selecting the research problem for your doctoral dissertation
DESCRIPTION
Criteria for choosing the most promising topic and research problem for your dissertation is presented. This presentation was designed for DoctoralNet.com free conferences.TRANSCRIPT
How to Select the Most Promising Research Problem for Your Dissertation
Topic General area under study
Problem What needs to be studied under a specific situa5on
Three Concepts to Think About
Ques0on What to answer or test
Concepts to Know
Problem situa.on The context that has called a researcher’s a8en0on within the topic
Research problem What a researcher thinks needs to be studied within the problem situa0on
Problem statement Specific descrip0on of what intrigues a researcher. Generally speaking, it includes briefly what it is already known about the problem situa0on and that establishes the context from which the research problem emerges, what is unknown and deserves to be studied – the research problem-‐ and why it is important to know about that problem
Purpose statement What a researcher intends to find out or do in a study
Research ques.on What a researcher specifically wants to answer – or test-‐ conduc0ng a study
1. List topics that interest you 2. Evaluate each topic 3. Iden0fy more than one problem for each topic 4. Evaluate each problem 5. Choose one main problem to work with and another alterna0ve problem as plan B
STEPS FOR SELECTING A RESEARCH PROBLEM
List of Topics for Reading Learning/ Instruction
Build a list of topics that interest you
• Effective reading instruction • Brain and reading learning • Reading comprehension • Learning disabilities and reading instruction • Reading learning and digital natives • The role of motivation in reading learning • Reading learning and technology • Assessment of reading learning • Teacher education and reading instruction • English language learners and reading instruction • Phonemic awareness and reading learning • Reading and 21st schools
Evaluate Each Topic
Note about manageable: Could you manage the topic in terms of its scope? Is it not too broad or narrow? How do you know if you have a manageable topic? Generally speaking, you have a manageable topic when you are able to state clearly a) who is associated with the topic; b) what specific aspect of the topic interests you; c) what loca0on is associated to the topic; d) why the topic is important (its implica0ons from the knowledge, social, legal, etc point of view); and e) what period of 0me is associated to the topic. Of course, all criteria may not apply to every topic.
Identify Problems for Each Selected Topic
Remember that that you first think of what a8racts your a8en0on because it is not working properly within the topic (problem situa0on). Then, you reflect on what you consider necessary to research in order to address what is not working (research problem).
Evaluate Each IdentiJied Problem
What are your most promising research problems?
Finally, be as pragmatic as possible. You have to finish your dissertation in an established period of time; therefore, choose a research problem that lets you finish on time. Leave complicated ones for future studies and always have another very related problem ready (plan B) in case you need it
1. Do you really like them? 2. Do you think the selecting
process is suitable for doctoral students to have a strong basis to begin their dissertations?
3. What would you suggest to refine the process?
Now you know how to
1. Choose appropriate topics for developing your dissertation
2. Select the most promising research problem for your dissertation
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