selecting a dissertation topic: range and scope

1. selecting a dissertation topic: range and scope powerpoint prepared by sina mossayeb based on a conceptual illustration by charles tilly, columbia university 2006 graphical reproduction based on a conceptual illustration by Charles Tilly (2006)

2. changes accept answer and questions innovatory contribution: you contribute a seemingly new idea outside of existing arguments in the field provides new answer to old question significant contribution: you contribute new evidence / support to an existing argument, that has bearing on a controversy of the topic challenges accepted answer to old questions RANGE OF CONTRIBUTION (RESULTS) confirms contest answer to old questions medial contribution: you contribute more evidence / support to existing arguments modifies accepted answers to old questions an instance: one time and place confirms accepted answers to old questions fills in information gap SCOPE OF CONCLUSIONS an instance several instances all instances graphical reproduction based on a conceptual illustration by Charles Tilly (2006)

3. challenges both accepted questions and answers greatest risk provides new answer to old question greatest impact challenges accepted answer to old questions IMPACT ON THE FIELD confirms contested answer to old questions RISK ASSOCIATED degree of impact modifies accepted answers to old questions least impact confirms accepted answers to old questions fills in information gap least risk SCOPE however, there is a direct correlation between impact of innovatory research / more instances AND risk of strong opposition to your research findings The potential for impact on the field increases as scope and range of research increase graphical reproduction based on a conceptual illustration by Charles Tilly (2006)

4. leave this for post-doc career changes accept answer and questions greatest impact / greatest risk provides new answer to old question challenges accepted answer to old questions IMPACT ON THE FIELD confirms contest answer to old questions area of impact RISK ASSOCIATED modifies accepted answers to old questions confirms accepted answers to old questions fills in information gap least impact / least risk SCOPE the blue shaded area represents the ideal range and scope of research for dissertation work the red shaded area represent the most risky area but potentially bears the greatest impact graphical reproduction based on a conceptual illustration by Charles Tilly (2006)

5. AN ALL-PURPOSE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR RESEARCH PROPOSALS What main questions will your study address? Why, how, and to whom do those questions matter? What sorts of answers to those questions are worth considering? How will your study address the questions? What form will the evidence take? What are some possible conclusions from the evidence? What are the main technical problems you will have to solve? What are the main conceptual problems you will have to solve? What are the main theoretical problems you will have to solve? What are the main practical problems you will have to solve? Where will you start? Why there? What form will the final product(s) take? AN ALL-PURPOSE QUESTIONNAIRE FOR PAPERS, THESES, & BOOKS In one sentence, what question(s) does this work answer? In one sentence, what answer(s) does it give? Who should care about the question(s)? Why and how? What other answers must we reject if we accept yours? Why should we prefer your answer(s)? How have you investigated the question(s)? What arguments and evidence are you presenting for your answer(s)? Why should we believe your arguments? Your evidence? If you are right, what general conclusions should we draw? graphical reproduction based on a conceptual illustration by Charles Tilly (2006)

6. reports articles books interaction between research & writing argument outcome phenomenon procedure feedback graphical reproduction based on a conceptual illustration by Charles Tilly (2006)