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Strategies for Success Finding a Topic

Selecting a Doctoral Study TopicSelecting a topic is the first step in the doctoral study process. The emphasis should be on

identifying a topic that sustains the learners interest and contributes to either knowledge or practice within the specialization; it should also be based on obtainable data, manageable inscope, and within the learners range of competence. Furthermore, the topics focus must beneither too broad and diffuse or too narrow and restricting; available resources and time are other considerations that affect the selection of a topic.

iven these re!uirements, selecting a topic is conceivably the most difficult part of the doctoralstudy. "earners often begin with a topic that is too large, too vague, or too grand. #any want tochange the world . $nstead, they need to remember that the problem must be manageable and thatdoctoral study topics often are reduced to less than half of the original concept and scope.

There are many sources of good topics. Some learners begin with !uestions or concerns thathave evolved from professional e%perience and have interested them even before starting theirdoctoral programs. #any evolve from course work and the papers prepared for those courses.&thers come from information uncovered as a learner progresses through the program. Stillothers can arise from interactions with faculty and other learners.

A Conceptual Framework for Selecting a Doctoral study TopicSelecting a topic for the doctoral study is a creative process. $t is an opportunity for learners, incollaboration with their instructors and mentors, to choose from a virtually unlimited list of

possible topics the one that will guide and motivate them through the research process and allowthem to demonstrate their skills as independent scholar'practitioners. (ttendance at the first

)*( residency is an ideal place to begin discussion with fellow colleagues and faculty and evensolidify a topic worthy of a doctoral study.

$n short, the topic of the doctoral study represents a researchable area, drawn from the learnersscholarly+professional specialization, which is important and holds the learners interest. $t isimportant to be clear about what the doctoral study topic is not

- The doctoral study topic is not the detailed problem that the study addresses.- The doctoral study topic is not the research study itself.- The doctoral study topic is not the methodology of the research study.

)eveloping the problem, purpose, and methodology by which the topic will be studied is part ofthe process of writing the proposal. (lthough the choice of a topic may make developing the

proposal easier, it is distinct and prior. "earners should consult widely with faculty and peers,and they may use their course or professional e%perience to find intriguing research topics; butultimately, the choice of topic is that of the learner.

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What Constitutes a Good Topic!There is no magic formula for selecting a good/ topic. So much of what goes into a doctoralstudy reflects the interests and desires of its author. There are, however, certain characteristicsthat one should consider in selecting a topic.

"assionThe word passion is not something normally associated with the academic environment.(cademe so prides itself on its deliberate, thorough, and ob0ective analysis of phenomena andevents that unemotional would seem to be a better descriptor than passion . 1evertheless, oneshould be passionate about the sub0ect and fully committed to finding the answer or defendingthe position. $t is this passion for the sub0ect that will carry learners through those times ofwriters block, when they 0ust cannot seem to turn thoughts into words on paper or when it is 0usttoo much effort to sit down at the computer and type or to bury themselves in the pages of a

book.

#riginality

The fundamental purpose of a doctoral study is to build on previous research findings in order tocontribute new scholarship to the overall body of knowledge. ( doctoral study must be originalwork, but the word original can have a broad interpretation. 2ithin the conte%t of a doctoralstudy, original does not necessarily mean the first time a study of a specific type was undertaken.3alidating prior research results using a different sample make'up can still be original work, ascan investigating the repeatability of a previously proven theory.

$anagea%ilityTo be manageable, a doctoral study should cover a topic that can be researched without e%cessivedifficulty. ( manageable topic should include the features listed below

- There should be a reasonable amount of previous studies related to the topic upon whichto draw.

- The topic should be reflected in up'to'date business'related activity.- Tested survey and observation instruments should all be readily available.- $t should be interesting from a practical perspective or for its contribution to e%isting

theory. 1o matter what its sub0ect; however, it must reflect original research andcontribute to the overall body of knowledge.

To know whether a topic meets all these criteria, learners should tap the e%pertise of theirmentors and the committee members or other faculty who have knowledge and e%perience in thearea. There are common misconceptions that a doctoral study should change the world or that itshould be the seminal work on the sub0ect. 1either idea could be further from the truth. So toois the idea that doctoral studies are by nature long manuscripts that cover wide'ranging sub0ects.)octoral studies have been as short as 45678 pages, although most of these occur in the naturalsciences. The typical doctoral study averages 9886958 pages of te%t, e%cluding references,appendi%es, and front matter.

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#anageability is not related to page count, however. $t is related to the comple%ity of the studyand the number of variables investigated. :onsider the learner who seeks to evaluate theacceptability of a certain type of professional development program. $n essence, the ob0ective isto determine whether the users like and respond positively to it. The chosen methodology is asurvey. $n conducting preliminary research; however, the learner discovers that prior studies

have noted male+female differences in acceptance of professional development methodologies.&ther sources have noted ethnic group differences as well.

$n order to ensure a thorough study, the learner decides to evaluate survey responses for malesand females in four ethnic groups. That is eight groups to be evaluated. Since the ob0ectiveinvolves seeking statistical significance, the learner decides that a minimum of 988 surveyresponses for each group is re!uired. That e!uates to 88 responses. (gain, during preliminaryresearch, a specific reference notes that a 48< response rate is e%ceptional for surveys andresearchers should use 98< as a planning figure. To get 88 responses, the learner would needto send out ,888 surveys, which, needless to say, is not manageable.

So when considering a topic, learners will find that reviewing previous doctoral studies with thesame or a similar topic is a valuable e%ercise. )oing so can provide a sense of the kind of detailand content that produces an acceptable doctoral study.