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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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Educational resources and simple solutions for your research journey

How to Choose a PhD Research Topic

For most doctoral aspirants, starting on their PhD journey can be both exciting and challenging at the same time. It often begins with having to make a critical decision – choosing a research topic. A well-considered and relevant PhD research topic is crucial because it significantly impacts the overall success and quality of your Ph.D. research. While it may be perfectly normal for your topic to evolve as you progress in your research and make discoveries, the significance of the right PhD thesis topic cannot be overstated.  

The path to earning a PhD often lasts several years. To maintain the motivation and unwavering commitment throughout this journey, you must have a genuine interest in the subject matter you choose to explore. Your enthusiasm can be a driving force, leading you to overcome obstacles and persist in your academic pursuits.  

Let’s explore some methods to help you navigate the process of PhD topic selection, from brainstorming to finalizing your proposal.¹²³

• Focus on your field of study –  It is always a good idea to consider your past research experiences and what questions or problems intrigue you. Remember, while the subject of your PhD should definitely interest you, it should also contribute to the existing body of knowledge in your field. Deeply engaging with subjects that genuinely captivate you can lead to both academic excellence and personal fulfillment. Therefore, take time to evaluate trending PhD topics carefully – this can also help you make your choice. 
• Review relevant academic literature –  Immerse yourself in the literature of your field. Conduct thorough research to identify gaps, controversies, or unexplored avenues in current research. The existing body of knowledge can provide invaluable insights into potential research areas. 
• Assess available resources –  It is   critical to   assess the feasibility of your chosen topic. Consider the resources, data, and tools required to conduct your research. Ensure that you have access to the necessary resources and that your chosen PhD thesis topic aligns with your academic and financial capabilities. 
• Seek guidance from trusted advisors –  Consulting with experienced mentors and advisors is essential. They can provide guidance, suggest refinements to your topic, and help you avoid potential pitfalls. Their insights can be invaluable in shaping your research direction. 

Table of Contents

Formulating a Focused Research Question  

After PhD topic selection, the next step is to refine it into a straightforward research question. Your research question should be specific, relevant, and well-defined. It should be detailed enough to guide your research and provide clear direction while also leaving room for exploration and analysis. Consider the significance of your question – why is it important, and what contributions can your research make to the field?  

Creating a Research Proposal  

Once you have a well-defined research question, you will need to create a research proposal. This document is a blueprint for your entire research efforts. In the research proposal, you will outline the precise scope of your study, the objectives you aim to achieve, the methodology you intend to employ, and the anticipated outcomes of your research.  

Your research proposal typically goes through a thorough review and approval process involving critical evaluation and feedback from your academic advisors. This scrutiny ensures that your research is not only academically sound but also aligns with the standards and expectations of your academic institution. 

The approval of your research proposal marks the culmination of your efforts to refine your PhD research topic. This process finalizes your research topic and sets the stage for the beginning of your PhD journey. 

Evolution of Your PhD Research Topic  

It’s important to remember that choosing a PhD thesis topic can be daunting, and it’s okay for your topic to evolve as you progress through your doctoral studies. New findings and interesting discoveries may lead you in unexpected directions. This adaptability is a natural part of the PhD journey. 4

Your Ph.D. dissertation serves a dual purpose: enhancing your understanding of your field and making valuable contributions to it. While it doesn’t need to be groundbreaking, it must demonstrate originality and your research and argumentation skills. In essence, a Ph.D. program aims to identify scholars capable of making noteworthy contributions to their fields. Thus, your dissertation is a critical milestone in your academic career, and it all begins with the careful selection of your PhD research topic.5 

References:  

• How to Choose a Dissertation Topic For Your Doctoral Degree. Walden University website.  https://www.waldenu.edu/online-doctoral-programs/resource/how-to-choose-a-dissertation-topic-for-your-doctoral-degree  
• How to Choose a PhD Topic. Doctoral Journey, Grand Canyon University website; August 2020.  https://www.gcu.edu/blog/doctoral-journey/how-choose-phd-topic  
• How do you select a research topic for your dissertation or thesis? LinkedIn Higher Education article, November 2023.  https://www.linkedin.com/advice/1/how-do-you-select-research-topic-your-dissertation  
• How to decide on a PhD topic. The University of Queensland website, April 2022.  https://study.uq.edu.au/stories/how-to-decide-phd-topic  
• John Komlos, John Goldsmith. How does one choose a dissertation topic? IIT Delhi.  https://web.iitd.ac.in/~mamidala/HTMLobj-155/How_to_choose_a_PhD_topic.htm  

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How to Choose a Good Research Topic for Your PhD

Choosing the right research topic is quite often a daunting task, especially for PhD students. However, developing a good research question has a positive impact on students’ research careers. Thesis advisors offer help during this initial stage. Later on, PhD students are expected to choose their own research topic for subsequent studies.

When navigating through several interesting research topics, it becomes necessary to strike the right balance between curiosity and societal needs. Moreover, funding agencies fund compelling research proposals based on meaningful and highly relevant research topics. Selecting a good research topic can, therefore, increase the odds of academic success.

PhD Research Topic and Your Career

Performing a meticulous literature survey helps researchers identify existing research gaps and devise novel strategies for addressing them. Once the research gap is identified, it becomes imperative to choose a meaningful research question. A well-chosen research question can lead to a compelling research proposal. In fact, doctoral researchers can positively shape their entire career by finalizing a good research proposal. Researchers are expected to choose topics that can potentially lead to impactful publications. Good publications fetch good citations. Well-published and well-cited researchers can easily find satisfying jobs in academia or industry. Choosing the right research topic, thus, can open doors to satisfying job opportunities worldwide.

Pathway to Success

There are several ways to ensure success in research. When in graduate school, students need to undertake several measures to identify a compelling research topic. Although conducting a thorough literature survey certainly facilitates this process, it is virtually impossible to choose the right research topic solely based on literature surveys. Students and early-stage researchers, therefore, need to brainstorm thoroughly with their advisor, talk to experts, and attend research seminars/conferences to listen to (and network with) established researchers. Quite often, taking up the relevant coursework (especially for interdisciplinary research areas) simplifies the process of research topic selection.

Choosing the right research question helps researchers stay focused and motivated throughout their career. Meaningful research questions eventually lead to meaningful discoveries and inventions. Robert Smith presented in Graduate Research: A Guide for Students in the Sciences (ISI Press, 1984) a list of 11 research questions to consider:

• Can you enthusiastically pursue it?
• Can you sustain your interest while pursuing it?
• Is the problem solvable?
• Is it worth pursuing?
• Will it lead to other research problems?
• Is it manageable in size?
• What is the potential for making an original contribution to the literature in the field?
• Will the scholars in your field receive the results well if you solve the problem?
• Are you (or will you become) competent to solve it?
• By solving it, will you have demonstrated independent skills in your discipline?
• Will the necessary research prepare you in an area of demand or promise for the future?

Keeping these questions in mind while developing a research question can set the stage for a productive and fulfilling career.

Common Mistakes

There are several mistakes that students and early-stage researchers commit during the process of research topic selection. Some of the most common mistakes include:

• Extending thesis work even after graduate school : If researchers choose topics that are direct extensions or clear derivatives of their thesis work, then they do not make significant value addition to the respective field of study. Choosing a radically new research topic, while still embarking on the broad area of specialization is indeed the key to success.
• Choosing an obscure, irrelevant, or non-compelling research topic : This can adversely affect the researcher’s motivation levels and can drastically decrease their odds of attaining success.
• Letting PhD advisors choose research topics for you : Although researchers often pursue work within the same field even after earning their PhD, they are less likely to conduct research on the same exact topic. For this reason, letting your advisor tell you what to study rather than you developing a question based on your own reading and experiences in the laboratory is another common mistake that can have lifelong consequences.

Finally, scientists should work in an environment that nurtures the natural chaos of developing a research direction. PhD advisors should also make it a point to thoroughly groom and mentor their PhD students. A good thesis advisor enables his/her students to choose good research topics.

Did your thesis advisor choose a research topic for you? Did he/she train and mentor you well? Were you able to choose your own research topic? Are you happy with your chosen research topic? Please share your thoughts with us in the comments section below!

Research topics for science or literature: Deep knowledge and a keen interest in any subject with a scholarly attitude are the prerequisites for any research work.

I am allowed to choose my research topic.

i want research topic for p.hd

Thank you for posting your query. Selecting a good research topic is the first step towards carrying out a successful and impactful research study. A good research topic can help you attract funding and also help you to successfully publish in a prestigious journal. Unfortunately we are not aware of your field of research and hence will not be able to suggest you research topics. However, we can share few tips that might be helpful in selecting an appropriate research topic for your PhD. While choosing a research topic, you must carry out a thorough literature survey in your field or genre of research and look for a research gap. Identifying the research gap makes it easy to select a research topic and an appropriate research question. Once you have selected a research topic, you can check through our checklist available here .

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How To Find A High-Quality Research Topic

6 steps to find & evaluate high-quality dissertation/thesis topics.

By: Caroline Osella (PhD, BA)  and Derek Jansen (MBA) | July 2019

So, you’re finally nearing the end of your degree and it’s now time to find a suitable topic for your dissertation or thesis. Or perhaps you’re just starting out on your PhD research proposal and need to find a suitable area of research for your application proposal.

In this post, we’ll provide a straightforward 6-step process that you can follow to ensure you arrive at a high-quality research topic . Follow these steps and you will formulate a well-suited, well-defined core research question .

There’s a helpful clue already: your research ‘topic’ is best understood as a research question or a problem . Your aim is not to create an encyclopedia entry into your field, but rather to shed light on an acknowledged issue that’s being debated (or needs to be). Think research  questions , not research  topics  (we’ll come back to this later).

Overview: How To Find A Research Topic

• Get an understanding of the research process
• Review previous dissertations from your university
• Review the academic literature to start the ideation process
• Identify your potential research questions (topics) and shortlist
• Narrow down, then evaluate your research topic shortlist
• Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Step 1: Understand the research process

It may sound horribly obvious, but it’s an extremely common mistake – students skip past the fundamentals straight to the ideation phase (and then pay dearly for it).

Start by looking at whatever handouts and instructions you’ve been given regarding what your university/department expects of a dissertation. For example, the course handbook, online information and verbal in-class instructions. I know it’s tempting to just dive into the ideation process, but it’s essential to start with the prescribed material first.

There are two important reasons for this:

First , you need to have a basic understanding of the research process , research methodologies , fieldwork options and analysis methods before you start the ideation process, or you will simply not be equipped to think about your own research adequately. If you don’t understand the basics of  quantitative , qualitative and mixed methods BEFORE you start ideating, you’re wasting your time.

Second , your university/department will have specific requirements for your research – for example, requirements in terms of topic originality, word count, data requirements, ethical adherence , methodology, etc. If you are not aware of these from the outset, you will again end up wasting a lot of time on irrelevant ideas/topics.

So, the most important first step is to get your head around both the basics of research (especially methodologies), as well as your institution’s specific requirements . Don’t give in to the temptation to jump ahead before you do this. As a starting point, be sure to check out our free dissertation course.

Step 2: Review past dissertations/theses

Unless you’re undertaking a completely new course, there will be many, many students who have gone through the research process before and have produced successful dissertations, which you can use to orient yourself. This is hugely beneficial – imagine being able to see previous students’ assignments and essays when you were doing your coursework!

Take a look at some well-graded (65% and above) past dissertations from your course (ideally more recent ones, as university requirements may change over time). These are usually available in the university’s online library. Past dissertations will act as a helpful model for all kinds of things, from how long a bibliography needs to be, to what a good literature review looks like, through to what kinds of methods you can use – and how to leverage them to support your argument.

As you peruse past dissertations, ask yourself the following questions:

• What kinds of topics did these dissertations cover and how did they turn the topic into questions?
• How broad or narrow were the topics?
• How original were the topics? Were they truly groundbreaking or just a localised twist on well-established theory?
• How well justified were the topics? Did they seem important or just nice to know?
• How much literature did they draw on as a theoretical base? Was the literature more academic or applied in nature?
• What kinds of research methods did they use and what data did they draw on?
• How did they analyse that data and bring it into the discussion of the academic literature?
• Which of the dissertations are most readable to you – why? How were they presented?
• Can you see why these dissertations were successful? Can you relate what they’ve done back to the university’s instructions/brief?

Seeing a variety of dissertations (at least 5, ideally in your area of interest) will also help you understand whether your university has very rigid expectations in terms of structure and format , or whether they expect and allow variety in the number of chapters, chapter headings, order of content, style of presentation and so on.

Some departments accept graphic novels; some are willing to grade free-flow continental-philosophy style arguments; some want a highly rigid, standardised structure.  Many offer a dissertation template , with information on how marks are split between sections. Check right away whether you have been given one of those templates – and if you do, then use it and don’t try to deviate or reinvent the wheel.

Step 3: Review the academic literature

Now that you (1) understand the research process, (2) understand your university’s specific requirements for your dissertation or thesis, and (3) have a feel for what a good dissertation looks like, you can start the ideation process. This is done by reviewing the current literature and looking for opportunities to add something original to the academic conversation.

Kick start the ideation process

So, where should you start your literature hunt? The best starting point is to get back to your modules. Look at your coursework and the assignments you did. Using your coursework is the best theoretical base, as you are assured that (1) the literature is of a high enough calibre for your university and (2) the topics are relevant to your specific course.

Start by identifying the modules that interested you the most and that you understood well (i.e. earned good marks for). What were your strongest assignments, essays or reports? Which areas within these were particularly interesting to you? For example, within a marketing module, you may have found consumer decision making or organisation trust to be interesting. Create a shortlist of those areas that you were both interested in and academically strong at. It’s no use picking an area that does not genuinely interest you – you’ll run out of motivation if you’re not excited by a topic.

Understand the current state of knowledge

Once you’ve done that, you need to get an understanding of the current state of the literature for your chosen interest areas. What you’re aiming to understand is this: what is the academic conversation here and what critical questions are yet unanswered? These unanswered questions are prime opportunities for a unique, meaningful research topic . A quick review of the literature on your favourite topics will help you understand this.

Grab your reading list from the relevant section of the modules, or simply enter the topics into Google Scholar . Skim-read 3-5 journal articles from the past 5 years which have at least 5 citations each (Google Scholar or a citations index will show you how many citations any given article has – i.e., how many other people have referred to it in their own bibliography). Also, check to see if your discipline has an ‘annual review’ type of journal, which gathers together surveys of the state of knowledge on a chosen topic. This can be a great tool for fast-tracking your understanding of the current state of the knowledge in any given area.

Start from your course’s reading list and work outwards. At the end of every journal article, you’ll find a reference list. Scan this reference list for more relevant articles and read those. Then repeat the process (known as snowballing) until you’ve built up a base of 20-30 quality articles per area of interest.

Absorb, don’t hunt

At this stage, your objective is to read and understand the current state of the theory for your area(s) of interest – you don’t need to be in topic-hunting mode yet. Don’t jump the gun and try to identify research topics before you are well familiarised with the literature.

As you read, try to understand what kinds of questions people are asking and how they are trying to answer them. What matters do the researchers agree on, and more importantly, what are they in disagreement about? Disagreements are prime research territory. Can you identify different ‘schools of thought’ or different ‘approaches’? Do you know what your own approach or slant is? What kinds of articles appeal to you and which ones bore you or leave you feeling like you’ve not really grasped them? Which ones interest you and point towards directions you’d like to research and know more about?

Once you understand the fundamental fact that academic knowledge is a conversation, things get easier.

Think of it like a party. There are groups of people in the room, enjoying conversations about various things. Which group do you want to join?  You don’t want to be that person in the corner, talking to themself. And you don’t want to be the hanger-on, laughing at the big-shot’s jokes and repeating everything they say.

Do you want to join a large group and try to make a small contribution to what’s going on, or are you drawn to a smaller group that’s having a more niche conversation, but where you feel you might more easily find something original to contribute? How many conversations can you identify? Which ones feel closer to you and more attractive? Which ones repel you or leave you cold? Are there some that, frankly, you just don’t understand?

Now, choose a couple of groups who are discussing something you feel interested in and where you feel like you might want to contribute. You want to make your entry into this group by asking a question – a question that will make the other people in the group turn around and look at you, listen to you, and think, “That’s interesting”.

Your dissertation will be the process of setting that question and then trying to find at least a partial answer to that question – but don’t worry about that now.  Right now, you need to work out what conversations are going on, whether any of them are related or overlapping, and which ones you might be able to walk into. I’ll explain how you find that question in the next step.

Need a helping hand?

Step 4: Identify potential research questions

Now that you have a decent understanding of the state of the literature in your area(s) of interest, it’s time to start developing your list of possible research topics. There are (at least) three approaches you can follow here, and they are not mutually exclusive:

Approach 1: Leverage the FRIN

Towards the end of most quality journal articles, you will find a section labelled “ further research ” or something similar. Generally, researchers will clearly outline where they feel further research is needed (FRIN), following on from their own research. So, essentially, every journal article presents you with a list of potential research opportunities.

Of course, only a handful of these will be both practical and of interest to you, so it’s not a quick-fix solution to finding a research topic. However, the benefit of going this route is that you will be able to find a genuinely original and meaningful research topic (which is particularly important for PhD-level research).

The upside to this approach is originality, but the downside is that you might not find something that really interests you , or that you have the means to execute. If you do go this route, make sure that you pay attention to the journal article dates, as the FRIN may already have been “solved” by other researchers if the article is old.

Approach 2: Put a context-based spin on an existing topic

The second option is to consider whether a theory which is already well established is relevant within a local or industry-specific context. For example, a theory about the antecedents (drivers) of trust is very well established, but there may be unique or uniquely important drivers within a specific national context or industry (for example, within the financial services industry in an emerging market).

If that industry or national context has not yet been covered by researchers and there is a good reason to believe there may be meaningful differences within that context, then you have an opportunity to take a unique angle on well-established theory, which can make for a great piece of research. It is however imperative that you have a good reason to believe that the existing theory may not be wholly relevant within your chosen context, or your research will not be justified.

The upside to this approach is that you can potentially find a topic that is “closer to home” and more relevant and interesting to you , while still being able to draw on a well-established body of theory. However, the downside is that this approach will likely not produce the level of originality as approach #1.

Approach 3: Uncensored brainstorming

The third option is to skip the FRIN, as well as the local/industry-specific angle and simply engage in a freeform brainstorming or mind-mapping session, using your newfound knowledge of the theory to formulate potential research ideas. What’s important here is that you do not censor yourself . However crazy, unfeasible, or plain stupid your topic appears – write it down. All that matters right now is that you are interested in this thing.

Next, try to turn the topic(s) into a question or problem. For example:

• What is the relationship between X, Y & Z?
• What are the drivers/antecedents of X?
• What are the outcomes of Y?
• What are the key success factors for Z?

Re-word your list of topics or issues into a list of questions .  You might find at this stage that one research topic throws up three questions (which then become sub-topics and even new separate topics in their own right) and in so doing, the list grows. Let it. Don’t hold back or try to start evaluating your ideas yet – just let them flow onto paper.

Once you’ve got a few topics and questions on paper, check the literature again to see whether any of these have been covered by the existing research. Since you came up with these from scratch, there is a possibility that your original literature search did not cover them, so it’s important to revisit that phase to ensure that you’re familiar with the relevant literature for each idea. You may also then find that approach #1 and #2 can be used to build on these ideas.

Try use all three approaches

As mentioned earlier, the three approaches discussed here are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the more, the merrier. Hopefully, you manage to utilise all three, as this will give you the best odds of producing a rich list of ideas, which you can then narrow down and evaluate, which is the next step.

Step 5: Narrow down, then evaluate

By this stage, you should have a healthy list of research topics. Step away from the ideation and thinking for a few days, clear your mind. The key is to get some distance from your ideas, so that you can sit down with your list and review it with a more objective view. The unbridled ideation phase is over and now it’s time to take a reality check .

Look at your list and see if any options can be crossed off right away .  Maybe you don’t want to do that topic anymore. Maybe the topic turned out to be too broad and threw up 20 hard to answer questions. Maybe all the literature you found about it was 30 years old and you suspect it might not be a very engaging contemporary issue . Maybe this topic is so over-researched that you’ll struggle to find anything fresh to say. Also, after stepping back, it’s quite common to notice that 2 or 3 of your topics are really the same one, the same question, which you’ve written down in slightly different ways. You can try to amalgamate these into one succinct topic.

Narrow down to the top 5, then evaluate

Now, take your streamlined list and narrow it down to the ‘top 5’ that interest you the most. Personal interest is your key evaluation criterion at this stage. Got your ‘top 5’?  Great!  Now, with a cool head and your best analytical mind engaged, go systematically through each option and evaluate them against the following criteria:

Research questions – what is the main research question, and what are the supporting sub-questions? It’s critically important that you can define these questions clearly and concisely. If you cannot do this, it means you haven’t thought the topic through sufficiently.

Originality – is the topic sufficiently original, as per your university’s originality requirements? Are you able to add something unique to the existing conversation? As mentioned earlier, originality can come in many forms, and it doesn’t mean that you need to find a completely new, cutting-edge topic. However, your university’s requirements should guide your decision-making here.

Importance – is the topic of real significance, or is it just a “nice to know”? If it’s significant, why? Who will benefit from finding the answer to your desired questions and how will they benefit? Justifying your research will be a key requirement for your research proposal , so it’s really important to develop a convincing argument here.

Literature – is there a contemporary (current) body of academic literature around this issue? Is there enough literature for you to base your investigation on, but not too much that the topic is “overdone”? Will you be able to navigate this literature or is it overwhelming?

Data requirements – What kind of data would you need access to in order to answer your key questions?  Would you need to adopt a qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods approach to answer your questions? At this stage, you don’t need to be able to map out your exact research design, but you should be able to articulate how you would approach it in high-level terms. Will you use qual, quant or mixed methods? Why?

Feasibility – How feasible would it be to gather the data that would be needed in the time-frame that you have – and do you have the will power and the skills to do it? If you’re not confident with the theory, you don’t want something that’s going to draw you into a debate about the relative importance of epistemology and ontology. If you are shy, you won’t want to be doing ethnographic interviews. If you feel this question calls for a 100-person survey, do you have the time to plan, organise and conduct it and then analyse it? What will you do if you don’t get the response rate you expect? Be very realistic here and also ask advice from your supervisor and other experts – poor response rates are extremely common and can derail even the best research projects.

Personal attraction – On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about this topic? Will addressing it add value to your life and/or career? Will undertaking the project help you build a skill you’ve previously wanted to work on (for example, interview skills, statistical analysis skills, software skills, etc.)?

The last point is particularly important. You will have to engage with your dissertation in a very sustained and deep way, face challenges and difficulties, and get it to completion. If you don’t start out enthusiastic about it, you’re setting yourself up for problems like ‘writer’s block’ or ‘burnout’ down the line. This is the reason personal interest was the sole evaluation criterion when we chose the top 5. So, don’t underestimate the importance of personal attraction to a topic – at the same time, don’t let personal attraction lead you to choose a topic that is not relevant to your course or feasible given your resources. 

Narrow down to 3, then get human feedback

We’re almost at the finishing line. The next step is to narrow down to 2 or 3 shortlisted topics. No more!  Write a short paragraph about each topic, addressing the following:

Firstly,  WHAT will this study be about? Frame the topic as a question or a problem. Write it as a dissertation title. No more than two clauses and no more than 15 words. Less than 15 is better (go back to good journal articles for inspiration on appropriate title styles).

Secondly, WHY this is interesting (original) and important – as proven by existing academic literature? Are people talking about this and is there an acknowledged problem, debate or gap in the literature?

Lastly,  HOW do you plan to answer the question? What sub-questions will you use? What methods does this call for and how competent and confident are you in those methods? Do you have the time to gather the data this calls for?

Show the shortlist and accompanying paragraphs to a couple of your peers from your course and also to an expert or two if at all possible (you’re welcome to reach out to us ), explaining what you will investigate, why this is original and important and how you will go about investigating it. 

Once you’ve pitched your ideas, ask for the following thoughts :

• Which is most interesting and appealing to them?
• Why do they feel this way?
• What problems do they foresee with the execution of the research?

Take advice and feedback and sit on it for another day. Let it simmer in your mind overnight before you make the final decision.  

Step 6: Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Then, make the commitment. Choose the one that you feel most confident about, having now considered both your opinion and the feedback from others.

Once you’ve made a decision, don’t doubt your judgement, don’t shift.  Don’t be tempted by the ones you left behind. You’ve planned and thought things through, checked feasibility and now you can start.  You have your research topic. Trust your own decision-making process and stick with it now. It’s time to get started on your research proposal!

Let’s recap…

In this post, I’ve proposed a straightforward 6-step plan to finding relevant research topic ideas and then narrowing them down to finally choose one winner. To recap:

• Understand the basics of academic research, as well as your university’s specific requirements for a dissertation, thesis or research project.
• Review previous dissertations for your course to get an idea of both topics and structure.
• Start the ideation process by familiarising yourself with the literature.
• Identify your potential research questions (topics).
• Narrow down your options, then evaluate systematically.
• Make your decision (and don’t look back!)

If you follow these steps, you’ll find that they also set you up for what’s coming next – both the proposal and the first three chapters of your dissertation. But that’s for future posts!

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

23 Comments

I would love to get a topic under teachers performance. I am a student of MSC Monitoring and Evaluations and I need a topic in the line of monitoring and evaluations

I just we put for some full notes that are payable

Thank you very much Dr Caroline

I need a project topics on transfer of learning

m a PhD Student I would like to be assisted inn formulating a title around: Internet of Things for online education in higher education – STEM (Science, technology, engineering and Mathematics, digital divide ) Thank you, would appreciate your guidance

Well structured guide on the topic… Good materials for beginners in research writing…

Hello Iam kindly seeking for help in formulating a researchable topic for masters degree program in line with teaching GRAPHIC ART

I read a thesis about a problem in a particular. Can I use the same topic just referring to my own country? Is that being original? The interview questions will mostly be the same as the other thesis.

Hi, thanks I managed to listen to the video so helpful indeed. I am currently an MBA student looking for a specific topic and I have different ideas that not sure they can be turned to be a study.

I am doing a Master of Theology in Pastoral Care and Counselling and I felt like doing research on Spiritual problem cause by substance abuse among Youth. Can I get help to formulate the Thesis Title in line with it…please

Hello, I am kindly seeking help in formulating a researchable topic for a National diploma program

As a beginner in research, I am very grateful for this well-structured material on research writing.

Hello, I watched the video and its very helpful. I’m a student in Nursing (degree). May you please help me with any research problems (in Namibian society or Nursing) that need to be evaluate or solved?

I have been greatly impacted. Thank you.

more than useful… there will be no justification if someone fails to get a topic for his thesis

I watched the video and its really helpful.

How can i started discovery

Analysing the significance of Integrated reporting in Zimbabwe. A case of institutional investors. this is my topic for PHD Accounting sciences need help with research questions

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts.

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts

It was a nice one thank you

Wow, This helped a lot not only with how to find a research topic but inspired me to kick it off from now, I am a final year student of environmental science. And have to complete my project in the coming six months.

I was really stressed and thinking about different topics that I don’t know nothing about and having more than a hundred topics in the baggage, couldn’t make the tradeoff among them, however, reading this scrubbed the fuzzy layer off my head and now it seems like really easy.

Thanks GRADCOACH, you saved me from getting into the rabbit hole.

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How to decide on a PhD topic

Study tips Published 5 Apr, 2022  ·  4-minute read

Whether you’re diving right into your doctorate after a master’s degree or honours year, or you’re returning to study after a few years out in the field, working out how to choose a research topic for your PhD is an essential first step. We got some tips from two of our PhD candidates, Sarah Kendall and Chelsea Janke.

Some Doctor of Philosophy candidates are lucky. They start a PhD having already discovered their niche interest area, which means they never need to wonder how to choose a PhD topic.

Does this mean there’s something wrong with you if you don’t already have your thesis locked in?

Not at all.

Many students start their PhD journey with just a pure passion for research – a love for testing theories and making new discoveries – and figure out their specific research topic while working on their proposal . If you’re in this camp, or if you haven’t refined your thesis just yet, these tips can help you get there.

Your PhD will take 3-4 years, so it's important that you choose something you're genuinely interested in.

How to choose a PhD topic

Sarah is the first to admit that choosing a PhD thesis topic is daunting. Her thesis examines lawyers’ approaches to prosecuting and defending domestic and family violence cases, but this topic didn’t come to her overnight.

“This can be really hard,” says Sarah.

“It took me years to decide on a PhD topic, and even then, it continued to change after starting my PhD.”

Chelsea, whose research explores ways to keep soil healthy while reducing environmental impact, agrees that your initial thesis may not necessarily stay the same throughout your PhD.

“Keep in mind that, as you progress through your PhD, your topic may change as you make new findings and discover some interesting things,” she says.

“This is fairly normal and is often why PhD topics aren’t always set in stone at the start.”

Remember this if you find yourself getting frustrated with how long it’s taking to pin down your research topic. You’ll be spending significant time ( at least 3 years ) researching this topic, so it’s reasonable to take a while on this decision. Make sure you land on a topic that truly inspires you, as you’ll need that inspiration to keep you motivated for the long haul.

With that said, though, there’s nothing wrong with picking a topic you’re 99% sure of and getting started sooner. As Sarah and Chelsea both say, adapting your thesis along the way is often part of the PhD journey.

Read, read, read

Identify the things that really spark your interest and where you can find research gaps – that is, where there are still things we don't know.

Chelsea believes choosing your research topic begins with, well, research .

“Read widely on the general field that you’re interested in,” she says.

“Identify the things that really spark your interest and where you can find research gaps – that is, where there are still things we don’t know.”

Sarah agrees and acknowledges that sometimes this prior research can even translate into a separate project or even a degree.

“Do some research into the areas that interest you – this could take the form of an honours or other research project, or even a mock project that you do in your spare time,” she says.

“This will help you to decide your level of interest in the topic.”

Consider your subjects and speak with academics

Sarah recommends thinking about the courses from your current or previous program, as these can shine a light on what aspects of your field ignite your curiosity.

“Consider the subjects that you really enjoyed in your previous studies or those topics that you find really enjoyable to just learn about in your spare time,” she says.

“Narrow this down to a few areas, even if these are still pretty broad, then talk to as many academics as possible who do research in those areas. This is a really great way of finding out more about what’s topical in the area and what a potential project could look like.”

If you already know who you’d like to be your PhD supervisor, they are the obvious person to speak with first about refining your research topic. If not, learn how to find the right supervisor .

Check for openings on existing projects

Sometimes the best way to choose a PhD topic is to let the PhD topic choose you instead. Many academics keep open spots in their research projects for potential candidates to fill, providing opportunities for students to pursue their own thesis while assisting in a larger research team. We call these earmarked PhD projects .

In fact, this is what ended up helping Sarah select her thesis topic.

“Keep an eye out for projects that are being advertised by academics,” says Sarah.

“You might find one that fits with your area of interest, saving you much of the trouble of having to decide on your specific topic – this is how I came to be doing the project I’m currently doing!”

View available earmarked PhD projects at UQ

Ready to start researching your chosen topic? Discover the next steps for your PhD application.

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How to Choose Your PhD Dissertation Topic

Reviewed by David Krug David Krug is a seasoned expert with 20 years in educational technology (EdTech). His career spans the pivotal years of technology integration in education, where he has played a key role in advancing student-centric learning solutions. David's expertise lies in marrying technological innovation with pedagogical effectiveness, making him a valuable asset in transforming educational experiences. As an advisor for enrollment startups, David provides strategic guidance, helping these companies navigate the complexities of the education sector. His insights are crucial in developing impactful and sustainable enrollment strategies.

Updated: November 9, 2023 , Reading time: 11 minutes

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A doctorate represents the peak of education in a particular field and is a major milestone in an individual’s journey to being an academic and lifelong learner. On a more practical note, earning a PhD is a barrier to advancement in one’s field. 

Enrolling in a PhD is not a matter taken lightly, and one must start on a program with their heart and mind set on a particular topic, problem, or idea they want to pursue their dissertation. 

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Choosing a topic for a dissertation isn’t necessarily easy, but it also shouldn’t be hard as long as one gives it enough thought. Dissertation topics are potentially as wide-ranging as the entire scope of a particular field, and while homing in on a particular area to pursue might be daunting, here are some guide questions and points to consider in coming up with your potential Ph.D. Dissertation topic.

What Makes a PhD Dissertation Different from a Master’s Thesis?

In broad strokes, a Master’s Thesis differs from a Dissertation in its overall intent. A Master’s Thesis is meant to demonstrate your knowledge and skills in a particular topic. While a Master’s Thesis is meant to be original and innovative, it tends to stick to what’s within the bounds of existing research.

This can be in terms of a thesis’ underlying theories, models, and methodologies. A Master’s Thesis is more or less an expansion or an elaboration of existing research, and any analysis is based on this as well.

Meanwhile, a Dissertation still touches on existing research in the field, but in it, you are expected to conduct your research on a particular topic and come up with original research and new knowledge.

Dissertations are also typically several times bigger than Master’s Theses, given their intent to generate new knowledge. In sum, Master’s theses tend to follow beaten paths, while a Dissertation is meant to explore and open new ones.

Questions to Ask When Choosing a PhD Dissertation Topic

Ideally, you should already have a Dissertation topic in mind even before you enroll in a PhD program. This has an important purpose: this helps university departments gauge whether or not to accept you into the program (relative to the expertise of their faculty) and also gives you an idea of which universities might be a good fit for you while you are looking around and submitting applications.

In a more practical sense, some universities and departments/programs require students to have a concrete idea of what topic they have in mind for their dissertation as part of screening applicants. 

What topic interests you, or what are you passionate about?

This is an important point to keep in mind. It’s safe to assume that by this stage, having already earned/are in the process of earning your Master’s Degree, you already have a good idea of which particular aspects of your field interest you the most. 

Pursuing dissertations on ideas you love most helps keep you motivated and open-minded as you conduct your research and inquiry. 

Does a chosen topic fall within your area of expertise?

It goes without saying that a good topic should fall within the bounds of your skillset and expertise in your field. Dissertations are meant to be original, ground-breaking explorations, and in this regard, having a mastery of required skills, research methodologies, etc., is crucial, on top of a thorough knowledge of your field. 

What topic did you take up/are taking up for your master’s degree?

In coming up with a potential dissertation topic, one need not look far. Your current Master’s Degree is perhaps one of the most immediate starting points, in particular, the ideas you are exploring for your thesis. Master’s Theses may be limited in terms of what they can explore, but going through the major steps of your thesis will often give you an idea of what particular area you may want to explore further or potentially contribute to. 

Your list of related literature and research for your thesis, in particular, is a good source of inspiration. A lot of these sources represent the most current research in your field, and it’s worth looking through the authors of the material you are citing and finding out the particular areas they are researching. It also helps to contact these authors formally, and more often than not, they would be willing to discuss their research with you.

Is your chosen topic researchable/answerable?

The specifics would vary between fields and disciplines, but it is very important to establish whether your potential topic can even be researched to begin with. A number of limitations may be at play in this regard. In some fields, the prevailing technologies have not yet reached the right stage of maturity to facilitate research on your topic, or at this stage, may be best left to post-doctoral researchers.

In other cases, the right data might not exist owing to it not having been gathered in the past years or decades. Still, in some cases, your topic might necessitate conducting research in places or settings that would put you in unnecessary danger, and crucially, research on a topic might necessitate crossing the red lines of ethics and professional standards. 

These are just some of the limiting factors to keep in mind in seeing whether or not a topic is researchable, given your position as an incoming PhD student. It is also important to keep in mind that as a Ph.D. student, you will most likely be required to earn your degree within a set number of years, and exceeding that limit is often non-negotiable.

Has the topic been researched already/has it already been explored enough?

This is one of the first points that you need to clarify in choosing your potential dissertation topic. Depending on a field of discipline, some areas or sub-fields will invariably be more accessible than others (or even more popular in some cases) and will have a bigger body of existing research. 

Since a dissertation is meant to break new ground and add to the overall body of knowledge of a particular field or discipline, it helps first to be able to determine whether a particular topic has already been explored. Determining the level of research on a particular area or topic will also help guide and form your inquiry and, ultimately, your final Ph.D. dissertation topic.

You will have a good idea of a particular area’s level of exploration through the course of gathering and parsing through related literature even as early as when you’re doing your Master’s Degree, so it helps to keep an eye out for this. 

Is there research on the topic from other fields?

You need not limit yourself to what’s within your field/discipline; in fact, you should make it a point to also look at any potential related research on your chosen topic from other fields. Doing this gives you a good alternative perspective to your chosen topic since research from outside your own field would often have different starting points and would have different lenses to view a particular topic. Looking at research done in other fields would also help further inform and mold your thought process as you finalize your chosen dissertation topic.

Does your department support your topic of choice? Are there faculty members willing to mentor you through it?

This is a key consideration for you as a PhD student and would impact not only the topic you can go for but also which university will serve you best (assuming you get accepted). You will be exploring your topic as a student largely under the guidance of one or more expert faculty, and your potential topic must be within the range of expertise of a particular university’s faculty. 

Some universities also specialize in particular areas or may have a particular research agenda they are willing to pursue. This can play into their selection process for candidates they may want to admit into their program. A university will have finite resources, and it would be beneficial for them to admit students who are looking to explore ideas that are closest to their agenda in order to maximize their resources. 

Will the resources available to you be enough to conduct the necessary research?

This is a rephrasing or an expansion of the earlier question on whether or not your chosen topic is researchable. To reiterate, regardless of the fact that you intend to generate original research, you will first and foremost be taking on your topic as a student, and this sets a number of key limitations. You will need to determine whether the resources available to you will conceivably be enough to let you complete your dissertation. 

This includes a number of practical considerations, including any available grants, fellowships, scholarships, and even a particular university’s existing facilities. Your chosen topic might involve you having to use equipment of limited availability or accessibility or may require you to conduct fieldwork in overseas locations.

There is no simple answer to this, however, since requirements would vary depending on particular fields or disciplines, but it is important to keep this in mind in the interest of being able to finish your dissertation and earning your PhD. 

Resource considerations may seem trivial to some, but this also serves as an important input in further developing your chosen topic. Scientific and scholarly research, after all, doesn’t involve trying to take on as many problems and topics as you can. To inject a few long-term goals into your planning, maybe it would also help to come up with your chosen PhD dissertation topic with the aim of further exploring the topic once you earn your doctorate. It might not even have to be you who will do the exploring, but others as well.  

Are you particularly attached to your chosen idea or topic?

Throughout this article, we have been talking about being sure about which idea or topic you would want to explore for your PhD dissertation, but it is also important to address whether or not you have formed an attachment to a particular topic or idea. 

As a scholar, you mustn’t get attached to a particular idea, not just while you are coming up with your dissertation topic but throughout the whole course of doing your research and beyond. 

This is where the pitfall of confirmation bias comes in. While it is standard to let the evidence dictate the inquiry, doing research with a strong attachment to a particular idea or expected outcome introduces the possibility of cherry-picking data and bending the outcome of your research to fit your original idea. 

This is bad science, and more than a few researchers have fallen victim to this, some to great cost. It is, therefore, important to constantly keep an open and flexible mind as a scholar and be ready to accept any necessary changes to your chosen dissertation topic. This serves as good practice for when you’re already conducting your research, as it is almost always the case that your inquiry will evolve based on whatever findings may emerge.

Are you listening to what others are saying?

Coming up with the right topic for your dissertation should not be a lonely battle. Science is a collaborative process, and this should be mirrored in your thought process. As a student, you will have access to your peers, members of your cohort, and, crucially, your faculty and mentors. It is good practice to bounce ideas around and ask for input constantly. This practice should extend beyond the formulation stage and well into your conducting the dissertation research itself. 

Lastly, it also helps to share your own relevant input constantly. After all, you’re may not the only one in your circle who is trying to come up with research topics (whether for Master’s Theses or PhD Dissertations), and your input may turn out to be one of the clinchers that help someone move forward by a huge bound. 

Final Thoughts

A PhD Dissertation is a highly crucial undertaking, and coming up with a topic for your dissertation requires rigorous thought that considers many key points. 

Choosing a topic for a PhD Dissertation takes a number of key theoretical and practical considerations into account since you will be going into your research problem as a student with access to finite resources working within a set time limit to earn your degree.

It is important to come up with a chosen topic long before applying for a PhD, but it is equally important not to grow too attached to a particular topic or idea, as well as always to welcome change and consider others’ input.

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Choosing a PhD topic – 8 things to consider

PhD research is basically about discovering something new; therefore embarking on this journey is a significant commitment, often spanning several years of intensive study. One of the most critical steps in this process is choosing the right topic. Your choice will shape your academic and professional future, so it’s important to approach it thoughtfully.

In this blog post, we will delve into eight key considerations to guide you in choosing a PhD topic that aligns with your interests and career goals.

Personal Interest and Passion

Your PhD topic should genuinely excite you. Passion is a crucial driver in sustaining motivation and commitment over the long haul. Reflect on the subjects that have intrigued you most during your academic journey. A topic that aligns with your interests will make the rigorous demands of a PhD more enjoyable and fulfilling.

Research Gap

Identifying a research gap is essential for a successful PhD project. Conduct a thorough literature review to understand what has already been studied and where there are opportunities for new contributions. A good PhD topic should address an under-explored area or present a new angle on an existing issue. Make sure your research can fill a significant gap in the current knowledge.

Relevance and Impact

Consider the broader impact of your research. Choosing a PhD topic that addresses significant issues or has the potential to advance knowledge in meaningful ways is very important. Research with real-world applications can also enhance your career prospects by demonstrating the practical value of your work to future employers or funding bodies.

Feasibility and Scope

Assess the feasibility of your topic. Consider the availability of resources, data, and the scope of your research. Ensure that you can realistically complete your project within the time frame and with the resources available to you. Overly ambitious projects can lead to frustration and burnout, while overly narrow topics may not yield enough material for a robust dissertation.

Supervisor Expertise

Your PhD topic must be feasible in terms of time, resources, and complexity. Consider the availability of data, equipment, and other resources necessary to conduct your research. The scope of the project should be narrow enough to allow for in-depth study but broad enough to be substantial. Avoid topics that are too ambitious or too limited in scope.

Career goals and Opportunities

Think about how your PhD topic aligns with your long-term career aspirations. Whether you aim to stay in academia, enter industry, or pursue another path, your research should enhance your skills and open doors to future opportunities. Consider the employability and relevance of your research in your desired field.

Personal strength and skills

Evaluate your own strengths, skills, and previous experience. Choose a topic that leverages your abilities and builds on your existing knowledge. This can give you a head start and increase your confidence in tackling complex research challenges. Additionally, consider areas where you can develop new skills that will be beneficial for your future career.

Interdisciplinary Potential

Interdisciplinary research is increasingly valued in academia and beyond. Exploring a topic that bridges multiple disciplines can provide a broader perspective and enhance the applicability of your findings. It can also increase funding opportunities and collaboration prospects, enriching your research experience.

  Conclusion

Choosing a PhD topic is a multifaceted decision that requires careful consideration of various factors. By focusing on your passion, identifying research gaps, assessing feasibility, seeking supervisor expertise, aligning with career goals, ensuring originality, leveraging your strengths, and exploring interdisciplinary opportunities, you can select a topic that is both fulfilling and impactful. Take your time to explore different possibilities, seek advice from mentors and peers, and trust your instincts. With a well-chosen topic, your PhD journey can be a rewarding and transformative experience, setting the stage for a successful academic and professional future.

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• How to Write a Great PhD Research Proposal | FindAPhD.com

How to Write a Great PhD Research Proposal

Written by Mark Bennett

You'll need to write a research proposal if you're submitting your own project plan as part of a PhD application. A good PhD proposal outlines the scope and significance of your topic and explains how you plan to research it.

It's helpful to think about the proposal like this: if the rest of your application explains your ability to do a PhD, the proposal demonstrates the actual PhD you plan to do. Of course, being able to effectively plan and explain a research project is one of the key qualifications for being able to complete one, which is why the proposal is such an important part of the PhD application process.

Thankfully, the secret to writing a good research proposal isn't complicated. It's simply a case of understanding what the proposal is for, what it needs to do and how it needs to be put together.

On this page

What is a phd research proposal.

First things first, do you need a research proposal for your PhD? It depends on the kind of project you want to do:

• If your PhD is advertised by a university, you probably won't need to submit a research proposal for it. The broad aims and objectives for your PhD will already be defined: you just need to prove you're the right person to do it.
• But, if you're proposing your own research topic to research within a university's PhD programme, you will need to write a proposal for it (the clue is in the word "proposing")

As a rule, advertised PhDs are very common in STEM subjects, whereas Arts, Humanities and Social Science students are more likely to propose their own PhDs.

Some PhD programmes actually wait and ask students to develop their research proposal during the degree (usually after they've completed some initial training). This is normal in the USA , but it's becoming more common for some UKRI-funded UK PhDs.

For the purposes of this guide we're going to assume that you do need to write a good research proposal for your PhD application. So let's explore what's involved in that.

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What should a research proposal for PhD admission include?

It's natural to be a little intimidated at the thought of structuring a PhD proposal, particularly if you've never written anything like this before.

But here's the thing: a research proposal isn't a fiendish test designed to catch you out and stop you ever doing a PhD. It's actually much more boring than that.

All a research proposal really is is a document that demonstrates three things:

• Your PhD is worthwhile
• Your PhD is feasible
• You are capable of completing it at this university

Or to put it even more simply: the PhD is worth doing, it's doable and you can do it.

Demonstrate your PhD is worthwhile (the what and the why)

A successful PhD project has to make a significant original contribution to knowledge. If it doesn't, it won't meet the criteria for a doctoral degree and will probably fail the viva exam .

Your PhD proposal itself doesn't have to meet those criteria (or pass a viva!) but it does need to indicate that your PhD project eventually will.

It does that by first demonstrating that your research topic is original. That means nobody else has studied this same topic (or one very similar) before.

There are all sorts of ways a PhD can be original. You might examine new data or primary sources, to look at existing material from a fresh perspective, or deal with the impact of new events. It doesn't matter how your project is original, so long as your proposal is really specific about what makes it original.

You also need to explain why your proposed research will be academically significant. To do this properly, you'll need to acknowledge relevant existing scholarship and explain how your research will relate to it. You don't need to be exhaustive at this point, but you should be able to show how your PhD will contribute to its field and – ideally – indicate some of the gaps in knowledge it will aim to fill.

The final step in demonstrating your PhD is worthwhile is to suggest what will become possible as a result of your research. How could other researchers use or build upon your results? What might closing those gaps in academic knowledge mean for audiences outside the unviversity?

Demonstrate your PhD is feasible (the how)

It isn't enough just to show that your research is worth doing; it also needs to actually be doable.

The length of a full-time PhD is around three to four years in most countries (it's longer in for a PhD in the USA , but you don't spend all that time doing research).

Three years may seem like a long time, but researching a PhD is a lot of work and you'll probably spend at least some of your time on other activities like teaching, conference presentations or even publication.

So, one of the things your proposal needs to do is demonstrate that your project is feasible: that it fits within the scope of a PhD.

The most important criteria for this is to be clear about what you plan to do. It should be obvious from your proposal what the scope of your project is – what is and isn't included within it.

You also need to outline how you plan to go about your research. Where will you start and what order do you expect to proceed in? Is the logic for that obvious? If not, it's probably a good idea to explain it.

Finally, you need to explain the methodology you plan to use. This could include techniques for collecting data and sources, theoretical perspectives for analysing them – or both. You may also need to detail specific equipment you expect to use or fieldwork you'll need to undertake (including trips to archives or other external resources).

None of this needs to be exact or completely final. The key word here is 'plan' – but you do need to have one.

Demonstrate that you can complete it at this university (the who and the where)

So far we've thought about the project itself: what makes it worth doing and how it's going to get done. But your proposal also needs to address the who and the where: why are you the right person to carry out this research, and why do you want to do it at this particular university?

The first part of this is easier than it probably looks. Writing a good research proposal demonstrates enthusiasm for your project much more convincingly than simply saying you're very interested in it (a classic case of 'show, don't tell').

You also don't need to repeat your grades and academic achievements (other parts of your PhD application will cover those). Instead, try to underline experiences that relate to this project. Has a particular module or Masters dissertation topic prepared you with useful subject knowledge or methodological skills? If so, highlight it.

It's also fine, within reason, to be honest about the skills you don't have and to identify your training needs. This shows you're being practical about your project and thinking seriously about what it will require. Just make sure you can realistically acquire the skills and training you need within the time available (this goes back to the feasibility).

Showing your project is a good fit for the university is also relatively simple. There should already be some reasons why you've chosen this university for your PhD so make sure you explain what they are. Perhaps there's a particular supervisor you'd like to work with , or facilities and resources your research could use. The key is to emphasise the fit between the project and the university – so don't just say you want to research there because it's highly ranked .

PhD research proposal structure

Hopefully the above sections have given you a few ideas for the things your proposal needs to include. Let's be honest though, the scariest thing about a proposal isn't deciding what to include: it's actually writing it.

But, if we flip that on its head, we remember that all a research proposal really is is a piece of writing that follows a pretty standard format. And that's a lot less scary.

Research proposal structure

Because proposals for PhD all have to do the same things, they mostly follow a similar structure. Yours will probably go something like this:

• Title – Keep it simple and descriptive: the clever alliteration and quotes can come later when you write up your thesis. For now, you just want the person reading this to know exactly what your research is about and, perhaps, which prospective supervisor to send it to.
• Overview – Start by defining your research question (the what) and explaining how it contributes to current work in your field (the why). This is also a good place to reference one or two pieces of scholarship: the full literature review can wait until your PhD begins, but you should show that you have some understanding of relevant academic research.
• Methodology – Make sure the reader understands the practical and / or theoretical approaches you'll take to your research. What data will you collect, how will you collect it and how will you analyse it? Ideally refer to relevant research methods and models. It's also a good idea to provide some sort of roadmap for how you'll go about things. Don't worry, you can change it later (and you will).
• Outcomes and impact – What will exist as a result of your research (other than just another PhD on a library shelf) and what will it make possible? You don't need to identify every specific outcome from your project (blue sky research is fine) but you should think about what some potential outcomes might be.

You probably won't need to include a specific conclusion - it should be obvious, by now, what your project is doing, how you're going to do it and why that matters. A quick summary sentence is fine though, if you think it will help.

Writing tips

Being able to effectively communicate academic concepts, ideas and results is a key skill for PhD research in all subjects . Think of your proposal as a chance to demonstrate this.

The good news is that the key principles of good proposal writing aren't that different from other work you've probably done as a Bachelors or Masters student:

• Be clear – The person reading your research proposal should know exactly what it is you're proposing to research, with no room for ambiguity and confusion. This is important on a practical level (they need to know where to send it) but it's also important to the success of your application: a confusing proposal suggests a confused project. Try having a friend read it and ask them "do you know what it is I'm proposing to do here?" (even if they don't understand the details).
• Be concise – You will have more ideas than you can include in your proposal. That's fine. Choose the best ones and leave the others for your interview .
• be coherent – Follow something like the structure above. Don't start with your methodology, then say what it is you want to research.

How long should a PhD research proposal be?

Honestly? As long as the university asks for it to be. Most will have guidelines and you should follow them closely if so.

If you honestly can't find a suggested word count for your proposal, then consider asking a prospective supervisor . If you still aren't sure, aim for somewhere between 1,000-2,000 words .

As a very general rule, Arts, Humanities and Social Sciences are a bit longer than STEM proposals (and a lot of STEM students don't have to write one anyway, as we've explained).

Research proposal for PhD admission - dos and don'ts

Research proposals are a popular topic over on the FindAPhD blog , where we've shared stories of how students wrote theirs , along with mistakes to avoid and a counter-intuitive look at the things a PhD proposal doesn't actually need to do .

Here are a few general tips and mistakes to avoid:

#1 Give yourself enough time to do a good job

Preparing to write a PhD proposal takes time and effort. None of this is wasted as the process of evaluating and framing your ideas for a proposal will improve your project plan immensely. So will the need to decide which ideas to include.

But you need time and space to do that, so make sure you get it. How long it will take to write your PhD proposal is heavily dependent on your personal working style, but you'll likely need to give yourself at least a few weeks to do a good job.

#2 Set out to impress

A good proposal isn't a begging letter. You're approaching the university with a great idea that's going to contribute to and enhance their research. Be honest, be realistic, but don't be unnecessarily humble. They should want you and your project.

#3 Demonstrate original thinking!

You may not need to present original research findings yet, but your proposal does need to present original ideas – and it should be clear why and how those ideas are original.

Make sure you indicate how your project is going to expand, enhance or even correct existing work in your field. Remember that making an "original contribution to knowledge" is a key part of what a PhD is .

#1 Send the same proposal to several universities

A good proposal needs to explain why you want to do your research at a particular university. That's a big part of the feasibility (the fit between project, person and place) and methodology (how are you going to use this university's equipment and archives; when and where will you need to travel).

It's OK to apply to more than one university in parallel, but, in that case, you're writing research proposals .

#2 Use online proposal templates (without evaluating them first!)

It can be tempting to search for PhD proposal samples on the internet, but make sure you evaluate what you find. Some websites may host old proposals from previous PhD students, but there's no way of knowing how relevant these are to your subject and university – or if they were even successful! More 'generic' research proposal examples can offer guidance, but they won't be tailored to your specific project.

The best place to look for a PhD proposal sample is your university. Consider asking your supervisor if they can share a good proposal from a previous student in your subject – or put you in touch with a current student you can ask.

#3 Confuse the proposal with the PhD

We've covered this on the blog , but it's simple enough to include here too.

You're setting out to do a PhD, but you (probably!) haven't done one yet. So you don't need to include research findings, in-depth analysis or a comprehesive literature review. You need to make a case for the research and analysis you want to do.

#4 Ignore your university's help and guidance

The advice on this page is necessarily quite general. We're considering adding guides to writing PhD proposals in specific subjects in future but, for now, the best place to get specific advice for your academic field is probably the university you're applying to.

See if you can get some subject-specific tips by contacting a supervisor , or just checking with the admissions team for your department.

And remember: if they give you a structure and a word count, stick to it.

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We've answered some of the most frequently asked questions about PhDs, covering course types, applications, funding and the benefits of further study.

Getting ready to apply for a PhD? Our guides explain research proposals, references and entry tests for doctoral programmes.

Our guide explains how to contact a potential PhD supervisor to discuss your proposal or ideas with them before applying.

A checklist of the things you'll need to do when making an international PhD application, from meeting the entry requirements to sorting out your visa.

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• Aug 4, 2021

A Simple Beginner's Guide to PhD Research Topic Formulation

Greetings!!

Are you puzzled as to how you need to formulate a topic for your PhD research work? Feeling obscured under a lot of articles or books that you’ve read which only led to confusion? If it’s been more than a weeks’ time since you started, and one idea after another is running through your mind without any hint like how to mold one idea into a proper research project – you’re certainly feeling the burden!

We are here to help you in bringing up an appropriate approach for a workable research project. In addition, we have a provided a comprehensive 6-step-guideline for “Finding out a good and original PhD research topic”.

What is a ‘PhD research topic’?

There are some misinterpretations and uncertainty around the word ‘topic’, and many PhD scholars thinks that they require a general topic to get started with their research. However, it is not right. Normally, a PhD research topic is the heart of your research project which simply exposes the complete idea of your research work and further by using it, the dissertation/thesis needs to be framed out. In practice, deciding on a research topic and working out your research questions goes hand-in-hand.

Below six steps will guide you in formulating a good research topic for your PhD

Step 1. Research the state-of-art in your interested research domain

Initially find atleast 5-8 appropriate keywords for a literature search.

Further postulate your search regarding literature survey databases which you search, its publishing dates, topographical areas, or applied methods and techniques.

Summarize all the articles which you read and keep reference number for the same, so you can always revisit articles.

Step 2. Breakthrough your project ideas

Identify and write down all the project ideas which comes to your mind. Just gather your thoughts, without critically assessing them.

Find a quiet spot and write out all project ideas that come to your mind. Just collect all your thoughts, without critically evaluating them.

After few days, revisit your ideas and start reviewing and crossing out research ideas which are not worthwhile.

Continue adding new ideas and refine your list, as you go on with the reading process.

Step 3. Slender down your research ideas

After working on this, go through your formulated list and gradually narrow it down to 2-3 best research ideas.

Further to it, start in brainstorming each promising research idea, may be atleast one per day.

Pen down all possible and clear research questions, problem gaps, ideas for experiments/analysis, how to gather pragmatic evidence, hypothesis you’re having etc.

Step 4. Develop a “project work sheet”

Create and maintain a page “project work sheet” that surface out the specifically more about your research project in terms of approach, methods, techniques to be used of and expected outcomes of the research work taken.

The purpose of maintaining this project work sheet is to test how do you feel about the research topic-either positively or indifferent? You have time to work on the research topic for the approaching years. Preferably, you’re passionate about it.

Step 5. Discussing with your research guide/supervisor

Present all the formulated research topic to your supervisor would be always the best choice as they will help you in knowing whether the topics suggested is good to move ahead or need to work upon.

Now, based on their opinion (regarding time, funds, facilities & methods available) move further with any one of the research topics.

Integrate all their feedback on your “project-work sheet” to further polish them.

Step 6. Decide and develop statement of objectives

During this process, you might have decided one topic which is better and stands out with more potential. Go for that and start to further analyze the pro’s and con’s of it. But finally make a decision and move forward.

For the finalized research topic, create atleast 3-6 objectives which briefly gives the research project’s goal. Include research questions to answer or the hypothesis you’ll work with.

Conclusion:

If you’re one among those PhD candidates, it is most important to find your goal for doing PhD, now identifying the goal is your goal! We know that finding a research topic is a harder part, however the above mentioned six steps will definitely guide you in cracking and bringing about a good research topic.

Hope this article will be helpful for all the readers who are in the beginning stage of your PhD research work. In case of any queries related to this post, feel free to reach us through your comments or visit our website.

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• Spartanburg Community College Library
• SCC Research Guides
• Choosing a Research Topic
• What Makes a Good Research Topic?

Before diving into how to choose a research topic, it is important to think about what are some elements of a good research topic. Of course, this will depend specifically on your research project, but a good research topic will always:

• Relate to the assignment itself. Even when you have a choice for your research topic, you still want to make sure your chosen topic lines up with your class assignment sheet.
• A topic that is too broad will give you too many sources, and it will be hard to focus your research.
• A topic that is too narrow will not give you enough sources, if you can find any sources at all.
• Is debatable. This is important if you are researching a topic that you will have to argue a position for. Good topics have more than one side to the issue and cannot be resolved with a simple yes or no.
• Should be interesting to you! It's more fun to do research on a topic that you are interested in as opposed to one you are not interested in.

Remember, it is common and normal if your research topic changes as you start brainstorming and doing some background research on your topic.

Start with a General Idea

As an example, let's say you were writing a paper about issues relating to college students 

• << Previous: Choosing a Research Topic
• Next: 1. Concept Mapping >>
• 1. Concept Mapping
• 2. Background Research
• 3. Narrow Your Topic / Thesis Statements

Questions? Ask a Librarian

• Last Updated: Jul 19, 2024 1:21 PM
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626 Dissertation Topics for Ph.D. and Thesis Ideas for Master Students

If you are about to go into the world of graduate school, then one of the first things you need to do is choose from all the possible dissertation topics available to you. This is no small task. You are likely to spend many years researching your Master’s or Ph.D. topic and writing the text. This means that choosing a dissertation topic should not be taken lightly.

No worries! Just read this article by our Custom Writing service, and you’ll find:

• a collection of great thesis topics on finance, education, management, law, etc.
• a range of tips on choosing a killing Ph.D. topic.
• 👍 Top 10 Dissertation Topics
• 🆚 Thesis vs Dissertation
• 🔝 Top 10 Thesis Topics
• 🎓 Thesis Topics List
• ✅ How to Choose a Topic

👍Top 10 Dissertation Topics

• Ethical alternatives to animal testing.
• What’s the future of the Dead Sea?
• Does accent affect singing ability?
• The importance of corporate values.
• How does inflation affect small businesses?
• Is homeschooling the future of education?
• How does Tourette’s syndrome affect one’s daily life?
• How to conduct market analysis for e-commerce.
• Has globalization affected cultural appropriation?

🆚 Dissertation vs. Thesis: Is There a Difference?

People often consider a thesis and a dissertation to be the same thing. Yet, there is an important distinction between them. The key difference is that you need a thesis to complete a master’s degree, while a dissertation is necessary for obtaining a doctorate. Keep in mind that it’s vice versa in European higher education.

Here are some other differences:

Despite these differences, theses and dissertations have a lot in common:

• You need them to complete a degree.
• Both require certain levels of expertise and writing skills.
• You defend an argument in both of them.
• Plagiarism is prohibited in both theses and dissertations.

🔝 Top 10 Thesis Topics for 2024

• The consequences of obesity.
• The influence of social media .
• Economic development and happiness.
• Feminism in the United States.
• The effects of the COVID-19 pandemic.
• Racism in schools and colleges.
• Overeducation in the labor market.
• DNA evidence in criminal justice.
• Sales forecasting techniques.
• Wage difference among athletes.

🎓 Thesis Topics & Ideas

Below, you’ll find a collection of excellent topics for a thesis. To simplify the task, it’s not a bad idea to use a topic chooser. We’ve also prepared a checklist that will help you make the right choice. If you agree with the following statements, you’ve chosen a good thesis topic:

• You are interested in this subject.  It will be easier for you to work on it if you like your area of research. Remember that you will have to spend long hours looking through various data. You need to stay motivated.
• The topic is helpful in your career path.  Choose a topic that you can apply to further research if you plan to pursue your career in the academic field. Choose something that you can use in your CV if you decided to work in the industry.
• There is enough available research data.  Don’t choose a topic that is too trivial or uncommon. It is essential to find enough relevant information. Consult your supervisor to understand if you can proceed with it.
• The topic isn’t too broad or too narrow.  Otherwise, it will be harder for you to find credible sources and relevant data.
• You already have an understanding of it . Make a list of thesis topics that include the issues you have researched before. It will save you some time and allow you to evaluate your opportunities.
• Your topic is unique.  Make sure there are no other papers that explore exactly the same issue. The value of your work is your original contribution to the research. If somebody has already investigated the topic, there is not much sense in proceeding with it.

Wondering where to find the most current topic for your research? We’ve collected them below.

Computer Science Thesis Topics

Computers surround us everywhere. From hospitals to home offices, it’s impossible to imagine life without them. A doctorate in computer science can allow you many career opportunities!

• The latest developments in AI use for healthcare services . Healthcare in the US is expensive for its citizens. One way to reduce the cost is using computer algorithms. This technology research topic lets you explore how AI helps physicians with their tasks.
• Computer security for public institutions. Several allegations about hackers stealing data from the US government emerged in recent years. With this dissertation idea, study public cybersecurity. Also, discuss ways to improve cybersecurity practices. 
• Visual recognition system architecture: real-time object detection. Discuss a system based on neural networks capable of detecting objects. Focus on the virtual environment. You can alter this trending topic in computer science for real-life settings.
• Blockchain application outside financial technologies. Analyze and discuss the implications of using blockchain systems outside of the fintech sector. For example, study its use for public services and in government agencies. This topic allows exploring ways of applying established algorithms.
• Machine learning and text structures. Discuss ways of visualizing text categorization. Focus on complex hierarchical structures of texts. This topic is suitable for postgraduates. 
• Encrypted search: security, performance, and usage. Discuss the use of encryptions to protect data. Say how we can improve it for effective information search.
• Use of computers in education . Study how algorithms can improve learning. This topic can be altered for other fields. For example, choose AI in business or agriculture.
• Graphics and visual computing: current state and the future. By now, CAD programs are an integral part of every engineer’s tool kit. Your thesis can analyze the potential of those programs. What would improve their performance? Is there a chance that they will become obsolete?
• Multimedia databases parsing and indexing. Netflix and YouTube require technology to search across their multimedia databases. This dissertation can be a survey on best practices. Or, add a company name to the title and focus your research on it.
• AI Marketing: the use of algorithms to improve advertising. In the previous list of research question examples, you can choose a narrow marketing theme. Then, discuss the implications of such algorithms.
• Study computation of models for virtual environments .
• Cybersecurity challenges for automated vehicles.
• AI and vehicle automation: potential safety gaps.
• Computer graphics: perspectives for medical imaging.
• Research the use of computer algorithms for medical analysis.
• Discuss the role of bioinformatics in healthcare improvement.
• How is a computer-aided design used in creating automobile parts?
• Review the best practices for System Level Testing of distributed systems.
• Agile project management for software engineers.
• Software development risks analysis for successful employment. 
• Study the security mechanisms for WLAN networks .
• Malicious botnets and network worms: an overview.
• What are the best practices in ICT systems development?
• Web-based document management systems using XML.
• Best algorithms for cluster generation. 
• Methods for improving Open Web Architecture.
• Analyze software solutions for the increased energy efficiency.
• Protection of systems against terror attacks: a case study and analysis.
• New methods of risk management during software development. 
• Analyze how Web space requirements are changing.
• Analyze how e-publishing is affecting libraries. 
• New methods for studying the behavior of malware, viruses, and worms with the use of secure programming and runtime environments.
• Analyze redundancy and fault recovery in the 4G wireless network. 
• Analyze the implementation and analysis of the optimal algorithm vs the heuristic algorithm for the generation of clusters.
• Analyze how full-text databases affect search engines.

Humanities and Art History Thesis Topics

Do you want to put your passion into words? Would you like to share your ideas with the world? Then pursuing a Ph.D. in the arts or humanities is the right path for you.

• The history of cinema : past and present. With this history dissertation topic, focus on how cinema developed. Explore the period starting from the first short films by the Lumiere brothers. Finish the discussion with modern-day Hollywood examples.
• Art or commerce: a case study of Hollywood films. Discuss the intersection between artistic expression and profit. This exciting arts topic focuses on modern cinema. You can use examples of art-house movies and modern commercially successful ones.
• Hollywood vs. Bollywood . Compare the two distinct film production centers for this art thesis. Next, discuss how local cultures impact Hollywood and Bollywood movies’ direction, genres, and plots.
• The use of visual tools in interior design . This dissertation topic is an intersection between arts and computer science. The focus is on how visualization tools help to create design projects.
• Racism in the 21st-century literature. Focus on how the narratives about racism have changed. Include examples from poetry and prose of this era. Compare it to works published in the past.
• The cultural aesthetic of Afrofuturism in literature. This dissertation idea allows you to explore the intersection of arts. Specifically, see how culture, philosophy of science, and history manifest in Afrofuturism. 
• The social value of ecopoetry. Analyze how literature that focuses on ecological problems. Discuss environmental consciousness and environmental issues.
• Graphic novels: the best examples and implications for the development of literature. What does it mean when literary classics are converted into graphic novels? Incorporate the question if graphic novels can become part of the literary canon.
• Theater of the Absurd in the 1950s and 1960s. Discuss this form of theatrical art. Examine how it emerged and why it became influential.
• Post World War II art: cinema and literature. Use examples of films and literary works. Discuss major works of the post-WWII era and their themes.
• Futurism and the Czech avant-garde : the artistic connection between Europe’s East and West.
• Study the phenomenon of the hero archetype.
• Assess dancing as a form of meditation. 
• Review the common elements of various African dances.
• Folk dances across Western Europe.
• Discuss regional dances and dance as a ritual.
• Animation as a modern art form.
• Research the art of glass-making and its prospects for the future.
• Analyze the cultural impact of The Beatles beyond music. 
• Literature censorship in the US.
• Examine the intersection of ecology and arts.
• Heidelberg Project: is it a model for creating art in urban areas?
• Study kinetic sculptures of the 20th century.
• What characterizes social activism in 20 th -century rock music?
• Jazz in the 21st century: a potential for revival. 
• The history of design in various periods of human existence (the ancient times, the Middle Ages, the Renaissance, etc.). 
• Design as art.
• Philosophy of design.
• Separate branches of design ( interior design , car design, toy design, etc.).
• Stylistic peculiarities of a certain designer.
• Web design as a modern quintessence of design. 
• Social significance of design.
• The birth of Communism as it relates to Stendhal.
• The relationship between politics and literature in the 19 th century.
• An analysis and case study of artists and art during times of war. 
• How contemporary art is related to American suffering.
• Analyze of how racism relates to the family unit.

List of Science Topics for Your Thesis

A dissertation in science will probably require you to run numerous experiments. Many of them will probably go wrong. But the one that does work might be the next big breakthrough! Find a suitable research theme in the following list of topics:

• Bacterial injections for the treatment of cancer tumors. Injecting bacteria into tumors is a fairly new approach to treating cancer. Review the mechanism of action and evaluate the potential of this method for curing cancer.
• Computer imagining and AI for cancer detection. Examine how AI-assisted cancer screening improves accuracy. Include early detection implications and usage in hospitals.
• Ethics of organ donations and transplantation. With this dissertation topic in science, examine the ethics of encouraging people to donate their organs. Include the implications for medical research and practice.
• An epidemiological and molecular approach to cancer prevention. This topic idea suggests assessing the current understanding of how cancer develops as well as potential prevention strategies.
• Ways of speeding up vaccine development and testing. The COVID-19 pandemic has shown that the process of vaccine development is relatively slow. It takes a long time to ensure proper testing. You may discuss these issues in your biochemistry dissertation.
• The current state of research into ultra-fast rechargeable batteries. The topic of batteries and energy attracts lots of attention. With this topic, you can examine how to improve the design of aluminum-ion batteries. Include ways to decrease their charging time.
• Nanotechnologies in drug delivery: electrospraying. Current research shows the great potential of nanotechnologies. In particular, the electrospraying technique makes nanoparticle delivery more efficient.
• Prevalence of various Helicobacter Pylori virulence in a population. Conduct quantitative research and examine a sample of patients to determine the number infected with Helicobacter Pylori.
• The relationship between gut microbiota and the person’s appetite. Your research can explore the theory that the gut microbiome has varied effects on the person’s body. Review the implications for obesity treatment for different gut microbiomes. 
• The age of antibiotics: is it over? Examine the use of antibiotics and the reasons for its decline. Discuss the evolving nature of bacteria that require remedies other than antibiotics. Include quantitative data in this dissertation for a specific type of disease.
• CRISPR method for studying human DNA.
• The study of human evolution: latest discoveries.
• Denisovans from Siberia: a new type of hominid discovered.
• Study the use of AI in archeology. 
• Conduct a study of the Neanderthal genome sequence. 
• What are the ways of improving solar cell efficiency? 
• The carbon footprint of modern production: how do companies damage the environment?
• Research the use of cesium in solar panels. 
• The era of supercapacitors: are we ending the use of batteries?
• Assess the efficiency of Robot Suits for people with permanent paralysis.
• Microscale medial robots: potential applications.
• Look into stem cell mobilization and its mechanisms. 
• Discuss the ethics of automated cars. 
• Space robotics: can we design robots capable of exploring space?
• Evaluate the efficiency and potential of lithium-based rechargeable batteries.
• Morality and ethics of stem cell research. 
• Is behavior controlled or affected by genetics and to what level. 
• A look at methods of improving risk factors post-stroke.
• Analyze of Chinese herbal practice and its relevance to conventional medicine.
• Analyze the effect schools have on childhood obesity.

• New methods of using existing data to gather information that is useful.
• An in-depth look at the factors affecting the decline of the immune system with age.
• Analyze of the potential effect of nanotechnology on health and the environment.
• Analyze of toxicity levels of inhaled nanoparticles.
• The usefulness of nanotechnology in curing some types of cancer.
• An analysis and case study of the treatment of patients who have experienced a loss of memory.
• Analyze the use of DNA typing of remains to identify missing people and the victims of crime.
• The response of immune deficiency diseases to the activation of T-cell subsets.
• The influence and importance of IT in the field of biomedicine.

Architecture Thesis Topics

Architecture is more than just aesthetics. That’s become especially clear ever since the doctrine “form follows function” gained traction. Whether you’re into baroque or Bauhaus, there’s plenty to discover about architecture.

• Religious architecture in the British Empire. Research the transformation of religious buildings and how it affected architecture in general. 
• Modernist architecture in the USSR at the beginning of the 20th century. Compare modernist architecture in the USSR with other countries.
• Urban greening and its influence on buildings’ design. The dissertation proposal can include green roofs as the main point of research.
• Brutalism and its history in New York. Provide historical research of brutalism in New York and discuss how it affects modern architecture.
• Modern-day aboriginal settlements in Australia. Using examples from media and research, indicate how aboriginal settlements are perceived and handled today.
• Transformation of the urban design in the 21st century. Using London, Hong-Kong, and New York as examples, provide an in-depth discussion of changes in the urban design.
• The architectural history of Seattle. Conduct research and write a proposal that will compare different architectural styles seen in Seattle.
• Integration of culture in environmental design. In this proposal, you can use large cities in Asia as primary examples of the synergy between culture and architecture.
• The architecture of residential buildings during the second half of the 20th century. Choose one or several large cities (e.g., Berlin, Miami, Kyoto) as the basis for your research.
• The history of Moscow Avant-Garde. Use both Soviet and modern Russian research on Avant-Garde to present the topic accurately.
• Use of computer visuals in architecture.
• Review the trends in modern furniture design.
• Ecology and architecture: integration of green technologies.
• Discuss the multiculturalism of contemporary urban architecture.
• The history of architecture in urban areas of the US: the study of New York.
• Modern city design case study.
• Research ways of using wood in modern architecture.
• Commercial architecture: aesthetics and usability.
• Evaluate the design of municipal buildings in the US.
• Creativity in postmodernist architecture.
• How do we integrate smart home technology into architecture?
• Small scale homes: a study of growing interest in small housing.
• Discuss the use of lighting in building design. 
• Study innovations in structural design in the digital age.
• What are the implications of inclusive architecture?
• Sustainable architecture: recycling spaces and materials.
• Renewable energy in home design.
• Assess open concept homes for American families.
• Conduct a study of family homes design.
• Research architecture suitable for middle-class families.

Thesis Topics in English Literature & World Literature

Was your New Year’s Resolution to re-read the 100 most influential classical works? Then you might want to consider writing a thesis in advanced higher English. Check out these engaging prompts:

• In-depth stylistic analysis of The Trial by Franz Kafka . Explain what stylistic devices Kafka used in his story.
• The influence of The Hound of the Baskervilles on the development of modern detective stories. Prepare several comparisons of The Hound with modern detective stories to pinpoint its influence.
• The Lost Honor of Katharina Blum : women characters in Heinrich Böll’s fiction. Using the book mentioned in the topic, examine how the German writer depicted women in his prose.
• Analysis of the terrorism portrayal in modern journalism: The New York Times case study. Pick several articles related to terrorism published in NYT and describe in detail how it is portrayed (keywords, images, etc.).
• A formalist approach to Dostoevsky: analysis of The Brothers Karamazov . Provide the reader with an explanation of the formalist approach and use it to analyze the novel.
• The depiction of sexual violence in young adult literature. Pick several YA novels published in the 2010s for your research.
• The use of repetition in Samuel Beckett’s Waiting for Godot . Analyze how repetition is used for emphasis and other effects in the play.
• Feminism and gender in Margaret Atwood’s Cats’ Eye . Review the book from a feminist point of view and discuss how gender issues are presented in the book.
• How does Phillip K. Dick use intertextuality in The Man in the High Castle ? Find as many references to other literary and historical sources as you can and elaborate how Dick uses them and for what aims.
• The influence of Steppenwolf on postmodern American literature: the contribution of Herman Hesse. Using Steppenwolf as the primary source, discuss what characteristics common for postmodern literature Hesse uses in this novel. 
• How does racism manifest itself in classical literature?
• Discuss the oppression of women in The Handmaid’s Tale.
• Gender roles in The Miniaturist and A Doll’s House : a comparison.
• Moral ambiguity in David Harrower’s works.
• Literary techniques in the Perks of Being a Wallflower.
• The setting in The Murder in the Rue Morgue and its influence on the detective genre.
• Review the tropes first introduced in The Moonstone.  
• Study the depictions of police’s work in Skinner’s Rule .
• Assess the influence of Victorian Gothic horror on popular culture.
• Social criticism in The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo.
• Analyze cyberpunk elements in Gibson’s Neuromancer.  
• Themes of social equality in modern literature.
• Research the views on Native American writers in Nature’s Poem.  
• Critique of contemporary children’s literature .
• Gothic elements in Charlotte Bronte’s works.
• The Strange Case of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde and Dracula : a comparative analysis.
• Terror in The Picture of Dorian Gray .
• Examine the connection of mental health and society in J.D. Salinger’s The Catcher in the Rye . 
• Magical realism and romanticism in Perfume: The Story of a Murderer.
• How does the cut-up technique contribute to the narration in William S. Burroughs’ Naked Lunch?

Criminal Justice Thesis Topics

Are you a forensic science student who prefers research to actual police work? In that case, a dissertation in criminology is a great idea. This way, you can work on preventing crime from the comfort of your desk.

• Recidivism rates among underage Latino first-time offenders: a quantitative study. Research a group of first-time offenders of a particular age (e.g., 18 to 25 years old).
• A comparative analysis of the incidents of gun violence in the USA during the 2010s. Choose several prominent examples and compare them to each other. 
• Troublesome statements: the role of witnesses in potentially false accusations. In this dissertation, you can write about the unreliability of statements, using documented examples.

• The patterns of drug trafficking in Germany’s largest cities: a case study of Berlin and Hamburg. Analyze the changes in these patterns in the 2010s. 
• Money laundering and corruption in the United States in the 21st century. Using media reports, create dissertation research about corruption schemes.
• Mental health and self-perception of second-time sex offenders. Determine if their self-perception changes.
• School shootings in the USA: causes and risk factors. Using recent and historical data, analyze the cases of mass shootings.
• The influence of cyberbullying on suicide rates among Australian adolescents (13-17 years old). You can base your dissertation report on various research on cyberbullying published in Australian scholarly journals.
• Child abuse and its influence on serial killer’s perception of victims. Discuss interconnections between abuse and potential sadistic behavior. 
• The history of forensic interviewing in the USA. Present research and practices that contributed to its development.
• Use of artificial intelligence for forensic investigations.
• Criminal behavior at a young age and its implications for the future. 
• Drug use: pattern of recurring arrests among American youth.
• Incarcerated parents: the impact on the child’s perception of crime.
• Research the reforms of the US criminal justice system.
• Propose strategies for improving the juvenile detention system.
• Police officer’s abuse of power: analysis of reports.
• Race and criminal justice: the case of War on Drugs.
• What are the possible alternative forms of incarceration? 
• A study of public perception of modern serial killers. 
• Training of sniffer dogs.
• The implications of eyewitness testimony. 
• Abuse in Hollywood: a case study of Harvey Weinstein.
• Bias against African Americans during investigations.
• A study of college violence.
• Legal implications of medical marijuana legalization .
• Ethics of criminal justice: the problem of confidentiality.
• Review the challenges linked with domestic violence investigations. 
• Suggest ways of preventing crimes in schools.
• Gender bias during crime examinations.

Geography Thesis Topics

If you enjoy unveiling Earth’s secrets, this section is for you. Here you’ll find geography dissertation ideas ranging from studies of movement to regional phenomena.

• Species that became extinct in the 20th century: qualitative research. Address the human influence on various species.
• Current issues in the exploration of Arctic. Discuss difficulties and specifics of such explorations.
• A comparison of urban back gardens in the USA and the UK. You can compare their design and other features (for example, vegetation used for decoration).
• The causes and outcomes of floodings in the USA in the 2010s. Address climate change as one of the leading causes.
• Prevention of ecosystem changes with modern technology. Provide various examples of how technology is used to sustain ecosystems.
• Changes in travel destinations in the 2000s: a comparison of the USA and Canada. Demonstrate what changes in preferences were documented in these countries and show what destinations were especially popular.
• The perception of environmentally friendly technologies and their impact on the environment by citizens of large metropolitan areas: a case study of Miami. Explain how various projects based on environmentally friendly technologies are launched in Miami.
• A negative impact of global warming on weather conditions in Iceland. Discuss how tourism in Iceland is affected by these changes.
• The influence of industrialization on climate change. Address the causes of climate change, using industrialization and its consequences as a basis.
• Compare Greenfield and Brownfield land use for construction projects.
• Investigate the significance of red salmon for Kamchatka.
• The social impact of climate change : a study of migration patterns.
• The potential of community gardening in underprivileged neighborhoods.
• Study the link between the strengths of hurricanes and climate change.
• What can be done to stop gentrification in your community?
• Evaluate coastal tourism, its effect, and implications.
• The impact of reservoir locations on water quality.
• How did industrialization affect the development of Chicago?
• Study soil pollution levels in your community area.
• Conduct an analysis of air quality in your city.
• Eco-tourism, its history, and perspectives. 
• Differences in soil chemistry across several locations. 
• The impact of organic farming on water quality in your area.
• Compare the sustainability of organically vs. conventionally farmed tomatoes.
• Research air pollution levels and data on airborne illnesses in your area.
• What’s the relationship between rock climbing and cliff vegetation?
• Study the changes in soil fertility upon volcanic eruption.
• How does the Chernobyl disaster continue to affect the surrounding area? 
• Determine the patterns of floods in a particular area of your choice.

Sociology Thesis Ideas

Sociology studies how humans live together. A dissertation is a great way to dive deeper into a particular subject. You can get as specific as your heart desires! Check out our sociology thesis topics:

• Single parent stigma and its influence on family’s quality of life and parent-child relationships. Present examples from recent research that illustrate how the dynamics of these relationships change over time due to stigma. 
• Women empowerment in Saudi Arabia in 2000s: breakthroughs and challenges. Discuss how this empowerment affected legislation and women’s rights.
• Long-term alcohol addiction and self-perception in young adults. With the help of research, demonstrate whether self-perception of these adults transforms significantly due to their addiction.
• Adoption and its influence on parent-child relationships. Present and discuss challenges that such families face.
• Comparison of traditions related to family dinners in the USA and the UK. What specific differences are there and how can they be explained?
• Influence of the emo culture on suicide rates in high school students. Address the influence of such cultures on adolescents’ behavior. 
• The rates of secularization in elderly individuals living in urban and rural areas. Compare the rates and explain why they are different.
• Influence of forced outing on transgender individuals and concomitant changes in their quality of life. Explain the effects of forced outing and why this impact is dangerous.
• Comparison of anti-nuclear movements in Germany and Japan in the 21st century. Explain in detail what differences and similarities are prominent.
• Performance rates of teenagers in schools in low-income neighborhoods: a case study of Boston schools. When writing your dissertation proposal, consider various factors (poverty, limited access to technology, etc.) that affect performance rates of these teenagers.
• Black Lives Matter movement’s immediate impact on racism.
• Research causes of minority bias in the US.
• Affirmative action and its impact on the perception of varied racial groups.
• The impact of religion on people’s attitudes towards race. 
• Review the challenges of the US LGBT community.
• Bias towards transgender studies.
• Social activism against gender discrimination in the 21st century.
• The impact of social assistance in schools on a child’s future.
• Research the changes in education after WWII.
• Analyze scholarship policies in the US.
• The impact of student debt on youth’s perception of education in the US.
• Outcomes of public vs. private schools: a comparison.
• Research the preservation of culture in American immigrant families. 
• Applying Marx’s conflict theory to social justice movements.
• Assess changing trends in social norms in a country of your choice.
• Attitudes towards prejudice among people of different social backgrounds.
• Comparison of women’s rights in Western and Middle Eastern countries.
• The impact of capitalism on one’s social values.
• How does capitalism benefit society across multiple post-soviet countries? 
• Compare healthcare access in autocracies vs. democracies.

💡 Dissertation Topics for Ph.D. students

Below you’ll find a list of excellent dissertation ideas in different fields of study. They are more difficult than thesis topics and require more research. Jump to the section that interests you and find the topic that suits you best! But first:

What Makes a Good Ph.D. Topic?

Usually, universities would expect your dissertation to be original and relevant in the field of the research. Moreover, it would be worthwhile if it has the potential to make a change.

This checklist will help you see whether you’ve made the right choice. Your dissertation topic is good, if:

• You have an opportunity to research it fully.  You need to know that there is enough data and a theoretical basis. Do some prior research to understand if you will be able to answer all your dissertation questions.
• You can fill the gaps in the existing knowledge.  Your research matters if you can provide some new information that contributes to the field of your studies.
• Your dissertation title is catchy.  Try to make it worth the reader’s attention from the first glance.
• You can evaluate how much time you need.  It is vital to understand all the stages of your research and the challenges you might face to plan your work.
• You know the subject well.  You will need to explore your topic in-depth. It’s good to have some previous knowledge about it. Starting the research from the very basics will take more time and effort.
• You have enough resources to investigate it.  Both time and money matter in this case. You need to do high-quality research and meet your deadlines.

Dissertation Topics in Education

Learning is a lifelong experience, and the importance of schools cannot be overestimated. Research in this area is critical to improving education standards. Have a look at these topic ideas to get inspired:

• Gamification as tools for enhancing learning abilities: theory and practice. Many studies have been conducted on different learning approaches. For young learners, engagement is as critical as the outcome. Therefore, this work focuses on gamification and its effect on children’s improvisation and learning. 
• Studying the connection between classroom quality and the learning outcome in kindergarten. Children are strongly affected by their environment, especially when it comes to learning. This dissertation topic example is all about looking into different classroom settings and their effect on kids’ learning outcomes. 
• Evaluating the process of implementation of inclusive education in the US. Professionals argue that inclusive education carries multiple benefits for all students (not just those with limited abilities.) However, it is quite a challenging process to implement all the changes.
• Factors influencing the decision to transfer to the higher education abroad. In this work, you can focus on finding out the reasons for such a decision. Why do undergraduate students choose to leave their home country? What are the most important factors? 
• Online education vs. traditional face-to-face lessons for adult learners: compare and contrast. Online courses have their own benefits. However, would adult learners prefer them to in-person classrooms? How does it affect their learning and motivation?
• How does working as a taxi driver and navigating change a person’s brain?
• To what extent can reality television be disempowering for students?
• The role of homework in the lives of immigrant adolescents.
• The impact of teachers’ shocking behaviors in fostering students’ creativity.
• The determinants of flossing behavior in college students .
• The classification of drinking styles in the college-age population.
• Integrating the computer into the curriculum: why you can’t simply plug it in.
• The preconditions for serious music-making avocation in computer science students.
• Adult graduate difficulties with learning new technologies.
• The effect of academic performance on the health of students. 
• The impact of mathematic coaching on students’ self-esteem .
• The influence of internet on the emotional maturity of students.
• Academic achievements of students who decide to become teachers.
• Is it true that students are more likely to do homework given by good-looking professors?
• Informal learning in rural areas via social networks.
• Educational blogging for professors: the social networks of educationists.
• Does learning existentialism cause suicides?
• Is it possible to reduce summer learning loss without students’ consent?
• Can we reject classical math and do it at the same time? Yes, we can.
• What are major career prospects with a degree in Liberal Arts?
• Using electronic games in museums as an effective education tool.

Business Dissertation Topics

There are many things a business administrator should keep in mind. Finances, marketing, and development are just the tip of the iceberg. So, the choice of topics is practically endless. Check out this selection to narrow down the possibilities:

• How are business strategies adjusted to the globalization process? Small businesses’ perspective. Globalization means huge and profitable opportunities. To seize them, all businesses and companies should make some changes in their strategies. Investigate what would be the best action plan for them.
• Cultural changes and the effect of feedback in an international company: a case study. Choose a multinational company. Study the impact of feedback (both from the employees and customers) on its organizational culture changes. What reaction does it provoke in the company?
• Human resource management approaches in international non-profit organizations. In this study, look into the strategies HR managers apply in non-profit organizations. One of their main responsibilities is to monitor the performance of the employees. However, at the international level it becomes more difficult. 
• Leadership and organizational culture in making decisions about business strategies. In this research, you study the influence of the organizational culture on leaders. In the case of trying to initiate changes in the business strategy, how is a leadership decision taken? 
• The role of “foreign direct investment” in companies in developing countries: a case study of a large business. For this paper, pick a suitable company first. Aim for large companies in developing countries. Then conduct research and find out what strategies they have for foreign direct investments.
• COVID-19 pandemic’s effect on workplace management in small businesses . The COVID-19 pandemic caused many companies to readjust their HR policies. For instance, they allowed their staff to work from home. Research this phenomenon in your thesis.
• Social entrepreneurship for large companies. If you want to make the world a better place, social entrepreneurship is a suitable method. We usually associate it with small start-ups. But what about large companies? With this topic, you can research how the concept works for big firms.
• How innovation affects demand in technology-driven businesses. This MBA dissertation topic combines business studies and technology. Examine how companies create products for establishing markets.
• Management strategies in times of COVID-19: a case study. The pandemic has forced companies to use Zoom , Skype, and messaging instead of regular meetings. Review how executives can apply traditional management models in the digital space. 
• The impact of burnout on employees. Interview staff members and determine how burnout affects performance. Include the name of a company or industry in your dissertation’s title. 
• Tourism management in the Middle East.
• How do natural disasters impact the demand for essentials? 
• Compare and contrast Asian and American leadership styles. 
• How does fluctuation in the stock market impact business operations?
• The art of delegation: how to do it effectively and when to avoid it.
• How can one efficiently lead a company when unforeseen circumstances occur?
• What factors determine employees’ work satisfaction?
• Study the link between a company’s success and innovation.
• What can business managers do to bridge the gap between generations?
• Research the benefits of global and local brand management.
• What causes changes in Chinese business culture?
• Choose a small business and analyze its strategy.
• Organizational changes : what factors impact transformation?
• Internet banking : barriers to usage.
• Create a business plan that is focused on a specific issue. 
• Conditions necessary for quality management in MNCs.
• The role of E-commerce for food retailers.
• Conduct a case study with the purpose to analyze one or several social phenomena.
• Workplace ethics in small businesses.
• The phenomenon of remote working and how it is affecting businesses.
• Comparison of Generation X and the Millennial Generation.
• Managing the Millennial Generation.
• Current trends in consumer behavior in relation to advertising.
• Analyze which countries margin financing is effective and why.
• Analyze the macroeconomic factors affecting exchange rates. 
• An empirical analysis of the impact of organizational performance and leadership .

Law Dissertation Topics for Ph.D. Students

Legal science is not dull as one may think. It’s crucial to evaluate laws at any point in time. Do they fit the current norms? Does something or someone need more protection than before? If you want to garnish your legal education with a Ph.D., here are some topic suggestions:

• Trust law: the circumstances when fully secret and half-secret trusts are necessary. Find out what are the principles that dictate the enforcement of the trusts. There are specific circumstances that determine whether creating trusts would be adequate and relevant. Make sure to take them into consideration.
• Termination of employment in case of employees tested positive for HIV/AIDS. Your task would be to conduct research and see how HIV/AIDS employees are influenced in the workplace. The most common issues are discrimination and termination of employment.
• The influence of the Global War on Terrorism on international criminal law. When the US launched the campaign against terrorism in 2001, international criminal law faced some changes. You can study the most significant changes that have been made.
• The level of effectiveness of the US copyright law in relation to the rights of users. It’s an empirical research topic that would require collecting lots of data. Try to find some cases when the users were left cheated by copyright law. It would bring some diversity to the research and make it more interesting.
• Study the effect that the US immigration policy has on education right now. Educational institutions are also required to adjust to changes connected with immigration. Different requirements and different curriculums are implemented to fit their needs. You are about to look into this issue.
• Select a country and analyze its worker protection laws. Compare the rights and obligations of employees in two countries of your choice. What potential improvements can solidify employee rights? 
• Protection of minorities, legal precedents. Minority rights are becoming more and more relevant. This topic allows you to discuss how laws can be changed to reflect it.
• Regulation of cryptocurrency. Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies allow for anonymity. Besides, they are not regulated by any state. In your thesis, you can analyze cryptocurrency regulations.
• Fake news : legal responsibility. Review how the United States legal system approaches disinformation. Focus on false publications on news resources. Another possible topic is improvements to defamation laws.
• Freedom of expression : a case during a pandemic. This topic is about false information in times of COVID-19. Examine how a state can balance freedom of expression with the spread of false information. Focus on this disease and the fake news about it.
• Legal practices for preventing possible future pandemics.
• Research ways of online journalism protection.
• International law vs. the right to self-determination: comparative case studies of de facto states.
• Review the history of fiscal laws in America.
• Limits to freedom of expression in the US legal system. 
• Enforcing regulations concerning domestic violence.
• Study criminal responsibility for drug possession in the US. 
• Criminalization of violence against women.
• Review the legal framework for addressing foreign involvement in elections.
• What was the government response to the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Health standards for immigrant detention centers in the US. 
• Research the loopholes in the US immigration laws.
• Birthright citizenship in the US: pros and cons.
• 1951 Refugee Convention: is it obsolete?
• Illegal immigrants and their rights in the US justice system.
• How criminal laws have been impacted around the world by the war on terror.
• Choose a country and analyze their policies on discrimination.
• Evaluate the protection given to minority shareholders as dictated by company law.
• Provide a critical analysis of the law of omissions liability. 
• Investigate and analyze complaints filed in the criminal justice system.
• A critical analysis of the reform of homicide laws. 
• The morality and impact of euthanasia and how Canada sets a precedent.
• A detailed analysis of gender and race profiling of suspects in the criminal justice system.
• Analyze the right to bear arms relative to the context in which the law was written into The Constitution. 
• Create case studies that represent a review of criminal negligence related to the Corporate Manslaughter and Corporate Homicide Act 2007.

Psychology Dissertation Topics

The mysterious ways of the human mind offer many research opportunities. Psychology encompasses sub-fields such as behavior and cognition. Whatever your area of expertise, you’ll undoubtedly find something interesting in the list below.

• The current effect of the “price ending” method on the consumers’ behavior . Nowadays, everybody knows the most popular trick that shops pull to make customers buy the products. However, does understanding it make it easier to resist it? Is this psychological trap still working?
• Burnout at the executive positions in massive US corporations: is it possible to prevent? The phenomenon of burnout is the most common issue that employees face nowadays. But there are ways to detected it at an early stage. Could they be used to predict and prevent this problem? 
• Mindfulness practices and their influence on students’ learning abilities at the top universities (e.g., Harvard). Mindfulness is proved to be extremely useful in overcoming stress and anxiety issues. However, does it affect the learning outcome of the students who study at the best universities in the world?
• The individual struggles with gender issues and their impact on global gender inequality. Everything always starts with a small thing. For this paper, study the relation between some individual cases and the global issue. How do personal struggles contribute to the worldwide movement for justice? 
• The positive influence of irrational beliefs on mental well-being. In psychology, irrational beliefs are a set of values and opinions that people believe in despite rational evidence against them. However, what positive effect can they bring?
• Ways of raising awareness of mental health problems. Mental health has been discussed more openly in recent years. Review how this open discussion affects views on personal mental health. As another idea for a psychology dissertation topic, research a specific illness. 
• Student burnout and ways to prevent it. Focus on the problems students face and what strategies can reduce their stress.
• Pandemic and mental health. The COVID-19 pandemic forced many people to be in isolation from social contacts. Review the potential effects of this practice on people’s well-being. Discuss possible strategies for supporting mental health during possible future pandemics.
• Weight, self-image, and mental health. A clinical psychology thesis can focus on the psychology behind excess weight. Discuss how weight affects a person’s perception of self. Assess implications for clinical psychologists who work with overweight patients.
• Social media vs. reality: normalizing real people. Review current efforts of social media accounts in normalizing body image. Explain how this can reverse the damage that edited photos have on mental health. 
• How does gender bias affect mental health in America?
• What factors affect women’s self-esteem in the workplace?
• Specifics of transgender mental health.
• Research the effect of immigration on mental well-being.
• Study the psychology of racism and ways to combat it. 
• What distinguishes the mental health of minorities in the US? 
• Research the psychology of dissent in the Soviet Union.
• The connection between stress and overeating: latest developments.
• Assess the role of social support for losing weight. 
• What’s the role of prejudice in politics?
• Assess the role of endurance in combating stress.
• Developing hardiness: strategies and exercises.
• What’s the effect of emotional resilience on mental health?
• Helping teenagers overcome stress via relaxation techniques. 
• Look into the perception of anger and its effect on mental health.
• Understanding the function of the prefrontal cortex in terms of how it is connected to other parts of the brain.
• Understanding how the prefrontal cortex makes us human.
• How emotional and anxiety disorders are connected to social cognition that is impaired.
• Analyze the ability of an MRI to determine brain function.
• Analyze the relationship between emotional and episodic memory.
• A comparison of the plasticity of the child’s brain and the adult brain. 
• Analyze the continued relevance of Piaget’s theory of cognitive development.
• An in-depth look at the social intuitionist model and how it relates to the emotion and reason involved in moral judgement.
• How the evolution of the human brain can be understood in terms of children cognitive development. 
• A demonstration of the multi-dimensional nature of schizophrenia. 
• How rational thinking and impulse contribute to decision-making.
• A systematic analysis and review of the psychology of religion.
• How exposure to nature affects happiness.

Nursing Dissertation Topics

A nurse’s work is hard. Unfortunately, they rarely get the credit they deserve. With a Ph.D., you could become an advocate on the problem. Or you could concentrate on optimizing their work environments.

• Exercise, changes in lifestyle , and self-tracking for diabetes prevention and management. Center your research on different lifestyle changes (exercise, reduced smoking and drinking) and explain how and why it prevents diabetes.
• Influence of stigma related to HIV/AIDS on representatives of ethnic minorities: a case study of Native Americans. Using research, provide compelling evidence of how Native Americans are stigmatized and discriminated against.
• Chronic illness management at home: recommended evidence-based practices. Using current nursing and other professional research, discuss how adults and seniors manage chronic and autoimmune diseases.
• Depression and stress and their relation to preterm births in first-time mothers. Collect several articles about the issue and using their conclusions show how depression causes preterm births.
• Burnout in nurses: factors that cause it and practical solutions for prevention. Present outcomes of burnout (decreased performance and concentration, subpar workplace environment) and illustrate how it affects hospitals on a more significant scale. 
• Public health: community-based measures to prevent morbid obesity. In this research, you can list various methods that include exercise and education and explain in detail how they prevent the spread of obesity.
• Risk factors and injury rates in psychiatric nursing. Present statistics on different types of injuries in psychiatric institutions.
• Cultural diversity and inclusion in nursing education. When researching diversity, make sure you are using examples of different minority groups’ perception of education.
• Euthanasia legislation in the USA: ethical issues and debates. Provide a thoughtful discussion of ethical and legal issues surrounding euthanasia.
• Organizational climate and its influence on perceived patient safety. Your study should focus on the importance of positive relationships between staff members, and its influence on the prevention of medical errors.
• Dietary practices and their influence on the quality of life in patients with systemic lupus erythematosus. SLE is a complex disease that requires a multidisciplinary approach. Describe nutritional research approaches to SLE.
• Fluoride application training in dental nursing.
• Describe the specifics of nursing care for patients with diabetes.
• Assess gender disparity in nursing research.
• Study nurse burnout prevalence in neonatal care in your community.
• Nursing staff advising DASH diet: effects on patients’ blood pressure.
• What are the challenges of asthma management for nurses? 
• Nursing for autistic patients: the best strategies. 
• Racial differences in nursing care: a case study.
• Evaluate nurses’ role in pain management for patients with dementia. 
• Study the connection between nursing staff turnover and burnout.
• How is the role of a nurse changing in the modern healthcare system?
• Review nursing practices for managing elderly patients.
• A holistic approach to obesity management in nursing.
• Describe the specifics of nursing in rural areas.
• Physical activity and mental health: a nursing case study.
• Discuss nursing pain relief strategies for general care. 
• Determine the ethical implications of nursing malpractice.
• Nurses consultations for spinal cord injuries.
• Nursing in an urban setting: challenges and prospects. 
• What are the specifics of pain management in obstetrical nursing?

Marketing Dissertation Topics

Good marketing is what made you buy that product you didn’t know you needed. Marketing needs plenty of scientific research for it to be successful. You can contribute to this effort with one of the following topic ideas:

• Compare and contrast the effectiveness of traditional and digital marketing in the last five years. Marketing moves towards digital campaigns more and more every year. Though, traditional marketing still exists, of course. Your task is to compare every aspect of these two types in the span of the previous five years.
• The specifics of the relationship marketing and its influence on the loyalty rates among customers: a case study of fast-food chains. Take a few fast-food chains to conduct this research. Then analyze their relationship marketing strategies. There should be a correlation between the methods they use and the loyalty of their customers.
• Direct marketing and artificial intelligence: how do companies use it? The industry of marketing couldn’t have missed the opportunity to use the latest technologies for their benefit. Artificial intelligence helps some companies gain a competitive advantage. Find out what those benefits are.
• Collectivism and individualism : how does culture influence supermarkets? There are some apparent differences in cultures when it comes to shopping. Each shop owner has to implement a specific marketing strategy for targeting the customers. Work on aspects that make those strategies successful in different cultures.
• The strategies that make personalized products sell effectively. Everybody loves customized products, but it seems like not everybody is willing to share their data to get it. Therefore, businesses are forced to work it out. This research looks into marketing tools and methods they use to sell personalized products.
• Influence of online shopping apps on impulsive buying behavior . Using prominent examples such as Amazon and eBay, elaborate how apps affect customer’s decision to purchase an item through recommendations.
• Product design and its impact on consumer’s purchase decision. When preparing this thesis topic, consider using examples of large corporations such as Apple or IKEA to prove your point. 
• Customer loyalty : the importance of satisfaction and loyalty programs. Conduct research using available surveys on satisfaction and draw conclusions from these statistics.
• Ethnic differences and their impact on brand perception. This research can review the types of products that target White or Black Americans specifically.
• Preferences for green products: analysis of the income’s influence on consumer decisions. Compare what households are more likely to prefer green products.
• Shopping habits of Muslim consumers in the USA: qualitative research. Here, you will need to do research by engaging Muslim Americans in your study; you can use interviews or surveys for this topic.
• Social media and its impact on the promotion of small business. Make sure your reader understands how social media can promote or negatively present small business through customers’ comments.
• Does globalization make preferences of customers from different socioeconomic backgrounds similar? Interview people from lower, middle, and upper class and discuss the preferences of American households.
• Social media usage by international companies: a case study of Electronic Arts. Study the influence of customers’ reviews and opinions on EA’s sales.
• Consumers’ perception of transaction safety in online shopping applications. Discuss how consumers learn to differentiate between reliable and unreliable apps for payments .
• Marketing high tech products: a case study.
• Study changing marketing techniques during the COVID-19 pandemic.
• The future of big data uses in marketing.
• Conduct a comparative analysis of offline vs. online advertising .
• Explore the relationship between marketing strategies and sales.
• Holiday marketing strategies in the 21st century.
• Is marketing tailed towards model devices effective?
• Study the rise of influencer marketing. 
• Review the newest trends in digital advertising. 
• Brand management in 2020: an analysis. 
• Assess the effect of advertising on consumer behavior. 
• Targeted ads: are they efficient?
• How did marketing change during the COVID-19 pandemic?
• Assess brand management’s contribution to consumer loyalty. 
• Impact of social media marketing on brand perception.
• Google Analytics insights for marketing campaigns. 
• Marketing for minority populations.
• Youtube marketing: the effectiveness of videos for brand promotion.
• How does partnering with influencers impact brand perception?
• Social influencer marketing for SMEs.

History Dissertation Topics

History is written not only by the victors but also by history students. Your dissertation can shine a light on understudied cultures. Or perhaps you want to focus on how a specific event impacted the world. Find inspiration among the following dissertation questions and ideas:

• The historical context of the creation of Guernica by Pablo Picasso . War wasn’t the only inspiration for Pablo Picasso during the process of making Guernica . In this paper, you would look into the environment of the artist and try to identify what else brought him to the creation of this masterpiece.
• Bismarck and radical nationalism: what influenced the political state? For this research, you would study the underlying reasons for German Nazism before the beginning of World War II. What factors gave it a start when Otto von Bismarck was in charge?
• The rise of Bollywood: historical context. This paper focuses on the success of Indian Bollywood movies in the 1930s. You would need to look into the events that made those movies famous in the whole world. Don’t forget to mention the social views of Bollywood movies.
• The influence of secrecy in the technology intervention during World War II. You would study the role that the US Patent and Trademark Office played in the development of special war technology . Secrecy helped to keep it away from the public and enemies. How did it influence the war?
• Italian prisons in the 19th century: how were they managed after Unification? This paper would require you to study documentation on the management system prison used in Italy at the beginning of the 19th century. You should try to find some practices that might have been socially harmful. 
• Gender perceptions in the Middle Age. When preparing the dissertation, use both historical and literary sources to show how gender was presented.
• Secularization in the American South during the post-war period. Provide a detailed discussion of secular societies forming in the South after the 1940s.
• Representation of Jewish history in contemporary art: a case study of Art Spiegelman’s Maus . Using the comic book as the primary basis, explain how Jewish culture and history are presented there.

• The history of medieval warfare and its influence on Modern Era warfare . When constructing this thesis, make sure you are using both historical and current research to provide details.
• American-British relations during the Cold War Era . Explain how the Cold War Era changes these relations and what has affected it the most.
• Germany’s foreign relations during the 1980s. Present a detailed overview of different foreign relations (e.g., with the USA, the USSR, the UK) Germany had during this period.
• The financial crisis in the USA in 2007-2009. Using research and media sources, explain to the reader how the crisis is still affecting the USA. 
• The development of Austrian identity after World War II. In this case, you can use both historical evidence and Austrian literature that provides personal opinions of writers and artists on the issue.
• The impact of the Great Depression on the American involvement in the World War II. To show your understanding of historical processes, demonstrate how the Great Depression affected the USA’s perception of WWII. 
• How I stopped worrying and learned to love the bomb: the development of nuclear warfare in the 20th century. Discuss the development of nuclear warfare in the USA and the USSR.
• What was the role of China in the Cold War?
• How did the Spanish Flu affect the pandemics that followed it?
• Determine the influence of the stock market crash in 1929 on the World Wars.
• First Battle of Marne’s impact on the outcomes of WWI.
• Tool usage and creation: Aztecs vs. Mayas.
• How did the enlightenment philosophy impact the development of the natural sciences?
• The effects of Christianization in sub-Saharan Africa.
• Assess the role of slavery in the US civil rights movement. 
• Study the history of LGBT rights establishment in the US.
• What are the origins of slavery in Africa?
• The Moon Landing and its impact on space exploration. 
• Explore the role of the Bible in Jewish history.
• The US’ involvement in WWII.
• The aftermath of WWII: major historical events.
• Research the link between the Mexican-American War and the Gold Rush.
• Cold War insights: lessons from the Suez Crisis.
• Explore the role of democratization in the Soviet Union collapse.
• Global cooperation in early modern Europe.
• Study the legacy of the arms race.
• How did the First Ladies influence life in the 20th century America?

Dissertation Topics in Management

Companies and employees alike benefit from well-thought-out management strategies. So, a thesis in management has the potential to improve work environments even further. Kickstart your research by choosing one of the following topics:

• Ecotourism in Canada: issues and trends in small business. Explain issues that arise in ecotourism with climate change.
• Management ethics: how social media affects employees’ privacy and organizational climate. Present examples of negative and positive influence.
• Leadership styles: a comparison of democratic and autocratic leadership. Discuss what leadership style should be chosen to rule various companies, depending on their business plan.
• Political risk and its influence on emergency management. Explain how political crises affect and shape emergency management.
• Cultural diversity and its impact on employees’ satisfaction and commitment. Show what advantages and disadvantages there are in cultural diversity.
• Economic growth and unemployment rates in Australia during the 1990s: a historical perspective. Explain the causes of economic growth and unemployment.
• Challenges in human resources management working with millennials: qualitative research. Discuss what particular challenges HR managers face and how they can be addressed. 
• The significance of organizational routines in international corporations: a case study of Google. Conduct research on the importance of routine and its impact on performance. 
• Computer skills and management: the effectiveness of computerized management information system in rural areas. Describe how digital management can be effectively applied in companies working in rural areas.
• The history of digital rights management in the USA. Present the changes in the field during the 1990s-2010s. 
• Analyze the best leadership styles for SMEs. 
• Examine the changes entrepreneurship underwent in the past decades.
• How do leadership styles relate to work satisfaction? 
• Overview of business negotiation methods using technology.
• Ways of integrating corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices.
• Discuss the specifics of airline companies’ management. 
• Choose a theory of motivation in the workplace and make a case study on it.
• Study change management in SMEs in times of a crisis.
• Managing diverse workforce: a qualitative analysis.
• Use of employee voice in US companies.
• Research the relationship between the organization’s goals and a manager’s behavior.
• What are the best current practices in public administration?
• Applying strategic human capital principles in practice.
• The study of female CEOs in a country of your choice.
• Employees’ perception of change management : a quantitative analysis.
• A study of employees’ resistance to change.
• What’s the correlation between a CEO’s leadership traits and employee motivation ?
• Workplace risk management : a study of psychosocial hazards.
• Conduct a quantitative study of the gender pay gap for CEOs.
• Research the relationship between management style and employee productivity .

Qualitative Dissertation: Ideas for Proposals

If you want your thesis to be more practical, you’ve come to the right section. Common approaches for qualitative dissertations include researching case studies, surveys, or ethnographies. Because of this, fieldwork will be an integral part of your doctorate journey.

• A comparison of teaching techniques that targeted children with autism in the 20th and 21st centuries. Provide a detailed overview of techniques and explain how research affected them.
• The development of cognitive-behavioral therapy and its effectiveness in patients with eating disorders. Present the history of CBT and use recent research to demonstrate its effectiveness. 
• Ageism and sexism in international organizations of the fashion industry. Describe how the fashion industry defines what it means to be “young and beautiful.”
• Addressing sexual harassment at the workplace : the influence of organizational policies on targets’ decision to file a complaint. Explain what policies can support the target and what can prevent such decision.
• Strategies to eliminate bias in self-evaluation reports of employees. Using research in HRM, outline the best strategies that are currently used to avoid bias. 
• Post-cancer therapy: issues and trends. Present and discuss various trends, the research behind them, and the effectiveness of different types of therapy.
• A family history of abuse and its influence on drug use in adults. Explain how abuse can provoke addiction in the future.
• The importance of trusting doctor-patient relationships on patient’s medication adherence and management of a healthy lifestyle. Describe how such relationships negatively or positively affect a patient’s decision to take medicine as prescribed.
• Barriers to the acquisition of social support among young men and women veterans in the USA. Discuss mental and physical disorders as major barriers.
• Single mothers’ perceptions of breastfeeding in public places: qualitative research. Conduct interviews to find out their opinion.
• The impact of online learning on student’s academic performance.
• A study of the youths’ perception of learning smartphone applications.
• Research the issue of gender bias in college education. 
• Student’s perception of the mental health support and impact on campus.
• Perceptions of charter school education in the 21 st century.
• Discuss homeschooling and its effect on a child’s socialization.
• What’s the impact of cyberbullying on teenagers’ mental health?
• How inmates perceive alternative forms of incarceration.
• Gun violence from the perspective of victims.
• Research bias towards video games as an art form.
• In what ways are minorities disadvantaged in America?
• Evaluate cooking as a therapeutic exercise.
• Assess the link between a principal’s leadership style and the school’s rating.
• The effect of online counseling on patients’ mental health. 
• Perception of mental health stigma among students. 
• How does gig economy re-define work?
• The implications of freelancing in the 2020s.
• Opinions about a 6-day work week in your community.
• Assess the process of adaptation to working from home.
• Conduct a research study of views on the BLM movement outside the US. 

Quantitative Dissertation Proposal Topics

Some scholars just love working with data. Are you one of them? Then you’ll probably enjoy quantitative research. If you’re into finding patterns and making predictions, here are some enticing topics:

• A study of a major city’s livability index. Choose a city and assess whether it’s well-designed or not.
• A quantitative study of biofilms in technology. Discuss methods of using biofilms in technology. Include a list of recent advances and new tools.
• A quantitative study of teachers’ perception of online learning. This topic prompts you to use an evaluation scale. 
• An assessment of a link between product reviews and intention to purchase. Study the effect online reviews have on potential customers.
• Immigration and its connection to crime statistics. Analyze data on immigration to the US and the number of violent crimes. Determine the relationship between the two phenomena. 
• The relationship between obesity and occupation. Assess the BMIs of participants of different professions. Then, test the results for a correlation and discuss its implications.
• A relationship between nurses’ knowledge of diabetes management and patient satisfaction. Assess the nurses’ knowledge about diabetes and compare the results with patient satisfaction scores. Thus, you can determine if expertise translates into better care. 
• A study of the economic impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on SMEs financial operations. With this qualitative dissertation proposal in business and management, choose a small company. Analyze its financial data pre- and post-pandemic. Include a discussion of financial management during pandemics.
• A study of millennials’ pet ownership. Determine the percentage of millennials who have pets. Compare these patterns with previous generations. 
• Economic growth and urbanization. Compare the empirical data about the state of economics and the number of people living in cities.
• Determine how urbanization affects bacterial community compositions.
• The economic impact of immigration on SMEs.
• Study the rates of crimes in the US in relation to nonviolent crimes.
• How do various teaching styles affect learning? 
• Compare overconfidence in CEOs of SMEs and corporations.
• How does inclusive language influence social behavior?
• Assess consumers’ satisfaction with online banking in your area. 
• Evaluate crude oil price prediction methods. 
• Is there a link between smartphone use and mental illness?
• Correlation between eyewitness identification and memory.
• What are the attitudes towards AI development among women?
• Determine the rates of cybercrimes since the 1990s.
• A study of the police brutality cases across the US in the last decade.
• Correlation between education level and employment.
• The presence of sleep disorders in mental illnesses.
• Assess the attitudes towards medical care in the US.
• Determine the correlation between eating disorders and physical illness. 
• Study the rates of cyberbullying among minority students. 
• How various religious groups influence politics : a game-theoretical approach.
• Does regular exercise decrease symptoms of depression in adults? 

Dissertation Topics in Educational Leadership

Educational leadership is a science focused on helping students to achieve their academic goals. It includes the motivation of staff and learners, improvement of educational programs, and creation of a healthy, productive environment in institutions. Want to dedicate your research to it? Take a look at these topic samples:

• Fatigue among American medical students. Medical students often need to memorize and analyze big portions of information. That is why many of them don’t sleep enough, get tired quickly, and find it hard to concentrate. What can be done about it?
• How did the COVID-19 pandemic and distance learning affect students’ motivation? Online education has multiple benefits and drawbacks. Some students might find it easier to get access to various textbooks online. Others want to return to campus. What is their motivation? 
• Creating better learning conditions on campus: the challenges in 2022. With the increasing speed of technological progress, it is hard to catch up with the latest innovations. Explore them in your dissertation. For instance, you can focus on facilities for students with special needs. 
• How can we enhance discipline among first-year students on campus? For some younger students, it is hard to get used to living on their own. They need to accept new responsibilities, find time to take care of themselves, and organize their lives. How can we help them?
• Development of soft skills among undergraduate students. For future employers, soft skills are as important as hard skills. That is why colleges need to pay attention to soft skills such as time management, communication, and creativity. 
• The efficiency of workshops for enhancing students’ creativity.
• Do nutrition habits influence the studying process?
• The importance of mental health care in high school.
• What leadership styles are the most efficient in college communities? 
• Does the implementation of early childhood education lead to further academic success?
• What is the role of school counseling among teenagers?
• What psychological factors make students drop out of college? 
• Developing leadership qualities among MBA students. 
• How to help college athletes to cope with psychological and physical pressure.
• Ways of reducing anxiety levels among criminology students.
• Helping students to choose their majors and find a career path.
• How to enhance communication between higher education administration and students?
• Motivating students to succeed after graduation .
• Why do we need psychology classes in high school?
• How can we prevent the bullying of Latin American students in middle and high school?

✅ How to Choose a Thesis Topic: Main Steps

In case you have no idea where to start from, here is a quick guideline on how to choose a Ph.D. thesis topic:

We hope this article helped you to choose a suitable topic for your dissertation. We wish you good luck with your research!

Learn more on this topic:

• Dissertation Critique: Examples, How-to Guide
• The Ultimate Guide to Writing an Outstanding Dissertation
• How to Write an Abstract: Brief Steps and Structure Example

✏️ Dissertation FAQ

While working on a dissertation, you might deal with several types of research. The main research types are primary, qualitative, quantitative, and legal. In any case, it’s the way in which a researcher studies the subject using a particular methodology.

First of all, make sure that you are personally fascinated by the subject. This is essential for any thesis, be it master’s or an undergraduate dissertation. Besides, make sure the topic is feasible and hasn’t been studies much.

A good dissertation title is the one that represents the subject under study. To state which aspect is being studied is also important. The title should include neither a hypothesis nor a conclusion: think about it as “spoilers”—nobody likes them.

Just like any paper, a great dissertation is the one that is well-organized. The topic of the paper should correspond to the title. The text should have a cohesive structure with a definite introduction, argumentative main part, and a logical conclusion.

🔗 References

• Dissertation Topics 1961-Present: Rudgers University
• Completed Thesis and Dissertation Topics: University of Florida
• Current Legal Topics: Library of Congress
• The Right Dissertation Topic: Academics.com
• Days and Nights at the Museum…there’s a Dissertation for that!: Proquest.com
• Dissertation Titles: University of Michigan
• How to Pick a Master’s Thesis Topic: Medium.com
• How to Come Up With a Thesis Topic: Gradschools.com
• How to Choose Your Thesis Topic: Central European University
• How Do I Choose a Thesis Topic?: Grad School Hub
• Senior Thesis Topics: Hamilton College
• Arizona Research Topics: Arizona State Library
• Dissertation Proposal: Bartleby.com
• Dissertation Guide Essay
• How to Start Your Dissertation: 10 Top Tips: Studential.com
• How to Write a Dissertation or Bedtime Reading for People Who do not Have Time to Sleep: Purdue University
• A Step-By-Step Guide to Writing a Ph.D. Dissertation: ThoughtCo
• Dissertations Guide from The University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
• Developing a Thesis Statement: University of Wisconsin Madison
• Thesis/Dissertation Writing and Editing, Formatting, and Defending: Massey University
• Business Management Research Topics: Top Universities
• Law Topics: Law.com
• Psychology Topics: APA
• Marketing Topics: Marketing Profs
• Topics: History.com
• Computer Science: Encyclopedia Britannica
• Humanities: Research Topics Ideas: University of Michigan-Flint
• Art Topics: Art UK
• Topics: American Association for the Advancement of Science
• Nurses Topics: Medscape
• Architecture: Research Topics: University of Washington
• Topics in Geography: Research Gate
• New Topics in Sociology: University of Toronto
• Business Management Topics: The University of Maine
• Qualitative Case Study: Science.gov
• All Topics: Science News
• Criminology: Science Direct
• Topics in Literature: Sheridan College: Libguides
• Advanced Computer Science Topics: The University of Texas at Austin
• Application of Computer Techniques in Medicine: NIH
• Important Leadership and Management Topics: WHO
• Quantitative Research: University of Southern California
• Action Research: Brown University
• 10 Traits of Successful School Leaders: University of San Diego
• HIST 280 Topics: Texas A&M University
• The Relationship Between Burnout, Depression, and Anxiety: Frontiers In
• College of Nursing: University of Missouri–St. Louis
• All Topics: Educause
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9 things you should consider before embarking on a PhD

June 23, 2021 | 15 min read

By Andy Greenspon

The ideal research program you envision is not what it appears to be

Editor's Note:  When Andy Greenspon wrote this article, he was a first-year student in Applied Physics at Harvard. Now he has completed his PhD. — Alison Bert, June 23, 2021

If you are planning to apply for a PhD program, you're probably getting advice from dozens of students, professors, administrators your parents and the Internet. Sometimes it's hard to know which advice to focus on and what will make the biggest difference in the long-run. So before you go back to daydreaming about the day you accept that Nobel Prize, here are nine things you should give serious thought to. One or more of these tips may save you from anguish and help you make better decisions as you embark on that path to a PhD.

1. Actively seek out information about PhD programs.

Depending on your undergraduate institution, there may be more or less support to guide you in selecting a PhD program – but there is generally much less than when you applied to college.

On the website of my physics department, I found a page written by one of my professors, which listed graduate school options in physics and engineering along with resources to consult. As far as I know, my career center did not send out much information about PhD programs. Only after applying to programs did I find out that my undergraduate website had a link providing general information applicable to most PhD programs. This is the kind of information that is available all over the Internet.

So don't wait for your career center or department to lay out a plan for you. Actively seek it out from your career center counselors, your professors, the Internet — and especially from alumni from your department who are in or graduated from your desired PhD program. First-hand experiences will almost always trump the knowledge you get second-hand.

2. A PhD program is not simply a continuation of your undergraduate program.

Many students don't internalize this idea until they have jumped head-first into a PhD program. The goal is not to complete an assigned set of courses as in an undergraduate program, but to develop significant and original research in your area of expertise. You will have required courses to take, especially if you do not have a master's degree yet, but these are designed merely to compliment your research and provide a broad and deep knowledge base to support you in your research endeavors.

At the end of your PhD program, you will be judged on your research, not on how well you did in your courses. Grades are not critical as long as you maintain the minimum GPA requirement, and you should not spend too much time on courses at the expense of research projects. Graduate courses tend to be designed to allow you to take away what you will find useful to your research more than to drill a rigid set of facts and techniques into your brain.

3. Take a break between your undergraduate education and a PhD program.

You are beginning your senior year of college, and your classmates are asking you if you are applying to graduate school. You think to yourself, "Well, I like studying this topic and the associated research, and I am going to need a PhD if I want to be a professor or do independent research, so I might as well get it done as soon as possible." But are you certain about the type of research you want to do? Do you know where you want to live for the next five years? Are you prepared to stay in an academic environment for nine years straight?

Many people burn out or end up trudging through their PhD program without a thought about what lies outside of or beyond it. A break of a year or two or even more may be necessary to gain perspective. If all you know is an academic environment, how can you compare it to anything else? Many people take a job for five or more years before going back to get their PhD. It is true though that the longer you stay out of school, the harder it is to go back to an academic environment with lower pay and a lack of set work hours. A one-year break will give you six months or so after graduation before PhD applications are due. A two-year gap might be ideal to provide time to identify your priorities in life and explore different areas of research without having school work or a thesis competing for your attention.

Getting research experience outside of a degree program can help focus your interests and give you a leg up on the competition when you finally decide to apply. It can also help you determine whether you will enjoy full-time research or if you might prefer an alternative career path that still incorporates science, for example, in policy, consulting or business — or a hybrid research job that combines scientific and non-scientific skills.

I will be forever grateful that I chose to do research in a non-academic environment for a year between my undergraduate and PhD programs. It gave me the chance to get a feel for doing nothing but research for a full year. Working at the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory in the Space Division, I was the manager of an optics lab, performing spectroscopic experiments on rocks and minerals placed in a vacuum chamber. While my boss determined the overall experimental design, I was able to make my own suggestions for experiments and use my own discretion in how to perform them. I presented this research at two national conferences as well — a first for me. I was also able to learn about other research being performed there, determine which projects excited me the most, and thus narrow down my criteria for a PhD program.

4. Your current area of study does not dictate what you have to study in graduate school.

You might be studying the function and regulation of membrane proteins or doing a computational analysis of the conductivity of different battery designs, but that doesn't mean your PhD project must revolve around similar projects. The transition between college or another research job to a PhD program is one of the main transitions in your life when it is perfectly acceptable to completely change research areas.

If you are doing computation, you may want to switch to lab-based work or vice versa. If you are working in biology but have always had an interest in photonics research, now is the time to try it out. You may find that you love the alternative research and devote your PhD to it, you might hate it and fall back on your previous area of study — or you may even discover a unique topic that incorporates both subjects.

One of the best aspects of the PhD program is that you can make the research your own. Remember, the answer to the question "Why are you doing this research?" should not be "Well, because it's what I've been working on for the past few years already."While my undergraduate research was in atomic physics, I easily transitioned into applied physics and materials science for my PhD program and was able to apply much of what I learned as an undergraduate to my current research. If you are moving from the sciences to a non-STEM field such as social sciences or humanities, this advice can still apply, though the transition is a bit more difficult and more of a permanent commitment.

5. Make sure the PhD program has a variety of research options, and learn about as many research groups as possible in your first year.

Even if you believe you are committed to one research area, you may find that five years of such work is not quite what you expected. As such, you should find a PhD program where the professors are not all working in the same narrowly focused research area. Make sure there are at least three professors working on an array of topics you could imagine yourself working on.

In many graduate programs, you are supposed to pick a research advisor before even starting. But such arrangements often do not work out, and you may be seeking a new advisor before you know it. That's why many programs give students one or two semesters to explore different research areas before choosing a permanent research advisor.

In your first year, you should explore the research of a diverse set of groups. After touring their labs, talking to the students, or sitting in on group meetings, you may find that this group is the right one for you.

In addition, consider the importance of who your research advisor will be. This will be the person you interact with regularly for five straight years and who will have a crucial influence on your research. Do you like their advising style? Does their personality mesh with yours? Can you get along? Of course, the research your advisor works on is critical, but if you have large disagreements at every meeting or do not get helpful advice on how to proceed with your research, you may not be able to succeed. At the very least, you must be able to handle your advisor's management of the lab and advising style if you are going to be productive in your work. The Harvard program I enrolled in has professors working on research spanning from nanophotonics to energy materials and biophysics, covering my wide range of interests. By spending time in labs and offices informally chatting with graduate students, I found an advisor whose personality and research interests meshed very well with me. Their genuine enthusiasm for this advisor and their excitement when talking about their research was the best input I could have received.

6. Location is more important than you think — but name recognition is not.

The first consideration in choosing a PhD program should be, "Is there research at this university that I am passionate about?" After all, you will have to study this topic in detail for four or more years. But when considering the location of a university, your first thought should not be, "I'm going to be in the lab all the time, so what does it matter if I'm by the beach, in a city, or in the middle of nowhere." Contrary to popular belief, you will have a life outside of the lab, and you will have to be able to live with it for four or more years. Unlike when you were an undergraduate, your social and extracurricular life will revolve less around the university community, so the environment of the surrounding area is important. Do you need a city atmosphere to be productive? Or is your ideal location surrounded by forests and mountains or by a beach? Is being close to your family important? Imagine what it will be like living in the area during the times you are not doing research; consider what activities will you do and how often will you want to visit family.

While many of the PhD programs that accepted me had research that truly excited me, the only place I could envision living for five or more years was Boston, as the city I grew up near and whose environment and culture I love, and to be close to my family.

While location is more important than you think, the reputation and prestige of the university is not. In graduate school, the reputation of the individual department you are joining — and sometimes even the specific research group you work in — are more important. There, you will develop research collaborations and professional connections that will be crucial during your program and beyond. When searching for a job after graduation, other scientists will look at your specific department, the people you have worked with and the research you have done.

At the Asgard Irish Pub in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Andy Greenspon talks with fellow graduate students from Harvard and MIT at an Ask for Evidence workshop organized by Sense About Science. He grew up near Boston and chose to go to graduate school there.

7. Those time management skills you developed in college? Develop them further.

After surviving college, you may think you have mastered the ability to squeeze in your coursework, extracurricular activities and even some sleep. In a PhD program, time management reaches a whole new level. You will not only have lectures to attend and homework to do. You will have to make time for your research, which will include spending extended periods of time in the lab, analyzing data, and scheduling time with other students to collaborate on research.

Also, you will most likely have to teach for a number of semesters, and you will want to attend any seminar that may be related to your research or that just peaks your interest. To top it all off, you will still want to do many of those extracurricular activities you did as an undergraduate. While in the abstract, it may seem simple enough to put this all into your calendar and stay organized, you will find quickly enough that the one hour you scheduled for a task might take two or three hours, putting you behind on everything else for the rest of the day or forcing you to cut other planned events. Be prepared for schedules to go awry, and be willing to sacrifice certain activities. For some, this might be sleep; for others, it might be an extracurricular activity or a few seminars they were hoping to attend. In short, don't panic when things don't go according to plan; anticipate possible delays and be ready to adapt.

8. Expect to learn research skills on the fly – or take advantage of the training your department or career center offers.

This may be the first time you will have to write fellowship or grant proposals, write scientific papers, attend conferences, present your research to others, or even peer-review scientific manuscripts. From my experience, very few college students or even PhD students receive formal training on how to perform any of these tasks. Usually people follow by example. But this is not always easy and can be quite aggravating sometimes. So seek out talks or interactive programs offered by your department or career center. The effort will be well worth it when you realize you've become quite adept at quickly and clearly explaining your research to others and at outlining scientific papers and grant proposals. Alternatively, ask a more experienced graduate student or your advisor for advice on these topics. In addition, be prepared for a learning curve when learning all the procedures and processes of the group you end up working in. There may be many new protocols to master, whether they involve synthesizing chemicals, growing bacterial cells, or aligning mirrors on an optical table. In addition, the group may use programming languages or data analysis software you are unfamiliar with. Don't get discouraged but plan to spend extra effort getting used to these procedures and systems. After working with them regularly, they will soon become second nature. When I first started my job at Johns Hopkins, I felt overwhelmed by all the intricacies of the experiment and definitely made a few mistakes, including breaking a number of optical elements. But by the end of my year there, I had written an updated protocol manual for the modifications I had made to the experimental procedures and was the "master" passing on my knowledge to the next person taking the job.

9. There are no real breaks.

In a stereotypical "9-to-5" job, when the workday is over or the weekend arrives, you can generally forget about your work. And a vacation provides an even longer respite. But in a PhD program, your schedule becomes "whenever you find time to get your work done." You might be in the lab during regular work hours or you might be working until 10 p.m. or later to finish an experiment. And the only time you might have available to analyze data might be at 1 a.m. Expect to work during part of the weekend, too. Graduate students do go on vacations but might still have to do some data analysis or a literature search while away.

As a PhD student, it might be hard to stop thinking about the next step in an experiment or that data sitting on your computer or that paper you were meaning to start. While I imagine some students can bifurcate their mind between graduate school life and everything else, that's quite hard for many of us to do. No matter what, my research lies somewhere in the back of my head. In short, your schedule is much more flexible as a PhD student, but as a result, you never truly take a break from your work.

While this may seem like a downer, remember that you should have passion for the research you work on (most of the time), so you should be excited to think up new experiments or different ways to consider that data you have collected. Even when I'm lying in bed about to fall asleep, I am sometimes ruminating about aspects of my experiment I could modify or what information I could do a literature search on to gain new insights. A PhD program is quite the commitment and rarely lives up to expectations – but it is well worth the time and effort you will spend for something that truly excites you.

Contributor

Andy greenspon.

Considering a PhD or already doing one? Our in-depth guides explain everything you need to know about PhDs, from where to find one, to what they involve and how to secure funding.

Types of Doctorates

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• CAREER COLUMN
• 06 November 2018

Twenty things I wish I’d known when I started my PhD

• Lucy A. Taylor 0

Lucy A. Taylor earned her zoology PhD from the University of Oxford, UK. She is now a postdoctoral researcher at Save the Elephants in Nairobi, Kenya, and a visiting researcher in the Department of Zoology at Oxford.

You can also search for this author in PubMed   Google Scholar

Starting a PhD can be tough. Looking back, there are many things I wish I’d known at the beginning. Here, I have curated a list of advice from current PhD students and postdoctoral researchers from the Department of Zoology at my institution, the University of Oxford, UK, to aid new graduate students.

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This is an article from the Nature Careers Community, a place for Nature readers to share their professional experiences and advice. Guest posts are encouraged. You can get in touch with the editor at [email protected].

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Choosing the Right Path in Advanced Healthcare Education: Master’s or Doctorate?

If you already have a master’s degree in your healthcare profession, should you continue on for a terminal degree? Understanding the distinctions between a Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree, a Master's degree, and a PhD is crucial for making an informed decision. As a graduate school focused exclusively in the health professions, we have the expertise to help you decide what degree might be best for your career and life goals.

Understanding the DHSc Degree

A Doctor of Health Science (DHSc) degree is designed for healthcare practitioners and leaders who aim to enhance their knowledge, assume leadership roles, and drive innovation in the healthcare industry. You also may want to obtain a doctoral degree before your professional organization (e.g., PA) mandates an entry-level doctorate, to compete with peers or peer professions in similar roles, or to prepare for entry into academia. The DHSc degree focuses on the practical application of theoretical knowledge, preparing graduates to address real-world challenges in healthcare settings.

Masters or Doctorate: Key Differences

Master's Degree in Healthcare

A Master's degree in healthcare, such as a Master of Public Health (MPH) or a Master of Health Administration (MHA), is typically pursued by those looking to gain specialized knowledge and skills in specific areas of healthcare. These programs usually take two years to complete and are designed to provide a deep dive into particular fields.

• Shorter Duration : Typically completed in 1-2 years.
• Specialized Knowledge: Focuses on specific areas like public health, administration, or clinical practice.
• Immediate Applicability : Often provides skills that can be directly applied to current job roles.
• Limited Scope : May not cover the broad range of topics necessary for high-level leadership roles.
• Career Advancement : While valuable, may not open as many doors for advancement as a doctorate.
• Professional Requirements : Your professional healthcare organization may require a doctoral level degree to practice in your field.

Doctorate in Health Science (DHSc)

A DHSc degree, on the other hand, is designed to prepare healthcare professionals for advanced leadership roles, research, and teaching positions. This program is ideal for those who wish to combine clinical expertise with leadership and research capabilities. The program is not a research doctorate program and does not involve a dissertation.  

• Comprehensive Curriculum : Covers a wide range of topics, including leadership, research, and clinical practice.
• Career Advancement : Opens up higher-level positions in clinical practice, administration, academia, and research.
• Leadership Focus : Emphasizes skills necessary for managing healthcare organizations and leading multidisciplinary teams.
• Higher Cost: More expensive than a master's degree.

DHSc Degree or PhD: Which is Right for You?

PhD in Health Sciences

A PhD in Health Sciences is a research-intensive degree aimed at those who wish to pursue a career in academia or advanced research. This degree focuses on creating new knowledge and contributing to the academic field through original research.

• Research Focus : Ideal for those interested in conducting original research and contributing to academic knowledge.
• Academic Careers: Prepares graduates for tenure-track positions and advanced research roles.
• Funding Opportunities : Often includes opportunities for research grants and fellowships.
• Lengthy Commitment : Typically takes 4-7 years to complete and often require in-person training or time away from one’s professional career to complete
• Narrow Focus : May not provide the practical skills needed for leadership roles in clinical or administrative settings.
• Limited Immediate Applicability : The research focus might not translate directly to practical applications in the healthcare industry.

DHSc Degree

In contrast, the DHSc degree is tailored for healthcare professionals who wish to integrate clinical practice with leadership and research. It balances theoretical knowledge with practical application, making it a versatile choice for those looking to advance their careers in various healthcare settings.

• Balanced Curriculum : Combines leadership, clinical practice, and research.
• Practical Application : Designed to address real-world healthcare challenges.
• Versatility : Prepares graduates for roles in advanced clinical practice, administration, clinical leadership, and education.
• Less Research-Intensive: While it includes research and quality improvement components, it is not as focused on original research as a PhD.

Deciding between a Master's, a DHSc degree, and a PhD in healthcare depends on your career goals, interests, and the type of impact you wish to make. The DHSc degree stands out for its balanced approach, combining leadership, clinical practice, and research, making it a versatile and practical choice for advancing your career.

The question of "masters vs. doctorate" and "is a PhD/doctorate worth it" ultimately comes down to your professional aspirations. If you are looking to enhance your clinical expertise while gaining leadership and research skills, the DHSc degree offers unique advantages. And with MGH Institute of Health Professions offering a top-tier DHSc program , you can be assured of receiving a high-quality education  founded on principles of interprofessional collaboration and practice in the delivery of healthcare and health professions education.

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The Australian Olympian 'Raygun' went viral for her breaking moves. Now she's defending them.

• Rachael Gunn, known as "Raygun," is an Australian B-girl (break-girl) who competed at the Olympics .
• She lost three battles in the round-robin part of the competition, but her moves went viral online.
• Gunn and sporting organizations are speaking out about harassment and misinformation after her performance.

Breaking made its debut at the 2024 Paris Olympics — and while she didn't earn a spot on the podium, the Australian breaker Rachael Gunn, known as Raygun, has received plenty of recognition online.

Gunn is a 36-year-old lecturer at Macquarie University in Sydney whose research focuses on the "cultural politics of breaking," according to her faculty profile .

But Gunn's time on the Olympic stage was short-lived. The B-girl was eliminated during the round-robin stage of the women's breaking competition, losing in one-on-one battles to the United States' Logistx, France's Syssy, and Lithuania's Nicka.

Raygun didn't earn a point in any of those battles, but as clips of her performance spread online, she got something else: instant meme status.

Here's what you need to know about Raygun now that the breaking competition is over.

Raygun is an academic who studies breaking — and she competes internationally

Before Gunn went to the Olympics, she approached the 2024 Games from an academic perspective.

With her coauthor, Lucas Marie, Gunn published an article in the June 2023 issue of Global Hip Hop Studies titled "The Australian breaking scene and the Olympic Games: The possibilities and politics of sportification." The article examined how the Olympics' institutionalization would affect the Australian breaking scene.

Alongside her academic career, Gunn is a competing B-girl. But before she got into breaking, she had experience with ballroom dancing, jazz, hip-hop, salsa, and tap, The Australian Women's Weekly reported. Gunn told The Sydney Morning Herald that her husband, Samuel Free, introduced her to breaking in 2008 while they were at university. Free is still her coach, she said.

Gunn told Women's Weekly that breaking "hooked" her in 2012, around the time that she began her doctoral program in cultural studies. She began competing more seriously in 2018 and eventually set her sights on the Olympics.

According to her university profile, she was the top-ranked B-girl of the Australian Breaking Association in 2020 and 2021, representing the country at the World DanceSport Federation Breaking Championships in 2021, 2022, and 2023. She also won the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships in 2023.

"My bag always has two main things: It's like, my knee pads and my laptop," Gunn said on the podcast " The Female Athlete Project ." "Because I need my knee-pads to break. And then, yeah, just do some emails quickly. Or like, do some revisions on a chapter I submitted, or copyedit this article I did, or moderate those grades."

The athlete also told the Herald that she preferred to wear "baggy jeans and a baggy T-shirt" while breaking.

"I like the heaviness they bring," Gunn said. "Maybe it's my background in hip-hop, but having weight closer to the ground works for me, gets me in the right headspace."

Raygun's performances at the Olympics sparked memes and criticism

Raygun took the stage at the Olympics wearing a tracksuit in Australia's green and gold, breaking out moves that included hopping like a kangaroo. Her performances attracted attention online and memes that compared her moves to, among other things, dancing children.

Related stories

The fact that RayGun has a Ph.D in breakdancing is its own commentary on academia vs real world expertise. https://t.co/pQcL8HzAW9 — BioTechSnack (@SnackBioTech) August 9, 2024

me forcing my mom to watch the dance i made up in the pool pic.twitter.com/zbtwEFjpTG — kenzi (@kenzianidiot) August 9, 2024

Judges made the right call here because what was that move lol #Olympics #Breakdancing pic.twitter.com/sXAs9AdHjX — MⓞNK BLOODY P👑s (@MonkeyBlood) August 9, 2024

But some critics argued that Raygun's performance didn't represent breaking — a sport that will not return to the 2028 Games in Los Angeles.

Breaking came from Black and brown communities in the Bronx in the 1970s. Malik Dixon, an African American man who lives in Australia, told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation that Gunn came off as "somebody who was toying with the culture" during a significant moment for the sport.

(You can watch the 2024 Olympic events — including Raygun's full performance — on Peacock.)

Raygun qualified for the Olympics through the Oceania Breaking Championships

There were three ways to qualify for breaking at the Olympics, which the World Dance Sport Federation (WDSF) outlined in April 2022: at the WDSF championship in Belgium in September 2023, in a continental qualifier, or in an Olympic qualifier series held in 2024. Gunn qualified regionally by winning the WDSF Oceania Breaking Championships, which were held in Sydney in October 2023.

AUSBreaking organized the Oceania Breaking Championships, according to the WDSF .

AUSBreaking posted on Instagram about the Oceanic Olympic qualifying event on Instagram in September 2023, announcing in a September 25, 2023 post that competitor registration was open. The panel of judges was composed of 10 breakers from multiple countries, led by head judge Katsu One of Japan.

Per the Sydney Morning Herald, Gunn was the highest-scoring B-girl on day one of the championships. She won two battles on the second day to secure her title and a qualifying spot in the 2024 Olympic Games in Paris.

AUSBreaking released a statement on Instagram Monday about the selection process, saying that the qualifying event was "open to all interested participants in the Oceanic region," conducted in line with WDSF standards, and adjudicated by an international panel that used the same judging system as the 2024 Olympics.

"Ultimately, Rachael Gunn and Jeff Dunne emerged as the top performers in exactly the same process, securing their spots to represent Australia in Paris," the statement reads. "Their selection was based solely on their performance in their battles on that day."

Raygun and sporting organizations have spoken out about misinformation after her performance

Claims have circulated online that Gunn unfairly obtained her spot in the games. Posts online, as reported by the Australian Associated Press , claimed that Gunn's husband was one of the judges in her qualifying event. One petition hosted on Change.org claimed that she established the governing body that ran the selection process. That petition was eventually removed after it was placed under review, per an archived snapshot .

A representative for Change.org confirmed to Business Insider on Thursday that the petition had been flagged for misinformation, reviewed per the platform's community guidelines, and removed from the platform.

"Change.org maintains strict guidelines against content that constitutes harassment, bullying, or spreading false information. We take such matters seriously and remove any content that violates these standards to protect our users and uphold the integrity of our community," the rep said in an email statement to BI.

Despite the online claims, Free was not one of the judges at Gunn's qualifying event. And Gunn did not establish AUSBreaking. The organization said in a statement that it was founded by its president Lowe Napalan in 2019, and "at no point" was Gunn "the founder, an executive, committee member, or in any position of leadership."

The Australian Olympic Commission (AOC) also released a statement condemning the Change.org petition, and demanding its removal. It also said that by winning the Oceania championship, Gunn was "legitimately nominated" by DanceSport Australia to the AOC to represent Australia at the Olympics.

"The petition has stirred up public hatred without any factual basis. It's appalling," AOC chief executive officer Matt Carroll said in the statement. "No athlete who has represented their country at the Olympic Games should be treated in this way and we are supporting Dr. Gunn and Anna Meares at this time."

In a video uploaded to her personal Instagram account, Gunn said that she was "honored" to have represented Australia and breaking during its Olympic debut. But the "hate" that followed was "devastating," she said. When it came to misinformation around her qualification, Gunn referred viewers to previously issued statements from the AOC and AUSBreaking.

Raygun and breaking judges have defended her Olympic performance

At a press conference on Saturday, the day after Gunn's competition, Anna Meares, the head of the Australian team, responded to criticism of Gunn online.

"I love Rachael, and I think that what has occurred on social media with trolls and keyboard warriors, and taking those comments and giving them airtime, has been really disappointing," Meares said, per ESPN .

"Raygun is an absolutely loved member of this Olympic team. She has represented the Olympic team, the Olympic spirit with great enthusiasm. And I absolutely love her courage," Meares continued. "I love her character, and I feel very disappointed for her, that she has come under the attack that she has."

During a press conference on Sunday, Martin Gilian, the Olympic breaking head judge, defended Gunn's performance, saying breaking was "all about originality" and representing your roots, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation reported.

"This is exactly what Raygun was doing," Gilian said. "She got inspired by her surroundings, which in this case, for example, was a kangaroo."

Gunn said during the Saturday press conference that "all of my moves are original," ESPN reported. She told The Guardian that her biggest strength was "creativity."

"I was never going to beat these girls on what they do best, the dynamic and the power moves, so I wanted to move differently, be artistic and creative," Gunn told The Guardian, "because how many chances do you get that in a lifetime to do that on an international stage. I was always the underdog and wanted to make my mark in a different way."

This story was originally published on August 12, 2024, and has been updated to include the latest information and statements from those involved.

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