Choosing a dissertation topic

Although the subject or topic of your dissertation will need to be related to the themes and issues covered in your ‘Advanced Topics’ course(s), this is an opportunity to identify and explore your own areas of interest. Generally speaking, the more narrowly focused your dissertation subjects will, the better result you get. Of course, you have to locate your particular study within a broader anthropological debate. As well as considering your personal enthusiasms, it is also important that you design your project with an awareness of the constraints that you face. Questions you should therefore ask yourself include:

• Will the topic sustain your interest over the months to come?

• Is there an existing literature within which you can locate your work?

• Is there sufficient material to provide the evidence that you are going to need.

• Is the topic one that you can research with the time and resources available?

• Do you have the time and opportunity for empirical work?

Always remember the following:

•A dissertation topic does not need to be a totally new, groundbreaking, re-write the textbooks revelation. Studying an old dissertation subject in a new way, from a different perspective, can be a new contribution.

•The topic chosen must be appropriate to your degree.

•Be sure your chosen topic addresses a real problem or question.

•The chosen dissertation topic must be appropriate for the subjects you have available to work with.

•Select a topic narrow enough to be manageable, with a study that can be done in the time allotted.

•It must be of genuine interest to you! If not, it will be hard for you to stay motivated over time.

•Ideally, your topic should be of interest to your advisor.