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2 years ago in Scholarly Contribution By Aamir

How do I determine if my PhD research is truly "original" or just an incremental addition to the literature‑ I worry it’s not novel enough.

As I write my thesis introduction, I'm struggling to define my work's unique contribution. My supervisors say it's novel, but comparing it to existing studies, the advances feel small. How can I critically assess and confidently frame the scholarly contribution of my project?

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By Navika Answered 3 weeks ago

From my experience examining theses, originality is often about synthesis and application, not just discovery. Don't just ask "Has this been done?" Ask: "Has this specific combination of theory, method, and context been applied to address this precise gap?" Frame your contribution by its type: are you providing new data, a new method, a new theoretical synthesis, or a critical challenge to existing assumptions? Even a small, precise advance can be highly significant if it solves a defined problem or opens a new pathway. Your contribution lies in the unique intellectual journey you've taken to connect dots others haven't. Focus on articulating that journey's specific value to the field.

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