The problem is that your mind is racing from one idea to the next. Just when you think you have it all figured out, another idea suddenly pops into your head. And you’re just as excited about the latest idea as were about your original one. Let’s face it, you know you’ll never get your dissertation approved if even you can’t decide what it’s going to be about. So we’re here to help. Believe it or not, narrowing down your dissertation topic is just as easy as following these 5 steps:
1.Start Broad
It may seem counterintuitive at first, but starting with a broad focus within your field of study is actually the first step in narrowing down your dissertation topic. If you look at an entire subject area at once, it’s only natural that it seems too difficult to know where to start. For example, if you’re working towards an advanced degree in biology, starting with a broad topic under the biology umbrella—such as virology or botany—brings you one step closer.
2.Niche Down
Once you’ve selected a broad focus within your field of study, it’s time to niche down even further. For instance, let’s say you’re studying history, and you’ve chosen the Antebellum Period for your broad focus. Some of the options for niching down could be technological advancements, social movements of the time, or even economic growth.
3.Ask Questions
Once you’ve successfully niched down, asking yourself plenty of questions will help you narrow down your dissertation topic even further. After all, there’s a reason you’re being drawn to this line of research, and it’s important you discover the why behind the selections you’ve made so far. Ask yourself questions like, “Is this topic interesting enough for me to pursue it further? Will I be able to locate resources easily enough to conduct original research on this topic? Is it likely that I can write a dissertation on this topic within a reasonable amount of time? Will this topic meet all of the requirements I’ve been given by my programme”
4.Look at Current Research
The fourth step in narrowing down your dissertation topic is to look at the research that already exists. Your main goal in writing and defending a dissertation is to present original information after all. So, you don’t want to waste time on a topic that has been heavily researched already.
5.Discover Your Purpose
Lastly, it’s time to discover your purpose. Will the research you’re planning to do in this particular area fill a gap in knowledge, alter the way society looks at something, or solve a problem in any way? If it will, you’ve found the right dissertation topic for you, and it’s time to get started.
