Have you not found your dissertation topic yet? To write a perfect dissertation which you can submit confidently, the first thing you need is a topic that is relevant, has sufficient reference materials available for research and thrills you at the same time. Unfortunately, choosing such a topic doesn’t come easily. In this blog, we will guide you on the most challenging question: how to choose a dissertation topic.
Key Points to Keep in Mind as You Navigate How to Pick a Dissertation Topic
While it is easy to find plenty of dissertation topic ideas if you search online, choosing a dissertation topic should be done keeping in mind the following things:
- Guidelines issued by your institution on how to select a dissertation topic
- Specific program requirements or criteria set by your department
- Range of dissertation questions you are supposed to cover in your paper
- Your familiarity, depth of knowledge and interest in a particular topic
- What relevance does the topic have in your field of research?
- How easily can you access authentic data and resources for your research if you choose a specific topic?
- What is the urgency level/timeframe for you to submit the dissertation?
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8 Steps to Follow to Choose a Dissertation Topic
With a structured approach, you wouldn’t struggle with how to choose a topic for a dissertation. Here, we have simplified it for you in eight steps.
Review the program expectation
Start your efforts towards picking a dissertation topic by going through your program expectations. Each program has set conditions as to what type of topics you can consider for important academic writing, like a dissertation. Consider factors like:
- Approximate length needed for the dissertation
- How soon are you supposed to complete and submit the dissertation?
- Are there any specific requirements regarding the type of resources you can rely on?
Start broadly, then narrow down
Rather than choosing a topic for dissertation from a specific area within the subject, start broadly and then narrow down to your area of interest. This way, you will be able to have a much broader picture, which will give you more clarity and precise direction in your research. For instance, if your subject is sociology, you could start with a broad theme like:
- Social inequality
And from there, narrow down to:
- Educational inequality in urban areas.
Choose a topic that isn’t overused
If you ask what the best topics for dissertation are, we would say the ones that aren’t overused yet. In every subject, there could be hundreds of overused topics, which are easy to research due to the abundance of available resources.
- Choose a unique topic which not many researchers have touched.
- If you don’t find such a topic, approach an already covered topic from a different angle.
Check resource availability
When submitting a dissertation, what most supervisors or department coordinators would see is whether you have supplied authentic content with valid references. Hence, you should check and ensure that the selected topic has ample resources to refer to and conduct your research. You might consider sources like:
- Articles
- Books
- Journals
- University library
- Conference paper
- Interviews
- Surveys
Think about your research type
While thinking about dissertation topic ideas, one important area that most students overlook is the research type they are supposed to focus on. Some programs would want you to present original data, for which you may have to conduct field research or experiments, whereas some programs would give you the convenience of analysing existing works. As you shortlist research topics for dissertation, the research type, therefore, must be factored in.
Verify Topic Relevance
You might not want your program coordinator to say the dissertation topic you have chosen is irrelevant to the program. In their guidelines on how to choose a dissertation topic for masters, our experts recommend checking three types of relevant areas while filtering out dissertation ideas. They are:
- Academic relevance
- Practical relevance
- Social relevance
Consider the practicality
We have seen that many students start ambitiously with certain dissertation ideas but realise halfway that it is impossible to complete. You could avoid such unfortunate experiences by inspecting the practicality beforehand and proceeding only if it is plausible. Here are some questions to ask yourself to determine this:
- Do I have access to enough data or resources to support this research?
- Is the scope of the topic realistic within the given timeframe?
- Do I have the necessary knowledge and skills to explore this topic effectively?
Secure approval for your topic
Great if you have managed to zero in on a topic within the above seven steps. Now, the most important step yet is to get approval for your desired topic. You should be going forward with the topic only if your program coordinator approves it. By submitting a research proposal where you could present your research topic, how you plan to conduct the research, etc, you could seek the department’s approval.
Some Expert Tips on Choosing the Best Topics for Dissertation
Go for a topic that interests you | If your dissertation topic is something that is relevant and at the same time something that interests you, writing the paper can be an enjoyable experience. |
Keep yourself up-to-date in the field | By reading current affairs in your area of study, you could stay up-to-date in your field. This will help you brainstorm dissertation topic ideas more easily. |
Stay away from topics you are biased about | If you feel that a dissertation topic you have chosen is something you can’t be objective about, it is better to avoid it. |
Be ready with multiple possible topics | Even if you chose a topic for your dissertation, chances are that your program coordinator might want you to change it. Hence, be ready with backup topics. |
Discuss your dissertation topic ideas with peers | Peer reviews can be a great tool in your academic journey, especially if you struggle with how to choose a masters dissertation topic. |
Review a few latest dissertations in your area | Checking what topics other researchers in your field have chosen for their dissertations lately can be helpful in knowing the contemporary trends. |
Let Anjit VS And Team Guide in Choosing the Best Dissertation Topic!
Having trouble finding the right topic for your dissertation? At Anjit VS and Team, we help students across programs – graduate, postgraduate, diploma and PhD – in choosing relevant, interesting and impactful dissertation topics. If you are stuck brainstorming dissertation topic ideas, we can help you today by providing exceptional dissertation help!
Final Thoughts
Choosing the right dissertation topic is integral to writing an engaging and high-scoring dissertation.
Let’s believe the steps and tips shared in this made you confident in how to choose topic for dissertation.
We appreciate your feedback on this blog’s helpfulness. Take a moment to write your thoughts in the comments below.
FAQ
How am I supposed to finalise my dissertation topic?
As we underscored in the steps, always consider your program’s expectation, the topic’s practicality, availability of resources and how much you are drawn to the topic while finalising your dissertation topic.
Can you select a dissertation topic for me?
If you are having trouble selecting a dissertation topic, our experts at Anjit VS and Team can help you with it. After considering all the diverse factors like program objectives, topic relevance and resource availability, we will shortlist the most suitable topic for your paper.
How can I get good dissertation topic ideas?
Peer reviews, discussion with moderators, finding your own areas of interest, staying up to date in the field by reading current affairs, etc., are powerful ways to find amazing dissertation topic ideas.
