If you are a graduate-to-be, then terms like ‘thesis’ or ‘dissertation’ wouldn’t be unfamiliar. These are not writing types and can’t be done as simply as we can say. Working on them requires a lot of patience and hard work. The dissertation writing process starts with brainstorming and ends with its defence. Your thesis won’t be approved until you defend it from every aspect.
This will sound scary to you initially, but doing it with proper planning will make you accomplish this ardent work. The first step for any type of dissertation and research paper is, selecting the right dissertation topic. Once you achieve this step successfully, you will ultimately get the best result. So, to your ease, we have mentioned some steps that will help you in choosing the right topic for your research.
Steps for Selecting the Right Dissertation Topic
First, you must know, what a dissertation is, so you can make the right choices from the very beginning of your work. Well, it is a long research project based on analysing and collecting data, whether new or existing. In this, you have to present your findings empirically or non-empirically.
Now, as you have a basic understanding of a dissertation, choosing a topic will become easier. For this, we have developed a step-by-step guide, elaborated below.
Step 1: Decide The Format
In the first step, you will decide which format you will be going to follow. For instance, whether you will work on empirical or non-empirical data. The only difference between them is that you need to work on live data in the empirical format, i.e., observing participants involved in research studies. And in non-empirical studies, you need to work on existing data and develop your argument on that basis. Sometimes, students can stumble at this step because deciding the format sets the basis of the whole document. Therefore, if that’s the case, consider telling a professional to
Step 2: Keep a Broader Perspective while Starting
After selecting the format and defining your boundaries of research, you have to see your areas of interest. For instance, you have to start with generality. You are supposed to keep a broader perspective while starting researching your topic. For example, if you are interested in psychology, then what areas of psychology would you move forward with i.e., social psychology? Forensic psychology? Or cognitive psychology?
Step 3: Consider Institutional Guidelines
Next, you have to consider all the institutional guidelines while selecting the right dissertation topic. It’s important to study the guidelines beforehand because it will help you choose the topic within the available resources. For example, your institutional essay mills uk guidelines might include word count for the dissertation, chapter submission and their presentation deadlines, and type of fieldwork and its possibility. It may include other limitations as well.
Step 4: Study Your Research Area
After that, you need to do thorough research in your field of interest. To elaborate more, before collecting any data you should study what are the current and outdated updates in your field. This will also help you in developing your literature review and selecting the best out of the best topic. This will also enable you to find gaps between the studies that have been done till now and will give you the idea of developing your research questions aptly.
Step 5: Narrow Down Your Research Topic
Research can’t be done with general and broader topics. So, you are supposed to narrow down your research topic. You have to be specific in your area of research. Like, when you are done with your field study, only then you will be able to narrow down your topic. But if you are finding it hard to do so, you can take a professional’s help. These professionals not only deal in the thesis but also assist with essays. Hence, you always tell them to write my essay.
Step 6: Bring Originality in Your Topic
The next step is to bring originality to your research. Once you have decided on the topic, you are supposed to see what innovation or contribution you can bring through your research. You do not need to duplicate the studies conducted in past and have to research and ponder through which methods you can study your topic. You need to be different and, at the same time, a great contributor. If your research contributes enough to society, then your dissertation will be considered worthy.
Step 7: Take Guidelines from Advisor
It is always a great idea to take second opinion from your supervisor, side by side. Keeping them in the loop will ultimately make you confident that you on the right track. Plus, he will not only guide you through the process but will also ensure that you are not repeating any mistakes that students usually commit.
FAQs
1. What factors you should consider in selecting a research topic?
You should consider whether your topic meets instructional guidelines, its scope, and whether it is possible to conduct or not?
2. How can you write the reason for choosing a research topic?
You should write your motivation behind it i.e., what inspires you and what you want to contribute.
3. What not to consider in choosing a topic?
The topics you are choosing should not be obscure, narrow or too broad.
4. What is meant by Research Gap?
It is a question that has not yet been answered by the existing studies within the field or area of research.
Wrap Up!
Well, these steps are not the only definitive ones. They can simply be your basic guideline for selecting the right dissertation topic. You are supposed to do a lot of hard work for research writing. It could be in any form like your reading skills, research skills, writing skills, critical thinking, analysis of data, etc. You are supposed to be an all-rounder for sure. This process might sound challenging to you.
However, this process is not challenging at all. It is rewarding if you start your dissertation writing process with planning. If you begin it by taking into account the technicalities for each step, you will end up with the desired results otherwise, you will get frustrated.
Also, doing research is not as simple as you think, so try to be patient and put your energy and time in the right direction. This will save you time and make the research process easier for you.