Choosing the right dissertation topic is pivotal; it defines the scope of your research and determines its trajectory. Your topic should align with your academic goals and be manageable within your program’s word count limits.
Scientific Relevance
Your dissertation must contribute to the body of scientific knowledge within your field. This means selecting a topic that addresses specific research gaps. Ensure your literature review forms a solid foundation for the research questions you aim to tackle and that your methodology—quantitative, qualitative, or mixed-methods—is suitable to test your hypotheses or explore your research questions. The scientific relevance of your study is further enhanced when it involves original data, explores new statistical analyses, or applies theoretical frameworks in innovative ways.
Social and Practical Relevance
Your work should extend beyond academia and exhibit social relevance by potentially impacting society, industry, or policy. Practical relevance implies that the findings from your research can be applied in “real-world” scenarios. Whether it’s through conducting interviews, fieldwork, or case studies, the problems your research addresses should resonate with current social science issues or industry challenges. Factoring in the CRAAP test—evaluating the Currency, Relevance, Authority, Accuracy, and Purpose of your sources—ensures your dissertation maintains integrity and practical relevance.