Finding a topic

I am often asked- how do I find a topic for my dissertation? This is a difficult question to answer. What are you interested in? Make a list- what topics have you written papers on during your education? What intrigues you? Take a look at your bookshelves, what topic areas keep reappearing?

Once you have a list of several topics (use a research journal, so you can keep track of your progress) then go to the Walden library and start doing some searches in these areas, include the search term "review". You will bring up some literature reviews in the area. Locate the most current ones and read these. What sounds interesting? Which topics suggest areas that need more research?

You should now be narrowing your subject. Go back to the library and see what has been done on these topics. Also, take a look at Amazon or other book site and see what books have been written in these areas.

Now stop and just think about each of the areas you have identified. You should now have a pretty good idea as to what needs more research and the areas that sound interesting. My advice is to pick one and start digging into the literature, look for studies that are related to the area that you identified as needing more research. As you read, think about how you could address this need. Write down ideas.

Keep playing with the ideas and reading literature. Talk to some faculty and/or experts in the field and run your ideas by them. Listen to their input, what are they identifying as problems? Write them down. Talk to faculty about issues that they foresee with the IRB (ethics board), you can even write the IRB an email outlining your ideas and get their input <irb@waldenu.edu>.

No, you cannot escape reading literature. It is an essential part of research and you must understand the background and history of the topic area. You can do this, relax and don’t put pressure on yourself. Take it one step at a time, keep good notes, talk to people. You are not alone and there are many people willing to help. 

Next time we will consider – what are you going to do with your doctorate? Do you have an issue or a question that you would like me to discuss in a future post? Would you like to be a guest writer? Send me your ideas! leann.stadtlander@waldenu.edu