Your dissertation will be the final academic task you will encounter on your journey as a student. And like in video games where the boss level is the toughest, this will also be extremely challenging. However, as impossible as this may sound right now, there are ways to beat this level if you know the right tricks. Therefore, our PhD dissertation writing service experts created this guide to support you when you are having trouble in the most important stage—planning.
Not everyone can plan well. However, the fate of your dissertation depends upon it, so you need to step up and learn the techniques to do it well. Thankfully, it’s easy to understand these strategies and gain these skills. So, let’s get started:
Plan Your Topic as Early as Possible
The longer you wait to finalise a topic for your dissertation, the shorter deadline you will have to complete it. On the other hand, if you select your research area right away, such as at the beginning of the year, you will already be planning and working on the task while others are still thinking about it. This way, you will also get the opportunity to rework sections if they are not up to the mark and polish weaker areas.
But where would you find a topic? Well, there are several avenues for inspiration, and you can see what works for you. Some of these include:
- Bouncing ideas off peers, friends, or even friendly strangers with relevant expertise
- Lecture notes and reading material
- Recently published journals
- Media
- Subject controversies
- Newly identified or explored areas in your field of interest
Topic Considerations
As a PhD student, you will need to make sure your topic is not something you will have trouble planning. Therefore, keep the following considerations in mind:
1. Time
Your project should be in accordance with the time you have. For instance, if you only have 3 years to complete your PhD and you choose a complex topic that may take several more years, you will have trouble planning around this.
2. Cost
Your PhD plan should consider the costs involved. So, don’t select a subject where you may have to spend hundreds of pounds only to collect data. If you can afford it, that’s great news. But if you can’t, then choose another topic.
3. Travel
When finalising your topic, ask yourself: will this project involve travel? If yes, then will it be practically possible for you? Also, consider the costs you may incur. Make your choice carefully.
4. Survey Audience
If the topic you are mulling over requires surveying a specific audience, then make sure they’re accessible to you. If not, you will have a tough time completing your PhD.
5. Tools and Hardware
Your project may require some experimentation if it’s set in a scientific field. Do you have the necessary equipment? If you don’t have access to it and it may be out of your budget to purchase the tools, it’s preferable to stick to another topic. Otherwise, you will have trouble gaining access to said equipment.
Plan Your Dissertation Thoroughly
You will need to make sure you have planned your dissertation effectively so you won’t fall behind. The experts at our PhD dissertation writing service have noticed a few areas that can land students in trouble, namely:
- The research proposal
- Literature review
- Data collection process
Let’s discuss how you can coast through these:
· Research Proposal
Because a research proposal is one of the main documents you will need to submit for your dissertation application, it’s important to plan it well. But unfortunately, students have trouble with it because they do not have the data to forecast how their research will turn out. And this blurred picture of the future confuses them and compels them to either spend too much time on it or too little.
While this will certainly be challenging, it’s doable if you keep a clear focus on what you need to do. Your proposal must outline why you chose the topic and how you are going to go about your research. Consider this a makeshift plan for your PhD.
If you have trouble compiling any part of this section, you can always count on professional dissertation proposal help.
· Data Collection
Ask yourself these questions:
- Do you need to create multiple surveys?
- Will you have to use specific methods?
- How will you record your data?
- How will you visualise it?
When you have clear answers, you’ll be able to create a coordinated strategy to collect data. You will also be able to set up or collect any materials you’ll need for this process.
While researching, it’s important to note everything you come across that seems important or relevant. You may not use it all for your data collection, but it may come in handy for referencing or other research sections.
· Literature Review
When it comes to the literature review, students often consider it to be an online research job they can conduct on their own. However, it means they could be missing out on an extremely powerful yet underutilised resource—the librarian.
University librarians hold the power of books at their fingertips. Therefore, they can assist you with finding relevant information as quickly as possible. So, don’t forget to take multiple trips to your library. Accumulate all the sources you may need to reference and cite in your research.
Another great resource will be your professor—if they have the time. Approach them early on and discuss what you need. However, don’t just drop in on them and expect them to do the work for you. Instead, do your own research, jot down areas you have trouble with, and then ask specific questions. Your professor will appreciate you not wasting their time.
Plan Your Time Carefully
Your time is one of the most important and precious resources you can spend on your PhD. Therefore, you must dole it carefully unless you end up using more of this asset than you can afford.
Luckily, there are ways you can make sure you do not exhaust yourself:
- Create a detailed schedule. Chop down the biggest tasks into smaller chunks and even smaller ones. Mark these as your big timeline, your yearly goals, your monthly goals, and your weekly and daily to-do lists
- Find your most productive time and plan the toughest tasks during this slot
- Set aside ample time for editing and reworking drafts
Plot Your Meetings for Effective Discussions
As mentioned above in the literature review, you must be prepared for your meetings with your professors. This will lead to effective discussions where you can make the most of your limited time with them and get a bulk of valuable information. And if you make a habit of being very specific about the help you need, your professor will likely be more willing to assist you.
We hope this post helps you design your project effectively. If you need an expert from a reliable PhD dissertation writing service to assist you with some tasks or chapters, you can always reach out to PhD Dissertation.
Whether you need writing assistance or editing help, our experts will be happy to support you. Contact us now!