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Generating dissertation ideas requires research, keeping a list of interesting topics, and consulting with peers and professors. Originality, researcher interest, and practicality should be considered when selecting a topic, and flexibility is important as the topic may evolve over time.
Coming up with dissertation ideas usually requires a lot of research, legwork, and thought before the list of possibilities can be selected and the final theme formed into a formal proposal and eventual doctoral thesis. Keeping a list of ideas as you study or read is a practical and simple way to generate many possibilities that can be evaluated later. These potential topics can be shared with other graduate students, academic advisors, and professors who can help refine an idea, select those most likely to contribute to a particular academic field, or suggest further research.
The foundation of promising dissertation ideas might include the work of a favorite author or intellectual, a specific historical figure or era, a geographic region or nation, a language, or a political, social, intellectual, or artistic movement. Doctoral candidates typically complete several years of coursework prior to the dissertation phase which exposes them to many different texts, perspectives and theoretical frameworks. Keeping a list of unanswered questions, interesting texts, and other academic issues encountered during graduate school classes can provide a host of possible topics later on.
Talking with peers and professors can also help generate and even refine dissertation ideas. Professors are likely to be aware of useful bibliographies that can help students who are trying to determine how best to approach an academic question. Exchanges with other graduate students can provide a different perspective or suggest additional texts or resources.
Any dissertation idea should be as original as possible. Reviewing completed dissertations as well as published scholarly articles and books on a topic of interest can shed light on a new approach or new avenue of research. A professor with similar research interests can also be a useful guide to existing literature related to specific dissertation ideas.
When narrowing down the list of possible dissertation ideas, it is important to assess the amount of researcher interest in a topic, as well as the practicality of the topic and the overall contribution the work will make to a given academic field. Reviewing the appropriate literature and sharing conclusions with an academic advisor or other faculty member can help determine the feasibility and potential of a dissertation topic. A student’s personal interest in a specific topic is critical, as he or she will likely spend several years researching and writing.
Flexibility can be crucial when generating and considering dissertation ideas. A doctoral thesis is a work in progress and the topic is often adjusted as the researcher is exposed to new information. If a student selects a dissertation topic before completing required courses, it may be practical to enroll in courses focused on the likely thesis topic.
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