Dissertation topics - how to narrow down your social sciences PhD title
PhD dissertation topics can be difficult to pin down, but by using my PIC formula, you can narrow down your social sciences PhD topic to a specific, focused title that efficiently encapsulates your research. FYI - PIC stands for People, Issue / Interest, Context.
In the 20 years I've spent supporting social science dissertation students, I've seen some horrendous dissertation titles - titles that were vague, fluffy, or poorly worded!
If you get your title wrong, it can lead to an unfocused dissertation that lacks depth and coherence. On the other hand, a strong, focused title can save you a lot of time and frustration and help keep your research on track.
Your title is your shop window. It's the first thing supervisors, examiners, and potential readers are going to see, so it plays a crucial role in making a good first impression.
Let's get right into it with my PIC formula - a simple yet powerful framework to get you started on the right foot. The PIC formula is a straightforward method that will help you develop a specific but informative dissertation title.
P: People. The group or population that your research will focus on.
I: Issue of interest. The specific matter, problem, or topic you’re investigating.
C: Context. The environment or situation in which your research takes place.
Let's break down each component of the PIC formula and think about how you can apply it to your dissertation.
People
First up, people. Who is your research about? In the social sciences, your research will typically focus on a particular group of individuals.
However, it's crucial to get super specific about who these people are.
A broad term like "people" isn’t going to cut it. You need to narrow it down to a specific group who share common characteristics.
For example, instead of asking, "What do people think of online education?" you might refine this to "What do first-generation college students think of online education?" By getting more specific with this group of people, you immediately give your research more focus and relevance. Here are a couple of examples:
What do millennial women think about remote work?
How do urban high school teachers perceive the impact of standardised testing?
Issue or Interest
Next up, issue or interest. What is the core focus of your research?
This is the specific problem, phenomenon, area, or topic that your research will explore. In the social sciences, issues can include things like social justice, inequality, public policy, or community dynamics.
Alternatively, your research might focus on a particular interest, such as a cultural practice, a social behavior, an organisational strategy, a hobby, or a sport.
When you're thinking about your issue, ask yourself: What specific problem or issue am I trying to address? The more precise you are, the better. Let’s revisit our examples and make them more specific by adding an issue:
How do millennial women perceive work-life balance in remote work?
What is the impact of standardised testing on teacher burnout among urban high school teachers?
Context
Next up, context. The final piece of the puzzle is context. Context grounds your research in a specific environment, time period, or situation. This could be a physical location, like a city or community, or a broader context, like a particular industry, an online space, or a period in history.
Adding context to your dissertation helps situate your research and makes it more relevant and accessible to your audience. It also enables you to take a more meaningful, critical look at the relationship between the people you're studying and the issue or interest you're examining by drawing a boundary around your study.
Let’s revisit our examples and add context:
How did millennial women perceive the work-life balance in remote work during the COVID-19 pandemic?
What is the impact of standardised testing on teacher burnout among urban high school teachers in New York City?
Can you see how we’ve constructed these titles? We've combined the elements of people, issue or interest, and context to create specific, focused titles that effectively communicate what the research is all about.
Stay flexible!
It’s important to note that your dissertation title isn’t set in stone. As you get deeper into your research, you might find that your focus shifts or new elements emerge. This is completely normal. Your working title should act as a guide but remain flexible enough to evolve as your research progresses.
For instance, during your literature review, you might discover that the profession of the people you’re studying is a significant factor. You might then refine your title to focus on millennial women working in a particular profession, like law or finance.
So, be open to change, but remember that starting with a strong, focused title using the PIC formula will equip you to make minor tweaks and adjustments as needed.
Need more help with your topic or title?
Check out my PhD Survival Guide on this very thing! Click on the image below to learn more and try the first few pages to give it a go before you buy!
