Dissertation Topics
Topic: Public Relations Roll No: 2032002
1) Social media’s impact on PR
Working Title: The effect of social media on PR and how professionals are utilising social
Concept: Finding out how social media has impacted conventional public relations methods
will be the main goal of the study.
Methods: Quantitative methods like surveys, existing data
Qualitative methods like interviews, participant observations, existing data, FGDs
Study Area: Social Sciences, Business, Technology
About the research topic: Social media has changed how people communicate in casual and
professional contexts ever since it first emerged. Since businesses are establishing their
presence on pertinent platforms thanks to social media, it is inevitable that how they connect
with their audience has altered.
Professionals in public relations have been fast to adjust to new and changing trends. They
have adopted a "digital-first" mindset and exhibited a preference for digital advertising and
methods. The shift from traditional to digital and social media interaction is being driven by
public relations professionals, who are always looking for new and inventive ways to use
technology.
Since social media has established a constant line of communication between an organization
and its stakeholders, it has fundamentally altered the ways in which public relations
professionals can communicate. As a result, organizations are now better able to achieve their
communication goals. The constant flow of information has improved knowledge and
relationships, which influences how people view PR.
Research Questions: What impact is social media having on the PR industry?
How do social media and PR work together?
How does the Internet affect public relations?
Why is it crucial for PR to keep up with social media trends?
Why using social media is important for PR?
2) The evolution of the PR professional
Working Title: Evolution of Public Relations: Then and Now in India
Concept: The communication between an organization and the general public, including
customers, investors, reporters, and other media professionals, is handled by public relations
specialists. Finding out how PR experts used their skills in the past, in India, before there was
any technology, and how they have changed as a result, is quite intriguing.
Methods: Quantitative methods like surveys, existing data, questionnaires
Qualitative methods like interviews, participant observations, existing data
Study Area: Social Sciences, History, Journalism, Technology
About the research topic: The PR sector is rapidly growing in the nation. Public relations is
the act of communicating with the general public with the goal of influencing their thinking.
Additionally, it aims to improve the reputation of the communication organisations so that
public support can follow.
In order to serve as a one-stop shop for all of the client's needs, PR companies today have
begun to double as digital agencies and social media agencies by providing a wide range of
services including content marketing, digital marketing, etc. In India, PR has changed and is
currently changing rapidly. The majority of large PR firms in India nowadays are
multinationals with extensive global networks.
The Indian PR sector is gaining recognition for developing creative strategic
communications, generating notable brands, managing crises, and enhancing consumer
communication. A lot has changed online, boosting the sector and enabling campaigns to
now cover every element of the marketing mix.
Research Questions: What factors led to the development of PR in India?
What was the origin of public relations in India?
Which period saw a change in India's PR landscape?
What are public relations' four historical phases?
What is the present state of public relations in India?
3) Difference between Traditional and Modern public relation practices
Working Title: Traditional VS Modern Public Relation Practices: To what extent do they differ?
Concept: The study will compare and contrast traditional and contemporary public relations
techniques. The researcher will compare the main strategies used today with those from a few decades
ago, highlighting the important distinctions. To conduct a precise and thorough comparison between
different tactics, the researcher can pick out as many factors as they can.
Methods: Quantitative methods like surveys, existing data, questionnaires
Qualitative methods like interviews, participant observations, existing data
Study Area: History, Social Sciences, Technology
About the research topic: Traditional PR is a direct form of public relations that increases brand
exposure through the use of traditional media like radio, television, newspapers, magazines, flyers,
billboards, and radio spots. Building a positive brand image aimed at your chosen target audience is
the aim of public relations. The conventional methods of advertising are used to accomplish this.
Digital PR is a strategy that uses online tools like social media, blogging, SEO, PPC, and email
marketing to raise brand awareness.
Traditional PR techniques will work well for some initiatives, while digital PR will work better for
others. And almost often, using both at once will produce the finest outcomes.
A combination of both PR services is effective since it allows you to reach a much larger audience.
With the techniques you employ, you can target various audience types. Social media and email
campaigns, for instance, are excellent for reaching an online audience, but what about those who don't
utilise these platforms? Additionally, you can record them via offline conventional techniques like
television and radio.
Research Questions: What distinguishes a traditional public from a non-traditional public?
What has changed as traditional PR gives way to online PR?
What positive changes has technology brought to the PR industry?
Methodologies Description
What research problem or question did I investigate?
Aim to describe the definition
Explore an under-researched topic
Establish a causal relationship
Quantitative data, qualitative data, or a mix of both?
Primary data collected yourself, or secondary data collected by someone else?
Start with your “why”
Depending on the field, we can also begin by going over the justification and underlying
presumptions of the technique.
Some specific techniques include:
Content analysis: Organizing and debating the meaning of words, phrases, and sentences
Thematic analysis: Coding the data and carefully reviewing it to find general themes and pattern
Discourse analysis: Studying communication and meaning in relation to their social contexts
