Reference no: EM133527671

Assignment: How to Select a Topic for the Doctoral Project

I. Review the Prohibited Research Guide by the University. This will help you understand limits to what is permitted and why these limits have been imposed.

II. Focus on issues or concerns that fall into mainstream research. Avoid fringe topics because they often lack the necessary support in the literature. Business is an ever-expanding body of knowledge with volumes of research published annually. Having recent research from a large number of credible sources will increase the probability of being able to use your topic. You will need approximately 100 peer reviewed articles (with 85% that are less than five years old) to support the project. If you are unable to find at least 100, peer reviewed articles that are substantial and quality studies on your topic do not pursue it.

III. Consider areas within the Business and Management realm that interest you and select an area or areas that you find interesting enough to dedicate a year or so researching. Think about the academic, social, or applied relevance of the topic and how the answers to your research questions will contribute to the body of literature on this topic.

IV. Use the library to locate current peer-reviewed studies from the past two years that relate to your topic or subject area. Avoid using other dissertations and doctoral projects as verification of the feasibility for a study as university requirements for approved topics have evolved over time and will continue to evolve.

V. Recognize what is known and not known on the subject or topic. Identify the gaps in our understanding of the topic that you could address through your study. This part may be challenging if you choose a topic that has already been extensively researched. Review the conclusion section of the research studies you have collected and see what they note as future studies. Remember: saying there is no or little research on a topic does not justify a study.

VI. Identify a problem that has not been solved and begin noting the evidence that the problem exists as that will be needed when describing the problem in chapter one. Evidence that you must be able to articulate in Chapter 1 of your doctoral project includes data (how many individuals have this problem, how many are impacted, what is the social cost or impact in numbers) if you cannot enumerate the facts then you cannot describe the problem. Statistics are equally important as they refine the description of those impacted (what percentage of the population experiences this problem, what is the age, gender, ethnicity percentages). If you cannot statistically describe those impacted, that likely means there is not enough research on the issue or it could be you are not looking in the right place. Data and statistics are what business practitioners use to accurately identify a group experiencing a problem and develop research plans.

VII. Once you have gathered this information and identified a research method, discuss this with your DP Chair. If the selected topic involves human research, revisit the Prohibited Research Policy. If upon discussion, you and the DP Chair are not confident the study falls into mainstream research and/or could violate the Prohibited Research Policy, select a different topic, or ask your Chair to consult with another member of the faculty that can assist with identifying a suitable topic. Keep in mind that selected topics will be required to meet the requirements of Academic Review therefore make sure you closely review all restrictions and requirements for topic selection and approved research methods.