May 4, 2005
- Read other dissertations on your chosen topic.
As you are clarifying your chosen dissertation topic, be sure to read other dissertations about your general topic area. This helps you accomplish two things. First, you better understand the questions being asked and research being completed in your topic area, which can help you define your questions and refine your research methodology. Second, you [...]
February 22, 2005
- Pick something you like (but not too much).
When selecting a topic for your dissertation, try and pick a topic that you’re interested in (obvious!) but not too much (not so obvious). The reason is that if you pick a topic you’re "too interested" in, it can sometimes be difficult to find a way to narrow it appropriately for the scope of the [...]
January 21, 2005
- Use previous work to guide you.
When deciding on a dissertation topic, you can build momentum and get ahead quickly by building up on your previous work. Hopefully, your graduate program was set up to provide you assignments which incrementally move you towards picking a dissertation topic. If so, you probably have a body of work that you can refer to [...]
December 30, 2004
- Choose a topic that interests you.
When you’re considering your options for a dissertation topic, pick a topic that interests you- and one that you can see yourself committing to for at least two years. While I believe that most dissertations can be written and finished within a year, giving yourself a two year window is a good way to assess [...]
October 26, 2004
- Is your topic the right size for a dissertation?
When you’re considering a topic for your dissertation, make sure it is the right size. A topic that’s too small will have you scrambling to repeat or increase your data collection. A topic that’s too large will have you struggling to complete it all in the first place. A topic that is "just right" will [...]
October 12, 2004
- Picking a Dissertation Topic
The process I often use to help people decide on a topic is to consider the following: first, you want to think about where your studies and interests have led you so far. Then you want to think about what you would really, really like to know about. Jot the answers to these questions down. [...]