How to choose, find, or create a dissertation topic

1. by Elizabeth Visedo, Ph.D.

2. Don’t search. Create !

3.  feelings, thoughts, and motives
 your job
 courses you loved
 your master's thesis
 read A LOT
 skill
 experience

4.  How passionate?
 How familiar with the literature / scholars?
 How manageable?
◦ time frame
◦ resources
◦ data
 How competent?
 How significant?
 How original?
 How oriented?

5.  Employers
◦ Will it sell?
 Supervisors
◦ Will they be interested?
 Other scholars
◦ Friend or foe?
 Participants
◦ Availability
◦ Cost
◦ Demands

6. Recommendations
 Start early
◦ (i.e., NOW)
 Read
 Research
Question/s
 Design/Framework
 Methods/Data
sources
 Budget time/money
◦ YOUR time
 Have a safety net
 Write every day
 Ask for help/advice
 Transcribe
 Kleenex
 Don’t assume
 DON’T GIVE UP

7. MyAPAeditor.weebly.com