community development dissertation topics

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Community Development Research Topics & Dissertation Titles

Topic suggestions for research in community development.

With our unique capability to suggest relevant and timely topics, we act as a compass, guiding individuals and organizations to areas of utmost significance. By offering a roadmap of pertinent themes and dialogues, we not only foster informed conversations but also catalyze meaningful transformations within communities. Whether one is a beginner keen on understanding the basics or a seasoned expert looking to explore deeper facets, our topic suggestions offer clarity, direction, and inspiration, ensuring community development initiatives are both impactful and well-informed. Our help serves as a pivotal resource for those venturing into the sphere of community development research topics.

✔  Effects of Cultural practices and Knowledge systems on community development:  The study will examine how cultural practices within a community affect community development. In addition, the researcher will examine the impact of knowledge systems within a community on development.  The research will also recommend the best ways to employ cultural practices and knowledge systems in promoting community development. 

✔  Gender responsibilities in community development :  In many societal settings, different genders are assigned different roles. These roles are also assigned based on age and the strength of individuals within the community. This research will assess the role of shared gender responsibilities toward community development.

✔  Effects of technology on indigenous community development .:  Indigenous communities engage in traditional methods of doing things. This study will focus on changes that indigenous communities go through with the introduction of technology, how they adapt to such changes, and their influence on community development. 

✔  Impact of religion and socio-economic differences on community development: A Case study:  There are many religious practices all over the world and with the freedom of worship; people within a community choose the religion that suits them. Some communities have different religious beliefs as well as socioeconomic statuses. This study will assess the impact that those differences have on the growth of a community.

✔  Understanding the differences between urban and rural community development:  Urban and rural community settings do not have equal opportunities in terms of resources, technology, and knowledge. This study will compare the two community settings and how the differences in the two communities present an opportunity for them to grow together. Request  help with a dissertation topic in MA community development from our firm and you will get credible services.

✔  The interrelations between community development and availability of health services:  This study will use multiple case studies to gather data from two communities. The study will examine the differences in community development based on the availability of healthcare services. It will, therefore, be determined whether better health services lead to better community development and vice versa.

To come up with a great topic means that you need to first have some idea or area of interest that you prefer and even where you may need expert help to fine-tune that; this way you will be able to  write and defend a research proposal on community development  and even where you may need us to assist, it will be easier for you.

The Gravity of an Impactful Research Title about Community

In the realm of research, the title is the first point of contact for potential readers. An impactful research title not only piques interest but also succinctly encapsulates the essence of your study on community. It's a window into the study's objectives, offering a snapshot of its scope, methodology, and anticipated outcomes. Understanding how to develop a defendable title is a very crucial step in the research process.

The emphasis is on the critical role that a well-crafted research title plays in attracting attention, generating interest, and conveying the significance of community-focused research. A compelling title should not only be catchy but also reflect the depth and importance of the study, drawing the audience into the research topic. Before identifying a great title, it is significant to identify research gaps in the context of community and this involves a systematic approach. Researchers can begin by conducting a comprehensive literature review to understand the existing body of work. This process helps in identifying what has already been studied, published, and established within the field. By analyzing the existing literature on community, researchers can pinpoint areas where there is a lack of sufficient information, conflicting findings, or unanswered questions and so come up with appealing titles for further research about community.

To settle for the most suitable title for a community-focused research project, one should consider other key factors. For instance, the title should be clear and concise, providing a glimpse into the central theme of the study. It should effectively communicate the research's purpose, scope, and potential contributions. Additionally, a compelling title often incorporates keywords that resonate with the target audience and reflect the core concepts of the research. Moreover, a suitable research title for a community-oriented study should be relevant and timely. It should address current issues or gaps in knowledge within the community context, demonstrating the research's potential to make a meaningful impact. The inclusion of terms that evoke a sense of community, collaboration, and social relevance can enhance the title's resonance.

Furthermore, researchers should strive for creativity and originality in their titles. A unique and memorable title can set a research project apart and generate interest. However, it is crucial to balance creativity with clarity to avoid confusion or misinterpretation.

Ideally, the gravity of an impactful research title about community lies in its ability to attract attention, convey the research's essence, and contribute to its overall impact. By considering factors such as clarity, relevance, and creativity, researchers can identify a title that not only captures the essence of their work but also resonates with the broader community and academic audience.

Navigating Community Research Topics: A Comprehensive Guide

1. unraveling research topics related to community problems.

Every community, irrespective of its size or location, grapples with challenges. Addressing these community problems through focused research can lead to actionable insights. Delving into this realm can encompass:

• Socio-economic Dynamics: Analyze how rising unemployment rates might fracture community ties or how economic disparities influence communal cohesion.
• Healthcare Access: Investigate the ripple effects of inadequate healthcare facilities on community well-being, emphasizing physical and mental health outcomes.
• Urbanization Concerns: Examine the impacts of gentrification, assessing its implications for original community members and exploring potential solutions for harmonious urban development.

2. Spotlight on Community Based Research Topics

Community-based research signifies a collaborative approach, integrating community members into the heart of the research process. This approach ensures the results resonate with the community's authentic experiences. Potential topics include:

• Community Agriculture Initiatives: Delve into how community gardens or urban farming projects impact local engagement, nutrition, and environmental consciousness.
• Educational Outreach: Assess the effectiveness and long-term impacts of community-driven educational initiatives, focusing on both children and adult learners.
• Conservation Collaborations: Explore how local communities perceive, participate in, and benefit from conservation projects, ensuring sustainable ecological futures.

3. Diverse Avenues of Community Related Research Topics

Beyond immediate community issues, there's a broader universe of community research encompassing various forms of communal gatherings:

• Digital Communities: Investigate how online communities, from social media groups to professional networks, shape individual identities, foster connections, and occasionally exacerbate societal divides.
• Professional Cohorts: Dive into niche professional communities, like healthcare or arts, to comprehend their internal dynamics, challenges, and contributions to the larger societal fabric.
• Cultural Cohesion: Study the role of community arts, music, and literature programs in promoting intercultural understanding, preserving traditions, and fostering a sense of shared identity.

Community research topics are as diverse as communities themselves. While the challenges each community faces are unique, the common thread is the pursuit of understanding and improvement. As we immerse ourselves in detailed research, we are not only gaining knowledge but also paving the path for actionable insights and tangible change. Embracing these topics with depth and dedication can lead to a more informed and cohesive societal fabric.

Topics for a Dissertation on Community - Based Problems

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Best-Programs-Community-Development-Courses-Online.pdf   |   Universities-that-offer-Masters-in-Community-Development.pdf   |   Why-Studying-Community-Development-is-Such-important.pdf

More Free Sample Research Topics On Community Development

• A study on the interrelations between community development and availability of health services.
• The Role of Ethics and Social Responsibility in Organizational Performance and Success.
• The Benefits of Local Government Administration on Community Development.
• Factors Influencing the Effectiveness of Sustainable Management Activities towards Customer Satisfaction.
• An Investigation into the Impact of Corporate Social Responsibility on Sustainability of Organizations.
• The Impact of Labor Training and development on the Performance of an Organization
• An Investigation into the Contribution of Public Infrastructure towards Community Development.
• An Investigation into the Role of Non- governmental Organizations in Community Development.
• The Benefits of Organizational Involvement in Transformative Community Development.
• An Investigation into the Factors Influencing Women Empowerment and Community Development.
• The Benefits of Using Technology for Economic Advancement and its Impact on the Development of the Community.

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How to Conduct a Great Research Project on Comm. Development

As a scholar, you are likely to view the community development course as the appreciation of a balanced community that has people with a similar vision. Development in itself is the process of improving the strengths of a particular community. In general, development means that the people of a community are responsible to see that change takes place. In the modern world, people have rested all the responsibility for the development of a community on their leaders. As a scholar, you have a task to evaluate a vital area within community development. Here are some hints on writing a great MA community development dissertation project : community development as a course that is crucial to return the communal responsibility, discussing the state in the current world where people in communities are living in fear, shame, and silence, ways in which virtues such as sharing, kindness, honesty, and others can be restored in a community, the evaluation of community development on history, traditions, and social structures, discussing the process of ownership, control, decision-making, and participation in a community, and the evaluating why people give power to their leaders.It is imperative to avoid a dissatisfactory topic if you want to write a master's dissertation that your instructor will award a high grade. Take a significant step towards your academic excellence by working on a suitable dissertation topic. You need to give an account of how collective action can be taken to address the problems affecting the community; however, this can only happen if you have a very relevant topic. 

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It can be difficult to choose the right topic for your research in community development . Here are some questions to ask yourself:

• What are you interested in?
• What do you know about the topic?
• Is there a specific time period you want to cover?
• Is there a geographic region or country on which you want to focus?
• Is there a particular aspect of the topic that interests you?

Produced by K-State Libraries   Video Transcript

If you have learned what to do when your topic is too broad, consider another scenario:

Though having a topic that is too broad is a common problem, you also need to make sure your topic is not too narrow. If your topic is so limited by geographical area, details, or is very current, you may not be able to find any information about it when researching. 

Below is a table that shows examples of topics that are too broad, too narrow and just right.

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Community Development Approaches, Activities, and Issues

• Living reference work entry
• First Online: 05 February 2020
• Cite this living reference work entry

• Manohar Pawar 4  

Part of the book series: Social Work ((SOWO))

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By recognizing the increasing focus on community development projects and programs, this chapter discusses the concept and changing nature of communities and various agents (people and communities, faith-based organizations and charities, government and nongovernment organization, corporates and philanthropies/foundations) engaged in and approaches used for community development activities. Further, in a summary form, the chapter looks at important strategies for and a range of community development activities. Finally, it points out some of the important challenges such as enhancing participation, dealing with top-down approaches, a lack of consultation, incongruence between needs and programs, low uptake of or dependency on services, a lack of coordination, elite capture, and reaching out to rural and remote areas in community development work with a hope that these challenges can be proactively overcome to sustain community development activities.

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Pawar, M. (2020). Community Development Approaches, Activities, and Issues. In: Todd, S., Drolet, J. (eds) Community Practice and Social Development in Social Work. Social Work. Springer, Singapore. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1542-8_14-1

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DOI : https://doi.org/10.1007/978-981-13-1542-8_14-1

Received : 07 April 2019

Accepted : 06 September 2019

Published : 05 February 2020

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Introduction—community development in social work education: themes for a changing world

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Catherine Forde, Deborah Lynch, Athena Lathouras, Introduction—community development in social work education: themes for a changing world, Community Development Journal , Volume 56, Issue 4, October 2021, Pages 561–565, https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsab027

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Community Development occupies a marginal and sometimes uncertain place in Social Work education, particularly in the Global North ( Hanna and Ife, 2019 ; Westoby et al. , 2019 ) leading to questions about its relevance in a neoliberal Social Work environment that focuses on individuals and on actions to manage risk. This environment restricts collective and generative practices that attempt to engage groups and communities in processes of social change. In contemporary global conditions that bring pressing new challenges and widening polarities, Community Development’s place in Social Work needs urgent re-examination ( Forde and Lynch, 2015 ). What is the place of Community Development within Social Work education? How can Community Development pedagogy enable Social Work students to identify and pursue social justice and human rights goals? In what ways can qualifying Social Work education prepare practitioners to use Community Development in a range of contexts and settings? What can Community Development knowledge and ideas bring to the new and emerging challenges facing Social Work?

In 2018, the Joint World Social Work, Education and Social Development (SWSD) conference in Dublin drew social work educators and practitioners from around the globe. Participating in a workshop on Community Development in Social Work education, it became clear that educators from across the five continents were grappling with the effects of neoliberalism on Social Work. In every country neoliberal policies and practices have moved education and practice towards individualised, behavioural and problem-based approaches and understandings ( Fenton, 2019 ). Educators expressed concern about the marginalization of Community Development within Social Work training but strongly agreed that teaching Community Development on Social Work programmes enables students to think critically and consider collective and grassroots approaches that can both complement and enhance their practice as Social Workers.

Since 2018 much has changed globally and the emergence of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) has thrown many important issues into relief, including democracy versus authoritarianism, personal freedoms versus public safety, economy versus environment and colonialism versus decolonialization. Rosie Meade’s editorial in the Community Development Journal ( April 2020 ) identifies a set of key social, political, economic and environmental questions that arise in the context of the COVID-19 pandemic. In her response, Sue Kenny writes about how COVID-related circumstances are creating new challenges for groups and communities. She argues for critical changes to social arrangements and the need for community organising drawing on fundamental principles of social and environmental justice and deliberative democracy ( Kenny, 2020 ). She highlights the urgency of what lies ahead and how current responses will be crucial in finding a way forward to address global concerns and future sustainability in the context of climate change. Similar questions confront Social Work. Fong et al. (2018 ) identify twelve ‘grand challenges’ (GCSW) for American Social Work, however most of these challenges also face Social Work beyond the United States. Fong et al. speak of meeting these challenges through creating ‘new partnerships, deep engagement with local communities, and innovations to strengthen individual and collective assets’ (ibid, p. 10; see also Field et al. , 2020 ). This task will involve ‘everyone: families, communities, researchers, educators, practitioners and policymakers—all working together to achieve social progress’ (ibid, p. 16). The grand challenges include responding to environmental change with creativity, using digital technology for social good, reducing economic inequality and achieving economic opportunity and justice. This themed section will address these key areas and will be based on three main premises. Firstly, grounding Social Work teaching in values such as social justice and human rights, critical thinking and working collectively helps to nurture dynamic, innovative forms of practice that can respond to community and societal issues. Secondly, critical and network thinking can foster new ideas and facilitate influence in key areas including decision-making and policymaking where new thinking is needed now more than ever. Thirdly, engaging in a vigorous interchange of knowledge, practice and skills between disciplines like Community Development and Social Work strengthens these areas of work, side-steps separate and distinct professional silos and emphasises the importance of humanistic values and approaches.

The authors of the five articles are social work educators who teach Community Development and Community Pedagogy on Social Work programmes in different countries and contexts in the Global South and Global North. All are educators and researchers and several have experience of engaging in policymaking processes. Inclusion of ideas and experiences from different countries and parts of the world provides a wide-angle lens to explore these critical themes and discuss challenges for teaching social work students in the contemporary context. This themed section offers a unique opportunity to share rich pedagogical and practice knowledge from a wide range of contexts.

In the first paper Lynch, Lathouras and Forde identify the need for pedagogical approaches to prepare social workers for shifting and demanding social, economic, political and environmental conditions. Through the lens of key community development principles—connected, relational and critical—the paper explores the challenges and opportunities facing educators, social work students and practitioners. The authors argue for the generation of a process of collaborative critical inquiry between educators, students and the wider social work field. The goal is to engage students in reflective praxis enriched by contemporary theory and research and to foster a deep perspective and engagement on global and local issues that produces adaptable, critical and connected practitioners.

In a world in which borders have become more porous but also more contested, it is crucial to explore how a sense of community and agency can be preserved by those who move across geographical boundaries. Marlowe and Chubb’s paper presents a longitudinal digital ethnography that examines how people from refugee backgrounds maintain relationships and community when separated from their communities of origin, and how online activism emanates from their situations. The paper argues that migrants’ use of online spaces represents an opportunity to explore the implications for social work and community development. Using the theory of the social organization of difference, this paper articulates the challenges and possibilities of digitization for social work and community development pedagogy and practice.

The climate crisis demands responses that traverse north–south global divides and bring critical ecological approaches to the forefront of practices and pedagogy in social work and cognate disciplines like community development. Located within the contemporary socio-geopolitical context Ranta-Tyrkkö and Närhi mark out a new phase of ‘ecosocial transition in social work’ which they discuss as an emerging form of community-based practice. Drawing on primary discursive research into students’ attitudes to the introduction of ecosocial pedagogy to the social work curriculum, the paper isolates and discusses the key elements of this pedagogy. The aim of the paper is to nurture and empower a new generation of practitioners equipped to engage in ecosocial practices with relevant knowledge, and with a range of conceptual as well as practical tools.

The global impact of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitates a renewed emphasis on critical social work practice approaches. In India, the catastrophic effect of the pandemic compounds the prevailing neoliberal landscape in which poverty is widespread and elites including corporations exert increasing control. In her paper Vyas reflects on the ‘messiness’ and complexity of the Indian community practice field, in which social work, community development and Community Organization co-exist. She questions how community practice educators should respond to the continuing concerns of poverty, inequality and vulnerability. The paper concludes by arguing for a critical, counter-hegemonic and value-infused curriculum to develop future community practitioners capable of political analysis and action.

The shifting social, economic and political context and its implications for community development practice and pedagogy on social work programmes is the theme of Anleu-Hernández and García-Moreno’s paper. The paper examines the continuing socio-economic crisis in Spain and its impact on social policy, the social work profession and on professional social work formation. Drawing on an in-depth documentary review the paper seeks to establish the extent and nature of community development pedagogy on social work programmes in Spain and specifically in Catalonia. The paper reignites debate about the position of community development in both the education and practice of the social work discipline.

A post-COVID-19 world is not yet imagined. As we write this editorial, the COVID-19 pandemic continues as an unfolding tragedy with deep and devastating impacts across many regions and countries of the world. Now more than ever, we see the fault lines which expose and reveal the economic, health and social disparities between peoples within and between nations and the environmental crisis that affects everyone. Grounded in the pre-eminent value of social justice as embodied in the practices and perspectives of social workers, in this themed section we move forward together with hope to meet the challenges of this human crisis of our times.

Fenton , J. ( 2019 ) Talkin’ about iGeneration: a new era of individualistic social work practice?   British Journal of Social Work , 50 , 1238 – 1257 , accessed at:   https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz099   (20 August 2020) .

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Field , R. S. , Chung , D. , Fleay , C. ( 2020 ) Working with restrictions: a scoping review of social work and human service practice with people seeking asylum in the global north , British Journal of Social Work , 51 ( 1 ), 57 – 76 , accessed at:   https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcaa006   (20 August 2020) .

Fong , R. , Lubben , J. , Barth , R. P. ( 2018 ) Grand challenges for social work and society , Oxford Scholarship Online , 1–18 , accessed at:   10.1093/oso/9780190858988.001.0001   (1 July 2020) .

Forde , C. and Lynch , D. ( 2015 ) Social Work and Community Development: A Critical Practice Perspective , Palgrave Macmillan , Basingstoke, UK .

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Hanna , A. and Ife , J. ( 2019 ) Community development and social work – creating field education opportunities for social work students , New Community , 16 ( 4 ), 48 – 51 .

Kenny , S. ( 2020 ) Covid-19 and community development , Community Development Journal , 55 ( 4 ), 699 – 703 , accessed at:   https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsaa020   (29 October 2020) .

Meade , R. R. ( 2020 ) CDJ editorial – what is this Covid-19 crisis?   Community Development Journal , 55 ( 3 ), 379 – 381 , accessed at: . https://doi.org/10.1093/cdj/bsaa013   (29 October 2020) .

Westoby , P. , Lathouras , A. , Shevellar , L. ( 2019 ) Radicalising community development within social work through popular education – a participatory action research project , British Journal of Social Work , 49 ( 8 ), 2207 – 2225   accessed at:   https://doi.org/10.1093/bjsw/bcz022   (1 July 2020) .

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How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow

Published on 11 November 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George.

Choosing your dissertation topic is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. When choosing a topic, it’s important to consider:

• Your institution and department’s requirements
• Your areas of knowledge and interest
• The scientific, social, or practical relevance
• The availability of data and resources
• The timeframe of your dissertation

You can follow these steps to begin narrowing down your ideas.

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Table of contents

Step 1: check the requirements, step 2: choose a broad field of research, step 3: look for books and articles, step 4: find a niche, step 5: consider the type of research, step 6: determine the relevance, step 7: make sure it’s plausible, step 8: get your topic approved, frequently asked questions.

The very first step is to check your program’s requirements. This determines the scope of what it is possible for you to research.

• Is there a minimum and maximum word count?
• When is the deadline?
• Should the research have an academic or a professional orientation?
• Are there any methodological conditions? Do you have to conduct fieldwork, or use specific types of sources?

Some programs have stricter requirements than others. You might be given nothing more than a word count and a deadline, or you might have a restricted list of topics and approaches to choose from. If in doubt about what is expected of you, always ask your supervisor or department coordinator.

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Start by thinking about your areas of interest within the subject you’re studying. Examples of broad ideas include:

• Twentieth-century literature
• Economic history
• Health policy

To get a more specific sense of the current state of research on your potential topic, skim through a few recent issues of the top journals in your field. Be sure to check out their most-cited articles in particular. For inspiration, you can also search Google Scholar , subject-specific databases , and your university library’s resources.

As you read, note down any specific ideas that interest you and make a shortlist of possible topics. If you’ve written other papers, such as a 3rd-year paper or a conference paper, consider how those topics can be broadened into a dissertation.

After doing some initial reading, it’s time to start narrowing down options for your potential topic. This can be a gradual process, and should get more and more specific as you go. For example, from the ideas above, you might narrow it down like this:

• Twentieth-century literature   Twentieth-century Irish literature   Post-war Irish poetry
• Economic history   European economic history   German labor union history
• Health policy   Reproductive health policy   Reproductive rights in South America

All of these topics are still broad enough that you’ll find a huge amount of books and articles about them. Try to find a specific niche where you can make your mark, such as: something not many people have researched yet, a question that’s still being debated, or a very current practical issue.

At this stage, make sure you have a few backup ideas – there’s still time to change your focus. If your topic doesn’t make it through the next few steps, you can try a different one. Later, you will narrow your focus down even more in your problem statement and research questions .

There are many different types of research , so at this stage, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what kind of approach you’ll take to your topic. Will you mainly focus on:

• Collecting original data (e.g., experimental or field research)?
• Analysing existing data (e.g., national statistics, public records, or archives)?
• Interpreting cultural objects (e.g., novels, films, or paintings)?
• Comparing scholarly approaches (e.g., theories, methods, or interpretations)?

Many dissertations will combine more than one of these. Sometimes the type of research is obvious: if your topic is post-war Irish poetry, you will probably mainly be interpreting poems. But in other cases, there are several possible approaches. If your topic is reproductive rights in South America, you could analyse public policy documents and media coverage, or you could gather original data through interviews and surveys .

You don’t have to finalise your research design and methods yet, but the type of research will influence which aspects of the topic it’s possible to address, so it’s wise to consider this as you narrow down your ideas.

It’s important that your topic is interesting to you, but you’ll also have to make sure it’s academically, sociallym or practically relevant to your field.

• Academic relevance means that the research can fill a gap in knowledge or contribute to a scholarly debate in your field.
• Social relevance means that the research can advance our understanding of society and inform social change.
• Practical relevance means that the research can be applied to solve concrete problems or improve real-life processes.

The easiest way to make sure your research is relevant is to choose a topic that is clearly connected to current issues or debates, either in society at large or in your academic discipline. The relevance must be clearly stated when you define your research problem .

Before you make a final decision on your topic, consider again the length of your dissertation, the timeframe in which you have to complete it, and the practicalities of conducting the research.

Will you have enough time to read all the most important academic literature on this topic? If there’s too much information to tackle, consider narrowing your focus even more.

Will you be able to find enough sources or gather enough data to fulfil the requirements of the dissertation? If you think you might struggle to find information, consider broadening or shifting your focus.

Do you have to go to a specific location to gather data on the topic? Make sure that you have enough funding and practical access.

Last but not least, will the topic hold your interest for the length of the research process? To stay motivated, it’s important to choose something you’re enthusiastic about!

Most programmes will require you to submit a brief description of your topic, called a research prospectus or proposal .

Remember, if you discover that your topic is not as strong as you thought it was, it’s usually acceptable to change your mind and switch focus early in the dissertation process. Just make sure you have enough time to start on a new topic, and always check with your supervisor or department.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert?
• Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

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McCombes, S. & George, T. (2022, November 11). How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow. Scribbr. Retrieved 3 September 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/the-research-process/choosing-a-topic/

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Master's Thesis Proposal Tips

By Jodie Nicotra, Department of English and Amy Ross, U of I Writing Center

Writing an overview of your project is designed not only to formally announce your intentions as far as your Master’s thesis goes, but also to help you become more fluent in and informed about the topic for your project. 7-8 double-spaced pages should probably be enough.

Broken into fully developed sections, each with a heading, this overview should include: 

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• Knowledge Base
• Starting the research process

How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow

Published on November 11, 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George. Revised on November 20, 2023.

Choosing your dissertation topic is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. When choosing a topic, it’s important to consider:

• Your institution and department’s requirements
• Your areas of knowledge and interest
• The scientific, social, or practical relevance
• The availability of data and resources
• The timeframe of your dissertation
• The relevance of your topic

You can follow these steps to begin narrowing down your ideas.

Table of contents

Step 1: check the requirements, step 2: choose a broad field of research, step 3: look for books and articles, step 4: find a niche, step 5: consider the type of research, step 6: determine the relevance, step 7: make sure it’s plausible, step 8: get your topic approved, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about dissertation topics.

The very first step is to check your program’s requirements. This determines the scope of what it is possible for you to research.

• Is there a minimum and maximum word count?
• When is the deadline?
• Should the research have an academic or a professional orientation?
• Are there any methodological conditions? Do you have to conduct fieldwork, or use specific types of sources?

Some programs have stricter requirements than others. You might be given nothing more than a word count and a deadline, or you might have a restricted list of topics and approaches to choose from. If in doubt about what is expected of you, always ask your supervisor or department coordinator.

Start by thinking about your areas of interest within the subject you’re studying. Examples of broad ideas include:

• Twentieth-century literature
• Economic history
• Health policy

To get a more specific sense of the current state of research on your potential topic, skim through a few recent issues of the top journals in your field. Be sure to check out their most-cited articles in particular. For inspiration, you can also search Google Scholar , subject-specific databases , and your university library’s resources.

As you read, note down any specific ideas that interest you and make a shortlist of possible topics. If you’ve written other papers, such as a 3rd-year paper or a conference paper, consider how those topics can be broadened into a dissertation.

After doing some initial reading, it’s time to start narrowing down options for your potential topic. This can be a gradual process, and should get more and more specific as you go. For example, from the ideas above, you might narrow it down like this:

• Twentieth-century literature   Twentieth-century Irish literature   Post-war Irish poetry
• Economic history   European economic history   German labor union history
• Health policy   Reproductive health policy   Reproductive rights in South America

All of these topics are still broad enough that you’ll find a huge amount of books and articles about them. Try to find a specific niche where you can make your mark, such as: something not many people have researched yet, a question that’s still being debated, or a very current practical issue.

At this stage, make sure you have a few backup ideas — there’s still time to change your focus. If your topic doesn’t make it through the next few steps, you can try a different one. Later, you will narrow your focus down even more in your problem statement and research questions .

There are many different types of research , so at this stage, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what kind of approach you’ll take to your topic. Will you mainly focus on:

• Collecting original data (e.g., experimental or field research)?
• Analyzing existing data (e.g., national statistics, public records, or archives)?
• Interpreting cultural objects (e.g., novels, films, or paintings)?
• Comparing scholarly approaches (e.g., theories, methods, or interpretations)?

Many dissertations will combine more than one of these. Sometimes the type of research is obvious: if your topic is post-war Irish poetry, you will probably mainly be interpreting poems. But in other cases, there are several possible approaches. If your topic is reproductive rights in South America, you could analyze public policy documents and media coverage, or you could gather original data through interviews and surveys .

You don’t have to finalize your research design and methods yet, but the type of research will influence which aspects of the topic it’s possible to address, so it’s wise to consider this as you narrow down your ideas.

It’s important that your topic is interesting to you, but you’ll also have to make sure it’s academically, socially or practically relevant to your field.

• Academic relevance means that the research can fill a gap in knowledge or contribute to a scholarly debate in your field.
• Social relevance means that the research can advance our understanding of society and inform social change.
• Practical relevance means that the research can be applied to solve concrete problems or improve real-life processes.

The easiest way to make sure your research is relevant is to choose a topic that is clearly connected to current issues or debates, either in society at large or in your academic discipline. The relevance must be clearly stated when you define your research problem .

Before you make a final decision on your topic, consider again the length of your dissertation, the timeframe in which you have to complete it, and the practicalities of conducting the research.

Will you have enough time to read all the most important academic literature on this topic? If there’s too much information to tackle, consider narrowing your focus even more.

Will you be able to find enough sources or gather enough data to fulfil the requirements of the dissertation? If you think you might struggle to find information, consider broadening or shifting your focus.

Do you have to go to a specific location to gather data on the topic? Make sure that you have enough funding and practical access.

Last but not least, will the topic hold your interest for the length of the research process? To stay motivated, it’s important to choose something you’re enthusiastic about!

Most programmes will require you to submit a brief description of your topic, called a research prospectus or proposal .

Remember, if you discover that your topic is not as strong as you thought it was, it’s usually acceptable to change your mind and switch focus early in the dissertation process. Just make sure you have enough time to start on a new topic, and always check with your supervisor or department.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert?
• Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

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McCombes, S. & George, T. (2023, November 20). How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow. Scribbr. Retrieved September 3, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/dissertation-topic/

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Theses and Dissertations Collection

Open Access Repository of University of Idaho Graduate ETD

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An open access repository of theses and dissertations from University of Idaho graduate students. The collection includes the complete electronic theses and dissertations submitted 2014 - 2023, as well as, select digitized copies of earlier documents dating back to 1910.

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