Overcoming a “Lame” Dissertation Topic

Not everyone has an important dissertation topic, such as “Carbon Nanotubes: The Fight Against Cancer”–or “Egyptian Artifacts in Israel: New Interpretations of Passover”–or “Wagner’s Operas and the Rise of Nazism.”

Some topics are more pedantic and of interest mainly to specialists. For instance, “Parisian Keyboard Sonatinas from the 1630s”–or “Two Studies on the Effect of Internal Audit Source on Reliance Decisions.”

For some, the biggest challenge in finishing your dissertation is fighting through the apparent meaninglessness of your topic. This is particularly true when you’d rather be working or teaching. However, even if your dissertation topic seems insignificant–or “lame”–there are some positive ways you can spin it.

No Matter How Pedantic, Somebody Will Be Interested

Your adviser, the people on your committee, the weird dude at the academic conference who boxes you in near the coffee stand and won’t let you go even though the next session is starting:  at least somebody will be interested in your dissertation.

Your work may be a jumping-off point for another scholar, who will go on to develop a visionary idea, thus earning you passing mention in a future Wikipedia article. (Einstein cited Maxwell, Hertz, Doppler, and others in his 1905 paper on relativity, “On the Electrodynamics of Moving Bodies”).

Or, future graduate students may cite your research in their literature reviews. In fact, chances are good that some grad student will access and cite your dissertation soon after it’s published. Given digital accessibility, dissertations today no longer gather dust on the top shelf of an annex building in the university library.

It’s Only the Beginning of Your Career

This has been said many times, but it’s a good point: The dissertation will probably be the worst piece of scholarship you’ll ever produce–although hopefully it won’t be too bad. Your dissertation is only a prelude. Most truly groundbreaking research and scholarship is done later on. Think of the dissertation as a foundation upon which more substantial or widely appealing research can grow–like a flower.

Contributing to your field is not really the purpose of a Ph.D.

The true purpose of the degree is completing a large-scale research project that involves careful organization, thorough engagement with sources, deep analysis and thought, and well-developed writing. Almost always the research is secondary. If done with integrity, the dissertation builds the scholarly habits of an orderly and disciplined mind, which will be essential in your career, whether it’s in academia or business.

Connect Your Narrow Topic to Areas of General Interest

Your research topic is like the bullseye of a dart board: a core area of focus surrounded by ever-widening concentric circles of knowledge. If your topic is the bullseye, the concentric circles are the context that give meaning to your topic. Figure out how to connect your research to these broader areas of interest, and your project’s significance will become clearer both to you, and to your reader. So, step back and figure out what’s interesting and significant about your topic. It might not be nearly as lame as you think.