Choosing a good thesis topic?

You don't choose a thesis topic overnight. Sometimes your client comes up with a suitable topic, but often you have to make your own choices. To get your thesis topic approved, you have to meet several requirements. Which ones exactly? You can read about them below.

To write a thesis on a particular topic, there must be enough literature available. Otherwise, it will be difficult to delve into the topic. Use Google Scholar or other websites to search for literature on your topic. That way, you will know what research is already out there.

In addition, there are other important requirements for thesis topics. Go through the following steps to arrive at a good topic choice:

• Determine whether your thesis should be academic or practice-oriented. This will determine the topic you choose.
• Make sure your topic is relevant. That means the topic is topical and of value to society, science and/or practice.
• Demarcate your topic. For instance, ‘policy on bullying' in itself is not a good thesis topic. Much better is a defined topic such as 'the effectiveness of bullying policy at vmbo schools in the Hague region'.
• Check whether it is feasible to research your topic. Is there research data available on this topic and can you actually set up a study for it yourself?
• Check whether the thesis topic is related to your field of study. Is there a link to a particular subject within your study programme?

Furthermore, it is smart to go through previous studies on the topic. What can you add to those studies? Make sure your research is different from previous studies in some way. This could be by highlighting a specific aspect or applying a different research method. Also, read the suggestions for follow-up research in previous studies. Sometimes these provide inspiration for your topic.

Apart from the requirements for thesis topics from your study programme, the topic must appeal to you personally. You are going to bury yourself in it for several months. Therefore, it is important that you don't get disinterested easily.

Are you planning to pursue a master's degree in a particular field or a PhD after your studies? Then you can also align your thesis with the plans you have for the future. Think of your thesis as a stepping stone towards that.

You should always submit your chosen thesis topic to your thesis supervisor. Are you writing your thesis for a client? Then they too must agree on your chosen topic.

It may help to make a list of possible topics. You can then present several options so that your supervisor or client can make a choice.

To make it even more concrete, what are examples of good thesis topics? Here are a few:

• The effectiveness of warnings in words or pictures on cigarette packs;
• Increase the notoriety of company X via Instagram;
• The effect of management styles on hospital employee satisfaction;
• Effective public policy against obesity among people in their 55s;
• Framing in climate change reporting in NRC Handelsblad.

Choosing your thesis topic is the first step. Want to know how to continue doing well? Read our article with tips for writing your thesis, or find out how to work on your time management. This way you will get off to a flying start.