Dissertation proposal writing is the first step which includes subject area, research questions, and methods for collecting and presenting data. A dissertation proposal can help you communicate with your supervisor the aims and objectives of your research and methods. Your supervisor, then, will critically analyse your proposal and suggest alterations to methodologies and different approaches to get the stronger results. Here are the tips for dissertation proposal writing.
Select a Topic
You have to undoubtedly read a lot around your subject area to select a topic of your interest, and the best way to begin with the topic selection is noting down your favourite topics related to your subject area for your dissertation proposal. Before finalising a topic on which you will conduct your research later, you need to find out whether the internet has enough information or not. This is important because you need plenty of research material to conduct your research smoothly.
Look Out for its Popularity
Don’t choose your topic hastily as you may find it difficult to work with this in later stages. You should be extremely careful while selecting a topic. You’re not alone who is searching on the same area; there are other scholars as well. Whatever the topic you choose for your dissertation proposal, you must ensure that other scholars haven’t already worked on it. But what if that topic is very popular, and research has been conducted already? Look for a fresh angle. Finding a new approach to discuss the same topic will captivate your research committee.
Narrow Your Focus
Your research problem shouldn’t be too narrow and too broad otherwise you won’t able to adequately address the problem. To narrow down your topic in a manageable way, you should choose one aspect. For instance, study the reasons for divorce in America instead of the reasons for divorce in European countries. Check whether you’re able to break down the components of your study into smaller parts. Also look out for the particular methodology to shape your research.
What Should a Dissertation Include?
A dissertation proposal must include:
- Aims and objectives, where you’ll highlight the main issues you’re exploring to your predictions, the desired outcome and the questions that you’re looking to answer.
- Methodologies, where you’ll explain the methods that you are going to use to collect data and the reasons why you consulted that data.
- Literature review, where you’ll include the important sources that you have consulted for your research. You’ll also update how these sources are going to help you. What were the potential flaws in the previous research, and what you’re going to remove those flaws?
Limitations, which include manifesting the limits that you faced while presenting your findings.