Is my dissertation topic too broad?

If your dissertation topic and your research questions, in particular, have no identifiable outcome (i.e., it is unclear what is being addressed/solved), your supervisor may well argue that it is too broad.

How do you know if the topic is too broad or too narrow?

Topic Narrowing

Even if your professor gives you a topic to study, it will seldom be specific enough that you will not have to narrow it down, at least to some degree. A topic is too broad to be manageable when you find that you have too many different, conflicting or only remotely related ideas.

How do I know whether my dissertation topic is achievable?

As such, when thinking about your own dissertation topic, ask yourself: (1) Can I get the access I need? (2) Do I have the right skills? (3) Will I be able to get the intellectual help I need? (4) Is my dissertation topic too broad or too narrow? (5) Am I interested in this topic?

How could you know that the research is just right too narrow or too broad?

Too Narrow, Too Broad, or Just Right? Performing background research may reveal that your topic or research question is too broad (large) in focus or too narrow (small) in focus. You may have found too many or too few results to meet your information needs or assignment requirements.

How broad can a thesis be?

A good thesis should be narrow, and not too broad or too vague. If the topic is too broad, you won't be able to cover the entire topic in your paper. If it's too narrow, you might not be able to find research, and your paper probably won't be long enough.

Narrow your dissertation topic down – how to make a broad research topic more specific

What is an example of a thesis that is too broad?

The broader your claim is, the more evidence you will need to convince readers that your position is right. Example of a thesis that is too broad: Drug use is detrimental to society. There are several reasons this statement is too broad to argue.

What is a too obvious thesis?

A thesis statement presents the main argument of your essay. A thesis statement should be a controversial claim, meaning that there is evidence to support both sides of the argument. A thesis is too obvious if almost everyone would agree with it.

What will happen if the topic is too broad?

If your topic is too broad it may be hard to find information that is focused and relevant; if your topic is too narrow it may be hard to find any information at all.

What to do when your research topic is too broad?

Below are some common ways you can narrow down a research topic, or get started by using our Brainstorming Topics & Search Terms tutorial. Narrow it down by age group, occupation, ethnic group, gender, etc. Try to identify key issues related to your topic, especially ones that you have an opinion on.

How do you know if a topic is broad?

Another way to assess whether a topic is too broad is to ask yourself if it can be explored completely within the confines of one paper. If the answer is no, then the topic may be too ambitious. You may need to narrow it down to explore a smaller part of the overall topic or pick a different focus altogether.

What makes a dissertation fail?

Probably the most common reason for failing a Ph. D. dissertation is a lack of critical analysis. A typical observation of the examination committee is, “The thesis is generally descriptive and a more analytical approach is required.”

Is 75 a good dissertation mark?

75-79: Shows unquestioned mastery of the topic and confidence in the exposition. 70-74: Consistently well-crafted, independent and enterprising. 60-69 II. 1 GOOD A good, sound argument containing competent discussion of the topic while demonstrating good overall knowledge of the field.

Should I change my dissertation topic?

My first piece of advice is to remember that you can change your topic essentially whenever you like. Sure, a week before the deadline might not be ideal, but if you find that once you start writing you aren't satisfied, or if another idea pops into your head, you can always mould your plan to your new ideas.

What is the best example of a topic that is too broad?

Expert-Verified Answer

The best example of a topic that is too broad is the history of the of the English monarchy. So, option a is correct. It encompasses a vast period of time, numerous monarchs, and various events, making it difficult to cover comprehensively in a single study or essay.

Why is it important to have a topic that is not too broad?

Narrowing your topic is an important step in the research process. A broad, general topic makes it difficult to find specified research, so narrowing down the topic is needed.

Why should you avoid too broad topics in conducting research?

Topics that are too broad

You may feel as like you are drowning with information on your subject, yet you are unable to write anything down. That's because there's so much information out there that it's difficult to tell what's vital from what's not.

How specific should a dissertation topic be?

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.

Why choose a broad topic in research?

Choosing a broad topic is one of the first things you need to do when researching. The best thing you can do for yourself is pick a topic that is interesting to you! Something you are curious about and want to explore further.

What are examples of broad topics?

How do you narrow down a dissertation topic?

How do you know that a research topic is to be avoided?

Some topics which should not be considered in choosing a topic for research are topics that are too broad, too narrow, or too obscure. Topics that are too broad may lack focus and result in superficial findings, while topics that are too narrow may not provide enough data for meaningful analysis.

What does a bad thesis look like?

The bad thesis statement is too broad and lacks specific examples or evidence to support the claim. It does not provide any clear direction for the essay and does not offer any counterarguments or potential solutions.

What is considered a strong thesis?

A strong thesis statement expresses one main idea.

Readers need to be able to see that your paper has one main point. If your thesis statement expresses more than one idea, then you might confuse your readers about the subject of your paper.

Why a thesis statement should be neither too broad nor too narrow?

A good thesis statement is neither too broad nor too narrow.

The thesis determines the scope of an essay. If a thesis is too broad, the essay will be superficial. On the other hand, if a thesis is too narrow, the essay will have nowhere to go.

How broad should a masters thesis be?

The average masters thesis is typically between 50 and 100 pages long. The length of the thesis will vary depending on the discipline and the university requirements but will typically be around 25,000 to 50,000 words in length.