How to Choose a Thesis Topic (according to Robert L Peters)

It's that time now to return focus to my thesis. Hence it's helpful to get
a little perspective. Here's my notes from "Getting What You Came For: the
smart student's guide to earning a master's or phd"

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* Don.t just worry about it, .ideas are generated by intellectual
cross-fertilization and the process of problem-solving. To find a topic
you must dive into research, discuss the ideas that interest you with as
many people as possible, and write about the subjects as much as you can..
* Start as soon as possible, you never know when a hint in a class etc
will come your way. Ask professors for suggestions, examine course
reading. Whenever you come across anything interesting ask yourself,
.could this be a dissertation?.
* PhD at least is original research which means to do at least one of:

1. uncover new facts or principles
2. suggest relationships that were previously unrecognized
3. challenge existing truths or assumptions
4. afford new insights into little-understood phenomena
5. suggest new interpretations of known facts that alter our view of
the world around us

* Think thesis question. A question intriguing enough to take a year
to answer. Begin with a major question, develop subordinate questions that
help you answer it, and plan and refine along the way research to answer
these questions.
* There are thousands upon thousands of thesis topics that will work
great for you, so it.s easy to find one if you search actively.
* Think of yourself as an apprentice - .At this stage, you aren.t a
great master who will find the secret of the universe. Originality does
not have to be spectacular, but can expand on existing research. People
hiring probably looking for dependable specialists who are well trained by
good mentors.
* If your advisor chooses the project, check it out by the criteria
below. But many advantages if you are working on the same overall endeavor
as your advisor

Don.t worry if nothing interest you

* .interest develops from immersion and activity. Luckily, people have
an amazing ability to become interested in almost anything once they are
working on it

Get perspective by reading theses and articles

* Use the best as models. Note aspects of. Go to other universities
theses.
* Start reading through journals in your field for possible topics

Phone research

* Speaking briefly to the top people in the area, asking to recommend
names. [Is this polite now? What is the best way to contact people in the
area?]

Start a research project

* best way to generate ideas is to be involved in an ongoing research
project

Use your professors

* Ask all of them

1. What are the hot areas in the firld?
2. What were the best theses written during the past few years?
3. Do they have projects associated with their research that could be
good theses?

Start a topic file

* Throw all ideas into one folder, then after a while start to have
folders for each possible topic as you flesh them out. Thoughts, notes
taken on discusssions with professors, relevant journal articles. Review a
few minutes each week so the search stays in the forefront of your mind.

Crteria for evaluating potential thesis topics
Does sufficient background information exists?

* do a lot of research on this (phone, computer)

Is the topic narrow enough?

* Be as specific as you can, easier to broaden a narrow topic

Has it been done already?
Is it tractable?

* Will it work in terms of the practicalities? Make sure every part is
possibile.
* Consult a statistical expert (power issues).
* How long will it take?
* Is it fundable? A good idea to do preliminary research to show that
it.s possible...
* Is it hot? find out this by talking to profs and reading current
journals.
* Avoid fields full of theoretical controversy.

Criteria that might affect your chances of getting a job.

1. Allow you to show off your background knowledge of the field
2. Focus on a narrow enough topic so that you can become the expert
3. Provide a springboard for future research

Start Writing immediately.

* "Writing is the best way to initiate, organize, and extend ideas."
* Start by doing a adetailed evalutation of each topic for

1. financial support
2. interest to you
3. extendability after completion
4. controversy
5. time to complete
6. "hotness"
7. advisor's enthusiasm
8. Closeness of topic to advisor's research
9. depth of existing research
10. duplication or uniqueness
11. narrow focus
12. tractability, including availability of research subjects or
materials, existence of preplanned experimental methods, degree of
methodological difficulty, and simiplicity of statistical design.

* For each topic under serious consideration, write an outline thesis
proposal: ask the major research questions, outline experimental or
reserach steps. This is good for showing to advisor and other for
comments, since it's specific.
* Live and breathe your topic to the point of being annoying. Talk to
everyone. Get immersed in planning. Draw in reserachers outside your own
university.