Questions and Topic Ideas

Questions about Getting Started:

  1. How can I be sure I’ve settled on the right topic?
  2. How can I be sure that my research question hasn’t already been answered?
  3. How do I turn a vague interest into a specific research question?
  4. Do all theses require original research?
  5. How can I check if something is researchable before I try to research it for my thesis?
  6. If I have to decide on a research question before I start the reading phase, how can I know if my research question is precise enough?

Topic or Questions I’m Passionate About:

  1. Group Decision Making
  2. Preference ordering in political decision making
  3. Cost-benefit analysis of immigration by immigrants
  4. Evolution of racism and discrimination in the US
  5. International perception of US politics over time: From Groundbreaking Democracy to antiquated dis-functionalism.
  6. International Crimes Against Humanity: The case of forced disappearances

One thought on “Questions and Topic Ideas

  1. 1. Because you are REALLY excited about it. That’s all it needs to be.
    2. You will do research until you find the part that hasn’t been answered. When you start, it’s almost guaranteed that your question has been asked (and at least partially answered) before. The research will take you deep into it until you run into a question for which you CAN’T find an answer, and that’s where you go.
    3. Mapping! Make lists of all the things that interest you about a vague interest. Then make lists of the things about those things that you think are especially interesting. Some of them are going to seem more “fun” than others. Follow those down the rabbit hole.
    4. Yes, but that doesn’t mean you have to produce original data. “Original research” means you’re trying to answer a question that hasn’t been answered–or hasn’t been answered in a certain way. You will rely on other people’s research to do that.
    5. Everything is researchable.
    6. You don’t. You need a research question that you’re trying to answer. You will probably change it and/or refine it multiple times. The key is to start by finding one specific question that helps you to know where to look for the answer. But you will ultimately have many questions that lead to more questions–you just want a place to begin for now.

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