Choosing a dissertation topic is a critical step in working toward a Doctor of Philosophy (PhD). Among the most important factors to consider as you try to choose the best dissertation topic is your interest in your topic. In addition to that, you may do well to choose a topic that is neither too narrow nor too broad. In most cases, it also helps to choose an original topic, or at least a different angle on an already-explored topic. You may also prefer to choose a dissertation topic that all of the members of the dissertation committee support.
One of the most important parts of choosing a dissertation topic is selecting one that really interests you. This is critical, as you will likely spend more than a year working on it. If you lose your excitement for your topic early on, completing it will likely become a chore. Sometimes people choose dissertation topics that their professors are covering and then feel lost once they move to another topic. The same may hold true when a person chooses a topic based on a professor's interest and then comes to feel that it is too complicated, or even boring, later.
When you’re trying to choose the best dissertation topic, you may do well to select a topic that allows you to focus your dissertation without being too tightly focused. It’s important for your dissertation to be focused, so you‘ll be able to finish working on it on time. If your topic has too many points of distraction, you may find it difficult to complete your work and provide the appropriate level of depth. At the same time, you’ll likely want to avoid topics that are so focused that you won’t have enough material to explore.
Originality is also important when you’re trying to choose the best dissertation topic. Often, doctoral students are expected to come up with unique topics or different angles on a new topic. For example, while you’re reading about a topic that interests you, you may find that you have unanswered questions that spark your interest. You may decide to seek the answers to those questions through your dissertation research.
You may also consider the interests of those on the dissertation committee when you’re working to choose the best dissertation topic. If you choose a topic that the dissertation committee members disagree on, you could have trouble getting it approved. Getting feedback may not only help as you attempt to choose a topic, but also as you work toward completing and defending your dissertation.
