Doctoral committees reject topics because students pick what interests them instead of finding a real research gap. Map the literature until it runs out, then you've found where your dissertation goes. A defensible gap means A, B, and C exist in prior work but D doesn't.
Most doctoral students are shocked when their committee members reject their chosen topic. It happens because they pick what is interesting instead of finding the real gap. Your committee doesn't just want a destination, they need you to show them the map. To build that map, you must narrow your focus until the literature completely runs out. The exact moment when your existing research stops is where your dissertation lives. Once you prove that A, B, and C exist but D doesn't, you have a defensible gap. Comment "help" and we will send you the link to our free dissertation help community. You've got this!
