Doctoral School

Choosing a research area

How you go about selecting a broad topic for a research degree and then refining that topic will inevitably vary between disciplines.

Sussex has an extensive range of expertise in and across our Academic Schools, including around 90 Research centres and groups of academic staff working on discrete research areas.

Sussex has also developed six interdisciplinary research themes which build on our existing strengths and which provide a forum to foster collaborative working on complex research challenges. The themes include staff working with research students.

 

Five top tips to get started

  1. Don't be over ambitious!
    Yes, research is about making an original contribution to knowledge but, remember, any research project must be sufficiently realistic to make progress within a defined timeframe.
  2. Think about your previous experience.
    A good idea might be to build upon something you studied and enjoyed during an undergraduate, MA or an MSc project.
  3. Look at emerging research areas which are taking off.
    If the area is too new, it might be more risky to follow but looking at recent publications in your area of interest may give you some helpful ideas.
  4. What are the hot topics for society, government and the media?
    There is an increasing emphasis on university research showing what impact it has on society and the economy. Choosing a topic which is perhaps relevant in some way to the challenges that face us in the twenty first century is no bad thing. Look at Sussex's research themes for areas in which we believe our research can contribute to understanding those challenges.
  5. Always remember you can change direction once you have started!
    Some successful doctoral graduates ended up writing the thesis they thought they would when they started. Many do not. You will spend the first year developing and growing your idea which may take you in a new, if related, direction. The idea you have now may very well not make up the main part of your eventual thesis.

Refining a research topic

The primary aim of refining the research topic will be to ensure that you end up with a project which is feasible and also, very importantly, achievable within the time available. You should remember that refining the topic is not straightforward and will itself take time and initial research into the possible area.

You are advised to start early. Ask yourself questions, organise your thoughts and try to break your research topic down into smaller discrete sections. Take notes.

Writing a research proposal

Writing the proposal goes hand in hand with the process of refining your research topic. Through needing to articulate what you want to study and how, you will necessarily be taking important steps to identifying a topic for your application.

The research proposal is ultimately only a document which explains what you would like to research for your PhD. However, the research proposal also ensures that neither you nor the University takes on an impossible project which is not sufficiently defined or which cannot be adequately supervised given the University's facilities or expertise.

It is thus an important safeguard for both parties in making sure that the project is appropriate for you and that Sussex is the appropriate place for you to undertake it.

The amount of detail required in a research proposal varies between subjects:

Social science and arts subjects tend to require a more developed research proposal (around 2000 words), giving a clear outline of the proposed research area, key research questions, possible methodologies and what gap in the current literature you plan to fill.

In some science subjects it is more normal to outline a general area of interest, as the nature of the research discipline is more tied to ongoing research projects, the availability of experimental equipment, etc.

Taking advice

You will likely be drafting a proposal as a final year student or maybe as a current or recent Masters student. Writing a research proposal is not easy - even an established Professor applying for external research funding will take a long time and much care over the proposal! Seek advice from others who have experience of research, including research students and academic staff at your current university. Talk about your ideas and use their suggestions to further your reading and understanding of possible research directions.

Alternatively, if you are working and interested in studying for a Professional Doctorate, it will be worth talking to your colleagues on areas of professional knowledge and practice which could be improved through a deeper understanding by research.

When you have a coherent topic, and perhaps a first draft of a proposal to email, get in contact with a potential supervisor at Sussex and share your idea. They will be able to offer feedback and help refine your proposal further, before you submit your application. The Doctoral School will be able to assist you in matching your research interests to a potential supervisor or School, if required.

Checklist

Finally, consider the following as you write your proposal. If you do, you are highly likely to write a strong proposal and make a good application.

Have you:

  • given an overview of the research question and outlined why it is of academic and/or practical interest;
  • explained where your question has come from and how your research builds on existing work;
  • stated the main objectives or goals of your research;
  • briefly outlined what methodology or research techniques you might need to employ in order to pursue those goals;
  • suggested data collection procedures and any anticipated difficulties;
  • suggested any analytical techniques you might use;
  • provided an indicative timetable of how you will pursue your research;
  • written clearly, not used jargon, and properly referenced any literature or sources used.

 

Academic Schools