The Scenario
A student recently told me they felt “stuck” on their dissertation proposal, even skipping their end-of-year holiday to make progress. A stuck proposal or dissertation often happens because the problem isn’t clear or the research process feels overwhelming.
The Issue
A stuck or unsuccessful proposal or dissertation typically signals a lack of clarity about the research problem, approach, or purpose. Moving forward becomes nearly impossible without these foundations, leading to wasted time, effort, and resources.
The Solution
The late Professor Andrew van de Ven offers a simple yet profound framework to break free from this stuckness. He proposed asking and answering four essential questions to achieve clarity and direction:
- What is your research topic and question?
- What is the problem, and why does it matter?
- Use the journalist’s approach: Who? What? Where? When? Why? and How does the problem exist?
- Consider both the specific details and the broader context.
- What is your proposed answer (or theory) about the research question?
- What is your hypothesis or theoretical framework?
- How does your answer improve on the status quo or offer a better explanation than competing alternatives?
- How will you empirically study your proposed answer?
- What is your research design?
- How will you collect and analyze data to examine your hypothesis? Is the approach feasible?
- How will you communicate and use the study findings to address your research question and problem?
- Think beyond your dissertation.
- How will the findings contribute to solving the problem or advancing the field?
Answering these questions provides the structure and clarity for a strong, actionable proposal.
The Key Takeaway
When stuck, return to the basics. Answer these four foundational questions to refocus your proposal and build the roadmap for your research. Remember, as Van de Ven emphasizes, clarity at the proposal stage ensures your dissertation journey starts on the right foot.
Reference
Van de Ven, A. H. (2007). Engaged scholarship: A guide for organizational and social research. Oxford University Press.