How to select the best topic for a Post graduate dissertation

Time frame for a dissertation work
First Six : Discuss with guides, seniors, review topics, assess equipment availability, patient load, possible obstacles, finance, pilot study, finalisation of topics

Maximum you will get : 18 -20 month

Next 12 months : Conducting the study

• Collection of data
• Review of literature
• Change of topic if required

Next three months

• Follow up of patients
• Finalisation of data
• Completion of write up of methodology, literature section

Final three months

• Completion of master chart
• Analysis of data
• Preparation of tables and figure
• Final write up

Topic selection
This is a once in a life time work so think about your topic deeply – discuss with your seniors and teachers. Consider the following three facts while deciding a topic.

1. Your Professional development – select a unique topic that gives you some professional development, that you can present in front of scientific community.
2. Benefits to homoeopathy medical system – your dissertation must benefit to the growth and prosperity homoeopathy. So select a versatile but simple topic.
3. Benefit to National health system – your study may benefit to the common man.

Think

• Think carefully about your topic.
• Research Proposal in detail.
• Stick to your plan.
• Work closely with your supervisor.
• Be organised and take detailed notes when you are undertaking your literature survey.
• Consult a statistician in the beginning of study itself – he will guide you properly on sampling and data collection.

Who select the topic
Supervisor or Student : On many occasions supervisor suggests some topics with better understanding, knowing very well the facilities available in the Laboratory / Hospitals.

The student has also important role in accepting what has been suggested,  Impracticable outdated ideas of supervisors is catastrophic both to the students and to the department

A non committed students and a irrational supervisors are the real areas of conflict what we see in the working environment

Best method
Ask your students to come with 4 -5 topics – discuss the pros and cons, including the sample size, feasibility, utility etc. and finalise one.

Dissertation shall be

• Clear and brief
• Precise and accurate
• Complete and thorough
• Logical
• Objective oriented
• Appropriate grammar and language
• Within the prescribed limit

Guide and student 

• Guide and student should work together
• Read research article and papers as much- take print out
• That helps to develop a research mind

References

1. Ananatha Krishnan N:medicaal postgraduate dissertation a step by step approach.India:Wolters Kluwer;2013
2. Munir Ahammed R : Research Methodology.Bangalore: Centre for Homeopathic Studies;2005
3. Writing a reference list in the Vancouver style:VIKO; [Published 29.04.2011;Cited on 30-04-2016].Available from http://www.ntnu.no/viko/english/papers/vancouverlist
4. PubMed Central : National Center for Biotechnology Information, U.S. National Library of Medicine ; [cited on 29.04.2016]. Available from http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/
5. Cochrane Libray : Wiley Online Library;[cited on 29.04.2016]. Available from  http://www.cochranelibrary.com/

Dr Mansoor Ali K R BHMS,MD(Hom)
Associate  Professor- Govt. Homeopathic Medical College, Calicut
Email : homoeobook@gmail.com