Example Question Statistics
Psychology
Analysis Anonymous
Is a negative result acceptable in a PhD?
The hypothesis is not supporting. Am I in trouble?
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Questions
Search public research problems. Anonymous questions stay anonymous.
Example Question Research Gap
Computer Science
Literature Review
How do I prove novelty when similar work already exists?
I keep finding papers that look close to my topic. How do I argue novelty without stretching claims?
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Research Topic
Management
Proposal Stage
How narrow should a PhD research question be?
My supervisor says my question is too broad. How narrow is narrow enough?
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Reviewer Response
Education
Publication Stage
Reviewer says methodology lacks justification — what do they mean?
The paper describes the method clearly. The reviewer still wants justification. What should I add?
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Viva Preparation
Computer Science
Viva Preparation
What should I expect during a PhD viva?
I am months away. What actually happens in the room?
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Thesis Writing
Management
Thesis Writing
How should I structure a thesis chapter on methodology?
I keep mixing philosophy, methods and logistics.
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Reviewer Response
Computer Science
Publication Stage
How do I respond when Reviewer 2 asks for experiments outside scope?
They want a new dataset and a method I did not claim. How do I decline without sounding defensive?
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Literature Review
Computer Science
Literature Review Anonymous
How many papers should a literature review realistically cover?
I have 180 PDFs and I am drowning. Is there a realistic target?
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Methodology
Social Sciences
Proposal Stage
When should I use qualitative instead of quantitative research?
I can survey or interview. How do I choose without it looking like convenience?
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Literature Review
Life Sciences
Data Collection
What counts as enough literature before collecting data?
I am anxious I will collect the wrong data because I have not read enough.
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Research Gap
Computer Science
Proposal Stage
How do I know my research gap is actually a research gap?
I can write “little research exists” but I do not trust that sentence.
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Supervisor Issues
Engineering
Data Collection Anonymous
My supervisor is slow to reply — how do I keep moving?
I do not want to be rude. I also cannot freeze for six weeks.
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Journal Selection
Education
Publication Stage
How do I choose a journal without chasing impact factor only?
I need a venue that will actually read this paper.
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Data Collection
Data Science
Data Collection
How do I explain why I selected this dataset?
It is the dataset everyone uses. That feels like a weak reason.
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.
Example Question Paper Writing
Computer Science
Publication Stage
How do I write the contribution paragraph in a paper?
Mine currently lists tasks I performed, not contributions.
Example of the kind of research problem you can ask on PhDSOS.