ABSTRACT

This chapter focuses on choosing and developing a good research topic. This can be a confusing process. Some students are either not sure how to pick a research topic or change their topic during the course. The chapter provides advice on how to choose and refine a topic. Topics can emerge from previous master’s modules and assignments from previous research and reading, from personal interest or from professional need. Topic choice can also reflect supervisor expertise and career trajectory. The chapter provides advice and examples of refining a topic based on variables, participants, setting, context and aspect. The chapter also investigates dissertation titles with examples from master’s dissertations.