Selecting a Dissertation Topic 

When you are preparing to conduct research identifying a topic for your dissertation or research paper is the initial and vital step. The following factors need consideration in the selection of a research topic:

  1. The prerequisites of your department or school
  2. Your field of expertise or interest
  3. The significance of the study
  4. The availability of research resources
  5. The period of the dissertation

The essential initiation step is to have an idea of what topic you are going to research. These steps will help to expound on the subject deeply.

Step 1: Confirm the prerequisites of your department or school.

You should check with your department to grasp an idea of the research topic. This move will help to understand the limits of the research. You must have specifications for the word count, deadline of submission date, the type of research (whether academic or professional) if the topic should be selected from a given list or selected by the researcher, methodological restrictions, and other essentials.

Some institutions are usually uncompromising on the prerequisites. For example, when choosing from limited topics, word count requirement, or a deadline to beat. A student must ask for clarification from the department offering this service.

Step 2: Select a full field of study.

You must ask yourself which topics you have an interest in your study scope. This move will help the researcher select an appropriate item. Some interestingly broad topics include economic history, marriage and relationships, and many more.

It would be best if you chose a topic of your liking in the course outline so that the research flows swiftly without pauses. 

Step 3: Search for books and other essential literature material.

A researcher should read through articles, journals, books, and other resources like Google search to grasp a general concept. While doing this, the researcher should jot down some vital notes and references to help the researcher rephrase the points accurately when writing his research paper. The researcher can also make a shortlist of the topics within the significant issue that interest the researcher.

Step 4: Identify the subtopics that need further explanation

The above initial skim-reading opens an opportunity for the researcher to condense the topic into smaller lucid subtopics. This move will help the researcher articulate more specific concepts in the research paper. For example, in a subject like marriage and relationships, the research can look into the various types of relationships and narrow it down to the one the researcher has an unpardonable interest.

The subtopics may still be extensive and require further specificity. The researcher will have to decide whether to delve into the past, the future trend, or combine both. The researcher must endure outlining enough information in the research paper to answer the research questions raised.

Step 5: Identify the type of research needed

The researcher must evaluate if he will focus on experimental research, analytical research, interpretation research, or academic research. Many research papers require a combination of these orientations of research. The study must consider the availability of primary and secondary sources of data before combining them.

Step 6: Evaluate the significance of the research.

The research topic should not only be exciting to you but also academically and socially applicable. The research should be able to provide additional information to the field, educate the society, and solve practical challenges.

Step 7: Ensure your research paper or dissertation is feasible.

The researcher must evaluate the topic in terms of word count, the time allocated to do the research and the sustainability of the data collection methods. The researcher must ensure that all the activities leading to the development of the research paper or dissertation are achievable in the set time. 

Step 8: The authorities should sanction the topic

The facilitator of the research paper or dissertation must receive a precise summary of the topic and approve it before the researcher can comprehensively write it. Therefore, the researcher must submit the abstract early to allow for quick changes in case the facilitators disapprove of it.

In conclusion, the researcher must be diligent and honest with the chosen topic and not forge content. Neither should the writer plagiarize other writers' work but only use them as pacesetters.

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