how to choose a dissertation topic in education

How to Choose a Dissertation Topic – 9 Steps

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

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Choosing a dissertation topic is really difficult.

When I had to choose dissertation topic I agonized for weeks.

And I’ve supervised over 50 students’ dissertations across undergraduate, masters and PhD levels. All of my students agonized over their topics, too.

So you’re not alone in your struggle.

The below tips for choosing a dissertation topic are the ones I wish I was given when I was in the process of looking for a suitable topic.

If only I’d known these points, I would have saved a lot of time and stress for myself. So if these tips only help one person out, I’ll be happy.

These tips really work for just about anybody. They’re particularly useful for undergraduate and Masters level students who are writing dissertations. But, I’m sure most doctoral students will also find these points relevant, too. Especially tips 1 – 3.

Here are my tips on how to choose a dissertation topic – I hope they come in handy, and good luck on your research journey!

Read Also: 25 Sociology Dissertation Ideas

1. It Doesn’t have to be Unique (Yet).

This is the one piece of advice I wish I had gotten when I was choosing my dissertation topic.

Many students feel like they need to find a unique topic that will blow their markers away.

I was this student.

I thought that I had to choose a topic and idea that was going to make a unique contribution to knowledge. I thought I had to discover something, or, at the very least, choose a topic that no one has ever done before.

So here’s what I wish someone had told me:

It doesn’t matter if other people have done the same topic as you.

Don’t even let it phase you for a moment if someone else has chosen your topic. Just choose whatever topic you want.

Well, because your unique contribution doesn’t come at the start. It comes at the end!

You’ll find a way to make a unique contribution after you have completed your literature review . There is always time and space to find a new angle or different way of doing the topic than other people.

So, don’t choose your topic because it’s unique or different.

Then … how should you choose your topic? Points 2 and 3 give you some tips…

2. Make it Relevant to your Career Goals.

The first thing I recommend to all my students is to consider how their topic can help progress their careers.

When giving guidance to my students, I ask them these three questions:

• a) What sort of specialization do you want in your career? If you’re studying teaching, your questions might be: do you want to be a specialized literacy teacher? do you want to be an expert on behavior management? Do you want to be specialized in play-based learning ?
• b) How do you want to differentiate yourself from your competition? Your dissertation topic is going to be the topic you ‘sell’ as your area of expertise in future job interviews. If you want to get a great job, choose a topic that really stands out in the marketplace. Have a think right now for yourself: what areas of your industry are booming? For example, would it be better to specialize in coal or solar panels? Which one would be best to talk about in a job interview in the 21 st Century?
• c) Do you want to be a research pro? Most of my students don’t want to be researchers as a career. They do their dissertations to prove mastery of their topic – that’s all. The research is a means to an end. But, if you think you want to go on to do the next level degree (a PhD one day?) then you’ll want to focus on having a high quality methodology, not just an interesting topic.

So, have a think now: is there a topic that will help you get to where you plan on going? What expert knowledge do you want to be able to ‘sell’ in a future interview?

3. Ensure it’s Interesting to You.

You’re going to be wedded to your chosen for a long time. And by the end of this journey you’re going to hate it.

To make your life easier, choose a topic you’re interested in.

Here’s two ways of approaching this:

Choose a Topic you Think About a Lot.

Choose a dissertation topic that you find yourself talking about, complaining about or raving about to your parents. Choose something that makes you angry, inspired or intrigued.

For the next week or so, I recommend taking notes whenever you find yourself thinking idly about something. Is that something you’ve thought about a lot?

Or, Choose a Topic by Looking over Past Assessment Tasks.

Another way of approaching the search for an interesting topic is to look over past assignments.

What assessment task have you done in the past few years that gripped you? Which one did you enjoy the most when you were studying it?

Zoom in on that topic and see if you can turn it into a dissertation.

Bonus tip: If you found a topic that was based on a previous assessment task, see if you can convince the person who taught that subject to be your dissertation supervisor.

4. Keep it Simple.

Too often, students want to choose a topic that is complex and complicated. They come up with a long, detailed research question (usually with the help of their professor) that, really, is hard to understand!

The best strategy is to come up with a topic that is really, really straightforward. At least, the topic should start as simple and straightforward.

Your topic is going to grow and expand into a monster. It’ll be hard to tame and control. You’ll be following random tangents down rabbit holes that end up being dead-ends. You’ll research aspects of the topic and realize it was a completely pointless exercise.

The way to minimize the crazy growth of your research project is to simplify it right from the start. Make it a really simple idea.

For example, I had a student who wanted to research:

“How big is the gap in mathematics outcomes between children from middle-class and working-class backgrounds by age 16?”

I would think that this topic may be achievable by a top academic with a sizeable research grant, but my student was completing a 10,000 word dissertation for graduating her Bachelor of Arts with Honours.

After several agonizing research meetings, we peeled it back over and again until we ended up with something much simpler and more specific:

“What are teachers’ opinions of the impact of poverty on learning?”

Why is this simpler and more specific?

Well, with the second study, my student has a clear focus group (teachers) and an achievable methodology (interviews). This will be far simpler than somehow conducting tests on 16-year old children, getting a significant amount of children to participate in the study, and then dissecting their mathematics test results by income level.

Instead, we aimed small and simple to ensure the task itself was achievable.

We’re not here to win a Nobel prize. You can do that with your multi-million-dollar post-doctoral research grant. Get your degree first.

5. Ensure it’s Achievable.

This piece of advice builds on the previous advice, to “keep it simple”.

Keeping it simple means making sure you have a clear, small-scale focus.

Esuring the project is achievable means choosing a methodology that won’t break you.

Small Scale Qualitative Studies are Achievable for Anyone

I always suggest to my Undergraduate and Masters level students to aim for a small scale study with no more than 20 research participants.

Now, I know there will be many of you out there who want to do quantitative research studies. And in reality, you can do a quantitative study with a small group of students. These usually involve quantitative action research case studies.

If you’re set on a quantitative study, that’s fine. But find a supervisor with the right experience.

Personally, I usually recommend a qualitative focus group analysis for anyone doing their first dissertation.

The biggest mistake you can make is biting off more than you can chew.

Small scale qualitative studies are the easiest option . They can be achieved within your time frame. And you can certainly still get a very high grade.

So, let’s take the example of the previous research question, which we changed from:

For the first study, you will have to develop skills in quantitative data analysis , find a sizeable cohort of students, get permission from their parents, get special permission to study children you’re your university ethics committee, develop a quality testing mechanism, pilot the test, conduct the test, analyze the data, then interpret it.

For the second study, you will not have to develop complex mathematical skills, bother with getting permission to research children, or deal with the rigor of quantitative analysis.

In other words, you will be able to bypass many hurdles you may face.

That’s the benefit of a small-scale qualitative study. It’s a nice easy first dissertation methodology. You can do it and do it well.

I know my position is controversial, but hey … I’m here to tell you how to avoid problems, not to stand on a soapbox.

Consider Textual Analysis, Semiotic Analysis or Secondary Research

Finding people to interview, survey or participate in your study in any way at all can be intimidating.

I find it interesting and really fulfilling. But I understand if you think it’s too much for you at this point in time.

If you don’t want to have to go out and find research participants for your study, I recommend one of these types of study:

• Textual Analysis : you can look at policy documents or newspaper articles and analyze their ideological positioning , for example;
• Semiotic Analysis : The quintessential semiotic analysis is the analysis of advertising images or movies and the examination of the ways they depict people of different races, social classes or genders;
• Secondary Research: Look over other people’s research and try to identify themes across a range of research studies.

Now, these three different methodologies are far outside of the scope of this discussion, but consult with your dissertation supervisor if you’re overwhelmed by the idea of conducting research with real human beings. One of these three methodologies may help you bypass that process, and make the dissertation feel more achievable for you.

6. Search Online for Inspiration

If you’re still struggling to choose a dissertation topic,  go online to get inspiration!

There’s a few ways you can do this. Here’s a few good ones:

a) Google Previous Dissertation Topics

Many universities upload their students’ dissertations onto an online repository. This means there are a ton of open, free to access databases of previous students’ dissertations all over the internet.

Simply google “Dissertation” + “pdf” + a topic you’re interested in. If you’re a masters student, you can do “masters dissertation” + “pdf” + the topic; and if you’re an undegrad, then simply do “undergraduate dissertation” + “pdf” + the topic;. Simple!

Up will pop a ton of dissertations that you can instantly download to check out previous students’ successful dissertation topics.

Another benefit of doing this is that you’ll be able to view and model the structure that previous students have used as well. This can be super beneficial for you early on!

b) Look at Recent Articles Published in Journals focused on your Topic

If you scroll through the recent issues of journals in your topic, you’ll find a range of research topic ideas.

To get access to top journals in your topic, simply google “Scholarly Journal” + your topic. For example, I am a professor in education. So I’d google “Scholarly journal” + “Education”.

The homepages for a ton of journals will pop up in the Google search. Quickly scan through the recent issues of those journals to see if any ideas will pop up that interest you!

c) If you’re Studying Education or Teaching, Check Here

Lastly, a quick plug for another post I’ve written for dissertation students:

• 51+ Dissertation Ideas for Education students .

Go check that out if you want to write a dissertation on the ‘education’ topic.

7. Trust your Dissertation Supervisor

Your dissertation supervisor will have walked many students just like you through the research process before.

Look, I know many dissertation supervisors can be disappointingly aloof and disconnected from your research. And relationships can get very frosty with your supervisors indeed.

Trust your supervisor. They make recommendations for a reason. They know how to navigate the dissertation writing process. If your supervisor makes a recommendation, strong – very strongly – consider it.

Your supervisor also has expertise in one area of research or another. Take advantage of their expertise. Be flexible and let them sway you down certain paths. You need a knowledgeable partner in the research process.

So, trust your supervisor. You need their expertise more than you know.

8. Come up with 3-5 Ideas and Bring them to your Supervisor for Feedback

Your initial dissertation topic ideas will probably need a lot of refinement.

The person who will help you to refine your topic will be your dissertation supervisor. Their main job, unfortunately, is to curb your enthusiasm. It’s to show you what problems you’ll face if you follow certain paths and recommend alterations to ensure your topic is achievable.

So, approach your supervisor with your 3-5 top ideas and watch them do their magic. They should advise you on how to turn your ideas into reality.

Your ideas can be specific or broad – really, it doesn’t matter because you’ll walk out of your supervision meeting with a lot of changed ideas. It doesn’t need to be set in stone.

You could, for example, go up to your supervisor and say something like:

• “I’m interested in Erikson’s theory of development. Do you have any suggestions of how I can use Erikson’s ideas for a dissertation?”
• “I’m really into conservative politics. What ideas do you have for an achievable topic?”
• Any other ideas…

They’ll help you shape and mold your topic into something achievable.

9. Lastly, Stick to your Choice

When I did my dissertation, I questioned my topic daily: I’d always be thinking up new, better ideas for my dissertation!

But once you’re locked in, it’s hard to change your mind. You’re going to get ethics permission to conduct your study, not anyone else’s!

So, my advice is simple:

Once you’ve chosen your topic, commit.

If you’re desperate to do another topic, fine, do another degree. If you’re doing your Master’s right now, bank those other ideas for a potential PhD down the track.

But once you’ve made your choice, really … you’ve got to commit, block out all your regrets and dig in.

Don’t worry about your friends who chose a dissertation topic that is better than yours. Stay in your lane, be content with your topic, and create a great product.

Writing a dissertation is an exercise in being practical more than anything. That start from the very first choice: choosing a dissertation topic that’s achievable and good for your career, and will also put you on the path for top marks.

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 21 Montessori Homeschool Setups
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 101 Hidden Talents Examples
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 15 Green Flags in a Relationship
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd-2/ 15 Signs you're Burnt Out, Not Lazy

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Education Dissertation Topics

Published by Grace Graffin at January 5th, 2023 , Revised On May 17, 2024

Introduction

Education as a subject helps in understanding the various learning approaches and different types of education. When you choose education as your major subject, you will be expected to develop a critical understanding of the issues surrounding education.

To choose an education dissertation topic, you can look into a wide array of topics, including public school education, holistic education, the role of ethnicity, gender and class on academic achievements, adult education, preschool and primary school education, college and university education, child development, distance learning, politics and policy in education, teacher education, and curriculum.

To help you get started with brainstorming for education topic ideas, we have developed a list of the latest topics that can be used for writing your education dissertation.

These topics have been developed by PhD-qualified writers of our team , so you can trust them to use them when drafting your dissertation.

You may also want to start your dissertation by requesting  a brief research proposal  from our writers on any of these topics, which includes an  introduction  to the topic,  research question ,  aim and objectives ,  literature review along the proposed  methodology  of research to be conducted.  Let us know  if you need any help in getting started.

Check our  dissertation examples  to get an idea of  how to structure your dissertation .

Review the full list of  dissertation topics here.

Topic 1: Investigating the impact of COVID-19 on the learning experience of the students

Research Aim: The research aims to evaluate the impact of COVID-19 on the learning experience of the students.

Objectives:

• To analyse the impact of Covid-19 on education delivery across schools.
• To evaluate the impact of the pandemic on teaching delivery and learning outcomes of the students.
• To investigate how the pandemic affected the learning experience of the students

Topic 2: An analysis of the impact of classroom interaction and participation on the personality development and confidence of the students.

Research Aim: The aim of the research is to analyse the impact of classroom interaction and participation on the personality development and confidence of the students.

• To analyse the importance of classroom interaction for the students and how it contributes to personal development.
• To investigate the impact of classroom participation on the confidence of the students.
• To evaluate how classroom interaction and participation impact the personality development and confidence of the students.

Topic 3: The potential use of virtual reality for educational assessment of the students.

Research Aim: The research aims to analyse the potential use of virtual reality for the educational assessment of students.

• To analyse the technologies available for student assessment across higher educational institutions.
• To evaluate the role of virtual reality in education delivery and assessment.
• To investigate how virtual reality influences the educational assessment of students to improvet their learning experience and knowledge.

Topic 4: An evaluation of the impact of the rising cost of academic education on students of lower-income backgrounds in the UK.

Research Aim: The aim of the research is to evaluate the impact of the rising cost of academic education on students of lower-income backgrounds in the UK.

• To analyse the factors impacting the affordability of higher education in the UK.
• To understand the challenges of lower-income background students in the UK.
• To investigate the impact of the rising cost of academic education on the lower-income background students in the UK and how the meritorious students can be supported.

Topic 5: An investigation into the impact of interactions among students of multiple ethnicities on the cross-cultural communication and behaviour of the pupils.

Research Aim: The aim of the research is to investigate the impact of interactions among students of multiple ethnicities on cross-cultural communication and pupil behaviourt .

• To analyse the impact of student interactions among different ethnicities.
• To determine the importance of cross-cultural communication and tolerance of the students.
• To examine the impact of interactions among students of multiple ethnicities on the cross-cultural communication and behaviour of the pupils.

Dissertation Topics in Education Dynamics

Topic 1: the need to use information and communication technology to study in public institutions in any country of your choice. a reflection on the impact of covid-19 on the education sector in the chosen country..

Research Aim: This research will focus on the lack of good information and communication technology equipment in public institutions of study and the need to find the education sector to meet the new standard of learning in work. It will also analyse the pandemic’s impact on students in public institutions at home throughout the pandemic without any academic activities.

Topic 2: The fear of maintaining social distancing in schools

Research Aim: This research aims to evaluate the fear of maintaining social distancing in schools. It will also suggest possible solutions to minimise the fear of parents, educators, and students.

Topic 3: Online Education- Increased screen time or quality education

Research Aim: This research aims to identify whether online education exposes students to increased screen time or quality education.

Topic 4: The emergence of coding courses for young children and their cognitive development and age. A comparative study.

Research Aim: This research aims to identify how far coding education is beneficial for children. What sort of positive and negative consequences are concerned with the future of young children with their access to such kind of advanced technology?

Topic 5: Data science and growing opportunities for data scientists

Research Aim: This research will focus on identifying the emergence of degrees and courses in data science, their importance, and growing opportunities for data scientists. Who can become a data scientist? What is its career scope?

Covid-19 Education Topics 

Impacts of coronavirus on education.

Research Aim: This study aims to review the impacts of Coronavirus on education.

Online educational programs to educate students during COVID-19

Research Aim: The widespread Coronavirus pandemic and the lockdown have disrupted the education of many students, including school, college, and university levels. This study will identify the online programs offered through various platforms, schools, colleges, and universities. It will discuss how students can have access to these courses and how it will benefit them.

Impact of COVID-19 on educational institutes

Research Aim: This study will focus on identifying the impacts of COVID-19 on educational institutes. What steps can be taken to ensure a safe environment for the students and teaching staff?

Role of teachers and professors during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Research Aim: This study will focus on the contribution of teachers, professors, and institutions in providing education. What challenges are they facing? What would be the possible ways to improve the current education system?

The future of education post Coronavirus pandemic.

Research Aim: This study will collect information about current education methods during the pandemic and predict the future of education after the coronavirus pandemic.

Topic C1: How the Coronavirus pandemic is reshaping education?

Research Aim: Coronavirus has offered a stark reminder of the very human nature of schools. Students have leapt into online learning but cannot wait to get back into her building. Being online, I don’t think you really get a true sense of whether a student is really engaged and has a proper understanding. This study will aim to understand the extent to which the coronavirus pandemic is reshaping education.

Topic C2: How Coronavirus could affect the well-being of people with intellectual disabilities

Research Aim: We are all feeling more anxious than usual. We may be worried about accessing food and services, going to work, enduring self-isolation, or catching COVID-19. While some anxiety is normal, some of us may be more resilient to changes in our routines and the general uncertainty the world is experiencing. But for the 1.5 million people in the UK with an intellectual disability, these effects may be much greater. This research will aim to establish how Coronavirus could affect the wellbeing of people with intellectual disabilities.

Topic C3: The impact of the 2019–20 Coronavirus pandemic on education

Research Aim: The 2019–20 Coronavirus pandemic has affected educational systems worldwide, leading to the widespread closures of schools and universities. As of 28 March 2020, over 1.7 billion learners were out of school due to school closures in response to COVID-19. According to UNESCO monitoring, over 100 countries have implemented nationwide closures, impacting nearly 90% of the world’s student population. This research will explore the impact of the 2019–20 Coronavirus pandemic on education.

Topic C4: What actions are being taken by universities in response to Coronavirus?

Research Aim: We have seen a growing number of decisions by universities to start implementing social distancing strategies, such as moving to more online teaching delivery and increasing homework by staff. At present, there is no government advice to universities about this. Therefore any operational decision by individual universities must be based on their local circumstances, which vary for various reasons. This research will examine some of the measures we see across the universities in response to the pandemic.

Topic C5: The impact of Coronavirus on international students and the response from universities

Research Aim: This research will explore the impact of Coronavirus on international students and the response from universities.

The Best Education Dissertation Topics

Topic 1: a comparison of wonderlic tests and standardised tests as means to assess academic performance..

Research Aim: Although there are many techniques and methods for assessing academic performance, this research will focus on the comparative analysis of Wonderlic and standardised tests. In the end, the research will conclude which approach would be better in different academic situations.

Topic 2: The theory and practice of educational games as a means to promote better learning.

Research Aim: In recent times, many pieces of research have focused on identifying different learning approaches to provide quality education. This research will analyse the concept of educational games for young children to promote and improve the learning mechanisms.

Topic 3: The impact of learning ability of a child: A case study of kindergarten students

Research Aim: With the emergence of technological advancements, many organisations, including education institutes, have started embracing innovative technologies. The main purpose of these advancements is to improvise the different ways of education. This research will focus on how the use of smart technology has improved the learning ability of kindergarten students.

Topic 4: Comparing and analysing the teaching approaches and mechanisms of privately owned schools and public school: Case of developing countries

Research Aim: Due to the rise of capitalist economies, many institutions have developed unique mechanisms to improve business operations and sales. The same is the case with educational institutes. However, the teaching mechanism and approach for private schools have been more effective than public schools. Therefore, this research will critically analyse the teaching approaches and mechanisms of privately owned schools and public schools and compare and analyse their teaching approaches.

Topic 5: Analysing the current curricular development of K12 students and how it can be linked with current economic issues

Research Aim: It has been found that the curriculum of the majority of educational institutes has become obsolete and monotonous. In other words, students are not being taught current affairs and the latest knowledge with respect to technology, etc. Therefore, the main aim of this research will be to analyse the current curricular development of K12 students and how it can be moulded to reflect the true economic conditions and issues of society.

Early Childhood Education Dissertation Topics

Early childhood education in the UK and many other countries refers to any form of education that children between 2 and 6 years obtain. Some early childhood education dissertation topics are listed below:

Topic 6: The effectiveness and implementation of early childhood education curriculum interventions

Research Aim: This research will discuss how effective curriculum interventions have been in early childhood education and how they can be effectively implemented.

Topic 7: Linking theory to practice and back again: The use of collaborative enquiry and video documentation to facilitate critical thinking in preservice teacher education

Research Aim: This research will provide theoretical and practical evidence to establish how collaboration inquiry and video documentation effectively affect critical thinking in preservice education.

Topic 8: Improving early childhood literacy development and English education through the use of multiple media tools

Research Aim: This research will analyse how effective medical tools are in early childhood education.

Topic 9: Supporting emergent literacy at the preschool level through the use of technology.

Research Aim: This research will present how supportive technology can be for emergent literacy at the preschool level.

Topic 10: Merging multimodality, technology, and literacy in the era of kindergarten digital storytelling

Research Aim: This research will explore the effectiveness of multimodality, literacy, and technology in today’s era of kindergarten storytelling.

Topic 11: Computer-based reading program with at-risk pre-kindergarten students

Research Aim: This research will discuss how computer-based reading programs are at risk with pre-kindergarten students.

Topic 12: Pre-school educational settings and the nature of children’s leadership

Research Aim: This research will analyse how educational settings in preschool help develop leadership skills in children.

Topic 13: How urban students’ academic accomplishments can be influenced by a school district’s preschool education policies

Research Aim: This research will discuss the academic accomplishments of children and how educational policies influence them.

Topic 14: Investigating the relationship between kindergarten achievement and classroom quality

Research Aim: This study will investigate the relationship between kindergarten students’ achievement and education quality.

Topic 15: Creating efficient learning environments to facilitate the process of early childhood education

Research Aim: This research will understand the learning environments that facilitate the process of childhood education.

Elementary Education Dissertation Topics

In the United Kingdom and other developed regions of the world, elementary education is the first level of compulsory education that children between the ages of 6 and 13 years obtain.

Primary or elementary education helps establish history, geography, mathematics, science, and other social sciences. In some countries, basic sexual education is also part of the elementary education curriculum. Some important primary education issues to explore are listed below:

Topic 16: Establishing the factors inhibiting and enhancing elementary school children’s creativity

Research Aim: This research will discuss the factors that help enhance children’s creativity in elementary school.

Topic 17: Developing life skills in elementary school pupils in the United Kingdom (or any other country of your choice)

Research Aim: This research will explore how life skills are developed in elementary school in the UK. (Country can be changed according to your choosing)

Topic 18: Monitoring and evaluating instruction in private elementary schools in China from the perspective of headteachers and teachers.

Topic 19: including children with special educational needs in a mainstream elementary educational institute – a case study of any elementary school.

Research Aim: This research will discuss inclusive education, i.e. including special needs students in elementary school. You are free to choose the school of your choice.

Topic 20: Implementing inclusive education in elementary/primary schools in Australia – The challenges and opportunities

Research Aim: This research will discuss the challenges and opportunities of implementing inclusive education in Australian elementary schools.

Topic 21: Classroom evaluation in England – Teachers’ practices and perceptions in Maths

Research Aim: This research will evaluate a typical classroom in England. It will assess the practices adopted by math teachers in elementary school.

Topic 22: Integrating outdoor learning activities with elementary curriculum in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This research will analyse the results of integrating outdoor learning activities with curriculum activities.

Topic 23: Investigating the use of technology in elementary school physical education

Research Aim: This research will investigate and analyse the use of technology in elementary school physical education.

Topic 24: Investigating the impact of the age of information on current courses taught in primary school

Research Aim: This research will investigate the impact of information on courses taught in primary school.

Topic 25: Should primary schools allow their students to study more independently to achieve improved performance?

Research Aim: This research will assess whether elementary school students should be allowed to study independently and its impacts.

Read More About   Elementary Education / Primary Education

How Can ResearchProspect Help?

ResearchProspect writers can send several custom topic ideas to your email address. Once you have chosen a topic that suits your needs and interests, you can order for our dissertation outline service , which will include a brief introduction to the topic, research questions , literature review , methodology , expected results , and conclusion . The dissertation outline will enable you to review the quality of our work before placing the order for our full dissertation writing service !

Secondary Education Dissertation Topics

Secondary school education primarily covers formal education obtained by pupils between 13 and 18 years. Secondary education is compulsory in most countries, including the United Kingdom, and it may be taught in the form of Ordinary Levels, Advanced Levels, and SSC and HSC exams.

There is a wide array of research areas to be explored in this field of study, and any of the following research topics could be selected for your education dissertation.

Topic 26: Investigating the impact of teacher education on secondary education in the European Union

Research Aim: This research will investigate how secondary education in the EU is impacted by teacher education.

Topic 27: Investigating the impact of secondary school dual enrolment course participation on pupils’ academic accomplishments

Research Aim: This research will investigate the impact of dual course enrolment and its impact on academic accomplishments in secondary school.

Topic 28: The role of sustainability in learning and teaching in secondary schools to transform the soul of education

Research Aim: This study will explore the role of sustainable learning and teaching in secondary school, and it helps transform the soul of education.

Topic 29: Investigating secondary school teachers’ thinking in a professional development project

Research Aim: This research will analyse the teachers’ thinking with the help of a professional development project.

Topic 30: Betraying the college dream: How student aspirations are undermined by the disconnected post-secondary and K-12 education systems

Research Aim: The post-secondary schooling and K-12 education systems are misaligned. Thus, this research will investigate how this adversely impacts students, and as a result, more and more students are giving up on their college dreams.

Topic 31: Analysing supply & demand in light of the rising cost of secondary education

Research Aim: This research will assess and analyse the rising cost of education and its impact on the supply and demand for education.

Topic 32: To study the use of instructional and information technologies in teacher training in secondary schools and colleges in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This research will study the use of technologies in teacher training and how they impact secondary education in the UK.

Topic 33: Should secondary school teachers emphasise today’s demanding issues such as energy conservation, sustainability, and environmental protection?

Research Aim: This research will study whether or not teachers should emphasise current issues like energy preservation, sustainability, and environmental protection.

Topic 34: How can religious and racial tolerance increase among pupils by reintroducing religious education in the secondary schooling system?

Research Aim: This research will explore whether introducing religious education in secondary education helps decrease religious and racial intolerance.

Topic 35: To investigate the benefits of teaching business management and entrepreneurship-related courses to secondary school students over social science courses.

Research Aim:  This research will study the uses and benefits of teaching business management and entrepreneurship at the secondary schooling level.  Read More About   Secondary Education

Higher Education Dissertation Topics

Higher education or college/university education covers the formal education available to college, undergraduate and postgraduate students. Some interesting higher education dissertation topics are listed below.

Topic 36: International mobility of graduate and undergraduate students of mathematics, engineering, technology and science; Push and Pull Factors

Research Aim: This research will study and analyse the push and pull factors that impact the graduate and undergraduate students’ choice of university.

Topic 37: International graduate students and their decisions to stay or leave the US; The decisive factors

Research Aim: This study will explore the factors that lead students to decide whether they should stay or leave their universities in the US.

Topic 38: Aligning higher education to labour market requirements in the UK

Research Aim: This research will assess whether higher education in the UK should be aligned with the labour  market requirements or not.

Topic 39: Internationalisation drivers, obstacles and rationales: A case study of any higher education institute in the UK

Research Aim: This research will analyse the internationalisation drivers, obstacles, and rationales of higher education institutes in the UK.

Topic 40: An investigation into the governance systems of academic planning in both private and public sector higher education institutes

Research Aim: This research will investigate the governance systems of academic planning in both, private and public higher education institutes.

Topic 41: Higher education system: Should all universities follow the same education pattern?

Research Aim: This research will explore whether every university should follow the same educational pattern.

Topic 42: Evaluating teaching quality in higher education schools from students’ perspective

Research Aim: This research will evaluate the performance of teachers based on students’ perspectives. Suggestions will be provided as to how it should be improved.

Topic 43: Identify the factors affecting student mobility in Europe – The quality aspect

Research Aim: This research will explore the factors that impact student mobility in Europe.

Topic 44: Assessing and Evaluating the Impact of Hiring, Firing and Retiring Professors in Higher Education System on Students

Research Aim: This research will evaluate the various impacts of hiring, firing and retiring professors in the higher education system on students.

Topic 45: Do university graduates perform better than those who do not obtain formal education but have practical work experience?

Research Aim: This research will evaluate and assess the performance of two sets of students. First, university graduates, second, will be those who have no formal education but have practical work experience.  Also Read:   Fashion and Culture Dissertation Topics

Teaching Method Dissertation Topics

The role of primary, secondary or higher education teachers is highly important, particularly considering the ever-increasing need to provide a growth-oriented academic environment to students. Some interesting teaching method dissertation research topics are listed below.

Topic 46: The influence of teaching methods on students’ academic success and achievements

Research Aim: This research will explore the influence of teaching methods on students’ academic success and achievements.

Topic 47: A Transactional Method to Learning and Teaching in an English Language Arts Methodologies Conference

Research Aim: This study will explore the transactional learning and teaching method in an English language arts methodologies conference.

Topic 48: How the effect of constructivist teaching methods can largely influence the algebraic understanding of primary and secondary school students

Research Aim: This research will understand how constructivist teaching methods affect primary and secondary school students.

Topic 49: Student learning of DNA and the effect of teaching methods

Research Aim: This research will study the impact of various teaching methods on students.

Topic 50: Teaching English through conventional and direct approaches – A qualitative study

Research Aim: This will be a qualitative study that will help assess the teaching of English as a subject through direct and conventional approaches.

Topic 51: Investigating the relationships of teachers’ pedagogical beliefs, knowledge and efficiency: A multimethod approach

Research Aim: This research will investigate the relationship between teachers’ pedagogical beliefs, efficiency, and knowledge.

Topic 52: Exploring the benefits of employing the Socratic methodology as an approach to learning

Research Aim: This research will investigate the benefits of the Socratic method of learning approach.

Topic 53: The benefits of introducing mathematics software to higher education mathematics teachers

Research Aim: This study will explore the benefits of introducing mathematics software to higher education math teachers.

Topic 54: The increasing importance of teachers training taking into consideration various threats to students such as weapons and drugs

Research Aim: This research will understand the importance of teachers’ training with respect to threats such as drugs and weapons.

Topic 55: Are the teachers more prone to violence at the hands of their students as compared to the past: How the profession of teaching has evolved over the last twenty years

Research Aim: Purpose: This research will compare the teaching profession in the past twenty years and will conclude on how it has changed.  Read More About:   Teaching Methods in the UK

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Education Leadership and Policy Studies Dissertation Topics

The role of leadership, politics, and policies cannot be overlooked. Education leadership and policy studies have two main roots, including organisational theory and political science. This may be an interesting area of research for your educational dissertation.

Topic 56: Implementing educational change in failing middle schools through examination of one’s fundamental leadership procedures and processes

Research Aim: This research will explore the impact of implementing educational change in failing middle schools by examining leadership procedures at the institutes.

Topic 57: Historical background and development of co-curricular transcripts

Research Aim: This research will date back to history and explore how co-curricular transcripts were developed, and will compare them to today’s processes.

Topic 58: Evaluating the self-efficiency of high-performing first-generation university students

Research Aim: This research will evaluate the self-efficiency of high performing university students.

Topic 59: The influence of spiritual growth on leadership development of college and university students

Research Aim: This research will explore the influence of spiritual growth on the leadership skills development of university students.

Topic 60: The peril and power of globalisation: The Higher education, the World Bank, and the Global Knowledge Economy

Research Aim: This research will focus on the globalisation aspect of education and will talk about how it has been impacted.

Topic 61: The self-reported impact of instructional coaching on middle school teachers’ practices

Research Aim: This research will investigate the impact of instructional coaching on middle school teachers’ practices.

Topic 62: An investigation into the policies designed to address bullying in schools of the UK: The beliefs, opinions and perceptions of teachers and principals

Research Aim: This research will explore in-depth the policies that are designed to address and eliminate bullying in UK schools.

Topic 63: Investigating the causes of under-representation of black students in advanced placement courses in the USA

Research Aim: This research will explore the racial issues in the educational system of the US, i.e. underrepresentation of black students.

Topic 64: Lecture note-taking skills of adolescents with and without learning disabilities

Research Aim: This research will understand the note-taking skills of adolescents and how they differ with respect to learning.

Topic 65: A qualitative study to evaluate the educational policies in the UK

Research Aim:  This study will assess and evaluate the various educational policies in the UK.  Read More About:  Courses About International Education Leadership And Policy

Adult Education Dissertation Topics

Vocation-based or professional adult education has gained tremendous popularity in the academic world over the last couple of decades. Here is a wide range of research topics within this field of study to base your dissertation on.

Topic 66: Investing social and personal benefits and costs of basic adult education from students’ perspective

Research Aim: This research will investigate the social and personal benefits and costs of basic adult education.

Topic 67: The perception of adult learners regarding their satisfaction with their educational experiences

Research Aim: This research will explore the perception of adult learners regarding their educational experiences.

Topic 68: Use of bounded agency approach to promoting participation in adult education programmes

Research Aim: This research will discuss the bounded agency approach to promote participation in adult education programs.

Topic 69: A psychoanalytic investigation to explore adult teaching and learning theory

Research Aim: This research will conduct a psychoanalytic investigation in order to explore adult teaching and learning.

Topic 70: Comparing the perception of adult learners in face-to-face and online courses

Research Aim: This research will compare the perception of adult learners in online and face to face courses.

Topic 71: Use of Hatcher-Assagioli Synthesis to analyse practices, principles, and goals for community-based adult education

Research Aim: This research will utilise Hatcher Assagioli Synthesis to analyse community-based education practices, principles, and goals.

Topic 72: A review of the UK government spending on adult education over the last two decades

Research Aim: This research will review the UK government’s spending on adult education for two decades.

Topic 73: The relationship between unemployment and government funding for adult education – A quantitative analysis

Research Aim: This research will explore the relationship between government funding and unemployment for adult education.

Topic 74: The impact of entrepreneurship, wealth building and personal finance-related courses in adult education

Research Aim: This study will study the impact of courses like entrepreneurship, personal finance et. For adult education.

Topic 75: Frequent career changes over working life and the increasing importance of adult education in today’s world

Research Aim: This research will assess the importance of adult education and how it influences students to change their career choices frequently.

Private School Education Dissertation Topics

Private schools have become a large profit-making industry in both the developed and developing world. More and more parents want to send their children to private schools even though the expenses associated with private education are constantly on the rise. Following are some suggestions for your education dissertation research:

Topic 76: Evaluating the effectiveness of management in private schools in the UAE

Research Aim: This research will evaluate the effectiveness of private school management in the UAE.

Topic 77: To study the level of cooperation between home schools, public schools and private schools in the United Kingdom

Research Aim: This research will explore the cooperation level in home schools, and private and public schools in the UK.

Topic 78: A qualitative analysis to determine the causes of why parents choose to send their children to private schools in South Asian countries

Research Aim: This research will conduct qualitative analysis to determine why parents send their children to private schools in Asia.

Topic 79: Investigating the policies concerning the fee structure of private schools in Shanghai

Research Aim: This research will investigate the various policies that concern the fee structure of private Shanghai schools.

Topic 80: An empirical analysis of the impacts of the universal primary education policies on educational performances in South Asia

Research Aim: This research will conduct an empirical analysis to understand the impact of universal primary education policies on educational performance in the South Asian region.

Topic 81: Use of information technology and teaching tools in private schools in the UK

Research Aim: This research will explore the use of technology in private schools and assess its effectiveness.

Topic 82: Schooling for money – The Impact of the Profit motive on Swiss Educational Reform

Research Aim: This research will study the Swiss educational reform and its impact on the system.

Topic 83: Challenges and experiences of children with disabilities in private schools in India

Research Aim: This research will evaluate the challenges and experiences of children with disabilities in Indian schools.

Topic 84: Why are private school students considered to have the edge over public schools – A qualitative study

Research Aim: This will be a qualitative study on why private school students are preferred over public school students.

Topic 85: Emphasis on personality formation and character in private schools – Are private school students more competitive than public school students?

Research Aim:  This research will study the personality formation and character building of private school students.  Read More About   Private School Fee Increase for First Time.

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Public School Education Dissertation Topics

Most schools in the developed world are publicly funded, offering elementary, secondary, and higher education. There is a wide array of topics of research under this field of study that can be explored. Some of them are suggested below:

Exploring the Funding of Public Schools – How they can be improved. This research will explore the ways through which public schools are funded and will study what can be done to improve them.

Topic 86: Investigating the impact of teacher leadership in public schools in the UK

Research Aim: This research will study the impact of teacher leadership in UK public schools.

Topic 87: Is it true that public schools are better able to prepare their students to face the challenges of the real world as compared to private schools

Research Aim: This research will explore a common misconception that public school students are better prepared to face real-world challenges than private school students.

Topic 88: Can publicly-funded religious schools help to counter radicalisation and terrorism?

Research Aim: This study will explore an important topic, i.e. can terrorism and radicalisation be countered with public funding of schools.

Topic 89: Encouraging values and morals in the younger generation by reintroducing religious education in public schools in the UK

Research Aim: This research will study how reintroducing religious education help encourage values and morals in the younger generation in the UK.

Topic 90: Healthy eating habits and the role of public schools offering courses such as meal choice, cooking and home economics

Research Aim: This research will explore the benefits of cooking and home economic courses and promote healthy eating.

Topic 91: How public school students can be encouraged to participate in sporting activities?

Research Aim: This research will assess how public school students can be encouraged to participate in sporting activities.

Topic 92: The perception of special education administrators on the use of paraprofessionals in the education of students with disabilities

Topic 93: the perception of special education administrators on the use of paraprofessionals in the education of students with disabilities.

Research Aim: This research will discuss special education administrators and how they help offer quality education to disabled students.

Topic 94: Educating students with disabilities and the beliefs of public school principals

Research Aim: This research will explore the beliefs of public school principals and how these beliefs help offer quality education to disabled students.

Topic 95: Advanced teaching tools in public school classrooms – How they Help Improve Quality Education

Research Aim:  This research will explore how quality education is provided by implementing innovative technology in classrooms.

Read More About   Public Schools in the UK

Home Schooling Dissertation Topics

Homeschooling is a highly growing educational phenomenon in developed countries. Any form of education that children obtain within their home setting under the supervision of their parents/adults is classified as homeschooling. Some interesting home school dissertation topics are suggested below:

Topic 96: A qualitative study to understand the significance of the role of information technology in homeschooling

Research Aim: This research will assess the importance of information technology for homeschooling through qualitative research.

Topic 97: The advantages and disadvantages of home schooling – Do home children perform with the top private and public school students?

Research Aim: This research will assess the pros and cons of home-schooling. It will also assess the performance of home schooled-students as compared to private and public school students.

Topic 98: A qualitative analysis of socialisation and academic accomplishments among home schooled university students

Research Aim: This research will be a qualitative analysis with respect to socialisation and academic accomplishments with respect to home schooled university students.

Topic 99: Factors motivating students to choose home schooling over conventional schooling systems

Research Aim: This study will explore the factors that motivate students to opt for homeschooling over the conventional schooling system.

Topic 100: A qualitative study to understand the parental motivation for home-schooling

Research Aim: This will be a qualitative study to assess the parental motivation to home-school their children.

Topic 101: Are partnerships available in homeschooling? Exploring their Effectiveness

Research Aim: This research will explore whether partnerships are available in homeschooling or not and how beneficial they prove to be.

Topic 102: A qualitative analysis to understand the educational beliefs of home schooled pupils and their parents

Research Aim: This research will conduct a qualitative analysis to assess the educational beliefs of homeschooled students and their parents.

Topic 103: A qualitative analysis of the relationship between financial literacy and homeschooling

Research Aim: This research will assess whether there is a relationship between homeschooling and financial literacy or not.

Topic 104: The duties and responsibilities of parents concerning the homeschooling of their children

Research Aim: This research will explore the duties and responsibilities of parents with respect to the homeschooling of their children.

Topic 105: Do Homeschool Children Develop Personalities and Characters Like Private and Public Schooled Children?

Research Aim: This research will explore whether homeschooled children build strong character and confident personalities just like private and public schooled students or not.

Latest Education Dissertation Topics

• A Comparative Study on the Impact of Technology Integration on Student Learning Outcomes
• The Role of Teacher Feedback in Student Academic Achievement
• Efficacy of Differentiated Instruction in Diverse Classroom Settings
• Influence of Socioeconomic Factors on Educational Attainment
• Investigating the Effectiveness of Inquiry-Based Learning in Science Education
• Promoting Critical Thinking Skills Through Literature-Based Instruction
• Examining the Relationship Between Parental Involvement and Student Success
• Implementing Culturally Responsive Pedagogy in Urban Schools
• The Impact of Early Childhood Education Programs on Long-Term Academic Success
• The Effects of Gender Bias in Classroom Interactions on Student Achievement
• Impact of School Climate on Student Well-being and Academic Performance
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Teacher Effectiveness
• The Influence of Motivation on Student Engagement and Achievement
• The Impact of Peer Tutoring on Academic Achievement in Mathematics
• Exploring the Relationship Between Student-Teacher Rapport and Classroom Behaviour

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A system that works for everyone, important notes:.

As a student of education looking to get good grades, it is essential to develop new ideas and experiment with existing education theories – i.e., to add value and interest to your research topic.

The field of education is vast and interrelated with so many other academic disciplines. That is why creating an education dissertation topic that is particular, sound, and actually solves a practical problem that may be rampant in the field is imperative.

We can’t stress how important it is to develop a logical research topic; it is the basis of your entire research. There are several significant downfalls to getting your topic wrong; your supervisor may not be interested in working on it, the topic has no academic creditability, the research may not make logical sense, and there is a possibility that the study is not viable.

This impacts your time and efforts in  writing your dissertation , as you may end up in a cycle of rejection at the very initial stage of the dissertation. That is why we recommend reviewing existing research to develop a topic, taking advice from your supervisor, and even asking for help in this particular stage of your dissertation.

While developing a research topic, keeping our advice in mind will allow you to pick one of the best education dissertation topics that fulfils your requirement of writing a research paper and add to the body of knowledge.

Therefore, it is recommended that when finalizing your dissertation topic, you read recently published literature to identify gaps in the research that you may help fill.

Remember- dissertation topics need to be unique, solve an identified problem, be logical, and be practically implemented. Take a look at some of our sample education dissertation topics to get an idea for your own dissertation.

How to Structure Your Education Dissertation

A well-structured   dissertation can help students   to achieve a high overall academic grade.

• A Title Page
• Acknowledgements
• Declaration
• Abstract: A summary of the research completed
• Table of Contents
• Introduction : This chapter includes the project rationale, research background, key research aims and objectives, and the research problems. An outline of the structure of a dissertation can also be added to this chapter.
• Literature Review :  This chapter presents relevant theories and frameworks by analysing published and unpublished literature available on the chosen research topic in light of research questions to be addressed. The purpose is to highlight and discuss the relative weaknesses and strengths of the selected research area while identifying any research gaps. A breakdown of the topic and key terms can positively impact your dissertation and your tutor.
• Methodology: The  data collection  and  analysis methods and techniques employed by the researcher are presented in the Methodology chapter, which usually includes  research design, research philosophy, research limitations, code of conduct, ethical consideration, data collection methods, and  data analysis strategy .
• Findings and Analysis: The findings  of the research are analysed in detail under the Findings and Analysis chapter. All key findings/results are outlined in this chapter without interpreting the data or drawing any conclusions. It can be useful to include  graphs ,  charts, and  tables in this chapter to identify meaningful trends and relationships.
• Discussion and  Conclusion: The researcher presents his interpretation of the results in this chapter and states whether the research hypothesis has been verified or not. An essential aspect of this section is to establish the link between the results and evidence from the literature. Recommendations with regard to the implications of the findings and directions for the future may also be provided. Finally, a summary of the overall research, along with final judgments, opinions, and comments, must be included in the form of suggestions for improvement.
• References:  Make sure to complete this in accordance with your University’s requirements
• Bibliography
• Appendices: Any additional information, diagrams, and graphs used to complete the dissertation  but not part of the dissertation should be included in the Appendices chapter. Essentially, the purpose is to expand the information/data.

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How to find education dissertation topics.

To find education dissertation topics:

• Research recent educational issues.
• Explore curriculum gaps or innovations.
• Investigate teaching methods.
• Analyse student learning challenges.
• Consider policy or technology impacts.
• Select a topic aligning with your passion and research goals.

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5 Tips for Choosing Your EdD Dissertation Topic

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Associate teaching professor Corliss Thompson shares her top tips for choosing your EdD dissertation topic.

You’ve learned more about why you should earn your Doctor of Education (EdD), and now you’re ready to apply. As part of the Northeastern application process, however, you’re required to submit a problem of practice that you want to pursue throughout the course of your doctoral program.

But how do you arrive at that problem of practice and narrow your area of interest down into a specific dissertation topic? Here are some tips to keep in mind.

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Tips for Choosing a Dissertation Topic

1. pick a topic you’re passionate about..

A lot of work goes into your dissertation—from the literature review, where you’re conducting a critical analysis of what’s been published on your topic, to interviewing stakeholders and actually writing the dissertation itself. Each of those steps take time, so you want to choose a topic that will keep you engaged and hold your interest.

When trying to decide your area of focus, consider the challenges you’re motivated to address and the difference you want to make both during and at the end of your EdD program. The goal is that you will continuously build off your dissertation research and leverage the work in a way that positively impacts your organization and/or community.

2. Ensure your topic is manageable.

You want to select a topic you can complete during the duration of your EdD program that is also aligned with your budget. If you need to travel or perform longitudinal research, your idea might not be achievable. Find what available, attainable data you can, and use that to narrow down your research into a dissertation that’s more manageable.

3. Embrace the unknown.

Although you’re passionate about your topic and it’s manageable, there will still be lingering questions about your subject. Be prepared to explore what you don’t know and deepen what you already do know. Strong research typically results in more questions.

Be ready to ask questions of yourself, others, and the literature, and get comfortable with not knowing the answer. As you’re thinking about your dissertation, keep track of inquiries that emerge around different ideas. Those may help you hone in on a topic.

4. Leverage your peers.

One benefit of enrolling in an EdD program is the diversity of backgrounds and opinions you’ll find within your cohort. At Northeastern, EdD instruction is primarily online, which enables students to connect and collaborate with professionals from around the world.

Vasiliki Goudanas Mavroudhis, a recent graduate of Northeastern’s EdD program, emphasized this benefit in her piece on what it’s like to be in an online doctoral program , saying:

The ability to not only have a cohort-based network, but one that crossed cohorts and continents, allowed me to have a far richer and deeper experience. I learned from students with different perspectives who came from different industries across a number of countries.

When fleshing out your dissertation, use that global network to your advantage. Ask your peers for constructive feedback. It’s likely they’ll have suggestions on how you can approach your topic from different cultural perspectives.

5. Know it’s OK to change your topic.

It’s natural for your dissertation topic to evolve the more research you complete and experts you interview. Actually, it’s expected.

Switching topics halfway through the program might seem like more work, but you will have already gone through the research process once and laid the foundation for your dissertation. As you approach your topic from different perspectives, it’s understandable if your own viewpoint changes a bit.

If you’re in need of inspiration, here are some examples of doctoral research Northeastern students have recently conducted:

• “The Drop Out Decisions of Latino College Students”
• “Changing the Experiences of African Refugee Youth”
• “Supporting Students Through Mindful Mentoring”
• “The Transitioning Student Veteran: Finding Your Civilian Career Through Academic Success”
• “Bridging the Gap Between Training and Educating in Adult Learning”
• “Watch out for Shards from the Glass Ceiling: A Study of Women Higher Educational Administrators’ Leadership Development Experiences”

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What to Consider When Deciding on a Dissertation Topic in Education

Your dissertation is one of the most critical aspects of completing an EdD program. It allows you to contribute novel research to your field, potentially providing a foundation for future academic research. A good dissertation can also inform your career prospects because employers may seek out graduates with specific expertise.

However, the dissertation process is mystifying and stressful for many incoming students. Perhaps that’s why so many graduate students end up leaving school before completing their thesis. At SNU, we understand that dissertations are a common barrier to EdD completion. That’s why we offer intensive support to help our students finish this important piece of scholarship. The dissertation is integrated into the curriculum so you can steadily complete it throughout your SNU tenure, and the process begins with choosing the right topic. Here’s what you should consider while exploring your options:

What Topic Should I Choose for My Dissertation?

A good dissertation topic contributes novel research to the field. So before you begin your research, it’s crucial to familiarize yourself with what is already published. The SNU dissertation process begins with your dissertation advisor, who will help you brainstorm topics.

Here are some hallmarks of good dissertation topics:

• They contribute new and innovative research to the field.
• They cover a topic people are likely to be interested in. It’s even better if the topic is timely and relevant to current trends in the field. For example, an educator might write about the effects of COVID-19 on early learning and socialization.
• They are informed by past research. It’s not enough to speculate on what you think might be true. You must conduct a thorough literature review so your topic can build upon ongoing innovation in your field.
• They anticipate objections and alternative perspectives. Your dissertation will be strongest when you can be charitable to alternative views. Doing so enables you to make a more compelling argument.

How to Choose a Dissertation Topic in Education

The field of education has undergone many changes in recent years, including the COVID-19 pandemic, new economic challenges, and increased awareness of the importance of diversity. These changes have nurtured fertile ground for a wide range of dissertation topics. You may find that the challenge isn’t so much finding a good topic, but finding one that’s relevant to your research interests and talents. Some things to consider when choosing a topic include:

Your Interests

Make sure you choose a topic you are passionate about. You will write better and have more motivation to stick with your dissertation if you’re interested in the topic.

Your Skills and Knowledge

If you’ve already conducted some research in the field or gained career experience, consider building upon those experiences with a related topic. For example, a special education teacher might write about reintegrating neurodivergent students into classroom settings after a year or more of virtual learning.

Your Career Aspirations

Your dissertation topic will not determine your career and is unlikely to limit it. But the right topic may open career doors, particularly if you intend to go into academia or educational research. Can you expand on your topic for the duration of your career? If so, it might be a great choice.

Trends in the Field

The best topic is one you enjoy. However, consider your audience and the larger climate in which you write. What are the current trends in your field? What are people interested in learning more about? If you can answer a question your colleagues are asking, your dissertation will gain a wider audience.

Characteristics of Good Dissertation Topics

As you brainstorm dissertation topics, you will likely come up with some general themes and a few broad topics you would enjoy writing about. Next, it’s time to narrow these topics into a clear and specific dissertation thesis. Some characteristics of good dissertation topics include:

Dissertations either contribute novel research to the field, correct prior research, or expand meaningfully on preexisting research. It’s critical to ensure your topic does not replicate recent research.

Specificity

Your topic must be clear and specific. “How did the pandemic affect children?” is too broad and nonspecific. “Did virtual learning improve kindergarten readiness skills?” offers more specificity.

You should be able to summarize your dissertation topic in a single sentence or question. Otherwise, the topic may be too wide-reaching or lack clarity.

Empirical foundation

Your topic should have a firm empirical foundation. Dissertations are scientific. You must be able to answer a question rather than endlessly speculate.

If your dissertation involves an experiment or research project, it must be well-designed. You will likely need the approval of an institutional review board before conducting research that involves human subjects, especially children.

Struggling to Choose a Dissertation Topic? How to Get Help

The right dissertation topic builds the foundation for years of academic research. So if you’re unsure about your dissertation topic, it’s important to get help early. SNU’s dissertation process uniquely equips you to survey your options, narrow down your topic and choose the right subject.

Here are some signs it’s time to get help:

• You feel poorly equipped to write about your topic.
• You can’t boil your topic down to a single sentence or two.
• You keep finding research that contradicts your original theories or suggests your topic is not viable or interesting.
• Your literature review is turning up very little or has revealed dissertations with topics substantially similar to your chosen topic.
• You find your topic boring and are losing motivation.
• You’re considering changing your dissertation topic.
• You’re falling behind and not hitting dissertation milestones.

SNU’s Unique Dissertation Process

At many schools, the dissertation process is an independent activity. This might explain why so many students fall behind and complete their studies without completing their dissertation. SNU offers something different. We provide comprehensive dissertation support from the time you enroll through graduation. Much of the writing and research is integrated into your coursework, making your classes more relevant and engaging and ensuring you get help if you run into trouble.

Dissertation Topic FAQs

Students considering a dissertation at SNU should consult the admissions office or a dissertation advisor to get clear and detailed answers to their specific concerns. Some of our most frequently asked dissertation questions include:

• Can I change my dissertation topic? Yes, but the longer you wait the more time it will add to the process. If you are far into the process, it might be better to take on another research project later rather than shifting your topic.
• What if my topic is rejected? If your topic is rejected, your dissertation advisor will work with you to refocus your topic or select a new one.
• What happens at a dissertation defense? A committee will ask you to defend your dissertation research. They may ask about prior research, methodological holes, and the role of your topic in the broader academic field. This is your chance to prove your expertise and demonstrate critical thinking and reasoning skills.
• How long does it take to write my dissertation? At SNU, you will begin writing your dissertation during your first semester and continue for the duration of your education. You can finish in as few as 32 months.
• Do I have to write a dissertation to get an EdD? Yes, the dissertation is integral because a doctoral degree shows that you are an expert in the field. Writing novel research is a part of gaining that expertise.

SNU is committed to helping every student succeed. We balance academic rigor with exceptional support so you can delve deeper into your chosen topic, become a true expert and contribute something of value to the field. We support adult learners with flexible scheduling and online and evening programs. To compare your options and learn more about what we offer, check out our free infographic, “ Choose Your Path: Online vs. On-Campus Education .”

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Dissertation? Not a problem anymore!

Guide to Choosing a Topic for Dissertation in Education

Dissertations are a prerequisite for completing any Master and Doctorate programs. It’s an extended academic paper that focuses on a student’s area of interest. Students are expected to develop something unique, engaging, and educational. However, dissertations are required to be new research areas not previously researched.

Writing a dissertation is necessary to gain your Doctor of Education qualification. Here’s where most doctorate students develop issues—developing a topic that narrows their study interest. Students in this field are expected to submit an education dissertation proposal in their area of study and interest, which they will work on throughout their Ph.D. program.

So, how do you develop topics for a dissertation on education that matches your field of interest? This article outlines helpful tips to guide your topic in choosing stage and idea dissertation topics for education students.

Guides to selecting a dissertation topic for PhD students

Your dissertation topic can make or mark your research. Choosing the right topic makes the research and writing process easy for you and lessens the amount of work you need. Here’s how you can choose a suitable topic.

• Brainstorm your study interests

The very first stage before you select and submit a topic proposal for your dissertation is brainstorming. Through brainstorming, you list all the areas in education that fall within your interest and then select one.

• Ensure the topic has enough information

A dissertation will contain between 100-300 pages. To fill these pages, you need a topic that has enough areas that you will touch across while writing. Choosing a topic with not much to write will extend the duration of your EdD program.

• Ask for help/advice

Don’t think you can’t seek the opinion, advice, and help of others when choosing your dissertation topic. Ask your professor, supervisors, peers, and anyone you can question. By asking for advice and seeking the opinion of others, it helps to inform your dissertation ideas for education.

• Choose a solid topic

There’s a difference between interesting and solid. A solid topic helps you develop a compelling abstract. Your dissertation abstracts in education should be able to capture the interest of readers at first sight. A solid topic helps you achieve this because it has a lot of depth.

Dissertation topics in education for PhD students

If you are looking for education topics for a guide, below are helpful dissertation topics for doctorate students in education.

Dissertation topics in early childhood education

• The role of teachers in early childhood learning
• Regulation of children’s television viewing and how it impacts the education growth
• A study of gender differences in preschool and their effect on learning
• Empathy as a teaching tool for preschool teachers
• How preschool students’ perception of their teacher impacts their learning process
• The importance of observation for preschool teachers
• Feedback and grading method in lower grade classes and its effect on learning and improvement
• The importance of games and simulation as a teaching technique for preschoolers
• Exploring the roles preschool teachers have in encouraging the ethical values of their students

Physical education dissertation topics

• The importance of physical education in every learning grade
• How teachers’ knowledge of physical health impacts students
• A study on why schools should prioritize physical health education
• A study of the effectiveness of virtual physical education classes
• Physical education planning and engagement in learning curriculums
• The importance of physical health education on the mental well-being of students
• How physical education boosts the learning abilities of students
• Why universities and colleges should consider including physical education within their curriculum
• How regular recess and school exercise improves the health of both students and teachers

Primary education dissertation titles

• The issue of underfunding in elementary schools and how it affects the mode of teaching and learning
• Primary Homework: A study of how homework assignments affect primary school pupils
• Importance of introducing audio-visual learning and teaching style in primary schools
• A look into valuable strategies that can potentially encourage primary school pupils into class participation
• How to prepare the most effective and result-driven method of imparting knowledge to elementary school pupils
• The potential challenges faced by immigrant pupils in primary schools
• A study into the necessary trait embodied by a teacher fit for elementary school teaching
• Strategies for quickly enhancing the essential learning skills of primary school pupils
• The importance of regular breaks and physical exercises for primary school pupils

Additional education dissertation topics for PhD students

• Underfunding of the educational system and how it affects the teaching capacity of teachers
• The growth of distance learning and its impact on student learning
• A comparative study of online teaching and in-person classes and their effects and benefits on learning
• The importance of free education for students in low-income neighborhoods
• How the rise of online learning affects students from low-income homes
• The rising cost of education and its contribution to bridging the education gap
• A comparative study of self-studying and group-studying on college students
• Gender issues in the place of learning and how it affects both students and instructors

There are several topics to select from when preparing your education dissertation. When selecting a topic, follow the above tips and use the ideas as helpful guides.

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How To Find A High-Quality Research Topic

6 steps to find & evaluate high-quality dissertation/thesis topics.

By: Caroline Osella (PhD, BA)  and Derek Jansen (MBA) | July 2019

So, you’re finally nearing the end of your degree and it’s now time to find a suitable topic for your dissertation or thesis. Or perhaps you’re just starting out on your PhD research proposal and need to find a suitable area of research for your application proposal.

In this post, we’ll provide a straightforward 6-step process that you can follow to ensure you arrive at a high-quality research topic . Follow these steps and you will formulate a well-suited, well-defined core research question .

There’s a helpful clue already: your research ‘topic’ is best understood as a research question or a problem . Your aim is not to create an encyclopedia entry into your field, but rather to shed light on an acknowledged issue that’s being debated (or needs to be). Think research  questions , not research  topics  (we’ll come back to this later).

Overview: How To Find A Research Topic

• Get an understanding of the research process
• Review previous dissertations from your university
• Review the academic literature to start the ideation process
• Identify your potential research questions (topics) and shortlist
• Narrow down, then evaluate your research topic shortlist
• Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Step 1: Understand the research process

It may sound horribly obvious, but it’s an extremely common mistake – students skip past the fundamentals straight to the ideation phase (and then pay dearly for it).

Start by looking at whatever handouts and instructions you’ve been given regarding what your university/department expects of a dissertation. For example, the course handbook, online information and verbal in-class instructions. I know it’s tempting to just dive into the ideation process, but it’s essential to start with the prescribed material first.

There are two important reasons for this:

First , you need to have a basic understanding of the research process , research methodologies , fieldwork options and analysis methods before you start the ideation process, or you will simply not be equipped to think about your own research adequately. If you don’t understand the basics of  quantitative , qualitative and mixed methods BEFORE you start ideating, you’re wasting your time.

Second , your university/department will have specific requirements for your research – for example, requirements in terms of topic originality, word count, data requirements, ethical adherence , methodology, etc. If you are not aware of these from the outset, you will again end up wasting a lot of time on irrelevant ideas/topics.

So, the most important first step is to get your head around both the basics of research (especially methodologies), as well as your institution’s specific requirements . Don’t give in to the temptation to jump ahead before you do this. As a starting point, be sure to check out our free dissertation course.

Step 2: Review past dissertations/theses

Unless you’re undertaking a completely new course, there will be many, many students who have gone through the research process before and have produced successful dissertations, which you can use to orient yourself. This is hugely beneficial – imagine being able to see previous students’ assignments and essays when you were doing your coursework!

Take a look at some well-graded (65% and above) past dissertations from your course (ideally more recent ones, as university requirements may change over time). These are usually available in the university’s online library. Past dissertations will act as a helpful model for all kinds of things, from how long a bibliography needs to be, to what a good literature review looks like, through to what kinds of methods you can use – and how to leverage them to support your argument.

As you peruse past dissertations, ask yourself the following questions:

• What kinds of topics did these dissertations cover and how did they turn the topic into questions?
• How broad or narrow were the topics?
• How original were the topics? Were they truly groundbreaking or just a localised twist on well-established theory?
• How well justified were the topics? Did they seem important or just nice to know?
• How much literature did they draw on as a theoretical base? Was the literature more academic or applied in nature?
• What kinds of research methods did they use and what data did they draw on?
• How did they analyse that data and bring it into the discussion of the academic literature?
• Which of the dissertations are most readable to you – why? How were they presented?
• Can you see why these dissertations were successful? Can you relate what they’ve done back to the university’s instructions/brief?

Seeing a variety of dissertations (at least 5, ideally in your area of interest) will also help you understand whether your university has very rigid expectations in terms of structure and format , or whether they expect and allow variety in the number of chapters, chapter headings, order of content, style of presentation and so on.

Some departments accept graphic novels; some are willing to grade free-flow continental-philosophy style arguments; some want a highly rigid, standardised structure.  Many offer a dissertation template , with information on how marks are split between sections. Check right away whether you have been given one of those templates – and if you do, then use it and don’t try to deviate or reinvent the wheel.

Step 3: Review the academic literature

Now that you (1) understand the research process, (2) understand your university’s specific requirements for your dissertation or thesis, and (3) have a feel for what a good dissertation looks like, you can start the ideation process. This is done by reviewing the current literature and looking for opportunities to add something original to the academic conversation.

Kick start the ideation process

So, where should you start your literature hunt? The best starting point is to get back to your modules. Look at your coursework and the assignments you did. Using your coursework is the best theoretical base, as you are assured that (1) the literature is of a high enough calibre for your university and (2) the topics are relevant to your specific course.

Start by identifying the modules that interested you the most and that you understood well (i.e. earned good marks for). What were your strongest assignments, essays or reports? Which areas within these were particularly interesting to you? For example, within a marketing module, you may have found consumer decision making or organisation trust to be interesting. Create a shortlist of those areas that you were both interested in and academically strong at. It’s no use picking an area that does not genuinely interest you – you’ll run out of motivation if you’re not excited by a topic.

Understand the current state of knowledge

Once you’ve done that, you need to get an understanding of the current state of the literature for your chosen interest areas. What you’re aiming to understand is this: what is the academic conversation here and what critical questions are yet unanswered? These unanswered questions are prime opportunities for a unique, meaningful research topic . A quick review of the literature on your favourite topics will help you understand this.

Grab your reading list from the relevant section of the modules, or simply enter the topics into Google Scholar . Skim-read 3-5 journal articles from the past 5 years which have at least 5 citations each (Google Scholar or a citations index will show you how many citations any given article has – i.e., how many other people have referred to it in their own bibliography). Also, check to see if your discipline has an ‘annual review’ type of journal, which gathers together surveys of the state of knowledge on a chosen topic. This can be a great tool for fast-tracking your understanding of the current state of the knowledge in any given area.

Start from your course’s reading list and work outwards. At the end of every journal article, you’ll find a reference list. Scan this reference list for more relevant articles and read those. Then repeat the process (known as snowballing) until you’ve built up a base of 20-30 quality articles per area of interest.

Absorb, don’t hunt

At this stage, your objective is to read and understand the current state of the theory for your area(s) of interest – you don’t need to be in topic-hunting mode yet. Don’t jump the gun and try to identify research topics before you are well familiarised with the literature.

As you read, try to understand what kinds of questions people are asking and how they are trying to answer them. What matters do the researchers agree on, and more importantly, what are they in disagreement about? Disagreements are prime research territory. Can you identify different ‘schools of thought’ or different ‘approaches’? Do you know what your own approach or slant is? What kinds of articles appeal to you and which ones bore you or leave you feeling like you’ve not really grasped them? Which ones interest you and point towards directions you’d like to research and know more about?

Once you understand the fundamental fact that academic knowledge is a conversation, things get easier.

Think of it like a party. There are groups of people in the room, enjoying conversations about various things. Which group do you want to join?  You don’t want to be that person in the corner, talking to themself. And you don’t want to be the hanger-on, laughing at the big-shot’s jokes and repeating everything they say.

Do you want to join a large group and try to make a small contribution to what’s going on, or are you drawn to a smaller group that’s having a more niche conversation, but where you feel you might more easily find something original to contribute? How many conversations can you identify? Which ones feel closer to you and more attractive? Which ones repel you or leave you cold? Are there some that, frankly, you just don’t understand?

Now, choose a couple of groups who are discussing something you feel interested in and where you feel like you might want to contribute. You want to make your entry into this group by asking a question – a question that will make the other people in the group turn around and look at you, listen to you, and think, “That’s interesting”.

Your dissertation will be the process of setting that question and then trying to find at least a partial answer to that question – but don’t worry about that now.  Right now, you need to work out what conversations are going on, whether any of them are related or overlapping, and which ones you might be able to walk into. I’ll explain how you find that question in the next step.

Need a helping hand?

Step 4: Identify potential research questions

Now that you have a decent understanding of the state of the literature in your area(s) of interest, it’s time to start developing your list of possible research topics. There are (at least) three approaches you can follow here, and they are not mutually exclusive:

Approach 1: Leverage the FRIN

Towards the end of most quality journal articles, you will find a section labelled “ further research ” or something similar. Generally, researchers will clearly outline where they feel further research is needed (FRIN), following on from their own research. So, essentially, every journal article presents you with a list of potential research opportunities.

Of course, only a handful of these will be both practical and of interest to you, so it’s not a quick-fix solution to finding a research topic. However, the benefit of going this route is that you will be able to find a genuinely original and meaningful research topic (which is particularly important for PhD-level research).

The upside to this approach is originality, but the downside is that you might not find something that really interests you , or that you have the means to execute. If you do go this route, make sure that you pay attention to the journal article dates, as the FRIN may already have been “solved” by other researchers if the article is old.

Approach 2: Put a context-based spin on an existing topic

The second option is to consider whether a theory which is already well established is relevant within a local or industry-specific context. For example, a theory about the antecedents (drivers) of trust is very well established, but there may be unique or uniquely important drivers within a specific national context or industry (for example, within the financial services industry in an emerging market).

If that industry or national context has not yet been covered by researchers and there is a good reason to believe there may be meaningful differences within that context, then you have an opportunity to take a unique angle on well-established theory, which can make for a great piece of research. It is however imperative that you have a good reason to believe that the existing theory may not be wholly relevant within your chosen context, or your research will not be justified.

The upside to this approach is that you can potentially find a topic that is “closer to home” and more relevant and interesting to you , while still being able to draw on a well-established body of theory. However, the downside is that this approach will likely not produce the level of originality as approach #1.

Approach 3: Uncensored brainstorming

The third option is to skip the FRIN, as well as the local/industry-specific angle and simply engage in a freeform brainstorming or mind-mapping session, using your newfound knowledge of the theory to formulate potential research ideas. What’s important here is that you do not censor yourself . However crazy, unfeasible, or plain stupid your topic appears – write it down. All that matters right now is that you are interested in this thing.

Next, try to turn the topic(s) into a question or problem. For example:

• What is the relationship between X, Y & Z?
• What are the drivers/antecedents of X?
• What are the outcomes of Y?
• What are the key success factors for Z?

Re-word your list of topics or issues into a list of questions .  You might find at this stage that one research topic throws up three questions (which then become sub-topics and even new separate topics in their own right) and in so doing, the list grows. Let it. Don’t hold back or try to start evaluating your ideas yet – just let them flow onto paper.

Once you’ve got a few topics and questions on paper, check the literature again to see whether any of these have been covered by the existing research. Since you came up with these from scratch, there is a possibility that your original literature search did not cover them, so it’s important to revisit that phase to ensure that you’re familiar with the relevant literature for each idea. You may also then find that approach #1 and #2 can be used to build on these ideas.

Try use all three approaches

As mentioned earlier, the three approaches discussed here are not mutually exclusive. In fact, the more, the merrier. Hopefully, you manage to utilise all three, as this will give you the best odds of producing a rich list of ideas, which you can then narrow down and evaluate, which is the next step.

Step 5: Narrow down, then evaluate

By this stage, you should have a healthy list of research topics. Step away from the ideation and thinking for a few days, clear your mind. The key is to get some distance from your ideas, so that you can sit down with your list and review it with a more objective view. The unbridled ideation phase is over and now it’s time to take a reality check .

Look at your list and see if any options can be crossed off right away .  Maybe you don’t want to do that topic anymore. Maybe the topic turned out to be too broad and threw up 20 hard to answer questions. Maybe all the literature you found about it was 30 years old and you suspect it might not be a very engaging contemporary issue . Maybe this topic is so over-researched that you’ll struggle to find anything fresh to say. Also, after stepping back, it’s quite common to notice that 2 or 3 of your topics are really the same one, the same question, which you’ve written down in slightly different ways. You can try to amalgamate these into one succinct topic.

Narrow down to the top 5, then evaluate

Now, take your streamlined list and narrow it down to the ‘top 5’ that interest you the most. Personal interest is your key evaluation criterion at this stage. Got your ‘top 5’?  Great!  Now, with a cool head and your best analytical mind engaged, go systematically through each option and evaluate them against the following criteria:

Research questions – what is the main research question, and what are the supporting sub-questions? It’s critically important that you can define these questions clearly and concisely. If you cannot do this, it means you haven’t thought the topic through sufficiently.

Originality – is the topic sufficiently original, as per your university’s originality requirements? Are you able to add something unique to the existing conversation? As mentioned earlier, originality can come in many forms, and it doesn’t mean that you need to find a completely new, cutting-edge topic. However, your university’s requirements should guide your decision-making here.

Importance – is the topic of real significance, or is it just a “nice to know”? If it’s significant, why? Who will benefit from finding the answer to your desired questions and how will they benefit? Justifying your research will be a key requirement for your research proposal , so it’s really important to develop a convincing argument here.

Literature – is there a contemporary (current) body of academic literature around this issue? Is there enough literature for you to base your investigation on, but not too much that the topic is “overdone”? Will you be able to navigate this literature or is it overwhelming?

Data requirements – What kind of data would you need access to in order to answer your key questions?  Would you need to adopt a qualitative, quantitative or mixed-methods approach to answer your questions? At this stage, you don’t need to be able to map out your exact research design, but you should be able to articulate how you would approach it in high-level terms. Will you use qual, quant or mixed methods? Why?

Feasibility – How feasible would it be to gather the data that would be needed in the time-frame that you have – and do you have the will power and the skills to do it? If you’re not confident with the theory, you don’t want something that’s going to draw you into a debate about the relative importance of epistemology and ontology. If you are shy, you won’t want to be doing ethnographic interviews. If you feel this question calls for a 100-person survey, do you have the time to plan, organise and conduct it and then analyse it? What will you do if you don’t get the response rate you expect? Be very realistic here and also ask advice from your supervisor and other experts – poor response rates are extremely common and can derail even the best research projects.

Personal attraction – On a scale of 1-10, how excited are you about this topic? Will addressing it add value to your life and/or career? Will undertaking the project help you build a skill you’ve previously wanted to work on (for example, interview skills, statistical analysis skills, software skills, etc.)?

The last point is particularly important. You will have to engage with your dissertation in a very sustained and deep way, face challenges and difficulties, and get it to completion. If you don’t start out enthusiastic about it, you’re setting yourself up for problems like ‘writer’s block’ or ‘burnout’ down the line. This is the reason personal interest was the sole evaluation criterion when we chose the top 5. So, don’t underestimate the importance of personal attraction to a topic – at the same time, don’t let personal attraction lead you to choose a topic that is not relevant to your course or feasible given your resources. 

Narrow down to 3, then get human feedback

We’re almost at the finishing line. The next step is to narrow down to 2 or 3 shortlisted topics. No more!  Write a short paragraph about each topic, addressing the following:

Firstly,  WHAT will this study be about? Frame the topic as a question or a problem. Write it as a dissertation title. No more than two clauses and no more than 15 words. Less than 15 is better (go back to good journal articles for inspiration on appropriate title styles).

Secondly, WHY this is interesting (original) and important – as proven by existing academic literature? Are people talking about this and is there an acknowledged problem, debate or gap in the literature?

Lastly,  HOW do you plan to answer the question? What sub-questions will you use? What methods does this call for and how competent and confident are you in those methods? Do you have the time to gather the data this calls for?

Show the shortlist and accompanying paragraphs to a couple of your peers from your course and also to an expert or two if at all possible (you’re welcome to reach out to us ), explaining what you will investigate, why this is original and important and how you will go about investigating it. 

Once you’ve pitched your ideas, ask for the following thoughts :

• Which is most interesting and appealing to them?
• Why do they feel this way?
• What problems do they foresee with the execution of the research?

Take advice and feedback and sit on it for another day. Let it simmer in your mind overnight before you make the final decision.  

Step 6: Make the decision (and stick with it!)

Then, make the commitment. Choose the one that you feel most confident about, having now considered both your opinion and the feedback from others.

Once you’ve made a decision, don’t doubt your judgement, don’t shift.  Don’t be tempted by the ones you left behind. You’ve planned and thought things through, checked feasibility and now you can start.  You have your research topic. Trust your own decision-making process and stick with it now. It’s time to get started on your research proposal!

Let’s recap…

In this post, I’ve proposed a straightforward 6-step plan to finding relevant research topic ideas and then narrowing them down to finally choose one winner. To recap:

• Understand the basics of academic research, as well as your university’s specific requirements for a dissertation, thesis or research project.
• Review previous dissertations for your course to get an idea of both topics and structure.
• Start the ideation process by familiarising yourself with the literature.
• Identify your potential research questions (topics).
• Narrow down your options, then evaluate systematically.
• Make your decision (and don’t look back!)

If you follow these steps, you’ll find that they also set you up for what’s coming next – both the proposal and the first three chapters of your dissertation. But that’s for future posts!

Psst... there’s more!

This post was based on one of our popular Research Bootcamps . If you're working on a research project, you'll definitely want to check this out ...

23 Comments

I would love to get a topic under teachers performance. I am a student of MSC Monitoring and Evaluations and I need a topic in the line of monitoring and evaluations

I just we put for some full notes that are payable

Thank you very much Dr Caroline

I need a project topics on transfer of learning

m a PhD Student I would like to be assisted inn formulating a title around: Internet of Things for online education in higher education – STEM (Science, technology, engineering and Mathematics, digital divide ) Thank you, would appreciate your guidance

Well structured guide on the topic… Good materials for beginners in research writing…

Hello Iam kindly seeking for help in formulating a researchable topic for masters degree program in line with teaching GRAPHIC ART

I read a thesis about a problem in a particular. Can I use the same topic just referring to my own country? Is that being original? The interview questions will mostly be the same as the other thesis.

Hi, thanks I managed to listen to the video so helpful indeed. I am currently an MBA student looking for a specific topic and I have different ideas that not sure they can be turned to be a study.

I am doing a Master of Theology in Pastoral Care and Counselling and I felt like doing research on Spiritual problem cause by substance abuse among Youth. Can I get help to formulate the Thesis Title in line with it…please

Hello, I am kindly seeking help in formulating a researchable topic for a National diploma program

As a beginner in research, I am very grateful for this well-structured material on research writing.

Hello, I watched the video and its very helpful. I’m a student in Nursing (degree). May you please help me with any research problems (in Namibian society or Nursing) that need to be evaluate or solved?

I have been greatly impacted. Thank you.

more than useful… there will be no justification if someone fails to get a topic for his thesis

I watched the video and its really helpful.

How can i started discovery

Analysing the significance of Integrated reporting in Zimbabwe. A case of institutional investors. this is my topic for PHD Accounting sciences need help with research questions

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts.

Excellent session that cleared lots of doubts

It was a nice one thank you

Wow, This helped a lot not only with how to find a research topic but inspired me to kick it off from now, I am a final year student of environmental science. And have to complete my project in the coming six months.

I was really stressed and thinking about different topics that I don’t know nothing about and having more than a hundred topics in the baggage, couldn’t make the tradeoff among them, however, reading this scrubbed the fuzzy layer off my head and now it seems like really easy.

Thanks GRADCOACH, you saved me from getting into the rabbit hole.

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30 Interesting Dissertation Topics and Ideas in Education

by  Antony W

June 28, 2024

Choosing a dissertation topic in education does take time, but it doesn’t have to be difficult at all. Once you find the right topic to explore, it should be easy to formulate a research question, do your research, and write the paper within the deadlines indicated by your professor.

It’s important to understand that the topic you choose can make or break your dissertation. That’s why we recommend in our guide to choosing dissertation topics that you should focus on a specific topic that’s equally interesting to investigate.

In this guide, we share with you 50+ dissertation topics in education that you can start exploring right away. Whether you feel stuck at the topic selection stage or you need more ideas to add to your checklist before narrowing down to one interesting subject, you will find the topic ideas shared in this guide extremely useful.

Let’s get to it.

How to Choose the Best Education Topics for Dissertation

There are four things you need to keep in mind when choosing dissertation topics in the education space. In general, the topic you select should:

• Be relevant: For relevance, you’ll have to determine what research already exists on the topic and then determine how you can expand that study. This is where you look into history and the conclusions made by education researchers who came before you. Of course, you can expect some studies to be dogmatic and some will equally need rethinking.
• Have a scientific significance: If you found an interesting topic to explore, but it doesn’t have scientific significance, there’s a high chance it’s not worth exploring. You do need to make sure that the topic you select allows you to write the goals and objectives of the research.   
• Correspond to the right structure: Whatever education dissertation topic you choose, you need to make sure that it can allow you to structure the assignment based on the acceptable guidelines.
• Have practical applications: Does your topic of interest in education have a practical significance? You should first determine who will benefit from the research or what the results will be and where exactly you can apply them.

Given these conditions, it should be clear that there are restrictions on the topics that you can choose for your dissertation assignment.

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Dissertation Topics in Education: 30+ Examples You Can Explore Further

Here’s a list of 30+ education topics that can fit your dissertation project:

Education Leadership Dissertation Topics

• Monitoring teachers’ professional abilities in the context of a paradigm shift in education
• The willingness of teachers to engage in innovative activities as a factor in the correction of professional conservatism
• Modernization of domestic and international general education in the late nineteenth and early twentieth century.
• Scientific and methodological assistance for teachers’ professional and personal growth in educational institutions
• Pedagogical model for adaptive quality control of student educational activities
• preparing future educators to apply statistical approaches in their professional activities
• Experience in educational engagement with the country’s young subcultures

General Education Dissertation Topics

• The primary goal of an educational organization is to foster a democratic culture among teenagers.
• Harassment of younger pupils in interpersonal connections in the educational setting
• Preparation of high school pupils for dealing with harsh events
• The Internet’s influence on students’ social and spiritual values
• Interaction processes between students in small groups based on a customized approach
• High school students’ cultural self-determination in the teaching of social and humanitarian subjects
• Students’ pedagogical evaluation utilizing virtual reality technology
• The fundamental criterion for building a value-based attitude toward health among kids is joint activities for teachers and parents.

Dissertation Topics for Public School Education

• Are public schools better able to prepare kids for real-world issues than the protected world of private schools?
• Is public education in the United Kingdom on the decline?
• Schools for children with special needs should be entirely public in the interests of society and the children themselves.
• Is parents’ unwillingness to take their children to public schools in the United Kingdom linked to drug and weapon offences and deteriorating test performance?
• Additional food technology courses, focused on cooking, meal planning, and preparation, should be provided in public schools to promote healthy eating.
• Should children in public schools be required to participate in sports?

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Dissertation Topics in Higher Education

• The development of cultural foundations for classical university education
• Interactive strategies for developing interest for the study of foreign languages among students from non-core subjects
• Conceptual basis for building a personalized educational path for students in the university’s digital educational environment
• Using time management approaches, students’ self-education motivation may be developed.
• Through social activities, law students’ self-education motivation is being developed.
• Formation of the student’s civic stance in the university’s educational activities
• Students’ self-education motivation can be increased by using the university’s scientific library.

Pre-school Education Dissertation Topics

• Do preschoolers benefit from their social relationships with their teachers?
• Is home-based early childhood education and care beneficial or detrimental to learners and practitioners?
• What effect does pre-school education have on young children’s social skills and personal development?
• What advantages do children who start pre-school at the age of two years have over children who do not start pre-school?
• Is pre-school education designed to equip and prepare pupils for the rigors of primary school?

Dissertation Topics on Home Schooling

• Should children who are homeschooled follow the National Curriculum?
• Is it good that children who are home schooled are generally educated by either parent rather than a governess or another certified educator?
• Should conventional schools implement programs in which kids may engage from home, through the Internet, rather of visiting school every day, and would this have any influence on reducing teen delinquency, dropout rates, and other issues?
• Should the growing trend of homeschooling be permitted to continue in the absence of further legislation governing oversight and monitoring?
• Children who are homeschooled have less behavioral issues than those who attend traditional schools. What is the reason behind this?

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If none of the topics that we’ve shared in this guide interest you, you should consider getting inspiration from other sources as well.

Consider looking up for topics from the most recent studies in your field or read some dissertations of previous students in your college.

Your supervisor can also be a good source of inspiration, so all you have to do is ask them to share some ideas with you.

It’s important that you choose a topic that you’re interested in exploring so you can start and finish the project without procrastinating in between sessions.

Also, we strongly suggest making sure that your topic is relevant and specific with respect to science and applicability.

About the author 

Antony W is a professional writer and coach at Help for Assessment. He spends countless hours every day researching and writing great content filled with expert advice on how to write engaging essays, research papers, and assignments.

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168 Dissertation Topics In Education To Check Out!

Education considers different methods of teaching and learning to promote positive changes in human life and behaviors. The field instills a gradual process of learning, unlearning, and relearning to transfer values and mold human behaviors.

Generally, education is formal, informal, and non-formal. But education as a discipline cuts across several aspects. There is alternative education as well as self-directed education. Education can also be evidence-based, open learning, and electronic.

In this article, we cover all topics regarding education and how you can get on them for your dissertations. These topics are grouped for easy selection. If you’ve been looking for compelling education topics, this article is your answer.

What Are the Characteristics of a Good Dissertation Paper?

A thesis is a long work of research that gets unreadable when poorly structured; likewise a dissertation. If you want to score excellently well in your research, then your dissertation on education should be fun and engaging. Here are features of a good dissertation paper:

Accuracy: Your dissertation paper must be accurate. By accuracy, we mean it should be factual and reflect real values. It should be devoid of misleading information. Clarity: Writing a dissertation does not mean it has to be negligent of clarity. Ambiguous terms should be broken down to allow improved readability. Conciseness: You can write in two or three short sentences rather than in blocks of paragraphs. Splitting sentences makes for more conciseness. Validity: Your dissertation should be valid and produce the needed results. It should also be topically relevant. Verifiability: If your research cannot be verified, it has failed in providing solutions. Your dissertation should be fact-checked before publication. Organization: No professor will score a poorly organized dissertation. An engaging paper should have an introduction, a body, and a conclusion.

While writing a good dissertation should follow the features above, it should also have a good topic. Below are possible dissertation topics in education you can explore.

Interesting Educational Topics

When your dissertation paper is interesting, it means it engages all senses of the readers and introduces them to new knowledge. Whether you’re writing your PhD thesis or an undergraduate dissertation about education, here are a few most interesting dissertation ideas in education you can choose from:

• Discuss the advantages and disadvantages of sex education to youths.
• Examine the benefits and impacts of technology on education.
• Trace the evolution of educational approaches in history.
• What are the implications of virtual education on traditional students?
• What are your opinions on same-sex schools and their impact on sexuality?
• Theoretical education or practical education; which would you go for?
• Is apprenticeship necessary for developing educational systems?
• What are your perspectives on grade calculation using the Bell Curve?
• Virtual education: what are the ways to keep students engaged?
• Education and dress code: are some of the rules outdated?
• Principles and approach: what makes the modern teacher?
• How to help students navigate through the huge virtual library.
• The role of education in curtailing the classroom and cyberbullying.
• Detail the history of some of the greatest schools in the world.
• Explore the contributions of some of the greatest teachers in the world.
• What are the functions of education in dealing with school violence?
• Discuss character building as the primary role of education.
• Explain how the concept of basic education differs from one country to another.
• Racism and discrimination: how schools contribute to the crisis.
• Should there be a radical change to the modern curriculum?
• Review how homeschooling negatively impacts students.
• What do you think are factors responsible for school dropouts?
• Uniformity in schools and how it has overstayed its roles.
• Should schools move to offer courses that only meet the future?
• Bilingual education: meaning, roles, benefits, and effects.

Fascinating List of Dissertation Topics in Education

Education topics can be fascinating, but you’ll need to be intentional about them. We mean you can get topics on education that charm your readers and delight your professors. If this is what you want, here is a list of education dissertation topics we consider highly fascinating:

• What do you think about ability grouping enhancing academic performance?
• Blended learning: what are the effects of online education mixed with traditional education?
• Examine the impact of bringing students through the same buses on academic outcomes.
• How does a bigger class size influence academic performance?
• Digital literacy and how it affects students’ learning and capabilities.
• How essential is preschool to academic development?
• Do homeschoolers perform better than traditional students?
• How can schools and institutions devise learning styles that engage students?
• Should teachers receive standard salaries or be paid based on performance?
• The unfairness of standard testing in deciding academic potential.
• Is distance learning the future of education learning?
• Diversity in schools and how students can benefit from it.
• Should the use of smartphones in classrooms be banned?
• Why should the level of education inform employment?
• Why do people with degrees get paid less in the 21st century?
• What considerations make education a fundamental human right?
• How does the level of education influence social and economic status?
• What are the benefits and risks of learning a second language while in school?
• What is the usefulness of soft skills in the modern-day workplace?
• What are the impacts of globalization on the online education system?
• What is the role of the school towards ensuring the good mental wellbeing of students?
• Discuss the historical bias in western education systems against blacks.
• Probe the gender bias of school policies and explain the way forward.
• Factors responsible for the decline of ethics in schools.
• Why there should be a balance between extracurricular activities and students’ academics.

Controversial Dissertation Topics in Education

Sometimes, it gets controversial when issues become opinionated. But controversy can be fun, too, especially when the topics are about education. These dissertation topics below, themed on education, will give you the needed heat to enjoy the dynamism of education:

• Girls or boys: which gender does better at school?
• At what years should children start learning in school?
• Should young people leave school at an early age to join the workforce?
• Education should only be mandated for the selected few and not for all.
• Explain why teachers should be tested regardless of their qualifications.
• Women or men: who become better teachers and why?
• School bullies should be sent out of schools and homeschooled instead.
• School bullying: should we blame the parents, teachers, or society?
• Reasons school uniforms should be scrapped from schools.
• Excluding religious studies from schools is the right decision against terrorism.
• All western schools should prohibit any forms of religious wear.
• Inclusiveness in schools should not consider religious beliefs.
• Should the school take up guns to protect the students?
• Would you rather be homeschooled or follow the traditional education system?
• Education system: online education vs. traditional education.
• Analyze how students in mixed schools perform better than those in same-sex schools.
• Which is more important: practical education or theoretical education?
• Should the government spend more on education than other sectors?
• Is it necessary for teachers to have parenting skills?
• Why should the world drive towards a global education system?
• Should grades be retained or scrapped?
• Should students learn how to type rather than how to write?
• Probe why foreign languages should be allowed at schools.
• What are your opinions on sex education classes?
• Should students be mandated to learn how to code?

Childhood Education Dissertations Topics

We all have childhood memories without which a lot of things wouldn’t have been. But what better way to improve them if not to research them? Childhood education talks about the cognitive and behavioral growth of children. Here are thesis topics in education that boldly reflect that:

• Academic performance of children with disabilities through the use of technology.
• Perception of parents towards play-based learning in schools.
• Relationship between children’s grades and the race for excellence.
• A comparative analysis of children’s phonics and whole language learning.
• Effect of technology on children’s academic behaviors.
• How should teachers teach children gender norms and identity?
• Explore Piaget’s theory and contributions to childhood education.
• Should schools adopt authoritarian strategies towards children’s behavior management?
• Challenges confronting the integration of autistic children into mainstream classrooms.
• What are the impacts of seating arrangements on children’s academic performance?
• What are the barriers responsible for effective classroom inclusion?
• Should children be taught the essence of diversity?
• Impacts of homework on low-income black children’s grades?
• A critical review of teachers’ and parents’ roles on children’s moral upbringing.
• Problems faced by children of immigrant parents in schools.
• At what age should the school allow parents to introduce children to technology?
• How are male teachers different from female teachers in considering children’s education?
• Discuss how schools should attend to drug use tendencies among poor children.
• What are the impacts of a negative community on poor children?
• Challenges faced by teachers in teaching an inclusive class in lower schools.
• The emergence of coding and the need to teach children as early as possible.
• Explain the theory and practice of video games in improving children’s academic performance.
• Creating an efficient school environment in developing early childhood education.
• Combining outdoor learning with a basic curriculum to develop children’s cognitive brilliance.
• Should children rather be taught in schools, homeschooled, or enrolled in virtual education?

Special Education Dissertation Ideas

Special education suggests the instructional needs of students with disabilities. It cuts across the classroom, hospital, learning institutions, and other educational settings. This form of education fosters learning inclusion. Below are topics that capture special education dissertation ideas:

• Detail the history of special education in the United States.
• What role do parents play in the education of children with special needs?
• The social networking of children with behavioral and emotional disabilities.
• Technological growth and the support of children with special education.
• How can Artificial Intelligence improve the educational development of children with special needs?
• The challenges of integrating children with disorders and functioning children.
• How students with mental disabilities can improve academic performance.
• Impacts of classroom bullying on disabled students.
• What are the problems to reducing Assistive Technology for children with autism?
• Is disability a threat to teaching and classroom inclusion?
• Including children with learning differences and the promotion of learning experiences.
• Videogames as a learning tool for children with disabilities.
• Deaf students and their exclusion from learning in lower schools.
• Threats to inclusive education and the way forward.
• Why teachers should be trained to be more inclusive in perspective transformation.
• An analysis of teacher support programs in guiding children with an emotional disorder.
• The significant relationship between urban areas and children’s emotional disturbance.
• A critical study of emotional issues faced by marginalized students.
• Sign languages and the drive for its global adoption in schools.
• Problems of speech-recognition software on students with exceptionalities.
• What are your opinions on expelling students identified as emotionally disturbed?
• Should students with special needs be provided with personal digital assistants?
• The need for personal care assistants in special education schools.
• What are the most effective therapies for students with emotional disturbance?
• Understanding special education support and impact on inclusive learning.

Physical Education Thesis Topics

Physical education teaches the development of students’ physical competence and mental well-being. For students to perform a wide range of activities, they need to be in the right physical and mental mindset. We have listed below engaging physical education thesis topics for an impressive dissertation:

• How essential is physical literacy to the academic performance of students?
• Integration of motor skill assessments into the academic curriculum.
• Explain how exercises improve self-confidence in students with special needs.
• Should augmented physical education be introduced to schools?
• Discuss how teachers’ involvement in physical activities improves academic welfare.
• Threats to planning a comprehensive physical activity program in schools.
• Impacts of physical education on the social skills of students.
• What is the correlation between teaching behaviors and physical activities?
• How can physical education promote peace and inclusion in schools?
• How exercises lead to effective rehabilitation of students with emotional disturbance.
• A critical study of how physical education improves general well-being is students.
• Impacts of sports on the development of educational infrastructure.
• The relationship between exercises and positive grade performance.
• Analyze the impacts of computerized sports on students’ fitness performance.
• What are the impacts of observational learning in sports on academic performance?
• Soft skills acquisition through active engagement in physical exercises.
• Role of physical activity and dietary supplements on the performance of students.
• Investigating the role of aerobic capacity and muscular exercises on undergraduate students.
• Prison education: understanding the need for policy changes in health and physical education.
• Role of inclusive physical education towards diversity tolerance.
• Impacts of physical education on the learning performance of elementary students.
• A critical evaluation of sporting facilities in the education sector.
• Teaching physical fitness improves self-perception in adolescents. Discuss.
• How methods conflict with the boundaries of physical education.
• What are your opinions on physical education as a tool to curtail crime rates?

Higher Education Dissertation Topics

Higher education is tertiary education that awards an academic degree. It is the next level of education after secondary education. Below is a list of higher education dissertation topics you can use for your research:

• What factors are responsible for the decline in the Humanities?
• Account for the discrepancy in students’ job preparation and skill development?
• What reasons cause the rising debt of students in higher education?
• The institutionalization of racism and discrimination in western universities.
• The prevalence of enrollment agreements in distance learning.
• Detail the need for a flexible, modular system in higher education.
• Why is the modern workplace no longer accepting college degrees?
• What factors are responsible for the divide between faculty and staff?
• What new models or instruments should measure academic efficacy?
• What are your opinions on the autonomy of students in language education?
• Account the prevalence of cheating in high schools and corrective measures.
• Is distance learning the university of the future?
• Evaluating the social and digital skills of teachers after the pandemic.
• How effective are course portfolios at improving higher education learning?
• The adoption of integrative learning approaches and interactive digital strategies.
• What are the challenges confronting modern colleges and what is the way forward?
• What is your perspective on the de-privatization of higher education?
• Reasons the workplace should no longer regard university grades as a criterion for jobs.
• What are the benefits and risks of alternative higher education?
• What do you understand by ‘meaningful’ learning and why does it matter?
• Would you argue against skill or degree?
• How does the consumer approach to higher education affect traditional universities?
• What does economics education mean and what factors predate it?
• What can students’ attitudes towards e-learning be measured?
• Do teachers need a degree before becoming professionals in the field?

Is Your Dissertation in Education Too Challenging?

Education is a wide discipline and it stretches into several areas of academics. But to write a very good dissertation, you’d need to follow some features and keep good notes on dissertation topics on education.

However, if you feel too overwhelmed to get your education dissertation done, we have experts who could help you with it. Why post, ‘write my thesis?’ when our thesis help is fast, reliable, and attentive to details. Our writers are degree holders and provide awesome, custom dissertations at the best prices. Book our online help now!

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Choosing a Research Topic

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This article from the Chronicle of Higher Education  discusses and offers advice on how to choose a dissertation topic that is compelling, manageable, and worthwhile. Although it is written for scientists, this article provides valuable insights that are applicable to other fields. Also available via the Tomorrow's Professor Archive.

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Over 150 Dissertation Topics Ideas in 18 Branches of Science

Updated 20 Aug 2024

Choosing a relevant dissertation topic means taking the first step toward obtaining an academic degree. Let's talk about how to do it right. Also, as a bonus, we have prepared ten dissertation topics for each popular scientific discipline.

How to Choose a Dissertation Topic?

Let’s find out how to choose a dissertation topic. You should understand that the dissertation has:

• to be relevant. It is important to identify what research already exists on this topic and how you can expand it. Historiography and the conclusions of your predecessors will help you. Some of them are dogmatic, and some need rethinking;
• to have scientific significance . The topic of the thesis must have scientific significance. This means that you will have to clearly formulate the goals and objectives of your research;
• to have practical applications. When choosing a topic, it is worth paying attention to practical significance. Determine who / what will benefit from this research and where its results can be applied;
• to correspond to a certain structure. A dissertation is a scientific work, and it should be created according to a certain structure, as can be seen in the table of contents in a dissertation, regardless of whether it is about the humanities or technical sciences.

Naturally, this imposes some restrictions on the choice of dissertation topics. Get a degree faster by hiring experts to " write my dissertation in no time".

Where do I find ideas for my dissertation topic?

There are several options where you can find a topic for your dissertation:

• analyze the topics from the most recent works in your field;
• study examples of dissertations of your colleagues;
• find out what topics have been discussed at recent scientific conferences;
• ask your scientific advisor.

What makes a good dissertation title?

The right choice of the dissertation title is important. So, when choosing a topic, you should take into account its relevance and the novelty of the formulation of a scientific problem. The relevance of the topic is determined in this case by two parameters - the need for its study by science and its applicability in practice.

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Dissertation Topics in Education

Education is one of the fastest-growing areas for scientific research. Here are ten good topics for a dissertation.

• The Role of Technology in Enhancing Learning Outcomes in K-12 Education.
• Evaluating the Impact of Montessori Methods on Early Childhood Education.
• The Effectiveness of Bilingual Education in Improving Students' Linguistic Competence.
• Inclusive Education: Strategies for Supporting Students with Special Needs in Mainstream Classrooms.
• The Influence of Parental Involvement on Student Academic Achievement and Social Development.
• STEM Education: Approaches to Increasing Female Participation in Male-Dominated Fields.
• The Impact of School Leadership on Teacher Morale and Student Achievement.
• Assessing the Effectiveness of Environmental Education Programs in Promoting Sustainable Practices Among Students.
• Digital Literacy in Education: Preparing Students for the Digital Age.
• The Role of Physical Education in Promoting Mental Health Among Students.

Dissertation topics in Higher Education

• Analyzing the Impact of Online Learning on Higher Education Post-Pandemic.
• Diversity and Inclusion: Strategies for Creating Equitable Learning Environments in Universities.
• The Role of Higher Education in Promoting Entrepreneurial Skills and Mindsets.
• Assessing the Financial Sustainability of Higher Education Institutions in the 21st Century.
• The Influence of Globalization on Curriculum Development in Higher Education.
• Mental Health Services in Universities: Accessibility and Impact on Student Success.
• The Effectiveness of Community Engagement Programs in Enhancing University Reputation and Student Experience.
• Challenges and Opportunities of Implementing E-Learning Platforms in Universities.
• The Role of Internships in Higher Education: Bridging the Gap Between Theory and Practice.
• Leadership Development Programs in Higher Education: Preparing the Next Generation of Leaders.

Dissertation Topics in Educational Leadership

If earlier practical workers in the field of education waited for scientists and central authorities to develop new methods, today, due to the rapid development of this area, they themselves create innovative models of pedagogical (educational) systems. Here are ten topical topics for a dissertation in the discipline.

• Exploring the Impact of Transformational Leadership on School Culture and Student Achievement.
• The Role of Educational Leaders in Addressing Equity and Social Justice Issues in Schools.
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Professional Development Programs for School Leaders.
• Leadership Strategies for Enhancing Teacher Performance and Student Outcomes in Low-Performing Schools.
• The Impact of School Leadership on Implementing Technology-Enhanced Learning.
• Strategies for Building Resilient Educational Communities in Times of Crisis.
• The Role of School Leaders in Fostering Innovation and Creativity in Education.
• Leadership and Management Challenges in Multicultural Educational Settings.
• Assessing the Role of Ethical Leadership in Promoting Integrity and Accountability in Education.
• The Influence of Leadership Styles on Teacher Job Satisfaction and Retention.

Dissertation Topics in Business

Economic disciplines present tremendous opportunities for choosing a dissertation topic. Here are ten of them.

• The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Transforming Customer Service Operations.
• Analyzing the Impact of Social Media Marketing on Brand Loyalty among Millennials.
• Sustainable Business Practices: Evaluating the Economic Benefits of Going Green.
• The Influence of Corporate Social Responsibility on Consumer Buying Behavior.
• Entrepreneurship in the Digital Age: Key Factors for Success in Online Startups.
• The Impact of Brexit on European Businesses: Challenges and Opportunities.
• Global Supply Chain Management: Strategies for Mitigating Risks and Enhancing Efficiency.
• The Role of Innovation in Maintaining Competitive Advantage in the Tech Industry.
• Consumer Perceptions of Privacy and Security in E-commerce Transactions.
• The Effectiveness of Strategic Alliances in the Aviation Industry.

Dissertation Topics in Management

The dissertation on management reflects the ability of an applicant for a scientific degree to correctly create ways of effective management in production and find solutions to improve the work of socio-economic mechanisms of different directions. Here are ten topics for this discipline.

• Leadership Styles and Their Impact on Employee Motivation and Performance.
• Managing Remote Work: Strategies for Enhancing Productivity and Employee Well-being.
• The Role of Cultural Intelligence in Managing Diverse Workforces.
• Evaluating the Impact of Organizational Change on Employee Satisfaction and Turnover.
• Risk Management in Project Management: Tools and Techniques for Success.
• The Influence of Corporate Governance on Firm Performance and Accountability.
• Agile Management: Principles and Applications in Non-IT Industries.
• Consumer Behavior Analysis for Effective Retail Management.
• Strategies for Managing Innovation and Creativity in Large Organizations.
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Leadership and Management.

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Finance Dissertation Ideas

The financial industry is constantly undergoing changes that can be intelligently reflected in your dissertation. Here is a list of ten hot topics.

• Cryptocurrency: Investigating its Viability as a Mainstream Investment Option.
• The Impact of Interest Rate Changes on the Stock Market.
• Financial Technology (FinTech) Innovations: Implications for Traditional Banking.
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Budgeting Practices on Organizational Financial Health.
• The Role of Microfinance in Empowering Women Entrepreneurs in Developing Countries.
• Corporate Financial Strategies for Mitigating the Impact of Economic Downturns.
• The Influence of Credit Rating Agencies on Financial Markets.
• Sustainable Finance: Exploring the Growth of Green Bonds and Their Impact on Environmental Projects.
• Behavioral Finance: How Psychological Factors Influence Investment Decisions.
• The Effect of Corporate Tax Policies on Investment and Economic Growth.

Thesis Topics in Marketing

Now let's take a look at the next ten marketing topics.

• The Impact of Influencer Marketing on Consumer Purchase Intentions in the Beauty Industry.
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Personalized Marketing Campaigns in E-commerce.
• Sustainability in Marketing: How Green Marketing Influences Consumer Choices.
• The Role of Brand Storytelling in Building Brand Identity on Social Media.
• Consumer Perceptions of Ethical Marketing Practices and Their Impact on Brand Loyalty.
• The Influence of Augmented Reality (AR) on the Shopping Experience in Retail.
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Content Marketing Strategies in SaaS Businesses.
• The Impact of Packaging Design on Consumer Buying Behavior in Fast Moving Consumer Goods (FMCG).
• Digital Word of Mouth: Its Influence on Brand Reputation and Consumer Trust.
• Marketing Strategies for Engaging Generation Z: A Study of Preferences and Trends.

Law Dissertation Topics

The law is gradually changing and is the basis for the development of new topics for PhD theses. The choice is made in the field of lawmaking or changes in law enforcement practice. Below we have prepared ten hot topics.

• The Evolution of Intellectual Property Rights in the Digital Age.
• Analyzing the Impact of GDPR on Online Privacy and Data Protection.
• The Role of International Law in Managing Global Environmental Challenges.
• Legal Challenges in the Enforcement of Cybersecurity Laws Across Borders.
• The Effectiveness of Legal Frameworks in Combating Human Trafficking.
• Corporate Governance and Accountability: A Study of Recent Legal Reforms.
• The Influence of Legal Policies on Refugee and Asylum Seeker Rights.
• Comparative Analysis of Family Law: Custody Disputes Across Different Jurisdictions.
• The Legal Implications of Artificial Intelligence and Robotics in the Workplace.
• Criminal Justice Reform: Evaluating the Impact of Restorative Justice Practices.

Psychology Dissertation Topics

Successful defense of a dissertation in psychology will allow you to realize your own potential in the field of research of human mental processes and get a high-paying, prestigious job. Here is a list of ten interesting topics in the discipline.

• The Psychological Impact of Social Media Usage on Teenagers.
• Exploring the Relationship Between Sleep Quality and Mental Health.
• The Effect of Workplace Stress on Employee Mental Health and Productivity.
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy: Its Effectiveness in Treating Anxiety Disorders.
• The Role of Emotional Intelligence in Personal and Professional Success.
• Parenting Styles and Their Impact on Child Development and Behavior.
• The Psychology of Decision Making: How Cognitive Biases Influence Choices.
• The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Psychological Well-being.
• Social Isolation: Psychological Effects During and After the COVID-19 Pandemic.
• The Role of Psychological Support in Chronic Illness Management.

Dissertation Topics in Nursing

Here’s a list of ten dissertation topics examples in nursing.

• The Role of Nurses in Managing Patient Anxiety in Pre-operative Settings.
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Telehealth Nursing Practices in Rural Areas.
• The Impact of Nursing Leadership Styles on Team Performance and Patient Care.
• Strategies for Improving Pain Management in Postoperative Patients.
• The Role of Nurses in Promoting Mental Health Among Adolescents.
• Challenges and Strategies in Providing Nursing Care for Dementia Patients.
• The Impact of Nurse-Patient Ratios on Job Satisfaction and Patient Outcomes.
• Innovations in Nursing Education: Preparing Nurses for Future Healthcare Challenges.
• The Effectiveness of Nursing Interventions in Managing Chronic Heart Failure.
• Nursing Ethics: Decision-Making in End-of-Life Care.

History Dissertation Topics

Below we have prepared ten topics on this theoretical discipline.

• The Role of Propaganda in Shaping Public Opinion During World War II.
• Economic Policies and Their Impact on the Great Depression's Length and Severity.
• The Influence of the Cold War on Space Exploration Initiatives.
• Decolonization and Nationalism: A Comparative Study of African Nations Post-1945.
• The Impact of the Silk Road on Cultural Exchange Between the East and West.
• Women's Suffrage Movements: A Comparative Analysis Between Two Countries.
• The Role of Religion in the Formation of Medieval European Societies.
• The Effects of the Industrial Revolution on Urbanization and Social Class.
• The Evolution of Naval Warfare Tactics From the Napoleonic Wars to World War I.
• The Cultural and Political Impact of the Beatles in the 1960s.

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Computer Science Dissertation Ideas

When choosing a dissertation topic, keep in mind that it is based on physical and mechanical laws that have been studied and proven. The scope for creativity in such disciplines is limited, and it is really difficult to introduce something new. Here is a list of relevant topics for your dissertation.

• Developing a Machine Learning Model to Predict Stock Market Trends.
• Enhancing Cybersecurity Measures Through Blockchain Technology.
• Improving Data Privacy in Social Networks Using Cryptographic Techniques.
• Automated Detection of Fake News Using Natural Language Processing (NLP).
• The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Personalized Education.
• Developing Efficient Algorithms for Managing Big Data in Healthcare.
• Augmented Reality (AR) Applications in Enhancing E-commerce Shopping Experience.
• Internet of Things (IoT): Enhancing Smart Home Security.
• Optimizing Cloud Computing Resources for Sustainable Energy Consumption.
• The Impact of Quantum Computing on Cryptography.

Human Resources Thesis Ideas

Here is a thesis topic list in the human resources discipline.

• The Effect of Remote Work on Employee Engagement and Organizational Commitment.
• Analyzing the Impact of Diversity and Inclusion Programs on Corporate Culture.
• The Role of HR in Managing Change During Mergers and Acquisitions.
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Employee Wellness Programs on Job Satisfaction.
• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Recruitment and Selection Processes.
• Strategies for Developing Leadership Skills Within an Organization.
• The Influence of Organizational Culture on Talent Retention.
• Assessing the Role of Performance Appraisal Systems in Employee Development.
• The Impact of Flexible Work Arrangements on Employee Productivity.
• Ethical Considerations in Human Resource Management Practices.

Sociology Dissertation Topics

Sociology is a fairly new science, and it opens up opportunities for scientific research. Here are ten dissertation topics for a sociology discipline.

• The Impact of Social Media on Youth Identity Formation.
• Urbanization and Its Effects on Community Social Structures.
• The Role of Education in Social Mobility: A Comparative Study.
• Analyzing the Societal Impact of the Global Refugee Crisis.
• The Influence of Popular Culture on Gender Norms and Expectations.
• Social Implications of Genetic Testing and Personal Privacy.
• The Effect of Economic Inequality on Crime Rates in Urban Areas.
• Cultural Assimilation vs. Cultural Preservation Among Immigrant Communities.
• The Role of Public Spaces in Promoting Social Integration.
• The Impact of Environmental Policies on Community Health and Well-being.

Ecology Dissertation Ideas

Environmental protection is very important these days - due to the constantly growing number of the world's population, the greenhouse effect, environmental pollution, and other problems. Here are ten master-degree topics in this discipline.

• Assessing the Impact of Urbanization on Local Bird Populations.
• The Role of Coral Reefs in Marine Biodiversity and the Effects of Climate Change.
• Analyzing the Effectiveness of Plastic Pollution Reduction Strategies in Coastal Areas.
• The Impact of Invasive Species on Native Plant and Animal Communities in Wetlands.
• Evaluating the Success of Reforestation Projects in Tropical Rainforest Ecosystems.
• The Effects of Agricultural Runoff on Freshwater Ecosystems.
• Climate Change and Its Impact on Arctic Wildlife: Polar Bears and Seals.
• The Role of Bees in Pollination and the Effects of Pesticides on Bee Populations.
• Sustainable Fishing Practices and Their Impact on Marine Life Conservation.
• Analyzing the Carbon Sequestration Potential of Urban Green Spaces.

Biology Thesis Topics

Biology studies all aspects of life, in particular: structure, functioning, growth, origin, evolution, and distribution of living organisms on Earth. Below we have prepared ten PhD thesis topics on this discipline.

• The Genetic Basis of Disease Resistance in Plants.
• Studying the Effects of Microplastics on Marine Invertebrates.
• The Role of Gut Microbiota in Human Health and Disease.
• Investigating the Mechanisms of Antibiotic Resistance in Bacteria.
• The Impact of Climate Change on Migratory Patterns of Birds.
• Exploring the Potential of CRISPR-Cas9 for Gene Editing in Disease Treatment.
• The Role of Epigenetics in Cancer Development.
• Analyzing the Biodiversity of Fungi in Forest Ecosystems.
• The Effects of Endocrine Disruptors on Wildlife Reproduction.
• Investigating the Role of Venom in Predator-Prey Interactions.

Art Dissertation Titles

Art is one of the general categories of aesthetics, art history, and artistic practice. Let's find out ten dissertation ideas in this discipline.

• The Evolution of Street Art and Its Role in Urban Expression.
• Analyzing the Impact of Digital Media on Traditional Painting Techniques.
• The Role of Art Therapy in Mental Health Treatment.
• Feminist Art Movements: Contributions and Impact on Contemporary Art.
• The Influence of Cultural Heritage on Modern Art Forms in Africa.
• Surrealism and Dreams: Exploring the Unconscious Mind Through Art.
• The Impact of Social Media on Contemporary Art and Artist Visibility.
• Exploring the Intersection of Technology and Art in Digital Installations.
• Art Censorship: A Study of Its Effects on Freedom of Expression.
• The Role of Museums in Preserving and Promoting Indigenous Art.

Architecture Thesis Topics

Architecture is the science of construction, design of buildings, or entire systems of structures that make up the spatial environment necessary for human life and activities. Here are ten thesis topics for this discipline.

• Sustainable Urban Planning: Strategies for Green Infrastructure in Cities.
• The Impact of Architectural Design on Human Psychology in Workspaces.
• Adaptive Reuse of Historic Buildings: Challenges and Opportunities.
• Exploring the Role of Public Spaces in Enhancing Community Engagement.
• The Influence of Climate Change on Future Architectural Practices.
• Innovative Materials and Techniques in Energy-Efficient Building Design.
• The Integration of Nature and Architecture in Biophilic Design.
• Affordable Housing Solutions for Growing Urban Populations.
• The Future of Smart Cities: Technology and Urban Development.
• Cultural Identity and Modern Architecture in the Middle East.

Political Science Topics

Political science is the science of a special sphere of people's life associated with power relations, with the state-political organization of society, political institutions, principles, norms, the action of which is designed to ensure the functioning of society, the relationship between people, society and the state. Here are ten master thesis topics for this discipline.

• The Role of Social Media in Modern Political Campaigns.
• Analyzing the Impact of Globalization on National Sovereignty.
• The Effectiveness of International Sanctions as a Foreign Policy Tool.
• The Rise of Populism in Europe: Causes and Consequences.
• Climate Change Policy: A Comparative Analysis of National Strategies.
• The Role of the United Nations in Resolving Contemporary Conflicts.
• Electoral Systems and Their Impact on Democracy and Political Stability.
• The Influence of Lobbying on Public Policy and Legislation.
• Gender Equality in Politics: Barriers and Opportunities for Women Leaders.
• The Impact of Migration on Domestic Politics in Host Countries.

The correct choice of topic is not yet a guarantee of the success of the dissertation, but this is an important stage that determines the further stages of work. Therefore, take the time and effort to find and formulate the topic. And note, that our thesis writing service is always here to help you.

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• Education /

Dissertation Topics in Education

• Updated on  
• Jan 24, 2024

A dissertation is an academic piece of writing based on a student’s independent research. Being a student of M.Ed, you are supposed to submit a dissertation based on education. It takes a lot of time to complete a dissertation research project, so choosing a relevant dissertation topic is the first step you take for getting a Master’s Degree . This blog provides you with the best dissertation topics in education.

This Blog Includes:

Introduction, how to structure an education dissertation, how to choose a dissertation topic in education, where to find dissertation topics in education, how to choose the right title for an m.ed dissertation, best m.ed dissertation topics, research dissertation topics in education, dissertation topics in education for m.ed in india, covid-19 education topics research topics, impact of covid-19 on education dissertation topics for 2022, dissertation topics in higher education.

Education as a subject aids in the comprehension of various learning methods and forms of education. You will be required to gain critical knowledge of the issues surrounding education if you pick education as your main topic. You can look into topics like public school education, holistic education, the role of ethnicity, gender, and class on academic achievements, adult education, preschool and primary school education, college and university education, child development, distance learning, politics, and policy in education, teacher education, and curriculum when choosing an education dissertation topic.

Must Read Article: Dissertation Topics in Law for LLM Students

Before starting your dissertation on any topic in the Education sector, it is important to be familiar with the universal structure of writing a dissertation. Here is a basic structure for further reference. 

• Title – The title for your M.Ed Dissertation must focus on your research objective.
• Abstract – The abstract part must include a summary of the research problem or objective of the research, the research design and a summary of the results.
• Introduction – The introduction must be included in a precise manner. It should reflect your research in a way that the audience already gets to know what the research is going to include. 
• Review of Literature – The Review of Literature Section must include a theoretical rationale of the problem, the importance of the study, and the significance of the results.
• Methodology – The methodology section must include the description of the subjects, research methods used in the data collection and any limitations issues involved.
• Significance/Implications (Results of the Discussion)
• Overview of Chapter (Conclusion)
• Recommendation
• References – This section must include an alphabetical listing of all referenced text used in the M.Ed dissertation

Also Read: Dissertation vs Thesis

If you are confused about choosing a topic for your dissertation, here are some simple methods that might simplify what you can put your focus on while writing your dissertation.

Choose a Relevant Topic

It is extremely important to select a relevant topic for the dissertation as it contributes to your future. To obtain a masters degree in education, you need to find interesting topics for a dissertation. The topic must hold your interest and include the potential to provide you with a significant amount of content.

Don’t Be Vague

A dissertation is supposed to be a lengthy piece of research work. So the dissertation must be broad enough to explore the topic. It must follow a clear structure to contribute to the argumentation you are going to include in the dissertation.

Research Questions

Do not select narrow questions which are supposed to be answered with a Yes or No. Choose questions that provide you with relevant answers such as

• Can parent’s expectations affect a student’s life?
• Does giving students homework really contribute to their academic improvement?

Ask for advice

Students who are writing a dissertation are always provided with guidance. Teachers or supervisors are assigned to guide students throughout the duration of the dissertation. So remember to ask for feedback or a piece of advice. Your supervisor will have years of academic experience, so their recommendation will only add to your research.

Before choosing a topic, make sure you research thoroughly about the chosen topic. Be aware of the content provided by the topic. You may not get enough information to complete the dissertation, so make sure you find and get enough sources to expand and support your arguments.

Also Read: All you need to know about M.Ed 

Finding a dissertation topic can be very challenging. When you are looking for an M.Ed Topic, you must be clear with your thoughts. Mentioned below are some sources from where you can come up with a Dissertation Topic in Education:

• Try to study the most recent published piece of work to find out what kind of issues are open to further exploration and discussion
• Thoroughly check out the work examples done by other scholars.
• Research the recently published work regarding your subject that is education, and find out what is prevalent in today’s time.

Also Read: What do you need to know about a PhD?

A good title is very important while writing a dissertation. So when you are done with choosing the topic, you must look forward to its relevance. Make sure your title does justice to your research. The title itself should communicate the topic or objective of your dissertation

In these crucial times of the pandemic, education is one of the things that has suffered the most. Educational institutes have been shut for more than 2 years now. All we get to do is online now. Be it work or study. So the dissertation topic in education in the view of a pandemic can be relevant to choose from. Mentioned below are the best topics you may want to choose:

Topic 1: Maintaining social distancing in schools

Topic 2: Increased screen time or Online Education

Topic 3: Impact of COVID-19 on students

Topic 4: Impact of Covid-19 on teachers

Topic 5: How did the Coronavirus pandemic reshape education?

Topic 6: The impact of Coronavirus on international students

Topic 7: Classroom evaluation in the pandemic

Also Read: PhD (Doctor of Philosophy)

To start your dissertation you can choose from a wide array of topics such as:

• Impact of the Internet on the social life of students.
• Educational assessment of students using virtual reality technologies
• Interaction between students of different ethnicities based on a differentiated approach
• Harassment prevention of younger students in school
• Illegal Behaviour of students in high school 
• Importance of self-studying for students
• Development of Time management for students
• Personal development of teachers in educational institutions
• The role of sustainability in educational institutions
• The rising cost of academic education

Also Read: MPhil in English Literature

In order to write an advanced dissertation on any topic related to Education here are some examples:

• How does the education system address the problem of teachers shortage in private schools?
• A case study of gender issues in Indian educational institutes
• A critical analysis of  the teaching method used in schools
• Analyze the depression phase of students for admission in the medical field
• How does the government address the problem of rising fees in private schools?

Also Read: How to get a Bachelor’s of Education degree?

Students who are pursuing an M.Ed degree must be very careful while writing a dissertation as it contributes a lot to their skills and it is the only way they’ll be able to obtain a Masters’s Degree. In choosing the right topic for the M.Ed dissertation submission on time, all the above-mentioned aspects must be given equal importance. This blog has included the best dissertation topic in education you can choose while writing a dissertation. 

Coronavirus’s Effects on Education

The goal of this study is to look at the effects of Coronavirus.

Online educational programs to educate students during COVID-19

Many students’ education has been disrupted as a result of the global Coronavirus epidemic and the lockdown, which has affected students at all levels of education, including school, college, and university. This research will look at the many platforms, schools, institutions, and universities that provide online programs. It will go through how students may get access to these courses and how they can profit from them.

Impact of COVID-19 on educational institutes

This research will look at the effects of COVID-19 on educational institutions. What efforts can be made to guarantee that kids and teachers are in a safe environment?

Role of teachers and professors during the Coronavirus Pandemic.

The future of education in the aftermath of the Coronavirus epidemic.

This study will collect information on current educational practices in the event of a pandemic and estimate the future of education in the wake of the Coronavirus.

What is the impact of the Coronavirus epidemic on education?

Coronavirus has served as a sharp reminder of how human schools are. Students have embraced online learning but are eager to return to her classroom. I don’t think it’s possible to tell whether a student is truly interested and understands the material while they’re learning it online. The goal of this study is to determine how the coronavirus epidemic is affecting schooling.

What steps are institutions taking in reaction to Coronavirus?

Universities are increasingly deciding to utilise social distancing methods, such as switching to more online delivery of courses and allowing employees to work from home. There is currently no government advice to institutions on this subject. As a result, each operational choice made by different institutions must be based on their own local conditions, which differ for a variety of reasons. This study will look at some of the responses to the epidemic that we’ve seen across colleges.

Coronavirus’s influence on overseas students and colleges’ responses

This study will look into the effects of Coronavirus on overseas students and how colleges are responding.

The formal education provided to college, undergraduate, and postgraduate students is referred to as higher education or college/university education. The following are some intriguing higher education dissertation topics.

• The origins of traditional university education’s cultural roots
• Students from non-core subjects might use interactive strategies to create enthusiasm for learning foreign languages.
• In the university’s digital educational environment, conceptual underpinnings for building a customised educational path for students.
• Formation of the student’s civic role in the university’s instructional activities
• Students’ self-education motivation is developed through the university’s scientific library.
• Students at legal faculties might improve their self-education motivation by participating in social events.
• Using time management approaches, pupils can develop self-education motivation.

An M.Ed dissertation must include over  60,000 words and should not exceed the limit of 80,000 words.

You must have scored a minimum Percentage of 50% to 60% in B.Ed and the admission varies for different universities. You may be required to take an entrance exam.

It takes around 2 Years to complete an M.Ed Degree.

Related Articles

If you are planning to pursue further studies that include a dissertation (or not), our experts at Leverage Edu are just one click away to help you out through the entire application process to get to your dream college. You can take the help of our service at any time by calling us at 1800 572 000

Damanpreet Kaur Vohra

Daman is an author with profound expertise in writing engaging and informative content focused on EdTech and Study Abroad. With a keen understanding of these domains, Daman excels at creating complex concepts into accessible, reader-friendly material. With a proven track record of insightful articles, Daman stands as a reliable source for providing content for EdTech and Study Abroad.

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Enjoy a completely custom, expertly-written dissertation. Choose from hundreds of writers, all of whom are career specialists in your subject.

How To Choose The Best Topic For Research

Starting the dissertation writing process is a significant turning point in your academic career. It is the culmination of years of study and research, and it allows you to delve deeply into a subject you are passionate about, contribute to the existing body of knowledge, and demonstrate your academic proficiency. However, before you can delve into the intriguing world of dissertation writing, there is a vital decision to make, and that is choosing good dissertation topics.

It can be daunting if you need to know where to begin or what factors to consider when choosing a dissertation topic. However, It is possible to select a dissertation topic in different ways, and what is effective for one individual may be ineffective for another. Still, the question on how to choose a dissertation topic remain. Fear not! We’ve compiled a lot of information to make this process easier.

If you are interested in science, humanities, business, or any other field, this post aims to provide you with knowledge and inspire you to choose a topic that not only piques your interest but also makes a significant contribution to your academic community. Whether you’re a doctorate candidate nearing the end of your academic journey or a graduate student commencing this exciting journey, this post is for you. Let’s go!

What Is A Dissertation?

A dissertation is an academic paper that culminates significant research, critical thinking, and academic expertise in a particular field. A dissertation, which many frequently require for advanced degrees such as a Ph.D. or a master’s, demonstrates a student’s capacity to independently explore a topic, conduct authentic research, and provide unique insights to their academic community.

A dissertation often involves thoroughly analyzing all the literature about the study’s topic, describing the background and any knowledge gaps. The author then develops research questions or hypotheses and devises a methodology to study them. The dissertation delivers discoveries that support or challenge existing assumptions through thorough data collecting, analysis, and interpretation.

A dissertation demonstrates the author’s knowledge, research abilities, and capacity to improve understanding in their chosen field of study. It is necessary for academic degrees and significantly contributes to the educational field.

Step-By-Step Guide To Choosing A Dissertation Topic

Selecting topics for a dissertation is an essential stage in your academic journey. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you get the most out of this process effectively:

• Step 1: Understand the Research Process Begin by examining any handouts or instructions you’ve received from your university/department about what they anticipate from a dissertation and thesis, such as the course guidebook, online manual, and in-class directions. Although brainstorming may be tempting, it is critical to begin with the essential content.
• Step 2: Brainstorm Begin by listing potential study subjects that interest you to narrow down your options. If you have a specific question or topic you are interested in, this could be anything from a broad topic you are passionate about to a more specific question. Consider your field of study, current events, and any research gaps you have uncovered in your area of expertise. As a result, you can produce many potential topics to explore.
• Step 3: Select a Topic of Your Choice Choose a topic that is in line with your interests and expertise. Your dissertation will become fascinating and motivating if you are passionate about your topic. Make a list of topics you’re familiar with and those you’d like to learn more about. The idea is to select a topic that you will be interested in exploring, and that will keep you engaged throughout the dissertation process.
• Step 4: Review Previous Literature Unless you’re starting from scratch, many scholars likely have already conducted studies on the same topic you’re interested in. Find good dissertations that people have already written to help you get started. Past dissertations can be helpful to models for a variety of factors, including the extent of the bibliography, the depth of the literature review, and the types of methodologies you can use to prove your research hypotheses.
• Step 5: Evaluate the Feasibility Once you have a list of potential topics, consider variables such as data availability, time constraints, and access to participants or resources. You can use this data to assess which topics are appropriate for your research. If you intend to conduct a wide-scale study with a large sample size, be sure you have enough participants. If you’re on a tight budget, consider the resources and equipment you’ll need for your research.
• Step 6: Be objective It’s easy to ‘fall in love’ with a topic or subject early in your research, which might make you oblivious to its flaws. As a result, it’s vital to be realistic about the promise and scope of your project. Take a step back from your topic and examine it from an outsider’s perspective to ensure you stay on top of a flawed concept. As long as you have correctly planned your schedule, it would help to have plenty of time to locate another topic.
• Step 7: Feedback You may benefit from feedback on the topic and research question you have chosen from colleagues, advisors, or other experts in your field. They may provide valuable ideas or other techniques you have yet to consider. This allows you to refine your research question further and guarantee that you are on the right path with your dissertation.

Dissertation Titles In Humanities

Do you enjoy writing on exciting topics? If so, the following list of fascinating humanity topics for your dissertation could help.

• An Analysis of Social Media’s Influence on Public Discourse
• An Inquiry into the Ethics of Digital Humanities Research from a Philosophical Perspective.
• The Middle East’s Intersection of Religion and Politics: Historical and Modern Perspectives.
• Folklore’s Role in Cultural Heritage Preservation
• The Impact of Artistic Expression on Political Movements
• Narratives of Identity in Modern Literature
• An Ethnographic Investigation on the Influence of Globalization on Indigenous Cultures.
• The Aesthetics of Horror in Film and Literature: A Study of Recent Works
• A Comparative Study of Gender Representation in Modern Literature.
• The Psychology of Humour: A Look into the Relationship Between Laughter and Mental Health.
• Medieval Manuscripts and Their Cultural Importance
• Language and Communication in Human History: An Evolutionary Perspective
• Development of Expressive methods of cinematic language in the context of the use of motion capture technology
• The evolution of musical genres of the second millennium
• The Politics and Art of Indigenous Photography

Dissertation Topics In Social Sciences

Here are suggestions on some exciting topics in this area of social sciences below for you to base your dissertation projects on:

• The influence of religion in defining the optimum role of females in a society
• The practice of social work with bereaved Households
• The Influence of Remote Work on Work-Life Balance
• The Public’s View on Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare
• The Contribution of Social Media on Political Activism
• The Impacts of Social Isolation on Mental Health
• A comparison of the totalitarian system vs. democracy in terms of social advancement
• Social inequalities associated with capitalism and communism
• The Evolution of USA family structure over the years – A study of the periodic social change
• An examination of American religious institutions and their influence on social structure
• A Study on how society influences gender relations
• How can the government alleviate the stress that social workers face?
• Social mistrust as a reflection of dysfunctions in society’s development
• The impact of the Internet on the socio-political activity of young people
• Mental Health Stigma: Understanding and Reducing Barriers

Dissertation Topics In Psychology

Here are some dissertation topics in the field of psychology:

• The Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adult Mental Health
• Body Image and Self-Esteem Among Young People
• The influence of family’s emotional climate on the formation of markers of deviant behavior in early youth
• Development of emotional intelligence as prevention of self-destructive behavior in Young People
• The Correlation between the level of anxiety and adaptability for International students
• An Investigation into the Influence of Social Media on Anxiety and Depression
• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy’s Effectiveness in Treating Anxiety and Depression
• The Intersection of Neuroscience and Psychology: A Study of Brain Imaging Techniques in Understanding Mental Health Disorders
• The Influence of Culture on Mental Health: Case Study of Eastern and Western Approaches to Mental Health Treatment
• An Investigation into the Connection Between Addiction and Personality Traits
• A Comparative Study of Aging in Different Cultures.
• The Importance of Positive Psychology in Improving Well-Being.
• Influence of Video Games on Cognitive and Emotional Development
• The Effects of Bullying on Mental Health in Adolescents
• The Psychology of Decision-Making and Risk-Taking Behaviors

Dissertation Topics In Education

You may be looking for a simple topic to write about. In such a case, take into account these concepts for your dissertation.

• The Influence of Emotional Intelligence in Classroom Management
• Effects of Technology on Teaching and Learning: A Comparison of Traditional and Online Education
• The Impact of Cultural Diversity on Student Learning Outcomes in the United States of America
• Harassment prevention of younger pupils in interpersonal relationships in the educational institution
• Analyzing Inclusive Education Practices for Students with Disabilities
• Evaluating the Effectiveness of Online Learning Platforms
• The Importance of Arts Education in Cognitive Development
• Investigating the Impact of Inequality on Educational Access
• The Contribution of Educational Technology to Special Education
• Educational Policies and Their Influence on Curriculum Design
• Examining the effect of financial restraints on female education in East Africa
• What learning dissimilarities exist between neurotypical and neurodivergent students?
• Do stress levels among pupils and performance on standardized tests correlate?
• The Importance of Parental Involvement in Early Childhood Education
• Culturally Responsive Teaching in Diverse Classrooms

Dissertation Topics In Business

You may be looking for a simple topic to write about in business. If so, the suggestions on this list are worth looking into.

• The impact of AI-based tools on business decision-making and overall organizational profitability
• Assessing the performance of global business teams within international corporations: the test of an intervening process model
• How various business-government relations patterns impact industrial upgrading processes: An analysis of emerging economies.
• A study on the exit strategy of foreign venture capital investment in the multinational private business sector
• The Importance of Entrepreneurship in Economic Growth: A Study of Small Business Development and Job Creation.
• A Comparative Analysis of Trade Agreements and Their Effect on Global Economic Relations.
• The Impact of Globalization on Small and Medium-Sized Enterprises (SMEs)
• The Influence of Big Data Analytics on Business Decision-Making
• The Impact of Digital Marketing on Consumer Behavior
• Economic Development and environmental problems in international business

Dissertation Topics In Science & Engineering

The dissertation topics listed below provide a diverse range of research opportunities in the ever-changing fields of science and engineering:

• The Effect of Renewable Energy Technologies on Sustainable Development: A Study of Different Approaches to Promoting Renewable Energy Sources
• The Influence of Climate Change on Engineering Infrastructure: An Investigation into the Relationship Between Climate Change and Infrastructure Resilience
• A Study on the Use of Nanomaterials and Nanotechnologies in Engineering Applications
• The Effects of Additive Manufacturing on Industrial Processes and Supply Chains
• An investigation of the application of machine learning and artificial intelligence techniques in engineering design and optimization
• An Examination of Emerging Technologies and Innovations in Space Science and Engineering
• Analyzing the Potential of Gene Editing in Genetic Disease Treatment
• Neuroscience of Decision-Making: Insights from Brain Imaging
• Understanding the Microbiome’s Effect on Human Health
• The Physics of Climate Change: Predictions and Modeling
• The Importance of Nanotechnology in Medicine
• The Concept of Quantum Entanglement and Its Applications
• An Investigation of the Impacts of Biotechnology on Medical Diagnosis, Treatment, and Drug Development.
• The Significance of Science Education Programs: A Comparative Study of Different Approaches to Teaching Science in Schools.
• An Examination of Emerging Technologies and Innovations in Transportation Engineering.

Marketing Dissertation Topics

Are you looking for an intriguing marketing topic? You can select a topic from the list below that corresponds to your interests and career aspirations in the marketing industry:

• The Importance of Emotional Marketing in Building Brand Trust
• Marketing in the Gaming Industry: Challenges and Opportunities
• The Role of Neuromarketing in Understanding Consumer Preferences
• Importance of Neuromarketing in Understanding the Consumer’s Preferences
• An Examination into the Effects of Influencer Marketing on Consumer Behaviour
• A Study of Various Approaches to Targeted Marketing and Personalized Advertising.
• An Examination of the Relationship Between Marketing Communications and Brand Image
• Exploration of the Relationship Between Customer Experience and Consumer Loyalty
• The Psychology of Impulse Buying and its Significances
• Sustainable Marketing Practices and Their Usefulness
• Content Marketing and its Impact on Brand Engagement
• The Importance of Augmented Reality (AR) in Retail Marketing
• Marketing Techniques for Niche and Luxury Markets
• Cross-Cultural Marketing: Challenges and Strategies
• The Impact of Celebrity Endorsements on Brand Image

Law Dissertation Topics

The law is gradually changing and is the basis for developing new topics. The choice comes up in the field of lawmaking or changes in law enforcement practice. Listed below are a few issues that you might be interested in:

• Military courts and their role in maintaining the country’s defense
• The legal nature and characteristics of the private property of legal entities
• Recent trends and concerns in determining the amount of compensation for moral damage
• Legal Problems in Ensuring Access to Justice for Vulnerable Populations
• Legal Concerns Regarding Cryptocurrency and Blockchain Technology
• Medical Ethics and Legal Considerations in the Healthcare Industry
• The Effect of International Human Rights Law on Domestic Legislation
• Environmental Law and Sustainable Development: Problems and Solutions
• Corporate Governance and Legal Compliance in International Corporations
• Legal Implications of Machine Learning and Artificial Intelligence
• The Consumer Protection Laws in Digital Marketplace
• The Intellectual Property and Innovation: Finding a Balance Between Rights and Access
• The Effect of Social Media on Defamation Laws
• Human Rights and National Security: Finding the Balance
• Legal Challenges in Combating Cybercrime

Fashion Topics For Dissertation

A creative individual would like fashion topics for dissertation such as the following:

• Drawing a parallel between slow and ultra-fast production chain management in the fashion sector
• How capitalism contributes to western cultural landscape and fashion
• The fixation with creating kids clothes that are adult-like
• How social networks contribute to the evolution and spread of fashion trends
• Fashion in Film and Television: Visual Storytelling and Costume Design
• Fashion Journalism and Its Influence on Shaping Consumer Preferences
• The Impact of Street Style and Subcultures on Mainstream Fashion
• Fashion and Personal Branding: Techniques for Building a Fashionable Image
• Fashion and Cultural Heritage Preservation: Crafts and Traditional Textiles
• Fashion and Artistic Expression: The Intersection of Fashion and Fine Arts
• The Importance of Fashion in Social Activism and Political Statements
• Fashion Technology: Innovations in Smart Textiles and Wearable Tech
• The Influence of Fashion on Gender Fluidity and Expression
• The Impact of Celebrity Fashion on Consumer Choices
• Fashion Trends in Luxury Branding: The Essence of Heritage and Innovation

Dissertation Topics In Public Health

In case you are looking for engaging public health dissertation topics, here are a few matters you can explore:

• How does technological improvement contribute to improving public health in affluent nations?
• The effect of poverty on public health in African nations
• How does contemporary technology harm public health?
• Evaluation of different US programs aimed at increasing children’s physical activity
• Psychological and clinical impact on inflammatory effects among African women
• Investigating the impact of uncontrolled diseases on stubborn patients
• Evaluating numerous programs to enhance children’s physical activity at home and school.
• Catastrophic consequences of antibiotic resistance in the upcoming year
• Analyzing sexual abuse in a public health setting in India
• Behavioral changes in patients with hypertension and diabetes with the introduction of a healthy lifestyle.

Sports Dissertation Topics

In case you are looking for engaging sports dissertation topics, listed below are a few topics you can explore:

• Effects of Personality Type on Sports Motivation and Performance
• The influence of social media on the sports industry
• The psychological impact of sports on athletes
• Effect of technology on the sports industry
• The cultural importance of sports in different countries
• The ethical problems surrounding the business of sports
• The importance of sports in promoting international relations and diplomacy
• The role of sports in fostering gender equality and women’s empowerment
• Utilizing sports as a means of promoting social inclusion and diversity
• The role of sports in the growth of urban and rural communities

Dissertation Topics In Nursing

Here’s a list of dissertation title examples in nursing from a professional dissertation writer:

• The syndrome of professional burnout among nurses involved in patient care
• Organization and administration of nursing practice in the provision of medical services at home
• Effect of feedback on the quality of nursing work
• An Analysis of the Effects of Co-Morbidities on Patient Outcomes
• A Deep dive into the Relationship Between Health Knowledge and Patient Empowerment
• An Investigation into the Relationship Between Quality of Life and Comfort Care
• The Significance of Healthcare Teamwork in Patient-Centered Care
• The Significance of Health Promotion Programs in Preventing Chronic Diseases
• The Importance of Nursing in Patient Safety: A Study of Best Practices and Strategies for Preventing Medical Errors
• The Effect of Telemedicine on Healthcare Delivery

Technology Dissertation Topics

Here’s a list of some great technology topics to write your dissertation on to assist you in overcoming the challenges of finding a topic:

• The Impact of Technology in Cancer Research
• Significance of Technology in Providing Electricity in Low-Income Areas through Alternate Energy
• The Importance of Technology on Mental Health Diagnosis
• Social Media, Mental Health and Technology
• An Examination of the Ethical and Social Implications of AI Technologies
• The Significance of Blockchain Technology in the Future of Digital Transactions
• Significance of Virtual and Augmented Reality in Education and Training
• An Analysis of the Use of Data-Driven Decision-Making
• The Influence of Social Media on Society and Culture: An Analysis of the Effect of Platforms like TikTok, Twitter, and Instagram.
• The Role of User-Centered Design in Developing Technology Products
• The Future of Quantum Computing and its Potential Applications in Various Fields
• An Analysis of the Effects of Digital Health Technologies on Patient Outcomes and Access to Care.
• Genetic and Biotechnology Engineering: Ethical and Regulatory Considerations
• Sustainable Technology: Sustainable Innovations in Energy and Environmental Conservation
• Data Privacy and Security in the Era of Big Data
• Improving User Experience Through Human-Computer Interaction
• Cybersecurity in a Hyperconnected World: Mitigation Strategies and Threats

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Choosing a dissertation topic is an essential step in your educational journey. Understanding the principles of dissertations, exploring several subject fields, and using a systematic approach will allow you to choose a topic that corresponds with your interests and contributes considerably to your chosen field of study.

Use the supplied list of dissertation topics as a starting point for your study, and remember that your dissertation is a testimonial to your intellectual prowess and dedication to advancing knowledge in your chosen field of study. And note that you can always employ a dissertation writing service to assist you on your academic journey. Just say “ write my dissertation ” and we can get started right away!

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Guide to the Doctor of Education (EdD) Dissertation

The Doctor of Education (EdD) dissertation is considered a central component of EdD programs. The EdD dissertation is a five-chapter document that investigates an issue in education, reviews the existing literature on this issue, adds additional insight through a qualitative and/or quantitative research study, and proposes one or more solutions. It is considered the culmination of a student’s knowledge of education systems and his or her training in the academic research process. Most EdD programs require students to formally publish their dissertation and/or present their findings to a group of faculty and peers.

The dissertation and dissertation defense are two of the most challenging experiences students will have during their program, but are also two of the most engaging and rewarding from an intellectual perspective. The dissertation allows students to truly apply all the skills and knowledge they have gained during their graduate work to an education issue in which they are invested. Below is a more detailed description of EdD dissertations and the important steps students should take to successfully prepare for, complete, and defend their dissertation.

Doctorate of Education Dissertations

EdD dissertations are students’ opportunity to contribute original research on and insight into an issue in education, such as educational disparities, curriculum development or instruction challenges, school funding problems, college counseling and guidance, job skills development, or standardized testing. For their dissertation, students complete research under the guidance of a research mentor, and receive academic credit for this work. Students typically attend seminars and/or other classes that provide structure around the processes of developing a research question, formulating a research plan, reviewing existing academic literature, and writing about their findings. Many programs require students to present their findings to a committee and/or publish their dissertation in an academic journal.

The Structure of EdD Dissertations

As mentioned previously, dissertations are traditionally divided into five chapters: Introduction, Literature Review, Research Methodology, Results and Analysis, and Discussion and Conclusions. A brief description of each chapter section is below:

• Introduction : The introduction includes background information about the topic of study and its purpose, the significance of the student’s research, and existing literature on the subject. It also provides a summary of the results of one’s study, and their implications.
• Literature Review : This section explains the existing literature on the student’s topic of study, and places the student’s work in the context of existing theoretical frameworks that are relevant to one’s research.
• Research Methodology : This chapter focuses on how the student gathers qualitative and/or quantitative data regarding his or her research query.
• Results and Analysis : This section explains in detail the results of the student’s study, and analyzes it to arrive at actionable conclusions.
• Discussion and Conclusions : This chapter places the student’s findings in the context of the educational system(s) of focus (e.g. private or public education, secondary or post-secondary) to illustrate how the student’s research contributes to the larger understanding of the educational issue at hand. This section also makes recommendations for the application of the student’s findings to real-world education practice as well as further research on the subject.

Dissertations are typically very long, in-depth works. Many dissertations are between 100 and 200 pages in length or longer, and seek to comprehensively investigate a specific issue or problem in education. Due to the intensive nature of dissertation research and writing, students must plan their research query and methodology well in advance, and seek the support of research mentors and other faculty throughout the process.

Overview of the EdD Dissertation Completion Process

In general, students begin thinking about their dissertation topic during the second year of their program. The second year is also when students begin taking courses in research and data analysis. The term prior to the beginning of their independent research, students typically take a dissertation seminar, during which they discuss potential research topics to explore and learn more about the academic research process. During their third year, students delve into independent research, while still receiving guidance from their selected faculty research mentor. Students generally submit several drafts to a dissertation committee for review and revision suggestions before they finalize their paper. Upon the completion of their dissertation, students may be required to publish their writing and/or present on their research.

Below is a general timeline of the dissertation completion process, followed by a description of the eight steps to successfully completing an EdD dissertation. The timeline below should be used for example purposes only, as programs vary in terms of when they have students complete their requisite research courses.

The Steps to Completing an EdD Dissertation

Choose a research topic and review the existing literature.

During their classes, students should take note of the topics within education that interest them and the issues that they have encountered during their work in education that they would like to see resolved. These areas are often rich with potential research questions. Conducting research within these areas of interest by reading academic articles is an important step in finding a potential question or issue in education that merits further investigation. It is important that students select a research question that is specific enough to allow for in-depth research, is not overwhelming, and is engaging enough to students to carry them through over a year of independent research.

After identifying their field of focus and preliminary research query, students must gain a thorough understanding of the existing literature concerning their field, as well as the theoretical frameworks and conceptual models that have shaped current research methodologies. In general, students should start with articles that have been published within the last 3-5 years, and then review less recent studies that are considered flagship works that have shaped the field in important ways. While reading through this research, students should stay organized with their notes, the conclusions they draw from their literature review, and how these conclusions impact their research study, as they will have to write about these topics in their dissertation.

Select a Research Advisor and Committee

One of the most important parts of students’ research process is selecting a dissertation advisor and committee. Students’ dissertation advisors are faculty members within the school’s EdD program who work closely with students to ensure that they select a research question and project that are manageable in scope, meet certain research and writing deadlines, and have the support and mentorship they need to succeed.

The dissertation committee is comprised of a group of faculty members and instructors who are qualified to read through and provide feedback on a student’s dissertation. The chair of the committee is a student’s dissertation advisor, and the student selects other members based off of their work and expertise in their area of research. Many schools have guidelines around the individuals students can select to be a part of their committee. For example, an EdD program may require students to select one more faculty member from within the EdD program (in addition to their faculty advisor), one individual outside of the department who works in a related field, and one subject matter expert from inside or outside the department who can give in-depth advice regarding the student’s research project. Students must obtain approval from their program for their committee member selections.

A student’s dissertation committee not only provides feedback and support on a student’s research, but also serves as a collective evaluator of a student’s research progress and final product. For example, the committee generally sets dissertation chapter completion and submission deadlines to keep students on track, and also listens to and evaluates students’ dissertation defense, which is a requirement for graduation.

Create and Defend Research Proposal

After students receive approval of their dissertation committee, they work individually and with their dissertation chair/advisor to develop a formal research proposal. The proposal typically includes the first three chapters of a student’s dissertation: the Introduction, the Literature Review chapter, and the Research Methodology chapter. In this proposal, students must outline their specific research query and its relevance to and impact on different spheres of education. They must also explain the work that has already been done in their area of research, their methodologies for the study they will conduct, and their tools and plans for analysis.

Once students have written these three chapters and formalized their research proposal, they must meet with their committee to present and defend their research proposal. This defense is meant to identify any issues with a student’s research objective, review of the literature, or study methodology, so that the student can address these issues prior to conducting their research.

Develop a Timeline for Research and Writing

Students work with their dissertation committee to establish timelines for the completion of certain chapters and milestones in their study (e.g. the conducting of surveys or the compilation and analysis of data or records). A reasonable timeline may have students writing the first three chapters during the fall term of their third year, and the fourth and fifth chapters during the spring term of the same year. However, dissertation timelines will vary depending on whether students are pursuing their degree full-time or part-time, how early in their program they are able to take the requisite research courses prior to starting their independent work, how soon they are able to identify a research question, and other factors.

Apply for Institutional Review Board (IRB) Approval

The Institutional Review Board protects the rights and well-being of human subjects of research studies by working to ensure their consent to certain research procedures, and assuring their ethical treatment during the research process. All EdD research projects must receive IRB approval before proceeding. The IRB approval application is generally comprised of any study subject consent forms; copies of any surveys, questionnaires, or other data collection methods and tools to be used; a completed application form; and proof of IRB Training completion. IRB Training is typically completed through an online course module that is delivered through the Collaborative Institutional Training Initiative (CITI) program.

Conduct Study and Analyze Results

Once students have received IRB approval, they are ready to proceed with their planned study. Data collection methods vary depending on the nature and scope of one’s research project, but may include sending out surveys, conducting interviews, conducting student or teacher assessments, compiling student performance metrics from public records, and other methods of collecting relevant data to try and answer their research query. Once students have gathered sufficient data, they move to the analysis of this data to try and find trends or patterns that help answer their research question. Throughout this process, students consult with their advisor and with members of their dissertation committee as necessary.

Complete Dissertation and Submit for Review and Revision

Once students have completed their analysis, they must write the Results and Analysis and Discussion and Conclusions sections of their dissertation. The Results and Analysis chapter is a straightforward explanation of one’s study results and the conclusions that can be drawn from them. The Discussion and Conclusions section places the study results in the context of the larger educational issue(s) affected by one’s research, makes recommendations for the application of one’s findings, and also provides suggestions for further research in the area of study. Upon the completion of a full dissertation manuscript, students submit their work to their committee for review and commentary. Students may go through several revisions and then final edits of their dissertation prior to their final defense and formal manuscript submission.

Conduct Dissertation Final Defense

A milestone in the EdD student’s graduate school career is the dissertation final defense, which is a formal presentation that students make to their dissertation committee, in which they explain their research objectives, methodology, and findings. During and after their presentation, committee members ask questions in an effort to identify any weaknesses, inconsistencies, or other issues in the student’s research. When faced with these questions, students must answer clearly and defend the validity of their research methods, results, and conclusions. After the presentation and questions are over, the committee confers to decide whether the student has passed his or her final defense and will receive the doctoral degree.

Before completing their dissertation defense, it is recommended that students prepare well in advance by attending the defenses of other students within the same program and discussing their dissertation manuscript with their advisor and asking any questions regarding what to expect during the defense. Students should craft a strong and well-organized presentation, and also anticipate questions that their committee members may ask them.

Submit Dissertation for Formal Review

The final step students need to take to complete their dissertation is to submit their fully edited manuscript for formal review by their dissertation committee, after making any necessary modifications in response to recommendations given during their dissertation defense. Some programs require students to publish their dissertation in an academic journal, which requires students to format their manuscript according to journal guidelines.

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How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow

Published on 11 November 2022 by Shona McCombes and Tegan George.

Choosing your dissertation topic is the first step in making sure your research goes as smoothly as possible. When choosing a topic, it’s important to consider:

• Your institution and department’s requirements
• Your areas of knowledge and interest
• The scientific, social, or practical relevance
• The availability of data and resources
• The timeframe of your dissertation

You can follow these steps to begin narrowing down your ideas.

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Table of contents

Step 1: check the requirements, step 2: choose a broad field of research, step 3: look for books and articles, step 4: find a niche, step 5: consider the type of research, step 6: determine the relevance, step 7: make sure it’s plausible, step 8: get your topic approved, frequently asked questions.

The very first step is to check your program’s requirements. This determines the scope of what it is possible for you to research.

• Is there a minimum and maximum word count?
• When is the deadline?
• Should the research have an academic or a professional orientation?
• Are there any methodological conditions? Do you have to conduct fieldwork, or use specific types of sources?

Some programs have stricter requirements than others. You might be given nothing more than a word count and a deadline, or you might have a restricted list of topics and approaches to choose from. If in doubt about what is expected of you, always ask your supervisor or department coordinator.

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Start by thinking about your areas of interest within the subject you’re studying. Examples of broad ideas include:

• Twentieth-century literature
• Economic history
• Health policy

To get a more specific sense of the current state of research on your potential topic, skim through a few recent issues of the top journals in your field. Be sure to check out their most-cited articles in particular. For inspiration, you can also search Google Scholar , subject-specific databases , and your university library’s resources.

As you read, note down any specific ideas that interest you and make a shortlist of possible topics. If you’ve written other papers, such as a 3rd-year paper or a conference paper, consider how those topics can be broadened into a dissertation.

After doing some initial reading, it’s time to start narrowing down options for your potential topic. This can be a gradual process, and should get more and more specific as you go. For example, from the ideas above, you might narrow it down like this:

• Twentieth-century literature   Twentieth-century Irish literature   Post-war Irish poetry
• Economic history   European economic history   German labor union history
• Health policy   Reproductive health policy   Reproductive rights in South America

All of these topics are still broad enough that you’ll find a huge amount of books and articles about them. Try to find a specific niche where you can make your mark, such as: something not many people have researched yet, a question that’s still being debated, or a very current practical issue.

At this stage, make sure you have a few backup ideas – there’s still time to change your focus. If your topic doesn’t make it through the next few steps, you can try a different one. Later, you will narrow your focus down even more in your problem statement and research questions .

There are many different types of research , so at this stage, it’s a good idea to start thinking about what kind of approach you’ll take to your topic. Will you mainly focus on:

• Collecting original data (e.g., experimental or field research)?
• Analysing existing data (e.g., national statistics, public records, or archives)?
• Interpreting cultural objects (e.g., novels, films, or paintings)?
• Comparing scholarly approaches (e.g., theories, methods, or interpretations)?

Many dissertations will combine more than one of these. Sometimes the type of research is obvious: if your topic is post-war Irish poetry, you will probably mainly be interpreting poems. But in other cases, there are several possible approaches. If your topic is reproductive rights in South America, you could analyse public policy documents and media coverage, or you could gather original data through interviews and surveys .

You don’t have to finalise your research design and methods yet, but the type of research will influence which aspects of the topic it’s possible to address, so it’s wise to consider this as you narrow down your ideas.

It’s important that your topic is interesting to you, but you’ll also have to make sure it’s academically, sociallym or practically relevant to your field.

• Academic relevance means that the research can fill a gap in knowledge or contribute to a scholarly debate in your field.
• Social relevance means that the research can advance our understanding of society and inform social change.
• Practical relevance means that the research can be applied to solve concrete problems or improve real-life processes.

The easiest way to make sure your research is relevant is to choose a topic that is clearly connected to current issues or debates, either in society at large or in your academic discipline. The relevance must be clearly stated when you define your research problem .

Before you make a final decision on your topic, consider again the length of your dissertation, the timeframe in which you have to complete it, and the practicalities of conducting the research.

Will you have enough time to read all the most important academic literature on this topic? If there’s too much information to tackle, consider narrowing your focus even more.

Will you be able to find enough sources or gather enough data to fulfil the requirements of the dissertation? If you think you might struggle to find information, consider broadening or shifting your focus.

Do you have to go to a specific location to gather data on the topic? Make sure that you have enough funding and practical access.

Last but not least, will the topic hold your interest for the length of the research process? To stay motivated, it’s important to choose something you’re enthusiastic about!

Most programmes will require you to submit a brief description of your topic, called a research prospectus or proposal .

Remember, if you discover that your topic is not as strong as you thought it was, it’s usually acceptable to change your mind and switch focus early in the dissertation process. Just make sure you have enough time to start on a new topic, and always check with your supervisor or department.

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert?
• Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

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McCombes, S. & George, T. (2022, November 11). How to Choose a Dissertation Topic | 8 Steps to Follow. Scribbr. Retrieved 29 August 2024, from https://www.scribbr.co.uk/the-research-process/choosing-a-topic/

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• Relevance of Your Dissertation Topic | Criteria & Tips

Relevance of Your Dissertation Topic | Criteria & Tips

Published on November 14, 2022 by Sarah Vinz . Revised on May 31, 2023.

A relevant dissertation topic means that your research will contribute something worthwhile to your field in a scientific, social, or practical way.

As you plan out your dissertation process , make sure that you’re writing something that is important and interesting to you personally, as well as appropriate within your field.

If you’re a bit stuck on where to begin, consider framing your questions in terms of their relevance: scientifically to your discipline, socially to the world at large, or practically to an industry or organization.

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Table of contents

Scientific relevance, social and practical relevance, other interesting articles, frequently asked questions about relevant topics.

If you are studying hard or social sciences, the scientific relevance of your dissertation is crucial. Your research should fill a gap in existing scientific knowledge, something that hasn’t been extensively studied before.

One way to find a relevant topic is to look at the recommendations for follow-up studies that are made in existing scientific articles and the works they cite. From there, you can pursue quantitative research , statistical analyses , or the relevant methodology for the type of research you choose to undertake.

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Most theses are required to have social relevance, which basically means that they help us to better understand society. These can use ethnographies , interviews , or other types of field work to collect data

However, in some disciplines it may be more important that a dissertation have practical relevance. Research that has practical relevance adds value. For instance, it could make a recommendation for a particular industry or suggest ways to improve certain processes within an organization.

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

Formulating a main research question can be a difficult task. Overall, your question should contribute to solving the problem that you have defined in your problem statement .

However, it should also fulfill criteria in three main areas:

• Researchability
• Feasibility and specificity
• Relevance and originality

A dissertation prospectus or proposal describes what or who you plan to research for your dissertation. It delves into why, when, where, and how you will do your research, as well as helps you choose a type of research to pursue. You should also determine whether you plan to pursue qualitative or quantitative methods and what your research design will look like.

It should outline all of the decisions you have taken about your project, from your dissertation topic to your hypotheses and research objectives , ready to be approved by your supervisor or committee.

Note that some departments require a defense component, where you present your prospectus to your committee orally.

A thesis or dissertation outline is one of the most critical first steps in your writing process. It helps you to lay out and organize your ideas and can provide you with a roadmap for deciding what kind of research you’d like to undertake.

Generally, an outline contains information on the different sections included in your thesis or dissertation , such as:

• Your anticipated title
• Your abstract
• Your chapters (sometimes subdivided into further topics like literature review , research methods , avenues for future research, etc.)

All research questions should be:

• Focused on a single problem or issue
• Researchable using primary and/or secondary sources
• Feasible to answer within the timeframe and practical constraints
• Specific enough to answer thoroughly
• Complex enough to develop the answer over the space of a paper or thesis
• Relevant to your field of study and/or society more broadly

You can assess information and arguments critically by asking certain questions about the source. You can use the CRAAP test , focusing on the currency , relevance , authority , accuracy , and purpose of a source of information.

Ask questions such as:

• Who is the author? Are they an expert?
• Why did the author publish it? What is their motivation?
• How do they make their argument? Is it backed up by evidence?

The best way to remember the difference between a research plan and a research proposal is that they have fundamentally different audiences. A research plan helps you, the researcher, organize your thoughts. On the other hand, a dissertation proposal or research proposal aims to convince others (e.g., a supervisor, a funding body, or a dissertation committee) that your research topic is relevant and worthy of being conducted.

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Vinz, S. (2023, May 31). Relevance of Your Dissertation Topic | Criteria & Tips. Scribbr. Retrieved August 26, 2024, from https://www.scribbr.com/research-process/relevance-dissertation-topic/

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How to choose a topic for your dissertation

Picking a topic for your dissertation can seem scary, so here are some tips to help you narrow it down.

Choosing a topic for your dissertation is one of the toughest decisions that you will make while at university.

You want to find a topic that you find interesting, one that will enable you to do well and demonstrate your academic strengths and will also impress a prospective employer with your interests and abilities. And, of course, you want to avoid a topic that will lead you down a blind alley or paint you into a corner.

The last major submission of your degree, your dissertation is also expected to prove that you can process complicated information and order it coherently. An added bonus would be for your dissertation to help prepare you for your future career.

To ensure that both the final dissertation and the skills that you will gain in preparing it will help you in pursuit of your chosen career, begin by identifying the kind of work that you hope to be doing two or three years after graduation. (Almost no one gets their dream job within a year or two of graduating; you still have things to learn – and so you should consider your first job, possibly your first two jobs, as training still.)

On one side of a piece of A4 paper, describe this job, its challenges, its demands and its responsibilities as clearly as you can. Make a list of the knowledge and abilities that you will need to do this job. (If you find this difficult, this may be a sign that you do not yet know this job well enough to be sure that it is what you want.)

Now, on the other side of the paper, list the major things that you have learned and the skills that you have developed during your time at university that are relevant to this job.

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Now ask yourself: if you had the power to design and deliver one additional final-year unit, one that would provide the knowledge and skills that you currently lack – but which are required for the job you want – what would this unit teach? What questions would it answer – and what would it be called?

Consider the areas of your degree that you are interested in and yet have not covered in great depth. Or think about how your degree subject could progress in the next few years. This is what your dissertation can centre around.

Consider those who graduated from journalism, marketing or politics in 2000 just before the proliferation of social media. If by the end of their studies, these students had not learned how to recognise the impact of this new technology on the future of their industry – not only how things are done, but the kind of things that can be done – even the brightest graduates will soon have found their once-promising career prospects reduced.

The topic of your dissertation should show off the skills you have acquired while studying as well as take into account your future career.

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Dissertation vs. Thesis: Understanding Differences & Similarities

Many graduate students hear two important words a lot: "dissertation" and "thesis." These words can be confusing because they seem alike. But they're actually quite different, and knowing the difference can help you with your research and studies.

This guide will help explain dissertations and theses. We want to make things clear so you can feel more sure about your schoolwork. Let's look at the main differences between dissertations and theses to help you understand your school path better.

Thesis and Dissertations — Definitions

First, let's explain what is a dissertation vs thesis.

A thesis is a big research project usually needed for a master's degree. It shows a student’s knowledge about a subject and ability to do research. A thesis often looks at what other people have written and uses it to form their own ideas.

A dissertation is new research done for a doctoral degree. It tries to add new knowledge to a field of study. Dissertations need to be original, detailed and well-supported. They're often published as books or as several articles in academic journals.

Interestingly, these meanings can be different in different places. In the United States, people usually write dissertations for Ph.D. programs and theses for master's degrees. But in Europe, it's the other way around — dissertations are for master's programs, and theses are for Ph.D.s.

Differences between Thesis and Dissertations

Now that we know the basics, let's look at the main differences between a thesis and a dissertation:

• Purpose: A thesis shows you know a lot about a subject. A dissertation adds new knowledge to a field.
• Scope: Theses usually focus on a smaller area. Dissertations look at bigger, broader topics.
• Length: Theses are usually shorter (80-100 pages). Dissertations are longer (150-200+ pages).
• New Ideas: Both involve research, but dissertations are expected to bring new findings or theories.
• Presentation: Dissertations often need a formal presentation. Theses might or might not need one.
• Readers: Theses are usually for a school committee. Dissertations are for more academic readers.
• Research Depth: Theses look deeply at existing work. Dissertations do new research and also look at existing work.

When working on these big projects, tools like Aithor can help organize your thoughts and keep your writing sounding natural and academic throughout your thesis or dissertation.

Differences Between Thesis and Dissertation Across Academic Levels

The difference between theses and dissertations can change depending on the school level:

Undergraduate Level

At this level, a thesis is usually a focused study showing what a student can do with a specific topic. Dissertations are less common for undergraduates but might involve broader research.

Master's Level

A master's thesis shows a student knows a lot about a subject by looking at and combining existing research. A master's dissertation is less common but involves new research that adds to the field.

Doctoral Level

For Ph.D.s, the difference between a thesis and a dissertation is bigger. A doctoral thesis vs dissertation comparison shows that a dissertation involves a lot of research, collecting data, and creating new theories. It aims to make a big step forward in the field and is very important for getting a Ph.D.

Similarities Between Dissertation and Thesis

Even though they're different, thesis versus dissertation comparisons also show some things that are the same:

1. Structure

Both usually have these parts:

• Introduction
• Literature Review
• Research methods/materials
• Bibliography

2. Supervision

Both are done with help from a teacher who guides the student through the research process.

3. Other Similarities

• Both are long research projects needed to get a degree.
• They both need to explain research using proper academic writing.
• Both need a clear question or idea to research.
• Students must show they know a lot about their subject in both.
• Thinking carefully and working on your own are important for both.

If students find it hard to write so much for theses and dissertations, tools like Aithor can help keep long documents consistent and suggest ways to make the writing clearer and more academic.

Final Notes

Knowing the difference between thesis and dissertation is really important for graduate students. While they have some things in common, their different purposes and requirements make them distinct. Whether you're working on a thesis or a dissertation, remember that both let you show what you know and add to your field of study.

If you're worried about writing a thesis or dissertation, don't stress. Aithor can help you organize your ideas, build your arguments, and improve your writing. This can make the process easier and less stressful. With the right tools and attitude, you can write an impressive academic paper that you'll be proud of for a long time.

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Maximize Your Teaching Career: The Best Master's Degree for Teachers

As an educator, the commitment to teach and inspire demands a foundation built on knowledge and passion. Deciding that it is time to get a master’s degree or that you want to reinvigorate your teaching career takes thoughtful consideration and planning. For educators driven by a desire to enhance their teaching methods, deepen their subject expertise, or ascend to leadership positions, pursuing a master's degree can be a pivotal step. But with so many options in the master’s degree market, how do you know which master’s degree to pursue as a teacher? How do you evaluate the benefits and drawbacks? We’ll provide an overview of your options and explore how one stands out as the best master’s degree for teachers. 

Master’s Degrees for Teachers 

You first need to know your options to know where you're headed. Here’s a brief overview of the most typical master’s degrees teachers pursue. 

• Master of Education (M.Ed.): Ideal for educators focusing on educational leadership, special education, educational technology, and curriculum development, among other areas.
• Master of Science (M.S.) in Teaching: A research-focused degree aimed at those pursuing doctoral degrees or careers in education beyond the classroom, including curriculum development and educational policy.
• Master of Arts in Teaching (M.A.T.): Designed primarily for those holding a bachelor's degree in a field other than education and seeking both a master's degree and initial teaching licensure. The M.A.T. focuses on practical teaching skills and fieldwork, making it an ideal pathway for new teachers or career changers aiming to enter the teaching profession. If you’re already a teacher, you would not consider this option. Choosing to pursue an MAT vs. M.Ed. is easier than you think. Check out our blog.  
• Specializations in Curriculum and Instruction: These programs prepare educators to design, analyze, and implement curricula and educational programs. Graduates often take roles in schools, corporations, and government, working on educational policy, training, and development.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Master's Degree in Teaching

Personal Interest: Your passion is the best guide to choosing an area of interest . Whether it’s a love for literacy, a fascination with STEM, or a commitment to special education, your M.Ed. can focus on what inspires you most.

Career Goals: It is crucial to align your program choice with your career aspirations. Envision where you see yourself in the future and select a pathway that will help you achieve these goals.

Financial Considerations: Your goal is to balance the immediate costs of graduate school with the long-term benefits of higher earning potential and career opportunities. Advanced degrees are an investment but one that has the potential to pay off significantly. 

Benefits of an MEd

A Master of Education (M.Ed.) stands out as a highly valuable degree for educators looking to deepen their skill set and make a greater impact in their field. It blends the latest in teaching theory with the practical skills educators need to succeed in a variety of settings, helping them lead the way in developing new and innovative teaching methods.

Deepen Your Teaching Skills

An M.Ed. isn’t just about learning more teaching strategies; it’s about exploring the depths of how we teach and how students learn. This degree gives educators a chance to dig into the details of advanced teaching methods and learning theories, making the learning process more engaging for everyone. It turns teachers into lifelong learners themselves, constantly growing and adapting to meet their students' needs.

Step Into Leadership

For those looking to make a difference beyond their own classroom, an M.Ed. can open the door to new opportunities. It lays the groundwork for roles in school administration, instructional coordination, or even educational policy, providing the leadership tools needed to thrive in these positions. It’s a pathway not just to becoming a principal or an administrator but to becoming an educational leader who can inspire change.

Build Your Network

Starting an M.Ed. journey introduces educators to a community of peers who are just as passionate about teaching. This network is more than just a group of colleagues; it’s a source of inspiration, support, and collaboration throughout your career. These connections can lead to innovative classroom ideas, career opportunities, and lasting friendships. It’s a vibrant professional community that grows with you, offering resources and encouragement every step of the way.

Pursuing SMU’s M.Ed. in Teaching and Learning

Southern Methodist University's Master of Education in Teaching and Learning stands out for its dedicated faculty, innovative curriculum, and commitment to practical, research-based teaching methods. The program caters to those seeking to make a real difference in the classroom and beyond.

Our application process is straightforward. We require transcripts, letters of recommendation, and a personal statement. The admissions team reviews all materials and looks for passionate educators committed to their personal and professional growth.

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Choose the Best Teaching Master’s Degree for You

Embarking on an M.Ed. is more than an academic endeavor; it’s a commitment to yourself and the future of education. Among the long list of personal benefits—enhanced teaching skills, increased earnings, and leadership opportunities—an M.Ed. reaffirms your dedication to making a meaningful impact on students' lives.

For current teachers with a bachelor's degree considering a master’s in teaching, SMU’s M.Ed in Teaching and Learning represents a strategic move towards maximizing your teaching career. We invite you to reach out, learn more , and potentially start a transformative journey that elevates your ability to inspire young minds. Take this step towards personal and professional growth and see where your passion for teaching will eventually take you.

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Speaker 1: Hello from my little bunk bedroom in Taipei. If you've been following me since I was 17 and doing my A-levels, then it might come as a surprise to you that I have just submitted my undergraduate thesis. Yes, I just submitted the first big draft of my dissertation. I'm now going to receive feedback from my supervisor so that I can iterate it for the big final deadline in April. Crazy, absolutely crazy. I have learnt so bloody much about the beast that is writing your thesis and I just want to say that if you are struggling with writing it, you are not alone. This is not an easy task. It can feel incredibly overwhelming, especially because it might be the first time you've ever done a big project like this before, but you've got this, we've got this, and I hope my experience can shed some light, which is useful for you. If you don't know who I am, hi, my name is Jade. I go to a relatively new university called Minerva and I study an undergraduate degree in cognitive science. Cognitive science falls under social sciences, but I also have a lot of courses within natural sciences and it's quite an interdisciplinary approach into how the mind works from psychology, neuroscience, computer science, and I absolutely love my degree, but my specific interest is in the science of learning, how humans learn, everything from memory and long-term potentiation to course design. In particular, I'm really interested in bridging the gap between what is known about how we learn and the way that education systems are run and how things like active learning aren't really employed, how there's such a large focus on rote memorisation and basically how we can close this gap between the literature and the systems we employ. So yeah, my thesis is focused on the science of learning and I chose a unique dissertation model in that I have a written deliverable, but I'm also producing a product. My written deliverable is what I'm going to talk about more today because it's what most people do as their undergraduate or master's dissertation, and my product is making a video course on my learnings. Step one, choosing your topic. I swear, this is a whole minefield in itself. It is so hard to choose your dissertation topic. The first criteria I need to give you is choose something you're interested in. It is so tempting to do something which sounds cool, but then you actually don't even want to get yourself to do the research. You are spending so many hours on this project, so definitely try and choose something that is not going to be tiresome. One useful way to get through this criteria is to think about all the lectures you've attended, all the seminars, all the topics you've covered, and think about which one was your favourite. Which one was not a bore to pick yourself up and study? Which one was not hard to get yourself to the lecture hall? If you're someone who listens to podcasts, does further reading, reads books, which topics do you keep coming back to? Especially if you're doing it in your free time, then that is proof that you can probably get through a whole bloody dissertation in this topic and not hate it. The second criteria is to set yourself a goal of what your dissertation means to you. Is this just a project you have to complete in order to graduate? If yes, then you don't really need to worry that much. Just do something you enjoy. Just get it done. Get a good grade. Why not? But if this is an opportunity for you to show your future employer an example of a project that you've done in a relevant field, then choose something relevant to the job that you want. For example, one of my friends wants to work in the area of solving the climate crisis. She's studying economics, so then she decided to do a project about the voluntary carbon markets, because this is something that she can show a startup, a future employer who are working in the carbon markets, and just she can prove that she actually knows something about it. Equally, if you want to go to grad school, maybe you can choose a topic relevant to the master's or PhD that you want to do. And third criteria, know your supervisors. If you know you have a supervisor who is incredibly well versed in this one topic, which you're relatively interested in, but you know it could be a good experience with them, then feel free to choose that. It's always hard when you choose a topic that you don't have a professor with relevant expertise in. I think you get a lot less out of the thesis process, so sometimes tailoring your project to the professors on offer is also a good idea. Number four, you don't have to change the world. It is nice, but don't put pressure on yourself, especially an undergraduate, to absolutely revolutionise the entire space of study. Be narrow, be super, super narrow. Find a body of research that interests you. Read all the lit reviews, all the papers, go through the citations, familiarise yourself with the authors in this space, work out what mini questions they are looking at, and then direct your thesis at one of these mini questions. That's all you've got to do. I really recommend using your summers or your free time to just do this. Get to know the space. Often in the discussion section of scholarly articles, they will pose future areas of study or places that they wish there was more literature on, and that is a great place to create a thesis. Be specific, be narrow, be tractable. Okay, so we've got our topic. Congratulations. That was hard. Planning and organisation. Don't you dare start writing your dissertation without spending a lot of time thinking about how you're going to organise the process. Because let me tell you, when you're first reading a few scholarly articles, you're like, oh yeah, I'm doing my research. If you're not saving the reference, the link, the names of the authors, quotes, wow, you're going to have such a tough time because suddenly you'll be scraping the internet, desperately trying to find the article that you once read a year ago. You're going to be pouring through your notes app or your Notion or your physical journal, like all the places where you're scattered, keeping your thesis documents. Create a system from the start. Where are you going to put it? How are you going to organise it? I personally use Notion. I absolutely love it. Would highly recommend to anyone. I'm going to link a thesis template down below. I was inspired by an alumni of my university. I'll link her templates too. So on my Notion, I structured it so I had all the feedback from my supervisor, from professors, all in one place. I had past dissertations from other students that were relevant or interesting. I had a whole section for literature review so that every book, paper, everything I read, I would put here. And I would also structure it by things like theme, date, names of the authors, all of that good stuff. Interesting quotes I could include in my thesis. This is where I set myself clear goals for every month so that I could keep myself on track of where I needed to be in my process. And it's where I started to structure my outline and introduction statements. Finally, on the planning section, make sure you get Identity or Zotero or one of these scholarly article management systems, I think they're called. It basically allows you to click a button every time you're on a scholarly article and it'll save the reference for you and then you can export it to your lovely, gorgeous reference section whenever you need. I write in APA, which is one of the formatting styles. So I save everything in APA. But know your formatting style. Every university is different. Just refer to your handbook. We love a handbook. So we've got our topic, we've got our planning system. Now we get into research. Once you have selected the general topic or theme, it is time to learn everything you can about this niche area of academia. This means speaking to experts to identify the best papers you should be reading, people you should speak to in the space. This means regularly reading scholarly articles and then pouring through the citations to then read those articles, noticing the common themes of questions in the space. Use as many reputable sources as possible as well. So peer reviewed articles. You can start from a popular article like a newspaper, a magazine, and then sometimes they have references where you can go find the scholarly articles and read those. ChatGPT, Bestie is here. You can even ask it for references. You can say like, hey, what are some of the best five papers written in the last five years that are peer reviewed on this topic? And then all of a sudden you're identifying high quality resources. The thing with research is the sooner you start, the better, because sometimes when you research, you realise that your thesis question needs to evolve or needs to include something you haven't previously considered. So the more you can read without pressure, without time constraints, the better. I started the summer before final year, like deeply researching and reading books. And then this is where I made my notion database. So I'm coming into final year really clear on my question, how I'm going to write it, what I'm going to lean on as resources. Now we come to the writing phase. Bloody hell, so much to write. My thesis is currently 26,000 words, which I know is longer than the average undergraduate thesis, but my university expects a lot. So, unideal. So firstly, when you're coming to write, make sure you use the handbook that your university has provided. So things like APA style for me, they'll ask me for a specific structure. So whether that's, you know, introduction, methodology, results, discussion, conclusion, what do they want? That'll be in there. Constantly use your supervisor. I'm very lucky that I have an amazing supervisor who is an expert in the topic that I'm looking at. I also did my best to develop a relationship with her prior to final year so that when it came to choosing supervisors and supervisors choosing students, I was just there. I was like, hi bestie, like, remember me? But yeah, supervisors make such a difference. I remember when I first started writing, I was so embarrassed to ask for feedback. I would just like hide my work because I'm such a perfectionist and it's so scary when your work is torn apart, especially when you spend a lot of time on it. But my biggest advice is just don't be embarrassed to ask for feedback. I mainly work in a Google doc and I would often at my supervisor with questions like, at prof, what do you think about this section? Or have I misunderstood this article's conclusions? Do you know where else I could look for resources? In terms of planning, I can't recommend enough. Little and often work on this thing, this massive project, little and often. It breaks it down. It makes it feel chill. In my notion page, I broke down every single month with high level goals. Like I will have written the whole methodology section. I will have finished my research by this month. And then I broke that down into every single week, what I had to get done. And that made it feel so chill, the whole process, because as long as I met my weekly goals, I was on track. I didn't need to do more. I was just chilling and it would eventually materialize. Obviously there are so many amazing productivity techniques you can use to help you write. Things like the Pomodoro technique, where you go to a specific place, you put away all your distractions and you set a 25 minute timer and you are only allowed to focus on this one task for these 25 minutes. And then you get a five minute break. And often when you get over the hump of just starting work, you find it's actually a lot easier to continue. One of the best things I did for writing this thesis is choosing an accountability partner at the start of final year. I did this personality test and realized that I am an obliger, which means I do work in order to oblige to others and their perceptions of me. So if I have a deadline, I'm very good at keeping the deadline. But if it's just myself, I might not be as conscientious. Conscientious, is that a word? I think it is. So I was like, I need someone to keep me accountable, someone I respect. So I went through my entire university course list and I found this amazing guy called Moon, who I'm friends with, but also didn't know super well. I, you know, I value his opinion. I think he's hardworking. And we created a recurring co-working session every single week of final year where we go, we meet for like five hours and we just work. And we tell each other every week what we got done and what we still need to get done. And some weeks I wouldn't work on my dissertation apart from in this session. So set yourself up for success, like put these non-negotiable structures in your life to keep you working on this, especially with other people. Also, I know chat GPT can be considered controversial in the realm of academia, but I think it's an amazing tool, not to write your thesis, obviously, but to ask questions, clarifying questions, like what is an opposing argument to the one that I have? Because then you might have all these blind spots that you can't see, but the chat GPT can pick up on and guide your writing process. But honestly, guys, just keep writing, just keep writing because you know what? It is so much easier to go back and edit something you've already written than to write from scratch. It is much easier to look at, you know, a body of text than a blank page. So just keep writing, even if it feels like it's rubbish, it will get better. Just get it out the system, set yourself these goals, keep it going. And I just know you're going to do amazingly. Like the fact that you clicked onto this video means you're really taking the time to question your thesis process and how best you can do it. So I have no doubt that you're like on it, you're going to produce something high quality and great. And yeah, this is so much more than just a dissertation. This is an opportunity to learn how you work, how good you are at keeping to your own self-set deadlines. Like that is self-learning. This process might make you fall out of love with your subject. It might make you reevaluate the type of job that you want to have in the future. It's just a lot of learning, but also such a cool opportunity to add your unique thoughts on a topic into the world. And yeah, I'm super excited for you. If I'm honest, I think for me writing a dissertation has not been nearly as stressful as writing a book. I published a book in second year of university and that was so hard because it was my first time ever doing a big, big project and no one around me was doing one at the time. So I really learnt self-discipline. But I think in final year, everyone is working on their diss. Everyone's a little bit stressed, a little bit behind and there's something really lovely about the togetherness of it all. Like really soak up this time. You're in the bubble of uni. It's a good time to be alive, even if it feels stressful. Yeah, you've got this. My casual magic for today is the fact that there's a blue sky. It has been so gloomy and miserable in Taipei for the last week and I had a cold, it was sick, it was just not, I was not living. And today I really am. So yeah, I'm going to go study with Moon actually, my accountability partner. Let me know if this was helpful. Please share your tips down below and have a great day. Bye.

Economics JIW - Tips for Choosing a Topic: Home

Choosing a topic.

Choosing a topic that can answer an economic research question is challenging.  Some tips:

•  Ripped from the headlines rarely makes a good economic paper.  You will be using data to determine causation or correlation.  Sometimes a similar event can be used.  Topics such as artificial intelligence may make a good policy paper but not a good economic one due to lack of data.
• Literature Review: Your JIW should use primarily scholarly sources.  Start with Econlit (the database of the American Economic Association).  Econlit indexes major journals, working papers, conference proceedings, dissertations, and chapters in critical books. It takes a long time for scholarly literature to appear.   Preprints are called working papers in economics and major ones are indexed in Econlit.  Y ou are your own research team and have limited time.  Many articles are written over a couple of years and involve many people gathering and cleaning the data. Some starting places: see https://libguides.princeton.edu/econliterature/gettingstarted
• Outside of finance and some macroeconomic data, most data will not have many points in time.  Data determines the methods used .   While a linear regression can be great for time series data, it is likely not what you will use for survey data.
• Longitudinal or panel study :  same group of individuals is interviewed at intervals over a period of time.  This can be very useful to observe changes over time. Keep in mind when using a long running longitudinal dataset that the panel generally is not adding new participants so may not reflect today’s demographics.
• Cross-sectional study :  data from particular subjects are obtained only once.  While you are studying different individuals each time, you are looking at individuals with similar demographic characteristics.  Demography is typically rebalanced to reflect the population.
• Summary statistics : aggregated counts of survey or administrative data.
• Typically around a 2 year time lag from the time the survey data is collected to the time of release.  The Economic Census and Census of Agriculture take about 4 years for all data to be released.  Many surveys never release the microdata.
• Very little subnational data is available and is often restricted when available.   State level macro data for the United States is more prevalent.  City level data is often a case study or only available for very large cities.
• Many micro-level datasets are restricted. It is not uncommon to wait a year before getting permission or denial to use the data.  Each organization has its own rules.
• Historical data in electronic format prior to 1950 is rare. Most governmental links provide current data only.
• What is measured changes over time .  Do not assume modern concepts were tracked in the past.  Definitions of indicators often change over time.
• Data cannot be made more frequent.  Many items are collected annually or even once a decade.  Major macroeconomic indicators such as GDP tend to be quarterly but some countries may only estimate annually. 
• What exists for one country may not exist for another country. Data is generally inconsistent across borders .
• Documentation is typically in the native language .
• Always look at the methodology. The methodology section is one of the most important parts of the paper. Someone should be able to replicate your work. Describe the dataset and its population. Describe how the data was subset, any filters used, and any adjustment methods. While you are likely not trying to publish in American Economic Review  or Journal of Finance , these are the gold standards.  See how they layout the articles and in particular the methodology and data sections.
• The basic question to ask when looking for economic data is " who cares about what i am studying ?"  Unfortunately, the answer may be no one. Ideally, look for an organization that is concerned with your research as part of its mission. Examples include the International Labor Organization or the Bureau of Labor Statistics focusing on labor research; the International Monetary Fund or the Board of Governors of the Federal Reserve System focusing on monetary and fiscal concerns; the World Bank focusing on development; and the World Health Organization focusing on health. This does not mean these organizations collect data on all topics related to that field.
• Find a topic for which there is literature and data but allows room to add a contribution.  Topics such as sports and music are popular due to personal interests but may not make good research topics due to lack of data and overuse.

   More tips:

• Data is typically not adjusted for inflation.  It is usually presented in current (nominal) currency.  This means the numbers as they originally appeared.  When data has been adjusted for inflation (constant or real), a base year such as 2020 or 1990 will be shown.  If a base year is not provided, then data is current and therefore not adjusted for inflation.  If given a choice, choose current dollars.  Data is often derived from different datasets and many will use different base years.  Adjust everything at the end.  It is easier than doing reverse math!
• While most datasets are consistent within the dataset for currency used such as all in US Dollars or Euro or Japanese Yen or each item in local currency, some will mix and match.  LCU is a common abbreviation meaning local currency units. Consider looking at percent changes rather than actual values.  If adjusting use the exchange rate for each period of time, not the latest one.
• Economic indicators may be either seasonally adjusted or not seasonally adjusted.  This is very common for employment and retail sales.   Unless something says it is seasonally adjusted, it is not.  Be consistent and note in methodology.

Librarians are here to help!  Librarians can help to devise a feasible topic, assist with the literature search, and choose appropriate data.  Your data may fall into multiple categories.  Think of the primary aspect of your topic in terms of first contact.  Do not email librarians individually.  If unsure who to contact either put all that apply on same email or email just one.  If that person is not the best, they will refer you.  

Bobray Bordelon Economics, Finance, & Data Librarian   [email protected]

Charissa Jefferson

Labor Librarian [email protected]

Mary Carter Finance and Operations Research Librarian [email protected]

Data workshops

• Environmental and energy data  (Bordelon), 9/23/2024  - 7:30-8:50 pm
• Health, Crime and other Socioeconomic Data  (Bordelon), 9/23/2024 and 10/02/2024 - 3-4:20 pm 
• Macroeconomics and trade data  (Bordelon), 9/25/2024 and 9/30/2024 - 3-4:20 pm
• Finance data  (Carter), 9/23/2024 and 9/25/2024 - 3-4:20 pm
• Labor and education data  (Jefferson), 9/23/2024 and 9/25/2024 - 3-4:20 pm

Workshops listed twice have the same content and are done as an opportunity to fit your schedule.  While you must attend at least one data workshop, it is wise to attend more than one.  If in a certificate program, with the exception of political economy which has to be incorporated into your JIW, other programs have different requirements which are typically for your senior year.  As an example, if in finance, if you choose not to explore a finance topic this year you will still need to incorporate in your senior theses so try and attend a finance workshop in addition to your topical workshop for your JIW since these are intended to help you for your time at Princeton and both the JIW but also the senior thesis.

• Last Updated: Aug 28, 2024 9:32 AM
• URL: https://libguides.princeton.edu/ECOJIWTopics

Preparing to defend your thesis from home

• Degrees and Programs
• Slides (PDF, 950KB)
• Transcript (DOC, 41KB)

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Due to COVID-19, defending your graduate thesis or dissertation in person is likely off the table. That doesn’t mean you have to wait to defend. Many schools and programs are allowing remote defenses — meaning you could find yourself defending from your living room! In this presentation, a recent psychology doctoral student that completed a remote defense, a current dean of psychology, and APA’s Office of Graduate and Postgraduate Education and Training, share how to prepare for and complete your thesis or dissertation defense remotely.

This program does not offer CE credit.

Alvin Akibar, PhD

Hideko Sera, PsyD

Garth Fowler, PhD

An associate executive director for education, and the director of the Office for Graduate and Postgraduate Education and Training at APA. He leads the directorate’s efforts to develop resources, guidelines, and policies that promote and enhance disciplinary education and training in psychology at the graduate and postdoctoral level.

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