Stop chasing "sexy" topics. Use the FINER framework and thank me later

[DArlin]

We all want to cure cancer or solve world peace. But the best dissertation topic isn't the most important one—it's the one you can actually finish.

The FINER framework is your new bible :

• Feasible: Do you have access to the data? The population? The equipment? Be honest.
• Interesting: To YOU. Not your advisor. Not the journal editors. YOU. You will hate this project by month 8. If you don't genuinely like it at the start, you won't survive.
• Novel: Not "never been done." Just "adds something new." A different population. A different method. A different context.
• Ethical: IRB approval isn't a hoop. It's a firewall.
• Relevant: Does anyone besides your committee care? (Bonus points if the answer is yes.)

The 3-Minute Test: If you can't explain your topic clearly to a non-academic in under three minutes, it's too broad . Narrow it. Now.

What framework are you using to vet your topic?