Topic+Research+and+Validation

=Topic Research and Validation (Topic Selection) (GWU EMSE 216-8000)=

Index | Topics | Lectures | Course Work | Reference

The tools and references listed below can be used more freely and with less rigorous structure at the start to help guide the research and might be a good way to validate topic, questions and hypotheses are good ones on which begin the real literature search and review (again, perhaps with some tweaking and iteration). The goal of topic research and validation is to identify a topic and questions that can be researched and reported on sufficiently (within time limits) to construct a proposal with a good proposal defense ("disseration" contract). Even at this point, it is not to early to be thinking about projected results.
 * Topic Selection- addresses the steps one goes through (perhaps repetitively) to pick a good topic and research questions
 * Topic/Question Research - can begin thinking about what in your field interests you
 * A parallel approach would be to complete the Ryan/Mazzuchi 100 questions exercise, and then move through encyclopedias, bibilioigraphic reviews, potential primary sources and secondary sources identification.
 * Picking a Topic ( TBR )
 * Topic/Question Validation - digs a little deeper into how to make sure the topic and research questions are good ones for a doctoral dissertation, with a feasible research method.
 * Conduct a Preliminary Literature Review
 * Trade off Questions / Topics
 * 100 Questions Exercise
 * Reference Search Keywords
 * Context Map
 * Data Collection Requirements
 * Choosing Between Topics/Questions

It migjht be useful to think of the EMSE 8000 proposal deliverable as the 2nd or 3rd iteration - a dry run for the real proposal - but one that needs to be tweaked with one's advisor to a more doable and sellable state.


 * Sources**
 * EMSE 8000, Spring 2011
 * EMSE 216, Fall 2007

Contributors: Sisson