PhD Topic Ideas: A 10 point rule book to develop your original yet viable PhD topic
If you the one reading this blog, it is likely that you are wanting to enroll for a PhD programme but still struggling with the topic selection for your PhD thesis. It isn’t as straightforward to find the most appropriate topic for your research as you may perceive it to be. But if you have the right attitude and the required patience, then surely you would be successful.
There are a certain set of rules that you must follow if you want to ensure that you choose the right research topic.
- Before making the final decision, you must read a lot of dissertations that are linked to your subject or your key interest areas. It would familiarise you with different ideas and research styles. It would not only help you to zero down on a topic but also give you a multidimensional outlook and later help you to devise your research style.
- Make sure you look for a topic that interests. Listen to the advice of your professors but go with the choice that is entirely yours.
- Get back to old ideas. Check old resources you might have used any time in your graduation years and try to see if some evolution could be done on them.
- Consider several ideas rather than looking for that one perfect idea. At the initial stage, you must have a welcoming approach to even the craziest ideas. Think of as many ideas as you can. It would eventually bring you closer the topic you have been looking for your research.
- Before finalising on a topic, ensure that nobody has completed a similar research. Collect supporting arguments why your research matters. It would help to keep you convinced and at the same time to convince your supervisor and examiners at the later stages.
- Assess the need for resources and information for the research. Make sure you have done a thorough analysis of the needed resources and information for the entire research to be conducted and surety that you have access to all of that.
- Have a precise and succinct topic. Usually, researchers who begin their PhDs with over ambitious projects struggle at the latter stages.
- Have a flexible perspective to your main research question as it may change during the course. Be flexible as you can so that you can quickly adapt to new evidence.
- Take expert opinion with your supervisor while you are deciding as they can give you a practical perspective to the obstacles and challenges that may come at the subsequent stages, which you may not be able to anticipate.
- Listen to your heart and be ready to fall in love with your topic.
Always know that, even after having decided the topic very cautiously, there would be moments when there would be a feeling of saturation and exhaustion with your topic. Do not feel dejected and know that it is common and part of the process.
3 thoughts on “PhD Topic Ideas: A 10 point rule book to develop your original yet viable PhD topic”
Selecting a good and viable topic is the key to successful research. All points mentioned above are really helpful.
I was actually struggling to select a topic for my research. Indeed it is a good guide to select a topic.
Selecting the topic is the toughest job as to not end up half way through my thesis with the wrong topic. The tips are plainly a source of information. Thanks.