Dissertation ideas?!

[Elvis]

I've got to decide my dissertation topic in the next week or so. My degree is in Politics and Sociology but I'd really like to tie in the equestrian world too, as I'm more likely to really knuckle down if it's a topic I enjoy. It needs to be relevant to my degree so ideally involving legislature or government policy etc. It's 8000-10000 words so can't be too broad or too specialist.

So far my ideas are:
RSPCA- is their popularity declining?
Link to my degree would be looking at how charities are successful with/without government support. Link to equestrian world is I have an inkling the decline in popularity is mainly from us.

Fly grazing- What can/should the government do?
Maybe look at other countries that have had a similar problem and how their governments have intervened.

Horse meat scandal- what does this mean for government policy, what does it mean for equines?

Most of these ideas are not very well developed yet but are things I'd be interested in.

So any ideas fellow HHO'ers?

 

[Happy H]

What about something on road accidents i.e. do people ride less on the roads now as they feel unsafe and what can be done about it.

The politics side could be research into imposing fines/points for dangerous driving for not slowing down and passing wide and slow for horses. You cold involve cyclists in this also as vulerable road users.

Could the government authorise head camera's used by riders as evidence to impose these fines/points?

x

 

[Elvis]

Ooooooh that's a good idea, I'll have to look into that. I've also just thought of the hunting ban, lots of opinions on that. And the first time the House of Commons overrode the House of Lords.

 

[yaffsimone1]

I've got to decide my dissertation topic in the next week or so. My degree is in Politics and Sociology but I'd really like to tie in the equestrian world too, as I'm more likely to really knuckle down if it's a topic I enjoy. It needs to be relevant to my degree so ideally involving legislature or government policy etc. It's 8000-10000 words so can't be too broad or too specialist.

So far my ideas are:
RSPCA- is their popularity declining?
Link to my degree would be looking at how charities are successful with/without government support. Link to equestrian world is I have an inkling the decline in popularity is mainly from us.

Fly grazing- What can/should the government do?
Maybe look at other countries that have had a similar problem and how their governments have intervened.

Horse meat scandal- what does this mean for government policy, what does it mean for equines?

Most of these ideas are not very well developed yet but are things I'd be interested in.

So any ideas fellow HHO'ers?

How about structuring your Dissertation around a PESTLE analysis? that should give you enough scope to incorporate equestrianism but it still covers.....let me get this right.....Political, Economic, Social, Technology, Legal and Environmental. (remembering it from degree days, without Googling it!)

Then choose one of the above to expand on otherwise your topic will be too broad.

For Example:-

P - looking at the priorities that the Government has placed on sports coaching / equestrian sport or the hunting ban as suggested
E - the equestrian market
S - the social impact of equestrian life
T - advances in veterinary science
L - the possible increase of riding instructors being sued for loss or damages in riding schools
E - the changes and demands in environmental issues that affect the equine world

These are just some examples that I could think of

 

[Elvis]

Thank you, that sounds like a really interesting way of going about it, I'll have to swot up on it all beforehand but at least it would make my dissertation a but different.

 

[yaffsimone1]

If it was me doing a degree again, I would be inclined to lit review all of them and concentrate on politics or legal as I find that interesting.

Good luck and I don't envy you!! Oh and the biggest piece of advice I can give you is plan your time well because it will soon run out and you don't want to be cramming in 10 thousand or so words in the last few weeks x

Also, if questionnaires are part of your primary research i'm sure many people on here will complete some for you, I will

 

[Elvis]

Okay, just seen your edit, I had interpreted it differently like for example taking the hunting ban then dividing up the analysis into those sub headings so
P- the different parties views on hunting-are they pro or against.
E-the decline in hunts across the country, has this had an affect on horse numbers in certain parts of the country and therefore affected the equestrian economy in the area.
S- has the hunting ban socially separated those who are for/against. Created tension between social groups.
T- the development of technology surrounding the anti's- their use of cameras, covert methods. The development if scent trailing.
L- the law itself, the following prosecutions. Repercussions for breaking the law. Any chance of it being revoked?
E- increase in foxes on farmers land. The affect this has.

Some of the above is vague but you get the idea. Cold you PESTLE a sub category of equestrianism?

 

[Elvis]

If it was me doing a degree again, I would be inclined to lit review all of them and concentrate on politics or legal as I find that interesting.

Good luck and I don't envy you!! Oh and the biggest piece of advice I can give you is plan your time well because it will soon run out and you don't want to be cramming in 10 thousand or so words in the last few weeks x

Also, if questionnaires are part of your primary research i'm sure many people on here will complete some for you, I will

Thank you I was hoping I could use this forum for research if I choose that route

 

[yaffsimone1]

Okay, just seen your edit, I had interpreted it differently like for example taking the hunting ban then dividing up the analysis into those sub headings so
P- the different parties views on hunting-are they pro or against.
E-the decline in hunts across the country, has this had an affect on horse numbers in certain parts of the country and therefore affected the equestrian economy in the area.
S- has the hunting ban socially separated those who are for/against. Created tension between social groups.
T- the development of technology surrounding the anti's- their use of cameras, covert methods. The development if scent trailing.
L- the law itself, the following prosecutions. Repercussions for breaking the law. Any chance of it being revoked?
E- increase in foxes on farmers land. The affect this has.

Some of the above is vague but you get the idea. Cold you PESTLE a sub category of equestrianism?

Good thinking, yes that will work. I like the idea