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1 year ago in Topic Novelty By Sumitra R

How do I defend the novelty of my topic in the PhD proposal if similar-sounding work exists?

I found two papers that seem similar to my idea. They don't do exactly what I propose, but they're close. How do I convincingly argue for my topic's novelty in my proposal without ignoring or dismissing this related work?

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By Tizi Answered 1 year ago

Novelty is often in the nuance. Don't ignore similar work—engage with it critically to carve out your space. In your proposal, create a small table or a detailed paragraph doing a comparative analysis. Highlight key differences: Is your methodology distinct (e.g., longitudinal vs. cross-sectional)? Is your theoretical lens different (e.g., post-colonial vs. modernist)? Is your context unique (e.g., Global South vs. Global North)? Is your unit of analysis finer (e.g., micro-practices vs. macro-trends)? Frame these papers as foundational but incomplete for your specific question. Your novelty lies in the combination of factors you address that they, collectively, did not. This turns a weakness into a demonstration of deep scholarly engagement.

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