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My Research is on financial performance of companies. I do not know how to derive research for my doctoral thesis topic. Any ideas?

I'm committed to the domain of financial performance, but it's vast. I'm struggling to move from this general interest to a novel, focused question that can sustain a PhD. I need a process or a way of thinking to spark that crucial initial idea.

   

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By Jeffreyreork Answered 5 years ago

I would recommend starting not with theories, but with contemporary tensions in the financial world. Look at recent crises, regulatory shifts, or disruptive technologies (e.g., ESG investing, FinTech, pandemic impacts). Then, dive into the academic literature on one tension. I have seen success with a "3-D" approach: Look for Debates (scholars in conflict), Dichotomies (studies focusing on X but ignoring Y), and Data gaps (new metrics or periods unanalyzed). For instance, instead of "financial performance," you might ask, "How do mandatory ESG disclosures differentially affect the financial performance of high-growth versus value firms?" This combines a practical tension with a specific, testable gap.

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