Checklist of topic feasibility and appropriateness.( Mauch,
Figure 3-3, pages 78-79)
A. Questions about the topic in general
1. Is there current interest in this topic in your field? In a closely related
field?
2. Is there a gap in knowledge that work on this topic could help to fill? A
controversy it might help to resolve?
3. Is it possible to focus on a small enough segment of the topic to make a
manageable Dissertation project?
4. Can you envision a way to study the topic that will allow conclusions to
be drawn with substantial objectivity? Is the data collection approach (i.e.,
test, meta analysis, archive study, questionnaire, interview) acceptable in your
school?
5. Is there a body of literature available relevant to the topic? Is it
accessible by computer and is a search of it manageable?
6. Are there large problems (i.e., logistic, attitudinal) to be surmounted in
working on this topic? Do you have the means to handle them?
7. Does the topic relate reasonably well to others done in your school? If not, have you information about its acceptability?
8. Would financial assistance be required? Is it available?
9. Are the needed data easily accessible? Will you have control of the data?
10. Do you have a clear statement of the purpose, scope, objectives, procedures, and limitations of the study? A tentative table of contents for the report? Are any of the skills called on by the study ones that you have yet to acquire?
B. Questions for topics employing a research question or hypothesis
1. Do you have acceptable statements of research questions or hypotheses?
2. Can you specify how you will answer the questions or test the hypotheses?
3. Would the Dissertation be a contribution if the findings do not support the hypothesis or fail to answer the questions?
4. Have subsidiary questions or hypotheses been identified that deserve study along with the major ones?
5. Are the alternative questions or hypotheses that might explain the findings anticipated?
C. Questions for topics requiring interviews for data collection
1. What style or type of interview is best suited to the objectives of the study?
2. Does an interview protocol exist that fits the purposes of the investigation? Has it been pilot-tested?
3. How will the data be recorded and collated for optimum speed, accuracy, and reliability? Can the computer be used for this
4. How will matters of confidentiality and permissions be handled?
5. How will bias in the interviewer and the respondent be minimized or measured?
D. Questions for topics using a questionnaire approach
1. What forms of questionnaire will be most productive for this kind of study? Has it been pretested?
2. How will questionnaire items relate specifically to the purposes of the investigation?
3. Why is the questionnaire the tool of choice for data collection? Can it be computerized?
4. How will it be assured that the questionnaires will be answered?
5. How will the questionnaire responses be validated? Analyzed?
E. Questions for topics making use of existing data from other sources
1. Are the data relevant? Reliable and valid? Complete?
2. Are there limitations on the present or future availability or utilization of the data? Can data be accessed by computer?
3. Why is it better to use these data than to collect one's own afresh? 4. Will additional data need to be collected? What and why?
5. What obligations to the other sources go along with publication based on these data? Who will own the data?
G. Questions for topics involving tests and testing in data gathering
1. Are the tests the most valid and reliable obtainable?
2. Do the tests discriminate against significant groups in the sample?
3. Do the tests provide direct measures of the key variables in the study?
4. How will confidentiality be preserved?
5. What interpretations will be needed to make the test results meaningful in relation to the purpose of the investigation?
6. Are the tests physically or psychologically invasive?
7. Can the tests be administered, scored, and results arrayed, tabled, and analyzed by computer?