Choosing a Topic
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- Level Expert
- Duration 11h 20m
- Lessons 12
- Quizzes 145
- Certifications Yes
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Identify Your Passions
Reflect on the moments in your research or studies when you felt most engaged. What topics were you exploring? Which thinkers or theories were you grappling with? These insights can help you pinpoint topics that genuinely excite you
Leverage Current Research
Stay updated on the latest publications in your areas of interest using tools like Google Scholar alerts. This can help you spot emerging trends that might offer fertile ground for your dissertation.
Engage with Experts
Seek out advisors known for their supportive nature and constructive feedback. Prepare a dynamic 5-minute pitch of your ideas to spark interest and invite valuable feedback.
Assess Resource Availability
Create a resource inventory by contacting librarians or departmental staff to understand what resources are available for your potential topics.
Align with Career Goals
Consider how each potential topic could serve as a stepping stone for your future career. Research professionals in your field on LinkedIn and note the topics they've worked on that have propelled their careers.
Checklist
List Your Passions
- Spend an hour in a quiet place where you feel inspired.
- Reflect deeply on what aspects of your field excite you most.
- Write down these topics in a dedicated research journal.
Conduct a Literature Review Session
- Schedule two hours every Tuesday to review the latest articles in your field.
- Use a spreadsheet to track themes and gaps in the current research.
Engage with Experts
- Identify three potential advisors by Friday.
- Draft an email to each, requesting a 20-minute meeting to discuss your research ideas.
- Use your 5-minute pitch during these meetings to gauge their interest and solicit feedback.
Assess Resources
- Visit your university library or relevant department by the end of next week.
- Discuss your topic ideas with a librarian or resource manager.
- Make a detailed list of available resources for each topic.
Align with Career Goals
- Spend an afternoon exploring LinkedIn profiles of professionals who have graduated from your program.
- Note any topics that have significantly enhanced their careers.
- See how these topics align with your interests.
Action Items
Create a Research Spreadsheet
- Before diving into previous research studies, create a spreadsheet in MS Excel or Google Sheets.
- Include columns for Article Name, Author(s), Date Published, Variables, Hypotheses, Significance, Opportunities, and Summary.
- Fill in this spreadsheet as you review articles, marking relevant ones for your literature review.
Generate Topic Ideas
- Make a list of 5-10 topics in your field that you find interesting
- Write down 5-10 global trends in your industry
- Write down 5-10 micro trends in your local area or country
- Reflect on the biggest changes in your industry over the past 3-5 years and how they might evolve in the next 5-10 years.
- Write down any relationships or "quasi-hypotheses" you think of during this exercise.
Narrow Down Your Topic
- Review the limitations and future research suggestions from previous studies
- Write down how you could address these limitations or expand upon these ideas in your dissertation.
— Pablo Picasso
Additional Resources
How to Strategically Choose Your PhD Topic for Success
Academic Journal of Research
Using Google Scholar Alerts to Stay Ahead in Your Research
Graduate School Journal
Building Mentoring Relationships
Graduate Studies Journal
Case Study
Sophia’s Evolving Research Interest
