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Psychology Research Paper Topics
In the list of psychology research paper topics below we have attempted to capture psychology’s vast and evolving nature in the 16 categories and more than 100 topics.
100+ Psychology Research Paper Topics
Research Paper Topics in History of Psychology
- Psychology Before 1900
- Psychology in the 20th Century
- Psychology Into the 21st Century
- Women and Minorities in Psychology
- Conducting Research on the History of Psychology
Research Paper Topics in Research Methodology and Analytic Techniques in Psychology
- Statistical Techniques and Analysis
- Nonexperimental Research Methods
- Experimental Designs
- Single-Subject Designs
- Qualitative Research
- Ethics of Psychological Research
Neuroscience Research Paper Topics
- Biological Psychology
- Neurotransmission
- Traditional Neuroscience Research Methods
- Imaging Techniques for the Localization of Brain Function
- Drugs and Behavior
- Behavioral Pharmacology
Research Paper Topics in Sensory Processes and Perception
- Psychophysics
- States of Consciousness
- Somatosensory Systems
Research Paper Topics in Evolution and Behavior
- Evolutionary Psychology: The Impact of Evolution on Human Behavior
- Evolutionary Perspectives on Mate Preferences
- Animal Learning and Behavior
- Animal Cognition
- Comparative Psychology
Research Paper Topics in Basic Learning Processes
- Classical Conditioning
- Recent Trends in Classical Conditioning
- Taste-Aversion Learning
- Operant Conditioning
- Recent Trends in Operant Conditioning
- Social Learning
- Stimulus Equivalence
Research Paper Topics in Individual Differences and Personality
- Psychometrics
- Testing and Assessment
- Personality Development
- Personality Psychology
- Intelligence
- Motivation and Emotion
Cognitive Psychology Research Paper Topics
- Memory: A Look Into the Past, Present, and Future
- Memory and Eyewitness Testimony
- Repressed and Recovered Memory
- Language and Language Development
- Thinking and Problem Solving
- Critical Thinking
- Artificial Intelligence
Developmental Psychology Research Paper Topics
- Prenatal Development and Infancy
- Childhood and Adolescence
- Adulthood and Aging: Perspectives on Adult Development
- Disabilities
- Death, Dying, and Bereavement
- Nature Versus Nurture
- Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder: Myth or Mental Disorder?
Social Psychology Research Paper Topics
- Social Cognition
- Attitudes and Attitude Change
- Group Processes
- Social Influence
- The Nature of Love
- Prejudice and Stereotyping
- Leadership: Theory and Practice
Research Paper Topics in Health, Stress, and Coping
- Health Psychology
- Stress and Stressors
- Coping Skills
- Positive Psychology
- Human Performance in Extreme Environments
Behavior Disorders and Clinical Psychology Research Paper Topics
- Abnormal Psychology
- Ethics of Therapists
- Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (DSM)
- Anxiety Disorders
- Dissociative Disorders
- Personality Disorders
- Mood Disorders: An Overview
- Schizophrenia: Understanding a Split Mind
- Psychoactive Substance Use Disorders
- Psychotherapy
- Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy
- Family Therapy and Therapy With Children
- Pharmacotherapy
- Forensic Clinical Psychology: Sensationalism and Reality
- Sexual Offending Behavior
Applied Psychology Research Paper Topics
- Industrial and Organizational Psychology
- Human Factors
- Community Psychology
- Sport Psychology
- Environmental Psychology
- Psychology and the Law
- Applied Behavior Analysis
- Organizational Behavior Management
Research Paper Topics in Human Diversity
- Gender and Sexual Orientation
- Multiple Axes of Human Diversity
- Psychology and Religion
- Cross-Cultural Psychology and Research
- International Psychology
Mental Health Research Paper Topics
- Agoraphobia
- Alcohol Problems
- Alzheimer’s Disease
- Anorexia Nervosa and Bulimia Nervosa
- Antisocial Personality Disorder
- Attention Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Autism and Pervasive Developmental Disorders
- Borderline Personality Disorder
- Classifying Mental Disorders: Nontraditional Approaches
- Conduct Disorder
- Dependent Personality
- Mental Retardation and Mental Health
- Mood Disorders
- Narcissistic Personality Disorder
- Obsessive-Compulsive Disorder
- Panic Attacks
- Posttraumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)
- Premenstrual Syndrome (PMS)
- Psychopathology
- Schizophrenia
- Sexual Disorders
- Somatization and Hypochondriasis
- Substance Abuse
Assessment and Psychotherapy Research Paper Topics
- Assessment of Mental Health in Older Adults
- Behavior Therapy
- Behavioral Medicine
- Biofeedback
- Brain Scanning/Neuroimaging
- Child Sexual Abuse
- Classifying Mental Disorders
- Clinical Assessment
- Cognitive Therapy
- Community Mental Health
- Constructivist Psychotherapies
- Coping with Stress
- Couples Therapy
- Depression—Applied Aspects
- Domestic Violence Intervention
- Family Therapy
- Hypnosis and the Psychological Unconscious
- Meditation and the Relaxation Response
- Personality Assessment
- Premenstrual Syndrome Treatment Interventions
- Psychoanalysis
- Psychopharmacology
- Sexual Dysfunction Therapy
- Standards for Psychotherapy
- Support Groups
For example, the early years of the 20th century witnessed the development and popularization of the now classic “schools of psychology” such as structuralism, functionalism, Gestalt psychology, and behaviorism. World War II and the Korean War spurred the development of modern clinical psychology. In the middle of the 20th century, individual schools rose to prominence and tended to dominate psychological research and theorizing. These dominant schools often clashed with clinical psychology. For example, disagreements between behaviorists and clinicians, which have their roots in the 1940s and 1950s, still persist.
Toward the end of the 1960s, the nature of the field began to change, and the face of modern psychology was forever altered. First, Ulrich Neisser’s 1967 book, Cognitive Psychology, ushered in the “cognitive revolution” and put behaviorism on the decline. Technological advances in computer technology, which allowed researchers to simulate human thought and memory processes and to create images of neurological processes, played an inestimable role in modern psychology’s metamorphosis. Likewise, advances in social concern and action increased psychologists’ awareness of psychology’s diversity and its ability to make significant contributions in these areas. To be sure, the face of contemporary psychology was changing drastically. In fact, in 1992 former American Psychological Association (APA) president George A. Miller believed that psychology had become “an intellectual zoo” (p. 40). Clearly, that situation has not changed, as psychology is evolving in the 21st century.
Nowhere are psychology’s expansion and change seen more clearly than in the evolution of the APA. Founded in 1892 by G. Stanley Hall at Clark University in Worcester, Massachusetts, the APA began with 31 charter members. Currently, there are over 60,000 APA members and 56 divisions with which these members and other interested psychologists can affiliate. The diversity of the APA divisions clearly reflects the changing face of contemporary psychology as well as represents wide subjects of psychological research. They include General Psychology (Division 1), the Study of Social Issues (Division 9), Clinical Psychology (Division 12), Pharmacology and Substance Abuse (Division 28), Mental Retardation and Developmental Disabilities (Division 33), Media Psychology (Division 46), International Psychology (Division 52), and Trauma Psychology (Division 56). Clearly, psychology research topics in the 21st century continue to be diverse and evolving.
We believe that our choice of traditional and cutting-edge research paper topics reflects contemporary psychology’s diverse nature. For example, the “traditional” research paper topics include the following:
The cutting-edge research paper topics include the following:
Browse examples of psychology research papers to find sample research paper on all topics in the list above. Whether the research paper deals with a traditional topic or a cutting-edge topic, you will find that it presents the materials in a decidedly contemporary manner. We hope that students will enjoy reading the research papers on different topics in psychology as much as we have enjoyed collecting them for you.
61 intriguing psychology research topics to explore
Last updated
11 January 2024
Reviewed by
Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L
Short on time? Get an AI generated summary of this article instead
Psychology is an incredibly diverse, critical, and ever-changing area of study in the medical and health industries. Because of this, it’s a common area of study for students and healthcare professionals.
We’re walking you through picking the perfect topic for your upcoming paper or study. Keep reading for plenty of example topics to pique your interest and curiosity.
- How to choose a psychology research topic
Exploring a psychology-based topic for your research project? You need to pick a specific area of interest to collect compelling data.
Use these tips to help you narrow down which psychology topics to research:
Focus on a particular area of psychology
The most effective psychological research focuses on a smaller, niche concept or disorder within the scope of a study.
Psychology is a broad and fascinating area of science, including everything from diagnosed mental health disorders to sports performance mindset assessments.
This gives you plenty of different avenues to explore. Having a hard time choosing? Check out our list of 61 ideas further down in this article to get started.
Read the latest clinical studies
Once you’ve picked a more niche topic to explore, you need to do your due diligence and explore other research projects on the same topic.
This practice will help you learn more about your chosen topic, ask more specific questions, and avoid covering existing projects.
For the best results, we recommend creating a research folder of associated published papers to reference throughout your project. This makes it much easier to cite direct references and find inspiration down the line.
Find a topic you enjoy and ask questions
Once you’ve spent time researching and collecting references for your study, you finally get to explore.
Whether this research project is for work, school, or just for fun, having a passion for your research will make the project much more enjoyable. (Trust us, there will be times when that is the only thing that keeps you going.)
Now you’ve decided on the topic, ask more nuanced questions you might want to explore.
If you can, pick the direction that interests you the most to make the research process much more enjoyable.
- 61 psychology topics to research in 2024
Need some extra help starting your psychology research project on the right foot? Explore our list of 61 cutting-edge, in-demand psychology research topics to use as a starting point for your research journey.
- Psychology research topics for university students
As a university student, it can be hard to pick a research topic that fits the scope of your classes and is still compelling and unique.
Here are a few exciting topics we recommend exploring for your next assigned research project:
Mental health in post-secondary students
Seeking post-secondary education is a stressful and overwhelming experience for most students, making this topic a great choice to explore for your in-class research paper.
Examples of post-secondary mental health research topics include:
Student mental health status during exam season
Mental health disorder prevalence based on study major
The impact of chronic school stress on overall quality of life
The impacts of cyberbullying
Cyberbullying can occur at all ages, starting as early as elementary school and carrying through into professional workplaces.
Examples of cyberbullying-based research topics you can study include:
The impact of cyberbullying on self-esteem
Common reasons people engage in cyberbullying
Cyberbullying themes and commonly used terms
Cyberbullying habits in children vs. adults
The long-term effects of cyberbullying
- Clinical psychology research topics
If you’re looking to take a more clinical approach to your next project, here are a few topics that involve direct patient assessment for you to consider:
Chronic pain and mental health
Living with chronic pain dramatically impacts every aspect of a person’s life, including their mental and emotional health.
Here are a few examples of in-demand pain-related psychology research topics:
The connection between diabetic neuropathy and depression
Neurological pain and its connection to mental health disorders
Efficacy of meditation and mindfulness for pain management
The long-term effects of insomnia
Insomnia is where you have difficulty falling or staying asleep. It’s a common health concern that impacts millions of people worldwide.
This is an excellent topic because insomnia can have a variety of causes, offering many research possibilities.
Here are a few compelling psychology research topics about insomnia you could investigate:
The prevalence of insomnia based on age, gender, and ethnicity
Insomnia and its impact on workplace productivity
The connection between insomnia and mental health disorders
Efficacy and use of melatonin supplements for insomnia
The risks and benefits of prescription insomnia medications
Lifestyle options for managing insomnia symptoms
The efficacy of mental health treatment options
Management and treatment of mental health conditions is an ever-changing area of study. If you can witness or participate in mental health therapies, this can make a great research project.
Examples of mental health treatment-related psychology research topics include:
The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with severe anxiety
The benefits and drawbacks of group vs. individual therapy sessions
Music therapy for mental health disorders
Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for patients with depression
- Controversial psychology research paper topics
If you are looking to explore a more cutting-edge or modern psychology topic, you can delve into a variety of controversial and topical options:
The impact of social media and digital platforms
Ever since access to internet forums and video games became more commonplace, there’s been growing concern about the impact these digital platforms have on mental health.
Examples of social media and video game-related psychology research topics include:
The effect of edited images on self-confidence
How social media platforms impact social behavior
Video games and their impact on teenage anger and violence
Digital communication and the rapid spread of misinformation
The development of digital friendships
Psychotropic medications for mental health
In recent years, the interest in using psychoactive medications to treat and manage health conditions has increased despite their inherently controversial nature.
Examples of psychotropic medication-related research topics include:
The risks and benefits of using psilocybin mushrooms for managing anxiety
The impact of marijuana on early-onset psychosis
Childhood marijuana use and related prevalence of mental health conditions
Ketamine and its use for complex PTSD (C-PTSD) symptom management
The effect of long-term psychedelic use and mental health conditions
- Mental health disorder research topics
As one of the most popular subsections of psychology, studying mental health disorders and how they impact quality of life is an essential and impactful area of research.
While studies in these areas are common, there’s always room for additional exploration, including the following hot-button topics:
Anxiety and depression disorders
Anxiety and depression are well-known and heavily researched mental health disorders.
Despite this, we still don’t know many things about these conditions, making them great candidates for psychology research projects:
Social anxiety and its connection to chronic loneliness
C-PTSD symptoms and causes
The development of phobias
Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) behaviors and symptoms
Depression triggers and causes
Self-care tools and resources for depression
The prevalence of anxiety and depression in particular age groups or geographic areas
Bipolar disorder
Bipolar disorder is a complex and multi-faceted area of psychology research.
Use your research skills to learn more about this condition and its impact by choosing any of the following topics:
Early signs of bipolar disorder
The incidence of bipolar disorder in young adults
The efficacy of existing bipolar treatment options
Bipolar medication side effects
Cognitive behavioral therapy for people with bipolar
Schizoaffective disorder
Schizoaffective disorder is often stigmatized, and less common mental health disorders are a hotbed for new and exciting research.
Here are a few examples of interesting research topics related to this mental health disorder:
The prevalence of schizoaffective disorder by certain age groups or geographic locations
Risk factors for developing schizoaffective disorder
The prevalence and content of auditory and visual hallucinations
Alternative therapies for schizoaffective disorder
- Societal and systematic psychology research topics
Modern society’s impact is deeply enmeshed in our mental and emotional health on a personal and community level.
Here are a few examples of societal and systemic psychology research topics to explore in more detail:
Access to mental health services
While mental health awareness has risen over the past few decades, access to quality mental health treatment and resources is still not equitable.
This can significantly impact the severity of a person’s mental health symptoms, which can result in worse health outcomes if left untreated.
Explore this crucial issue and provide information about the need for improved mental health resource access by studying any of the following topics:
Rural vs. urban access to mental health resources
Access to crisis lines by location
Wait times for emergency mental health services
Inequities in mental health access based on income and location
Insurance coverage for mental health services
Systemic racism and mental health
Societal systems and the prevalence of systemic racism heavily impact every aspect of a person’s overall health.
Researching these topics draws attention to existing problems and contributes valuable insights into ways to improve access to care moving forward.
Examples of systemic racism-related psychology research topics include:
Access to mental health resources based on race
The prevalence of BIPOC mental health therapists in a chosen area
The impact of systemic racism on mental health and self-worth
Racism training for mental health workers
The prevalence of mental health disorders in discriminated groups
LGBTQIA+ mental health concerns
Research about LGBTQIA+ people and their mental health needs is a unique area of study to explore for your next research project. It’s a commonly overlooked and underserved community.
Examples of LGBTQIA+ psychology research topics to consider include:
Mental health supports for queer teens and children
The impact of queer safe spaces on mental health
The prevalence of mental health disorders in the LGBTQIA+ community
The benefits of queer mentorship and found family
Substance misuse in LQBTQIA+ youth and adults
- Collect data and identify trends with Dovetail
Psychology research is an exciting and competitive study area, making it the perfect choice for projects or papers.
Take the headache out of analyzing your data and instantly access the insights you need to complete your next psychology research project by teaming up with Dovetail today.
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