Hello I'm a post-graduate student of political science and I'm interested in political involvement and conventional political participation in my country, Lithuania.
The title of the thesis is: "The Factors of Political Interest of Lithuanian Society and Their Impact on Conventional Political Participation."
The goal of the thesis is to understand what motivates Lithuanian society to be interested in politics and the relation between interest and behavior during the national elections (that would include, for instance, voting turnout; and electoral volatility, also party partisanship).
I'm concerned whether the research question is well articulated and logical. It looks double but if I took only one of them my research might get too narrow. Moreover, If I was concerned only on factors that motivate society to be interested in politics while leaving voting behavior aside, the political aspect of my thesis seems to be at risk.
I appreciate your support,
Karolis
Labas Karolis
You're quite correct to recognise the importance of the question at the start of what will be a long process. The question needs to be short and snappy to keep your mind focussed, and to interest those who might be able to help.
That said, questions can be changed as projects evolve. And your research may end up going in a different direction as it progresses. So don't get fixated by them.
"What factors cause citizens to participate in Lithuanian politics?" It's open enough to allow you to bring in whatever you want, and leave its direction open.
Something like that perhaps. Broad and open. Something for your research to shape.
Christopher NOCK
I am already visualising two research topics from this topic you have tendered for some advice. Let me disaggregate to see whether or not my advice shall be helpful. I am inclined to align myself with the topic suggested by Professor C. Nock above. Then, the second topic could be framed from the segment of your initial topic as follows: "The Impact of Conventions on Political Participation in Lithuania." In regard to this latter topic, it would be obligatory for you to rigorously analyse what conventions exist in your country and through such exhaustive analysis that you may provide, especially in the impact they thus created on participation, your readers shall be in a proper position to judge for themselves the most salient. The two topics are apparently aiming at the attainment of the same objective in terms of issues pertaining to political participation. However, the difference inheres in the central concepts such "factors" and "conventions," which are not necessary the same. In addition, the concerns of the two topic are also different: one is about "cause" and the other is about "impact."
Since political science is a science whose results are significantly dependent on the customer, it does not make sense to consult with scientists about the choice of topic. The choice of topic should be determined by another reason: how relevant is the topic to the potential customer’s desire to finance this study. How to make such a study scientific-like is the next question.
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