What’s bugging you? Two useful techniques for identifying and exploring your dissertation research problem

One of the findings from the ongoing research we carry out at Thesis Upgrade is that students tend to find it easy to pinpoint a topic to study, but difficult to identify a specific problem to research. There are numerous techniques you can use to help with your thesis. Two of our favourites are ‘bug-logging’ and ‘bug-listing’.

Bug-logging originated in the 1940’s, when large computers filled enormous rooms. The warmth of the electrical components attracted bugs – moths, flies and other flying creatures – that caused shortened circuits and malfunctions. ‘Bug’ became a generic term for any challenge or complication related to running a computer. Grace Murray Hopper, a US Navy Officer, was working on a problem that arose with the Harvard Mark II computer in September 1947. She traced the origins of her it predicament back to a moth physically stuck in a machine relay. Hopper duly recorded into the Mark II’s logbook the explanation: “First actual case of bug being found.”

As a technique, bug-logging has now come to mean making observations about the potential causes and effects of a quandary in any form. The bug is a description of any problem or issue facing an individual, group or organisation. The phrase is often now used colloquially, when we hear people saying things like ‘that bugs me’, or ‘you know what bugs me?’ The technique of bug-logging reframes this perspective by asking: ‘What is it that bugs you about …?’ This can be applied at any level in an organisation, where a bug-log can be produced for a day’s operations, or at the end of a project, or on a quarterly or yearly basis.

James Adams in his 1987 book, Conceptual Blockbusting: A Guide to Better Ideas, suggested that bug-logging could be modified and improved to become bug-listing. This marginally different technique is used to establish and help solve problems and overcome obstacles (which can perceptual, emotional, cultural, environmental, intellectual, and expressive). It draws on unconventional exercises that force the mind to stop and identify and explore issues. Rather than tie the problems to a specific timeline (as is the case with bug-logging), bug-listing is completely open as to what and when it records.

Bug-listing can be carried out solo (for example, as a researcher you could observe what is happening in an organisation and prepare a written list of the problems and issues as you see them). It can also be conducted in a pair (you could ‘interview’ another individual, and they could interview you). The technique can also be done in a group setting (as part of a brainstorming, braindrawing or brainwriting activity, where problems and issues could be noted on a flipchart). In addition, it could be implemented for a department or entire organisation (by circulating an email requesting staff to send you their problems, or by physically walking around an office or factory asking people what bugs them).

With bug-listing, it helps if you can let people know (in advance, or at the start) what the focus or topic is. Otherwise, you risk hearing about everything from relationship problems to common gripes! The more specific you can be, the better the results. For example, you could ask: ‘What bugs you about communications here?’ or, more particularly, you could ask: ‘What bugs you about internal meetings?’ When collecting items for a bug-list, it is important to be open and flexible, allowing for humorous and unconventional bugs, as well as common-place and straightforward ones.

The resulting bug-lists tend to be quite long and messy, and require sifting, sorting and editing before they begin to make sense. They are useful for helping at all stages of your thesis journey. For example, scanning the environment, and identifying problems, issues and gaps. Bug-lists also assist with gathering soft data, and generating ideas about causes and effects. Additionally, they signpost how to explore your research problem and topic further.

You also may find Thesis Upgrade’s downloadable digital resource, Developing Your Research Proposal Toolbook, helpful. This publication contains useful activities and practical checklists to develop a realistic, and feasible, research proposal. Buy now for immediate use.