Architectural Dissertation

What is Architectural Dissertation? What does dissertation mean to an architecture student? This is being written to generate spark among student architects to understand the underlying essence of what actually dissertation means. That is why I thought I would take up a series of writings on Architectural dissertation after doing my own basic research and help them handle it well. Hence the first writing in the series is

HOW TO SELECT A DISSERTATION TOPIC FOR AN ARCHITECTURE STUDENT?

To all the students reading this I would like to mention a spoiler, there is no extensive list of dissertation topics in this so if you are looking for ready-made stuff, this is not the place. Here I am genuinely trying to provocate the thought process of an individual student to come up with innovative topics from their own field of interest.

SWOT ANALYSIS

Each individual student, into the fourth year of architecture should have by now identified their own Strength and Weakness in this stream. So take a paper and pen and jot down the same as it should be very helpful to determine your dissertation topic. Some may be strong in design others in theory, some may be good at reading and others good orators. Look into yourself, identify it !!!!     

INTROSPECT!!!

Once done with introspection try and identify what are your opportunities and threats in architecture. What field will help you achieve success and what might not. So it would be more of a self-analysis.

Fig 1.1. SWOT (Source:  https://blog.webico.vn/phan-tich-swot-va-lam-sao-de-ung-dung-mo-hinh-swot-hieu-qua/)

Once you know have an idea of your strengths and weaknesses I would suggest the next step which you should take would be is

BRAINSTORM

Brainstorming is an individual/group creativity technique by which efforts are made to find a conclusion for a specific problem by gathering a list of ideas spontaneously contributed by individual/members. (Retrieved from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brainstorming)

Brainstorming is a technique used for lateral thinking, which I guess could be used here too for the benefit of students. You could start brainstorming individually and jotting down (mind-mapping) the entire field which fascinates you, interest you or you feel you could contribute to. 

Fig 1.2. Brainstorming (Source:http://welonthouden.eu/nieuw/category/blog/)

If one finds it difficult to brainstorm individually you can discuss with your friends or family. Nagging them for something good should do them no harm. On the contrary, they would be more than happy to help you. If you want it to take it a step further you could brainstorm with your faculties, which actually is not a very bad idea. As a faculty they know your strength and weakness already, brainstorming should make you come up with stronger areas of interest.

IDEATE!!!

Once you have all your ideas/topics of interest with you now do extensive research on them.

RESEARCH on AREA of INTEREST

The easiest way to start with research in your area of interest is by visiting your own college library and going through the previous dissertation reports done by your seniors. You might find that the topics which you had in mind where already taken up and researched on so you will get an direction on what new you can research in that direction.

EXTENSIVE RESEARCH!!!

Fig 1.3. Research (Source: https://elearningindustry.com/10-online-research-tools-every-online-learner-know)

Then look into books, journals, periodicals and magazines find out what all has been studied on topic of your interest, this will give you a skeleton work for your dissertation topic.  Attend seminars, workshops and conferences on related topics where you will meet the so called architectural thinkers, who could give a new direction in area of your interest.

And not the least, discuss with your faculties, the one whom are comfortable talking with, they can guide you well, let you know the pros and cons of your topic of interest and help you choose wisely.

And finally use internet as a source of research, using it in the beginning would confuse you as there would be too much of data which you cannot comprehend.

ASK the QUESTION

After extensive research you should by now have shortlisted three to five potential subjects of your interest. Now develop the research question for which you will be looking answer for. What do you want to investigate, how could you go about the study, availability of data to support your research, is it going to be quantitative, qualitative or philosophical research questions etc. and so on.

THE QUESTION!!!

Fig 1.4. The Question (Source: http://www.hubresearch.ca/hub-session-forming-the-clinical-research-question-and-principles-of-study-design/)

You should put your strengths and weakness to use here. If you like reading, then you could choose a research method which has extensive readings to do; if you are good at social networking your research could have questionnaires and interviews with people, if you are a travel bug then let your dissertation take you places and so on.

SYNOPSIS

And finally you are now synopsis ready.

Based on your research and question give your interest a suitable title which need not be very specific right now you could be generic and as and when you get into data collection and secondary researches you could go for specific title.

Your research question will become your aim and what are you going to research so as to find an answer for your research question will become your objective.

The scope of the dissertation basically means all those things that will be covered in the dissertation. It defines clearly the extent of content that will be covered by the means of the research in order to come to more logical conclusions and give conclusive and satisfactory answers to the research.

Fig 1.5. Synopsis  (Source: https://www.how-to-write-a-book-now.com/how-to-write-a-synopsis.html)

And you methodology of course is how you are going to find answer for your research question. And limitation of course is to what extend you would take your study to. Why you could not take it further which may be due to time, lack of necessary labs or quantitative analysis etc.

The synopsis should be at least 1-2 pages and is the starting point of your dissertation.

So that’s all in this series, in the next series I will come up with how you need to go along with your data collection. 

References:

Groat Linda., Wang  David ., Architectural  Research Methods. New Jersey: WILEY, 2013.

Borden Iain., Ray K. R., The Dissertation An Architecture Student’s Handbook. Burlington, MA: Elsevier, 2006.