip<\/figcaption>If there\u2019s already a lot of research and a strong consensus on your topic, it will be more difficult to <a href=index-3257.html>justify the relevance<\/a> of your work. However, you should also make sure there is enough <a href=index-1575.html>literature on the topic<\/a> to provide a strong basis for your own research.<\/figure>\n<p>At this stage, make sure you have a few backup ideas \u2014 there\u2019s still time to change your focus. If your topic doesn\u2019t make it through the next few steps, you can try a different one. Later, you will narrow your focus down even more in your <a href=index-2933.html>problem statement<\/a> and <a href=index-1762.html>research questions<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 5: Consider the type of research<\/h2>\n<p>There are many different <a href=index-4719.html>types of research<\/a>, so at this stage, it&#8217;s a good idea to start thinking about what kind of approach you&#8217;ll take to your topic. Will you mainly focus on:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li>Collecting original data (e.g., experimental or field research)?<\/li>\n<li>Analyzing existing data (e.g., national statistics, public records, or archives)?<\/li>\n<li>Interpreting cultural objects (e.g., novels, films, or paintings)?<\/li>\n<li>Comparing scholarly approaches (e.g., theories, methods, or interpretations)?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>Many dissertations will combine more than one of these. Sometimes the type of research is obvious: if your topic is post-war Irish poetry, you will probably mainly be interpreting poems. But in other cases, there are several possible approaches. If your topic is reproductive rights in South America, you could analyze public policy documents and media coverage, or you could gather original data through <a href=_-4.html>interviews<\/a> and <a href=_-3.html>surveys<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>You don&#8217;t have to finalize your <a href=index-3133.html>research design<\/a> and <a href=_-12.html>methods<\/a> yet, but the type of research will influence which aspects of the topic it&#8217;s possible to address, so it&#8217;s wise to consider this as you narrow down your ideas.<\/p>\n<figure class=\"kb-textbox border-left yellow\"><figcaption>Tip<\/figcaption>Collecting original data takes a great deal of time. If you don\u2019t have a lot of time to spend on your dissertation, it might be best to focus on analyzing existing data from <a href=index-2778.html>primary and secondary sources<\/a>.<\/figure>\n<h2>Step 6: Determine the relevance<\/h2>\n<p>It\u2019s important that your topic is interesting to you, but you\u2019ll also have to make sure it\u2019s academically, socially or practically <a href=index-3257.html>relevant<\/a> to your field.<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li><strong>Academic relevance<\/strong> means that the research can fill a gap in knowledge or contribute to a scholarly debate in your field.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Social relevance<\/strong> means that the research can advance our understanding of society and inform social change.<\/li>\n<li><strong>Practical relevance<\/strong> means that the research can be applied to solve concrete problems or improve real-life processes.<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<p>The easiest way to make sure your research is relevant is to choose a topic that is clearly connected to current issues or debates, either in society at large or in your academic discipline. The relevance must be clearly stated when you <a href=index-2933.html>define your research problem<\/a>.<\/p>\n<h2>Step 7: Make sure it\u2019s plausible<\/h2>\n<p>Before you make a final decision on your topic, consider again the length of your dissertation, the timeframe in which you have to complete it, and the practicalities of conducting the research.<\/p>\n<p>Will you have enough time to read all the most important academic literature on this topic? If there\u2019s too much information to tackle, consider narrowing your focus even more.<\/p>\n<p>Will you be able to find enough sources or gather enough data to fulfil the requirements of the dissertation? If you think you might struggle to find information, consider broadening or shifting your focus.<\/p>\n<p>Do you have to go to a specific location to gather data on the topic? Make sure that you have enough funding and practical access.<\/p>\n<p>Last but not least, will the topic hold your interest for the length of the research process? To stay motivated, it\u2019s important to choose something you\u2019re enthusiastic about!<\/p>\n<h2>Step 8: Get your topic approved<\/h2>\n<p>Most programmes will require you to submit a brief description of your topic, called a <a href=index-2934.html>research prospectus or proposal<\/a>.<\/p>\n<p>Remember, if you discover that your topic is not as strong as you thought it was, it\u2019s usually acceptable to change your mind and switch focus early in the dissertation process. Just make sure you have enough time to start on a new topic, and always check with your supervisor or department.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<h2 id=\"other\">Other interesting articles<\/h2>\n<p>If you want to know more about the <a href=index-2946.html>research process<\/a>, <a href=_-12.html>methodology<\/a>, <a href=index-3462.html>research bias<\/a>, or <a href=index-2947.html>statistics<\/a>, make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.<\/p>\n<div class=\"container\">\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-md\" style=\"background-color: #e8f2fc; padding: 1.27rem 1.56rem; line-height: 1.8; border-radius: .5rem; margin-right: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0.5rem;\">\n<p><strong><em class=\"fa fa-user-circle\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/em>Methodology<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding: 5px;\">\n<li><a href=index-2948.html>Sampling methods<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2949.html>Simple random sampling<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2950.html>Stratified sampling<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2951.html>Cluster sampling<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2952.html>Likert scales<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2953.html>Reproducibility<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md\" style=\"background-color: #e8f2fc; padding: 1.27rem 1.56rem; line-height: 1.8; border-radius: .5rem; margin-right: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0.5rem;\">\n<p><strong><em class=\"fa fa-book\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/em>\u00a0Statistics<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding: 5px;\">\n<li><a href=index-2954.html>Null hypothesis<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2955.html>Statistical power<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2956.html>Probability distribution<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2957.html>Effect size<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2958.html>Kurtosis<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2959.html>Poisson distribution<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<div class=\"col-md\" style=\"background-color: #e8f2fc; padding: 1.27rem 1.56rem; line-height: 1.8; border-radius: .5rem; margin-right: 0.5rem; margin-top: 0.5rem;\">\n<p><strong><em class=\"fa fa-globe\" aria-hidden=\"true\"><\/em> Research bias<\/strong><\/p>\n<ul style=\"padding: 5px;\">\n<li><a href=index-2960.html>Optimism bias<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2961.html>Cognitive bias<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2962.html>Implicit bias<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2963.html>Hawthorne effect<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2964.html>Anchoring bias<\/a><\/li>\n<li><a href=index-2965.html>Explicit bias<\/a><\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n<\/div>\n    <h2>Frequently asked questions about dissertation topics<\/h2>\n<dl class=\"faq-list faq-list--arrows w-100 my-5\" itemscope itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/FAQPage\">\n            <div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n            <dt id=\"good-main-research-question\" class=\"faq-list__title\">\n                <a href=index-4720.html class=\"faq-list__link qa-faq-anchor\">\n                    <span itemprop=\"name\">\n                        How do I know I have a good main research question?\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/dt>\n            <dd id=\"good-main-research-question-answer\" class=\"faq-list__answer qa-faq-answer kb-article-styles\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n                <div itemprop=\"text\">\n                                        <p>Formulating a <a href=index13a6.html?p=22914\%22>main research question<\/a> can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your <a href=index-3405.html>problem statement<\/a>. <\/p>\n<p>However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:<\/p>\n<ol>\n<li>Researchability<\/li>\n<li>Feasibility and specificity<\/li>\n<li>Relevance and originality<\/li>\n<\/ol>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/dd>\n        <\/div>\n            <div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n            <dt id=\"questions-to-ask-for-research\" class=\"faq-list__title\">\n                <a href=index-4721.html class=\"faq-list__link qa-faq-anchor\">\n                    <span itemprop=\"name\">\n                        How do I write questions to ask for research?\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/dt>\n            <dd id=\"questions-to-ask-for-research-answer\" class=\"faq-list__answer qa-faq-answer kb-article-styles\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n                <div itemprop=\"text\">\n                                        <p>All <a href=index-1762.html>research questions<\/a> should be:<\/p>\n<ul class=\"kb-checklist\">\n<li><strong>Focused<\/strong> on a single problem or issue<\/li>\n<li><strong>Researchable<\/strong> using <a href=index-2778.html>primary and\/or secondary sources<\/a><\/li>\n<li><strong>Feasible<\/strong> to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints<\/li>\n<li><strong>Specific<\/strong> enough to answer thoroughly<\/li>\n<li><strong>Complex<\/strong> enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis<\/li>\n<li><strong>Relevant<\/strong> to your field of study and\/or society more broadly<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n<div class=\"row\">\n<div class=\"col-lg-5 col-md-6 order-2\"><a class=\"colorbox\" href=index-4722.html><img decoding=\"async\" src=index-4723.html width=\"80%\" alt=\"Writing Strong Research Questions\" class=\"mt-3\" \/><\/a><\/div>\n<div class=\"col-lg-7 col-md-6 order-1\">\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/dd>\n        <\/div>\n            <div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n            <dt id=\"how-do-i-assess-information-critically\" class=\"faq-list__title\">\n                <a href=index-4724.html class=\"faq-list__link qa-faq-anchor\">\n                    <span itemprop=\"name\">\n                        How do I assess information critically?\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/dt>\n            <dd id=\"how-do-i-assess-information-critically-answer\" class=\"faq-list__answer qa-faq-answer kb-article-styles\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n                <div itemprop=\"text\">\n                                        <p>You can assess information and arguments <a href=index-3511.html>critically<\/a> by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the <a href=index-3689.html>CRAAP test<\/a>, focusing on the <strong>currency<\/strong>, <strong>relevance<\/strong>, <strong>authority<\/strong>, <strong>accuracy<\/strong>, and <strong>purpose<\/strong> of a source of information.<\/p>\n<p>Ask questions such as:<\/p>\n<ul>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Who<\/strong> is the author? Are they an expert?<\/li>\n<li aria-level=\"1\"><strong>Why<\/strong> did the author publish it? What is their motivation?<\/li>\n<li><strong>How <\/strong>do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/dd>\n        <\/div>\n            <div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n            <dt id=\"dissertation-prospectus\" class=\"faq-list__title\">\n                <a href=index-4725.html class=\"faq-list__link qa-faq-anchor\">\n                    <span itemprop=\"name\">\n                        What is a dissertation prospectus?\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/dt>\n            <dd id=\"dissertation-prospectus-answer\" class=\"faq-list__answer qa-faq-answer kb-article-styles\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n                <div itemprop=\"text\">\n                                        <p>A <a href=index-3109.html>dissertation prospectus or proposal<\/a> describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a <a href=index-4719.html>type of research<\/a> to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue <a href=index-2768.html>qualitative or quantitative methods<\/a> and what your <a href=index-3133.html>research design<\/a> will look like.<\/p>\n<p>It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your <a href=index-3269.html>dissertation topic<\/a> to your <a href=index-2943.html>hypotheses<\/a> and <a href=index-3268.html>research objectives<\/a>, ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee. <\/p>\n<p>Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.<\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/dd>\n        <\/div>\n            <div itemscope itemprop=\"mainEntity\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Question\">\n            <dt id=\"difference-between-research-plan-and-proposal\" class=\"faq-list__title\">\n                <a href=index-4726.html class=\"faq-list__link qa-faq-anchor\">\n                    <span itemprop=\"name\">\n                        What&#8217;s the difference between a research plan and a research proposal?\n                    <\/span>\n                <\/a>\n            <\/dt>\n            <dd id=\"difference-between-research-plan-and-proposal-answer\" class=\"faq-list__answer qa-faq-answer kb-article-styles\" itemscope itemprop=\"acceptedAnswer\" itemtype=\"https:\/\/schema.org\/Answer\">\n                <div itemprop=\"text\">\n                                        <p>The best way to remember the difference between a <strong>research plan<\/strong> and a <strong>research proposal<\/strong> is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a <a href=index-3109.html>dissertation proposal<\/a> or <a href=index-2934.html>research proposal<\/a> aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your <a href=index-3269.html>research topic<\/a> is <a href=index-3111.html>relevant<\/a> and worthy of being conducted. <\/p>\n\n                <\/div>\n            <\/dd>\n        <\/div>\n    <\/dl>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Choosing your dissertation topic is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. When choosing a topic, it\u2019s important to consider: Your institution and department\u2019s requirements Your areas of knowledge and interest The scientific, social, or practical relevance The availability of data and resources The timeframe of your dissertation The [&hellip;]<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":83,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_relevanssi_hide_post":"","_relevanssi_hide_content":"","_relevanssi_pin_for_all":"","_relevanssi_pin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_unpin_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_keywords":"","_relevanssi_related_include_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_exclude_ids":"","_relevanssi_related_no_append":"","_relevanssi_related_not_related":"","_relevanssi_related_posts":"","_relevanssi_noindex_reason":""},"categories":[299,73],"tags":[],"acf":[],"yoast_head":"<title>How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow<\/title>\n
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