an ideal topic will: be theoretically and personally interesting be of value to your client offer...

POSSIBLE TOPICS

THE IDEAL TOPIC

An ideal topic will: be theoretically and personally

interesting be of value to your client offer developmental opportunities help advance your future career allow you to obtain a good mark for

your dissertation

BE CLEAR ABOUT YOUR GOALS

Where would you like to be in your career in the next five years?

What skills would help you achieve this? What experience would help? What knowledge and expertise would

accelerate your progress? What contacts might it be useful to develop? What would help raise your profile? What project areas might serve any of

these?

UNDERSTAND YOUR CLIENT /ORGANISATION

What might your client want from the research?

What might your client not want? What might your research cost your

client? Are there any potential risks for your

client? What might be the benefits?

UNDERSTAND THE CONTEXT

What other stakeholders are involved? What are their likely views? What changes might take place? What threats are there to success? Are there likely to be difficult issues of

confidentiality of any data? Does the organisation have its own

ethics approval process?

CONSIDER SEVERAL TOPICS

Many potential topics are less promising than they initially look.

Some are more promising. Considering several topics may result

in a better choice than your original. It gives you a fall-back position. Ideas from one possible topic can

enrich your thinking about another.

ORGANISATION TOPICS

Consider Inefficiencies Team working Training Missed opportunites

NON-ORGANISATION PROJECTS

Consider Current interest Current debates Legislation changes International aspects