How to Convert an Interest Area into a Researchable Dissertation Topic

Researchable Dissertation Topic

Selecting an appropriate dissertation topic is one of the most significant stages in academic research. A precise and researchable topic provides a plan to take your study forward. Many students will have a particular area of interest in mind; however, they may encounter difficulty in turning it into a manageable, identifiable research topic. In this article, we will look step-by-step at how to develop your interests into a focused dissertation topic

Step 1: Identify the General Interest Area

Start to identify a topic or area of interest that resonates with you. This could be from your course work, professional experience, a policy issue that matters to you, or a gap in existing research you’ve identified. [1] [2]

Examples of Interest Areas:

Mental health in adolescents
AI in health care
Sustainable fashion
Employee motivation in startups

Tip: Choose something you are interested in; this will keep you interested in the length of the project.[4][10]

Step 2: Do Preliminary Background Reading

Now that you have identified the general area you are researching, the next step is to find sources, such as academic journals, news articles, case studies, and whitepapers, to see the trends or themes emerging, issues surrounding your area, and any gaps.[2][9]

Table: Possible Sources for Background Reading

Source Type	Examples	Purpose
Academic Databases	JSTOR, ProQuest, ScienceDirect	To find existing academic work
News & Media	BBC, The Guardian, Forbes, etc.	To obtain experience of what’s going on outside the academic world
Industry Reports	McKinsey, Statista, PwC Reports	To understand emerging issues in practice, and to understand trends
Thesis Repositories	EThOS, PQDT Global	To not duplicate existing work, and to identify how you may be similar or different.

Step 3: Narrow Down to a Sub-Topic

After the initial stage of research, narrow your topic down to a more specific sub-topic. Think of a narrower issue, particular demographic, geographical area, or technology to focus on. [3][5][6]

Narrowing Examples:

Broad: AI in healthcare

Narrow: Influence of AI diagnostics on patient trust in UK hospitals

Broad: Sustainable fashion

Narrow: What people think about recycled materials in luxury fashion brands

Step 4: Identify the Research Problem

Write a clear problem statement based on your narrowed-down topic. A research problem should identify what is unknown or misunderstood about the topic, and why it matters. [1] [2] [3]

Checklist for a Strong Research Problem:

Is it specific?
Does it highlight a gap?
Is it feasible to explore?
Is it researchable using academic methods?

Example: “Although AI continues to grow in diagnostics, the impact on patient trust is under-researched, especially within public hospitals in the UK.” [5] [6]

Step 5 - Develop Research Questions or Hypotheses

Your research questions should be precise, restricted, and reasonable based on the problem statement. In quantitative research, you might need to describe testable hypotheses.[3] [4] [5] [6]

Examples:

What are the factors associated with patient trust in AI-based clinical diagnosis?
How do hospital patients in the UK view AI in comparison to medical doctors?

Step 6 - Check the Feasibility and Access

Next, check that your topic is feasible before proceeding to the next stage. Ask[7][10]:

Will I have access to appropriate data or respondents?
Do I have the necessary tools or skills?
Will it be feasible as a research project in the time and word restrictions?

Feasibility Factors Table:

Factor	Questions to consider
Data Availability	Are there enough sources or participants available?
Time Constraints	Will I be able to complete in the appropriate academic time?
Ethical Considerations	Does my topic require sensitive or protected data?
Methodological Fit	Can it be explored through interviews, surveys, etc?

Step 7: Align with Academic Guidelines

Finally, check that your topic fits your university’s or your department’s guidelines. Discuss your initial ideas with your supervisor to check you are going in the right direction and if any changes are required. [2][7][9]

Points to consider:

Does it fit within your programme?
Will it be original enough whilst grounded in academia?
What do your method of research indicate?

Step 8: Create a Working Title and Outline

Develop a working title that is clear and concise and reflects what your study is going to focus on. Then create a rough outline with some of the essential elements: Introduction, Literature Review, Methodology, etc.[2][8]

Example Title: “Investigating Patient Trust in AI as a Diagnostic Tool: A Study of NHS Hospitals in the UK”

Basic Outline:

Introduction
Literature Review
Research Methodology
Data Analysis
Discussion
Conclusion & Recommendations

Conclusion

It is one task to take an interest and turn it into a dissertation topic; Meanwhile, there is another task of figuring out how to explore that topic, whilst incorporating and validating it as a study; it is not just a matter of picking out something interesting, but figuring out how feasible it is, whether it is research worthy, and if it is academically relevant. Based on the work above you will be able to come up with a topic that can be interesting, but still manageable.[1][4][9]

Remember: Your dissertation starts with a question. So be sure to take your time to find the question worth answering.[3][5]