3 Cautionary Factors To Keep In Mind When Choosing A Dissertation Topic

Last Updated on July 15, 2020 by Ayla Myrick

Competition defines the world of academia. Just like in the business world, students strive to outdo each other. From classroom sit-in tests to lengthy research projects, every academic task is characterized by competition. This antagonistic spirit infects and affects all levels of academia — from kindergarten to postgraduate. If you are currently working on your dissertation or thesis, it means you are either doing your master’s or doctoral degree.

You are a scholar. Despite your academic stature, you are still competitive. You still want to impress your professor by creating the most prolific dissertation he/she has ever seen. Competition is good. But you might “injure” yourself by trying too hard. When choosing a dissertation topic try to find the balance between the achievable and new territory. Consider the following cautionary tips to avoid picking the wrong topic for your dissertation.

Passion

Choose a topic that you are passionate about. It should be pertinent to your career prospects. Some students think that the only way they can enhance their intellectual standing is by choosing fancy and exotic topics for their dissertations. Piece of advice: You can work on previously researched topics and still achieve academic prominence — it all depends on your final product. Your passion and academic interests come first when choosing a topic for your dissertation.

The research process takes a long time, so pick a topic that excites you. Someone else’s results and conclusion chapters may suggest that further research is needed. You could be that researcher.

Feasibility

Consider whether the topic is doable. Assess the scope of the project and estimate the required resources. You know your knowledge level and academic skills. Can you do it? There is also the issue of resources: intellectual, research materials, time, and financial expenditures. Consider the availability and access of data for your research topic. This is the most arduous phase of the dissertation project.

Choose a topic that you can manage without straining the available resources. The most important thing is to consider whether the topic is feasible before you expend energy on the thesis or dissertation proposal. You can choose a slightly demanding topic and then seek dissertation help from professional academic writing consultants and thesis or dissertation editors with graduate school editing experience.

Industry Relevance

You should also consider the viability or relevance of the topic in relation to your career path. Choose a good topic that will have an impact on your academic field. In other words, choose a research-worthy topic. If you are tempted to choose a topic that has never been researched, ask yourself why it has never been studied before. Maybe there is a problem of data access or the topic does not address any meaningful industry needs.

Also, choose a topic that is relevant to your industry or academic field by browsing related academic journals. If the topic interests you and your fellow academic peers, it has industry appeal. A good topic will increase your visibility in the job market; after all, the primary reason for your educational endeavors is to secure a good job in your chosen field.

Ayla Myrick