The Importance of Making Good Dissertation Titles

Dissertation titles are very important for dissertation writing since it will be the first thing that readers will see about your dissertation. Dissertation titles function just like the title of a book or article in the sense that it catches the reader's attention and gives an idea of what readers can expect of the discussion provided in the dissertation. In addition, the best dissertation titles will show the comprehensive research done for the dissertation. The dissertation writing process will have allowed the student to gain an area of specialisation in a particular subject area, which should also reflect in dissertation titles.



Dissertation titles that will adequately fit the scope of the dissertation project will evolve naturally in the course of the dissertation writing process. Upon commencing the dissertation writing, what you will most likely have is an idea for the title, or the 'thesis statement'. This will have been achieved as the result of an intensive and comprehensive research. It is almost always the case that dissertation titles are only decided when the research has already been completed. Below are some important considerations in selecting good dissertation titles:

1. The structure of the words within the title must conform to the following requirements:
• Is made up of 10-12 words 
• Can stand alone 
• Does not make use of abbreviations 
• Avoid the use of “a study of” or “an experimental investigation of”
2. The title must describe the nature of the research without revealing the results.
3. The title must not be answerable by a simple “yes” or “no”.
4. Should the writer choose to include subtitles, does it give enough important information concerning the research?
5. The title must mention primary variables for the study.
6. The title should indicate the sample of population that participated in the study
7. The title should not contain jargon and acronyms that will not be known to a reader who is not a specialist in the writer's field of study
8. If the dissertation is anchored on a theory, this theory must be mentioned in the title

In order to find potential dissertation titles, you must read a wide variety of materials regarding the topic. Your reading should not only define what you have learned about the topic; it should also let you use the knowledge you have learned to suit the needs of your dissertation writing.