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The idea...! How to find a feasable and exciting research proposal idea

It's good that you start early in your Masters education to think about what kind of Masters project you would like to do. More generally, you should think about what you want to learn more about and start writing on a piece of paper what this could be to sort out your thoughts. You don't need to arrive at only one subject, but maybe two or three. Here are set of questions that can help in this process:

  1. What have I learnt in my courses that I really want to get better a, or learn more about? Go back to courses and literature lists.
  2. Are there any particular theories that I want to read up on and understand better?
  3. Are there methods that I want to learn or get better at? Qualitative methods with interviews or observation, or GIS, or similar?
  4. Is there a case study I read about during my education that was inspiring? How was it conducted? Can I do something similar but with another case study?
  5. Is there a subject or topic that I want to learn more about and that I can use to then apply for a job?

Together you can use these questions to take another step. So think about these questions and try to come back with something more concrete, maybe 1,2 or 3 ideas or tracks.

Other ways to find a good and feasable research problem or idea for your thesis:

  • Check out what other students have done. In Sweden you can search in the DIVA Portal choosing "Student theses." (If you want to see some of the theses I have supervised (or examined) in Sweden, search my name "Henrik Ernstson."
  • Check out the home pages of university departments that interest you and go to the profile pages of scholars and researchers and see what they are up to and what kind of research they are doing. This could also provide ideas on who could be your supervisors. Here at KTH, you can for instance check out: Environmental Science Department at KTH (aka SEED), KTH Environmental Humanities Laboratory, Urban and Regional Studies Department, or Architecture. Of course, you can also check out Stockholm University and Södertörn University and others. 

// This page should be filled out more, but at least it is a start. //

PS: Inspiration for theses ideas can also be found when reading news articles or in listening on relevant podcasts, e.g., The Urban Political, scroll the episodes, listen to those that interest you and maybe find a good idea for research. Or for those interested in using urban design: https://www.nitinbathla.com/charged-voids. Or check out the literature in our Political Ecology Reading Group at KTH.