The first step to ensure a smooth ride while writing a dissertation is deciding on a topic. When choosing a favorable topic, it is critical to consider the following;

  • The availability of resources and data
  • The requirements of your Department and institution
  • The time frame and length of the dissertation
  • The areas of interest and knowledge
  • The practical, social, and scientific relevance

In case you fail to have ideas for your dissertation, it can be challenging for you to know where to begin. Here are some of the tips that will help you choose your topic.

Check for the requirements

The first step you should take is to check for your program’s requirements because that will determine the scope of evident research. Ensure that you know the deadline, the word count, conditions for the methods, restrictions, professionalism, and any other important element that you should have. You may find that other programs will have more strict requirements, but if you find that you’re unsure what to do, seek clarification from your supervisor or coordinator.

Select a broad research field

The first thing you need to do is think about your interest areas and the subject you are studying. Some of the broad topics include;

  • Health policy
  • Economic history
  • Online marketing
  • Literature of the 20th century

It is always a good idea to select a field that you are familiar with to avoid studying researching right from the ground. It is not a mass that you have to be an expert on a given topic, but it will provide you with a good starting ground to research even more after reading some articles.

Gather resources

Try reading through some of the reasons issues in that articles or journals within your field and check for the articles that have got the most citations. In case you’ve already gone through some articles within your area, head to the reference section so that you can locate more resources for yourself. Ensure that you note down all the specific points of interest and list all the topics you like.

Get yourself a niche

After conducting some readership, it is not time you started pulling down on your topic. You can make this become a gradual process and ensure that you are very specific on your case. The issues mentioned above are generally broad, and you’ll find a lot of information and literature on them. Try locating a particular kind of niche that has got gaps or that many people have not touched on yet or find a question that is still hot in debates or a current issue that is practical. In case there is heavy research on the topic of your choice, you will find it a bit difficult to justify your relevance for picking the work.

Consider your research type

You might find an array of different research types, and therefore it is only a good idea to think of all the approaches that will take on your topic. You can choose to focus on analyzing the data in place or collecting the primary data, or you can even go ahead to compare some of the scholars’ approaches. Several dissertations will always infuse at least more than these, and sometimes it’s going to be quite evident of the type of research you will take. You don’t have to finalize your methods or design of the study, but the style you choose will generally influence the aspects that you should address on the topic.