As I look back, it has been interesting to see my PhD project topic evolve over the years. When I was applying for the MPhil in Sociology at the University of Cambridge, I wrote my research proposal on exploring the culture of start-up incubators in Nigeria. Over the course of my MPhil, I decided that I would like to continue on to a PhD. By the time I was putting together my PhD application, my topical interests had already changed a lot. My PhD research proposal sought to look at the relationship between social capital, quality of employment and innovation among Nigerian entrepreneurs. In my proposal, I discussed that I would like to compare the social capital provided by traditional apprenticeship systems in Nigeria with those provided by start-up incubators. After one year on the PhD, I had modified my proposed project topic again and I sought to look at how various networks including from family, friendships, religious organizations, business associations impacted the entrance of self-employed youth in Ghana and Nigeria into self-employment and the quality of their working lives.
I would like to share steps that were helpful on my journey to a PhD research topic that could help other students or researchers who are trying to come up with a topic for their project.
1. Think of areas that interest in you and draw inspiration from that: Although my PhD research project topic has evolved over the years, it reflects my interests in employment, harnessing the potential of Africa’s youth as well as the sustainable economic development of Africa. Right from the start when I began to try to come up with a topic, I let my interests guide me.
2. Read newspaper/magazine articles about the areas that interest you: I found it helpful to read about articles on the youth employment challenge in Africa, entrepreneurship in Africa, start-up incubators which gave me insight into contemporaneous happenings in my area of interest and helped in crafting a topic of relevance.
3. Read academic articles related to your proposed topic: In a research project, the overall aim is to add something new to the existing literature in your discipline or field. Therefore, I had to read about the existing literature on self-employment, youth employment, and labour markets in sociology (my own discipline) as well as other related disciplines, in order to be able to craft a research question that will be adding something new to existing knowledge.
4. Remember your topic will evolve and that’s fine: Actually, that’s not just fine…that’s good…that’s very good.
Until next time, friends!
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