Richard de Neufville's TPP SM Thesis Manual - Title Page - MIT

Exhibit 1.1: Basic Checklist for Formulation of a Research Topic1. Question• Do you have a hypothesis, a question, or a point to be made about an issue?Note that this is different from a general topic.• Is this hypothesis refutable? Does your question potentially have differentanswers?• Who might be interested in the answer to the question?• How does this potential audience now understand the issue?• How does your question address their concerns?• Are you yourself interested in the question?2. Method• What is the proposed method, specifically?• Do you already know how to apply this method?• Do you have the resources to apply this method (the time to learn it, theequipment or program to carry it out, the money to pay for it?3. Evidence• What kind of data does your method and question require?• How much of it do you already have in hand?• How sure are you that you will be able to obtain what you require within yourdeadline? What obstacles might prevent you from obtaining what you need?• Will you have a “fail-safe” plan, so that you can complete the work even if youdo not get the data you want?4. Logic• What logic will you use to argue your hypothesis?• What kind of results do you expect to get from applying your method to theevidence?• What does your audience currently know or believe? What logic will it take totake them from where they are now, to the message you want to leavethem with?Thesis Definition and Preparation -- Richard de Neufville 11