research proposal topic in psychology

Research Topics & Ideas: Psychology

100+ Psychology Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Research

If you’re starting out on the dissertation or thesis journey for your psychology degree, the very first challenge you’ll face is finding a solid research topic . In this post, we’ll help get the topic ideation process started by providing a meaty list of research ideas, spanning a range of psychology sub-disciplines. We’ll also look at some examples from actual theses and dissertations to give you an idea of what these look like in the real world.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps (which we’ll explain a little later). Therefore, it’s important to recognise that this post is only the first step in finding a high-quality psychology-centred research topic. To develop a research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this all sounds a bit intimidating, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course , which covers the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from A-Z. You can also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, have a look at our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Psychology-Related Topics

• How to find a research topic (video)
• Behavioural psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Educational psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Social psychology
• Sports psychology
• Examples of actual dissertation topics
• Free Webinar : Topic Ideation 101
• Where to get extra help

How To Find A Research Topic

In the video below, we explain how to find suitable research ideas (in psychology or any field), and how to then refine those into well-articulated potential topics for your dissertation or thesis. We also discuss a few important evaluation criteria to help you make the right choice for your project.

Below you’ll find a list of research ideas to get your thinking started. Please note that these research topic ideas are intentionally broad and generic, so you will need to refine them a fair deal using the techniques we discussed in the video above.

We’ve grouped the topic ideas based on a few popular areas of psychology to make it a little easier for you to find something in your particular field of interest. That said, there is naturally some overlap between topics, so keep this in mind.

Research Ideas: Behavioural Psychology

• Cultural variation in behaviour and mental health of adolescents during a disaster: a case study
• The impact of parental drug use and risky behaviour on early child development
• The effects of video game violence on aggressive behaviour among teenage boys in school
• The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and adult risk-seeking behaviour
• The impact of physical exercise on anxiety and health-harming behaviour
• The relationship between personality traits and addiction behaviour
• The effects of reinforcement schedules on decision-making and associative learning
• The effects of daily mindfulness practice on stress and anxiety in middle-aged women
• The use of behavioural interventions in the treatment of eating disorders in poorer communities
• Understanding implicit cognitive processes involved in the over-consumption of fast food
• The use of cognitive behavioural therapy for alcohol addiction treatment
• The impact of extensive technology use in children on long-term attention and focus
• The impact of social media on self-destructive behaviour and poor mental health outcomes
• Exploring the role of sleep and sleep deprivation on healthy behaviours

Research Ideas: Clinical Psychology

• The use of mindfulness-based approaches in the treatment of anxiety disorders among college students
• The use of technology in the delivery of psychological services in war-torn countries
• The effectiveness of dialectical behaviour therapy for borderline personality disorder
• The use of virtual reality technology in the treatment of phobias and PTSD among war veterans
• The role of childhood adversity on adult mental health in immigrant populations in the USA
• The role of genetics and epigenetics in the development of bipolar disorder in Pakistani women: an integrative review
• The effectiveness of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of social anxiety among hikikomori in Japan
• The perception of healthcare workers and patients on the use of teletherapy for the delivery of psychological services
• The impact of social support on mental health outcomes among single parents.
• The effectiveness of integrative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of schizophrenia
• The effectiveness of trauma-focused therapies on post-traumatic growth in domestic abuse survivors
• The role and use of cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression among first-generation students
• The effectiveness of family therapy in addressing childhood trauma and depression
• The impact of cultural mistrust on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues in culturally-diverse populations
• The effectiveness of group therapy on post-traumatic stress symptoms among survivors of sexual assault

Research Ideas: Cognitive Psychology

• The impact of lifelong aerobic exercise on cognitive function in old age
• The effects of evening screen use on cognitive development in preschool children
• The impact of sleep deprivation on decision-making among graduate students
• The use of neuroimaging to understand the neural basis of memory retrieval
• The effect of conservative religious homes on social functioning in LGBT+ adolescents
• The role of positive emotions in working memory among high school learners
• The neural basis of decision-making and problem-solving during undergraduate statistic assessments
• The neural basis of language processing among adults learning English as a second language
• The role of technological tools in improving working memory in older adults
• The role of attention in emotional face processing among adult males
• The impact of depression on cognitive function during ageing The impact of daily meditation and mindfulness practice on cognitive function
• The relationship between increased protein intake and improved cognitive function
• The effects of stress on cognitive function among final-year learners

Research Ideas: Developmental Psychology

• The impact of maternal affection on cognitive, social, and emotional development
• The effects of parenting styles on children’s executive function
• The impact of late-night screen use on child development
• The role of digital play on child development outcomes
• Exploring the impact of poverty on early child development in Brazil
• The trauma-informed care as moderating the impact of trauma on child development
• Evaluating the relationship between peer relationship quality and child social development
• The impact of child-targeted media and advertising on child behavioural development
• The role of parental attachment in child resilience
• The moderating impact of culture on bullying and child social development
• The impact of single-parenting on child development in India
• The impact of early educational interventions on child socio-emotional development
• The impact of digital technology use on adolescent development and mental health
• The impact of socioeconomic status on child executive function
• The role of genetics and epigenetics on child neurodevelopmental outcomes linked to depression

Need a helping hand?

Research Ideas: Educational Psychology

• The relationship between self-regulated learning and academic performance in asynchronous versus synchronous learning environments
• Exploring effective parental involvement strategies and their impact on student achievement
• The role of intrinsic motivation in formative assessment in the classroom
• The impact of classroom management and practice on student learning and behaviour
• University students’ preference regarding online learning environments
• The effects of gentrification on student achievement in traditionally poor neighbourhoods
• The impact of teacher expectations and academic self-concept on K12 student mathematics performance
• The use and effectiveness of game-based learning in a high school biology classroom
• The impact of prejudice on the relationship between student motivation and academic performance among Black university students
• The impact of culture on second language English student learning preferences
• The effects of student self-efficacy and engagement on academic performance in secondary school mathematics
• The role of metacognition in learning musicality in hip hop
• The role of small group instruction on teacher efficacy and stress in early childhood education
• The perception and use of multimedia among high school biology teachers in France
• The use of augmented reality applications and its impact on student learning, motivation and attitude

Research Ideas: Forensic Psychology

• The impact of trauma on the psychological functioning of police officers and first responders
• Understanding cultural considerations during forensic psychological assessment and treatment of trauma
• Ethical considerations of the use of AI in forensic psychology in the legal system
• The psychological factors related to recidivism among white collar female offenders in the USA
• The psychological factors related to false confessions among juveniles
• Understanding the use of psychological assessment in the evaluation of eyewitness testimony in criminal courts in England
• The impact of trauma on the reflective functioning of adult female sexual assault victims
• The use and effectiveness of psychological interventions in reducing recidivism among non-violent criminals
• The impact of domestic violence on the mental health and forensic evaluation of men
• Exploring the ethical considerations and use of behavioural analysis in the study of criminal behaviour
• The use and limitations of neuropsychological assessment in forensic evaluations
• The use of social media forensics in evaluating criminal behaviour in violent crimes
• The racialised use of psychological assessment in the evaluation of competency to stand trial in Canada
• Exploring the use and availability of virtual reality technologies in forensic psychology in Spain
• The impact of motivational interviewing-based interventions among criminalized drug users

Research Ideas: Social Psychology

• The impact of prejudice and discrimination on social behaviour among African immigrants in South Africa
• The impact of social networks on behaviour and well-being among young adult females
• The effects of social identity on non-conformity in University students
• The effects of group dynamics on risk-seeking behaviour in adult men
• The impact of social media on the quality of interpersonal relationships among high school learners
• The impact of parental emotional intelligence on pro-social behaviour in children and adolescents
• The effects of conformity and deviance on social attitudes and behaviour during a global recession
• The effects of Tik Tok on social comparison and self-esteem among teenage girls
• Understanding gendered differences in social influence and algorithms on impulsive decision-making
• The effects of social support on mental health among healthcare workers in the UK
• The effects of gender roles on social behaviour among trans teens
• The impact of perceived power and social status on the behaviour of social media influencers
• The impact of social norms on prosocial behaviour among women
• The effects of community participation on aggression and violence in middle-aged men
• The impact of culture and gender on social behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic

Research Ideas: Sports Psychology

• The moderating role of cultural factors on the relationship between mental health and sports performance in team sports
• The role of mindfulness practice in addressing stress and anxiety in young national athletes
• The relationship between team cohesion and performance in cricket teams
• The effect of transformational leadership on female sports teams in Canada
• The effect of positive self-talk on athletic performance and motivation among Olympic athletes
• The use and perception of hypnosis in New Zealand team sports Understanding stress and burnout in University team athletes
• The efficacy of personalised nutrition and diet on athletic performance among sprinters
• Exploring mental preparation techniques and their effect on athletic motivation and resilience among team-sport athletes
• Exploring the perception and understanding of goal-setting characteristics on athletic performance among team coaches
• The effects of motivational feedback on the performance of female gymnasts
• The perception and use of visualization and imagery among coaches as a means to enhance sport performance
• The impact of sports injuries on mental health and recovery in high school athletes
• The moderating role of sleep on mental toughness and sports performance in Olympic athletes
• The use and perception of technology in sports training and performance in little league softball

Psychology-Related Dissertations & Theses

While the ideas we’ve presented above are a decent starting point for finding a research topic in psychology, they are fairly generic and non-specific. So, it helps to look at actual dissertations and theses to see how this all comes together in practice.

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various psychology degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Effects of a Patient Question Prompt List on Outpatient Palliative Care Appointments (McDarby, 2022)
• The role of affect and exercise goals in physical activity engagement in younger and older adults (Stojanovic, 2022)
• Lay Theories about Whether Emotion Helps or Hinders Reasoning and Well-being (Karnaze, 2022)
• The effects of blast-induced traumatic brain injury on two transgenic models of Alzheimer’s Disease (Gann, 2020)
• Understanding the parental mind: Examining the stability of parental reflective functioning across the birth of a child and associations with maternal mind-mindedness (Pitzen, 2021)
• An investigation of ineffective ally behaviours (Collier, 2019)
• Response Inhibition-Related Beta Power: Distinguishing Cognitively Intact Elders by Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease (Evans, 2021)
• Recognition Memory of Extremely High-Frequency Words (Miller, 2019)
• The Relationship between Dementia Caregiver Burden and Caregiver Communications in a Memory Clinic Setting (Martin, 2021)
• Examination of Maternal Versus Paternal Ratings of Child Pre-Injury Functioning in Predicting Child Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (Sayer, 2021)
• Electromyography As A Means of Predicting The Rubber Hand Illusion (Teaford, 2021)
• Linking Diversity Climate and Feedback Seeking Through Interpersonal Processes and Race Effects (Flores, 2021)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are far more specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

Fast-Track Your Topic Ideation

Still unsure about how to find the right topic for your research project? Check out our private coaching services , where we work with psychology students on a 1:1 basis to help them find the perfect topic.

You Might Also Like:

10 Comments

Great insight

A very interesting site that offers a variety of options regarding research topics.

You’re most welcome

A good platform to get information

Amazing and interesting options 👌

Very useful but had not any field of research in health psychology

I feel honored going through this lovely stuff put together. Thank you so much

I need counseling psychology research topics

very empowering and insightful presentations. Can I be assisted in crafting a school psychology-related research topic about African context

Submit a Comment Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

• Print Friendly

• How it works
• Top Writers
• TOP Writers

Discovering Psychology Research Proposal Topics

When you need to prepare a great psychology paper, choosing a good topic is crucial. It can be challenging to find a decent topic. Still, only with a good theme for analysis, you can prepare a flawless and original psychology research proposal eventually. Many academic assignments are based on interesting subjects. Surely, you need to select the one that is related to psychology. When dealing with psychology papers, choose a solid and simple topic. There is no need to select a wide subject since it simply decreases the time needed for paper performing.

There are a few writing steps you need to follow to prepare a perfect article. This piece is a psychology-based research paper. Therefore, it requires a profound analysis of a topic. Further, you need to follow writing guidelines and tips to write down the main ideas and results of your research. You need to be very attentive to the details. Sometimes, it can be quite problematic coming up with a good topic. Still, choosing a proper subject is crucial.

The right topic and correct structure assure a perfect final research paper. You need to conduct a prior-research in order to analyze what branch of psychology your topic should be related to. Moreover, checking sources in advance is a great idea. It allows assuring a proper discovery of the topic. Be precise with your paper’s purposes, methods you are about to use, and research tools. Always choose a concise and understandable subject to analyze.

Choosing Psychology Research Proposal Topics

When writing a psychology research proposal, be aware of the exact branch of psychology. Your paper must be focused on a particular subject. Thus, there is no way to write about a single phenomenon analyzing a few spheres of psychological science. Choose a concise topic and a definite branch of psychology. Better select a narrow branch for your research. It will allow you coming up with solid arguments, a strong thesis statement, and relevant evidence faster. Once you have a defined subject to research, it is easier to check the available sources and materials. It is also easier to provide a thesis statement.

Selecting a specific branch of psychology, you ease your topic selection as well. You can prepare numerous great papers on social psychology, psychological disorders, and therapy, human cognition, human development, or a specific psychology career. You can also write about a famous historical figure. You choose for yourself what theme to select based on your personal interests and preferences. It can take time to find enough inspiration to come up with a great topic. Still, you need to pay your efforts to select the best possible subject. A solid topic always determines the paper’s final success.

Social Psychology Topics

• The top reasons for an increased discrimination rate in the world
• The social control and modern cults
• The influence of propaganda on people
• The difference between attraction and love
• The main aspects of nonverbal communication
• The main ways of becoming a leader
• The key points of prosocial behavior
• Personal attitudes and behavior
• The prohibited ways of persuasion
• The social cognition

Psychological Disorders and Therapy

• The main reasons for eating disorders
• The top way of depression treatment
• The most widespread phobias
• The modern methods of schizophrenia treatment
• Cognitive behavior’s therapy
• The benefits of psychoanalytic therapy
• Antisocial personality disorder
• Borderline personality disorder
• The benefits of group therapy
• Seasonal disorders

Human Cognition and Development

• The ways of preventing bullying in schools
• Language acquisition: advanced learning
• Learning disabilities and modern treatment
• The definition of gender roles in psychology
• Media violence and children
• The different parenting styles
• Features of the aging process
• The problem-solving abilities
• False memories and perception
• Speech disorders and therapy

Interesting Psychology Research Proposal Topics

• The sleep deprivation and stress
• Physical illness caused by stress
• The main stages of human development
• The use of hypnosis in psychology
• The outcomes of introvert behavior
• The influence of social isolation on health
• Junk food and mental health
• The impact of violent music on children
• The effects of bipolar disorder on life
• The recent innovations in genetics
• Psychological reasons for low self-esteem
• The phenomenon of hate crimes
• The reasons for various phobias
• Motivation theories: do they work
• Psychology of sex workers
• The reasons for teenage suicide
• Gay adoption: ethical concepts
• Psychological profiles of serial killers
• The prevention of stress in people
• The quality of long-term memory

Developing Psychology Research Proposal Topics

When you need to prepare an original psychology research proposal topic, you need to follow some useful guidelines. They can help you to find the best theme. There are the key steps you need to follow in order to select a winning subject:

• Learn your audience. You need to be well-aware of people that can use the results of your research. Once you know your target audience, you can choose a proper topic. Moreover, select the topic that can be useful for your readers and an entire psychology sphere. Be attentive and conduct profound research work.
• Find your purpose. In order to select the best topic, you must be inspired by a certain idea. Therefore, you need to choose an important issue for research. When you can help people with the results of your research, it gets even easier to continue your analyses. Finally, your paper’s purpose determines your research methods. The purpose of your paper is important. You should consider all your important reasons before starting writing your article.
• Conduct research. When you have a chosen topic to reveal, be very careful with the preparation stage. You must conduct profound prior-research on the topic. Be careful when checking the relevant sources. When preparing an article, you need to be well-aware of the topic and its key ideas. It is important since you must provide solid arguments, a thesis statement, and supporting evidence. Remain genuine and knowledgeable.

Psychology Research Proposal: Writing Tips

The psychology proposal usually contains a few parts. You need first to describe the purpose of your paper. Once selecting a topic, you have already figured out the purpose of your psychology proposal paper. You also need to write down the methods used for your paper’s preparation. It will give your readers important information on your topic.

Make sure to conduct a prior-research in advance. Check the set of relevant sources and materials to have enough information to prepare a strong thesis statement. Make sure to come up with solid arguments and evidence. You can look for a discussion on the topic. You need to provide a set of important questions in your paper and answer them. Once dealing with a proposal, it is important to follow the tutor’s requirements and guidelines. A psychology research proposal requires a short explanation of ideas. Be aware of your paper’s goals to complete an excellent article. If you deal with a specific language in your research paper, make sure to explain complex concepts. The formatting style is usually assigned by a tutor. Thus, every writer must follow a certain formatting style and assure the paper’s proper structure. It is also important to prepare original and flawless content. Your paper must be useful for other researchers.

Preparing a Good Psychology Research Proposal

The useful writing steps can help to complete a good paper. You need to follow some guides to succeed in your academic writing. Every research paper requires a profound analysis of a topic. When writing a psychology-based research paper, make sure to define a certain branch of psychology. It is even better if you narrow it for your research. Further, you need to follow writing guidelines and writing tips to write down the main ideas and research results’ explanation. Be very attentive to the slightest details. From time to time, it can be quite problematic coming up with a certain topic that can be analyzed easily. Still, choosing a proper subject is essential.

The right topic and correct structure of your article assure a perfect final content. Be ready to conduct a short prior-research in order to analyze what branch of psychology your topic should be related to and narrow it eventually. Moreover, check the sources on the topic in advance. It will allow assuring a proper discovery of the subject. Be accurate with your paper’s resolutions. Choose a concise and logical subject to study.

When writing a psychology research proposal, focus on a particular theme. Consequently, be ready to describe a certain phenomenon once analyzing numerous relevant sources. Choose a concise topic that inspires you. It will allow you coming up with solid arguments, a strong thesis statement, and relevant up-to-date evidence. Once you have a defined subject to research, be ready to use your best writing and analytical talents. Make your work really valuable for your target audience.

Research Paper Guide

Psychology Research Topics

Last updated on: Dec 19, 2023

Psychology Research Topics - 170+ Ideas for Your Paper

By: Nathan D.

17 min read

Reviewed By: Jacklyn H.

Published on: Feb 10, 2023

Choosing psychology research topics is not as easy as one might think. If you have to write a good research paper, choosing a good topic is the foremost step. You may have several ideas in your mind while thinking of a topic for the research paper.

Good  research paper writing  needs a good topic. If you have chosen a broad topic, you will have to do a lot of research and background study. It is better to choose a narrow topic to focus on a particular subject while researching and writing.

Psychology is a vast subject that discusses different multidisciplinary issues and brings together a wide range of topics.

You can conduct analysis and research before deciding your topic. This is the reason that it is better to go for a narrow topic. It is also easier for the researcher to research the topic in psychology and conduct analysis with proper details.

On this Page

How to Choose a Topic?

You can choose a topic from any social branch of psychology. You can also select a topic that is related to some sort of mental illness or mental disorder.

The topic may be complex and require a lot of research and analytical study. But the writer can cover all the aspects of the specific topic.

Choosing a good topic is the essential step when you start writing a research proposal. An interesting and new topic is what catches your teacher’s attention. And it gets your idea accepted, apart from, of course, a well-written proposal itself.

Studying some good psychology topics for your papers is the first step when conducting research. Once you have selected the topic, the next step is writing the research paper.

Discover Captivating Topics in a Click!

Psychology Research Topics For High School Students

High school students often explore psychology through research as a great way to learn more. With so many interesting topic, it can be hard to decide which one to study. 

Here are some ideas for psychological research topics that may help narrow down your search.

• How does color affect human behavior?
• Examine the mental health of children with disabilities
• Analyzing the effects of racism on an individual's mental health 
• The role of technology in student learning
• Investigating the correlation between depression and social media usage 
• Is there a connection between video games and violence?
• Understanding the impact of childhood trauma on adult behavior 
• Exploring gender identity in adolescence 
• How does sleep deprivation affect mental health?
• Examine the psychological effects of media consumption on teenagers

Psychology Research Topics for College Students

If you are a psychology student struggling to develop a topic for your research, the following ideas will be helpful. The professional writers of 5StarEssays.com have gathered some exceptional topics to help college students draft compelling papers.

• The social identity theory of Tajfel and Turner.
• Significance of strong self-perception?
• REM phase and continuous sleep disruption.
• How does the brain function when a person is in love?
• Differences in the functioning of the brain of a man and woman.
• How do different forms of amnesia damage brain activity?
• Can PTSD lead to Alzheimer’s disease?
• Impact of yoga on human psychology.
• An autistic brain under MRI.
• Causes and effects of sleep paralysis
• How to treat multiple personality disorders?
• Symptoms and treatment of ADHD
• Social factors that trigger panic attacks.
• Symptoms, causes, and treatment of dementia
• Similarities and differences among midlife crises of a man and a woman.

Research Topics In Psychology For University Students

Psychology allows us to explore the depths of human behavior and gain insight into why people think, feel, and act the way they do. For university students interested in exploring this area further, there are many interesting research topics to choose from. 

Here are some options to consider:

• The Role of Genetics in Mental Health
• How Technology Impacts Mental Health Outcomes
• The Psychological Impact of Racism
• Cyberbullying Prevention Strategies
• Sleep and Memory
• The Influence of Social Media on Adolescents’ Self-Esteem
• The Effects of Music on Emotion
• Mental Health Stigma in the Workplace
• The Role of Gender in Mental Health
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy as a Treatment for Stress

Criminal Psychology Research Paper Topics

• The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Criminal Behavior 
• Examining the Impact of Poverty and Socioeconomic Disadvantage on Crime Rates 
• Exploring the Role of Technology in Modern Day Crime 
• Investigating Media Portrayals of Criminals and their Effectiveness 
• Analyzing Trends and Patterns in Juvenile Delinquency 
• Examining the Effectiveness of Drug Abuse Treatment Programs on Criminal Behavior 
• Understanding the Relationship between Mental Illness and Crime 
• Exploring Effective Strategies for Rehabilitating Criminals in Prisons 
• Investigating the Impact of Religion on Criminal Mindsets 
• Examining Gender Differences in Criminal Behavior 

Biological Psychology Research Paper Topics

• The Role of Neurotransmitters in Emotional Regulation 
• Brain Development and the Impact of Early Childhood Experiences 
• Exploring Neural Network Connectivity and Its Role in Behavior 
• How Do Cortical Mechanisms Contribute to Cognitive Processes? 
• The Effects of Stress on Memory Formation 
• The Impact of Social Interactions on the Development of Mental Illness 
• Examine the Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Functioning 
• Investigating Neuroplasticity in Response to Environmental Stimuli 
• Exploring Hormone-Induced Changes in Brain Activity  
• The Role of Neurotransmitters in Addiction 
• Exploring Sex Differences in Brain Circuitry and its Impact on Behavior.

Social Psychology Research Topics

• Racism and its effects
• What is Homophobia?
• Social issues involving or related to culture
• What is social depression?
• What is social cognition?
• How does social anxiety affect people?
• Gender roles in our society
• Gender discrimination and its causes
• How does peer pressure affect teenagers?
• Effect of marital disputes on children
• How do violent video games affect children and their brain development?
• Effect of violent cartoons on children's behavior and mental state
• How does divorce affect the emotional development of a child?
• Social anxiety and social depression on an introverted child
• How does bullying affect the social interaction of teenagers in high school or college?

Cognitive Psychology Research Topics

• What are the effects of attention deficit or hyperactivity disorder on the development of a child?
• Discuss the effects of Autism.
• How is color psychology effective in cognitive development studies?
• What is the attention span, and how to measure it?
• Memory loss and different ways to recover it
• How do memories affect the behavior of individuals?
• Which factors can help improve problem-solving abilities in children?
• What is a speech disorder, and how does it affect cognitive development?
• What is critical thinking, and how to measure its ability in cognitive psychology?
• How can subconsciousness affect decision-making ability?
• Increasing violence among teenagers and children
• What causes bullying behavior among children?
• Factors that can contribute to delay in the mental development of a child.
• The effect of romantic movies on a child
• Is single parenting suitable for a child’s mental development?

Paper Due? Why Suffer? That's our Job!

Controversial Psychology Research Paper Topics

• The influence of video games on aggression in teenagers
• Gender roles in society: An analysis of stereotypes
• The impact of race and ethnicity on mental health
• The effects of television violence on children’s behavior
• Attitudes towards death penalty: Should it be abolished?
• Causes and effects of anxiety disorders
• The effectiveness of psychotherapy in treating depression
• The role of media in promoting body image dissatisfaction among youth
• Is intelligence determined mainly by genetics or environment?
• Impact of poverty on psychological development
• Workplace bullying and its consequences for employees’ mental health 

Cultural Psychology Research Paper Topics

• Analyzing the Role of Social Communication Platforms in Shaping Culture 
• Examining the Impact of Cultural Diversity on Mental Health 
• Exploring Linguistic Influences on Cognitive Development 
• Investigating How Media Portrayal Affects Cultural Expectations and Ideologies 
• Assessing the Influence of Different Cultural Values on Identity Development 
• Studying the Relationship between Cultural Practices and Gender Roles 
• Examining Intergenerational Transmission of Culture through Family Dynamics 
• Analyzing the Effects of Political and Economic Structures on Cultural Beliefs and Behaviors 
• Understanding How Social Norms Impact Moral Decision Making 
• Investigating the Impact of Religion on Cultural Attitudes and Practices 

Developmental Psychology Research Topics

• Bullying and its effect on mental development.
• The role of media and cartoons in increasing violence.
• How violent video games and cartoons can make children violent?
• Underlying causes that can create a serial killer
• Causes of increase in the psychopathic behavior of teenagers and youth
• Stereotypes and gender roles in our society
• Abusive parents and child development
• Effects of child abuse on the mental development of a child
• Factors that can accelerate the aging process
• Is psychology related to the aging process?
• Long term effects of mental health issues
• How can drugs affect our youth’s mental health in the long run?
• The effects of medication on your mental health
• Effects of postpartum depression on mental health
• How does sleeping disorder lead to other mental illnesses?

Found a topic to write about but don’t know how to start? Here’s an informative video on how to write your research paper.

Abnormal Psychology Research Topics

• What are the causes of the increasing anorexia rate in children?
• Causes of anorexia in adults
• Causes of anxiety disorder and how to overcome it
• Why is there an increase in eating disorders among the youth?
• What are the factors that contribute to an eating disorder?
• Is lying related to the psychology of a person?
• Causes of the rise in teenage suicides
• Is asexuality related to the psychology of a person?
• Psychology and suicidal thoughts
• How to control anxiety and depressing thoughts regarding death?
• What factors can cause multiple personality disorders?
• Violent video games are a cause of mood disorders among children.
• Reasons for phobias and how to deal with them
• Causes of PTSD in offices or workplace
• Is stalking considered a psychological disorder?

Clinical Psychology Research Topics

• Psychology can be used to get control of chronic pain.
• Recent studies suggest that anxiety and panic attacks can be treated using cognitive therapy.
• Is behavioral therapy effective in treating criminals?
• Antidepressants can be addictive, and their usage should be avoided.
• Factors that contribute to post-traumatic stress disorder
• What are the therapy practices effective in dealing with depression?
• Effect of an abusive relationship on the psychology of the victim
• Are antidepressants effective as a remedy for therapy?
• Insomnia – How to treat it in a clinical scenario?
• Which therapy practices are effective in treating addictions?
• Panic attacks and anxiety disorder - How to treat them through therapies?
• Psychological disorders and their clinical treatments
• Causes of Social anxiety and how to treat them?
• Phobias and Paranoias - Treatment through medication and therapy.
• Schizophrenia and the recommended therapies.

Child Psychology Research Topics

• Describe the legal, ethical, and psychological aspects of adoption.
• Negligence of parents is the main cause of childhood obesity. Agreed?
• What are the reasons behind the rising depression in children?
• Explain the introvert personality. What are the consequences of being an introvert, especially in children?
• What are the psychological effects of child abuse? Explain the preventive and remedial measures of childhood abuse.
• What are the consequences of a self-centered mother on a child’s mental wellbeing?
• Explain the phases of a child’s psychological development and growth.
• Does the birth order have any effect on a child’s personality and accomplishments? If yes, then explain how and why?
• How do violent music and video games impact a child’s behavior and mind?
• What are the different kinds of torture, and what are their effects on a child’s mind and adult life?
• Causes of increasing depression among the youth
• What are the physical symptoms of a mental disorder in children?
• Causes of antisocial behavior among teenagers
• Causes and effects of Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder in children
• Impact of spanking on child’s psychology.

Sports Psychology Research Topics

• What are the future trends in sports psychology? Explain the arguments in light of the high chances of head injuries in football, hockey, and rugby.
• What are the recent changes in team sport and locker room dynamics in sports? Explain your claims with solid evidence and present some future implications also.
• What are the reasons for low health in low-income neighborhoods? How can we use sports and physical activities to promote good health?
• What are the effects and role of the Olympics in promoting sports in the nations that are not active in sports due to underfunding? How can they change their state and invest in games?
• What role do the psychological tests play in determining whether a new athlete coming from the collegiate level will be prone to steroids or violence?
• What are the psychological implications of having a well-known coach on the team? Does it matter if the coach is famous?
• What are the problems faced by young and new coaches? Do they feel pressured and are more prone to injuries? State the reasons with examples.
• Explain the term team chemistry. What is the role of team chemistry in building a sound team and supporting the teammates?
• What are the tactics that athletes can use to control and manage their emotions effectively? Discuss the role of negative emotions in violent sports like boxing.
• How has sport psychology evolved in the last twenty years?
• Significance of sports psychology to promote mental health.
• Effects of steroids on the mental activity of athletes. How does it negatively affect you? What can be done to avoid it?
• Relationship issues and the sports performance of an athlete. How are they related?
• Are panic attacks common in a sportsman’s life? How to deal with them?
• How does a sleeping disorder influence the stamina of the sportsman?

Tough Essay Due? Hire Tough Writers!

Experimental Psychology Research Topics

• Can colors play a role in enhancing a person’s mood? Explain how the color blue can make a person feel relaxed and calm.
• Explain the notorious human experiments in history. What are their ethical shortcomings?
• What is the impact of breakfast on a person's overall day-to-day activities?
• What is the relationship between the use of social media and the rising cases of violence in adolescents?
• It is said that geniuses are made, not born. How true is this statement?
• Explain the term Mood Freezing and its implications.
• What is hindsight bias, and how can it be prevented?
• What is a double foot-in-door, and how is it used to manipulate someone?
• What affects the heuristic? Explain it with examples.
• Human cloning can be the answer for childless couples. How true is the statement?
• Causes and effects of dehumanization in Stanford prison.
• Analysis of Milgram’s shock experiment on the unfamiliar environment.
• How can aggression be controlled?
• Obedience and compliance as a function of social status.
• How does group belonging influence an individual’s behavior?

Forensic Psychology Research Topics

• The increasing susceptibility that has led to more home-grown terrorists emerging
• The effectiveness of rehabilitation in prisons and the criminal justice system
• Juvenile murders and what factors affect areas with higher rates of murders carried out by children.
• How does a role in law enforcement impact an individual’s private life?
• Is enough being done to minimize the risks of those in special education ending up in the penal system?
• What is the cause of mass killings in the U.S.?
• Is society neglecting domestic violence that is aimed towards men?
• Explain the role of the internet, movies, and video games in augmenting copycat crimes.
• What is internet police? Explain some useful strategies for effective internet policing.
• What is the role of upbringing in preventing the making of a serial killer? Can a better upbringing prevent it?
• Rules of conduct to follow by the forensic psychologist in the court.
• Risk factors for unreliable evidence.
• Reliability and legitimacy of an eyewitness’s memory.
• The credibility of the statement of a mentally challenged eyewitness.
• Rules to follow by psychologists when verbally interacting with criminals in court.

Interesting Psychology Research Topics

• The effects of media exposure on mental health 
• The role of social media in the formation of relationships 
• How childhood experiences shape personality development 
• The impact of personality traits on academic performance 
• Relationship between drug use and criminal behavior 
• Understanding the motivations behind substance abuse 
• The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy 
• Exploring the effects of different parenting styles 
• Investigating the role of memory in decision making 
• Examining gender roles and their impact on behavior 
• Analyzing the relationships between emotion and cognition

Another easy way to choose psychology research paper topics for your research paper is to write about a famous historical person.

The topic, as narrow as it is, allows the researcher to focus on specific areas. You can also choose to research and write about a psychology career. A case study on an individual by providing a detailed analysis using your research techniques will be great.

Some additional  research paper topics  will help you carry out meaningful and interesting research.

Tips to Write a Research Paper

However, there are no universal processes for writing a good research paper, but you can follow the following steps:

1. Develop an outline

Before you start writing your research paper, it’s important to develop an outline that will guide your writing process.  An outline should include the main points and arguments you want to make throughout the paper. It will help keep your ideas organized and help you stay on track.

2. Research thoroughly

Research is the most important part of writing a research paper. 

Make sure you do your due diligence in researching thoroughly and that you’re gathering reliable sources from trusted experts or academics.

3. Develop a thesis statement

Once you have researched, it’s time to develop a thesis statement that’ll act as the main argument throughout your paper. This should be clear and concise while still conveying all the most important points you want to make.

4. Write a first draft

Once you’ve developed an outline and a thesis statement, it’s time to start writing your first draft. This is where you can really get creative and start fleshing out your ideas and arguments in full sentences. 

Remember not to get too bogged down in the details. Just focus on getting your ideas on paper.

5. Use citations

Once you’ve finished your research, it’s important to correctly cite all your sources. 

This will ensure that you’re giving credit where it’s due. It will also help your readers verify the accuracy of your research.

6. Revise and proofread

Once you’ve finished your first draft, it’s time to go back over it and make any necessary revisions or edits. Make sure that all of your arguments are still clear and supported by evidence and that your paper flows in a logical and coherent manner. 

Additionally, make sure you check for any typos, spelling errors, and grammatical mistakes.

After you’ve revised and proofread your research paper, it’s time to submit it! 

Make sure that you follow all the required submission guidelines of the publication or professor you’re submitting to.

Let’s sum it up!

Writing a research paper can seem like an arduous task, but you can write a winning paper with enough determination and focus. Remember to always back up your points with evidence and create a logical flow in order for your message to be effectively communicated. 

With hard work and dedication, you can create an impactful research paper that will engage your readers. So make sure to take the time to hone your skills and craft a compelling piece of writing!

If you need help, here is a complete guide to writing a research paper that includes everything you need to write a perfect paper. 

Not every student has the writing skills or time to dedicate to a research paper. In this case, seeking help from professional writers is the best available option.

5StarEssays.com has a team of professional writers who can write high-quality academic papers, including term papers to custom essays. Ask our writers to ‘ write my essay ’ and avail of all the professional services.

Our professional essay writers have exceptional writing skills, and they can help you with writing assignments within your deadline.

You can also check out AI essay typer and generate parts of your research paper through it with accurate citations to use as reference. 

Masters Essay, Economics Essay

Nathan completed his Ph.D. in journalism and has been writing articles for well-respected publications for many years now. His work is carefully researched and insightful, showing a true passion for the written word. Nathan's clients appreciate his expertise, deep understanding of the process, and ability to communicate difficult concepts clearly.

Was This Blog Helpful?

Keep reading.

• How to Write a Research Paper - Writing Guide & Examples

• 20+ Thesis Statement Examples for Research Papers

• Learn How to Write an Abstract - Steps & Examples

• How to Write a Literature Review: Steps and Outline

• How to Start a Research Paper - 9 Simple Steps

• How to Write a Hypothesis - A Step-by-Step Guide

• Writing a Research Proposal - Outline, Format, and Examples

• Good Research Paper Topics & Ideas for Students

• Good History Research Paper Topics For Your Help

• How to Cite a Research Paper with the Help of Examples

• How to Write a Research Methodology in 10 Simple Steps

• Research Paper Outline - Basic Format & Sample

• Research Paper Example: Samples to Write a Research Paper

• Great Sociology Research Topics & Ideas (2024)

People Also Read

• solve math problems
• book review examples
• rhetorical analysis essay example
• how to write a poem
• writing reflective essay

Burdened With Assignments?

Advertisement

• Homework Services: Essay Topics Generator

© 2024 - All rights reserved

• Bipolar Disorder
• Therapy Center
• When To See a Therapist
• Types of Therapy
• Best Online Therapy
• Best Couples Therapy
• Best Family Therapy
• Managing Stress
• Sleep and Dreaming
• Understanding Emotions
• Self-Improvement
• Healthy Relationships
• Student Resources
• Personality Types
• Guided Meditations
• Verywell Mind Insights
• 2024 Verywell Mind 25
• Mental Health in the Classroom
• Editorial Process
• Meet Our Review Board
• Crisis Support

Social Psychology Research Topics

Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

Emily is a board-certified science editor who has worked with top digital publishing brands like Voices for Biodiversity, Study.com, GoodTherapy, Vox, and Verywell.

Choosing topics for social psychology research papers or projects for class can be challenging. It is a broad and fascinating field, which can make it challenging to figure out what you want to investigate in your research.

Social psychology explores how individual thoughts, feelings, and behaviors are affected by social influences. It explores how each person's behavior is affected by their social environment.

This article explores a few different social psychology topics and research questions you might want to study in greater depth. It covers how to start your search for a topic as well as specific ideas you might choose to explore.

How to Find a Social Psychology Research Topic

As you begin your search, think about the questions that you have. What topics interest you? Following your own interests and curiosities can often inspire great research questions.

Choose a Sub-Topic

Social psychologists are interested in all aspects of social behavior. Some of the main areas of interest within the field include social cognition, social influence, and social relationships investigating subtopics such as conformity, groupthink, attitude formation, obedience, prejudice, and so on.

• Social cognition : How do we process and use information about social experiences? What kinds of biases influence how we engage with other people?
• Social influence: What are the key social factors that influence our attitudes and behavior? What are group dynamics and how do we understand patterns of behavior in groups?
• Social relationships : What are the different types of social relationships? How do they develop and change over time?

To help ensure that you select a topic that is specific enough, it can be helpful to start by confining your search to one of these main areas.

Browse Through Past Research

After narrowing down your choices, consider what questions you might have. Are there questions that haven't been fully answered by previous studies? At this point, it can be helpful to spend some time browsing through journal articles or books to see some examples of past findings and identify gaps in the literature.

You can also find inspiration and learn more about a topic by searching for keywords related to your topic in psychological databases such as PsycINFO or browsing through some professional psychology journals.

Narrow Down Your Specific Topic

Once you have a general topic, you'll need to narrow down your research. The goal is to choose a research question that is specific, measurable, and testable. Let's say you want to study conformity; An example of a good research question might be, “Are people more likely to conform when they are in a small group or a large group?” In this case, the specific topic of your paper would be how group size influences social conformity .

Review the Literature on Your Chosen Topic

After choosing a specific social psychology topic to research, the next step is to do a literature review. A literature review involves reading through the existing research findings related to a specific topic.

You are likely to encounter a great deal of information on your topic, which can seem overwhelming at times. You may find it helpful to start by reading review articles or meta-analysis studies. These are summaries of previous research on your topic or studies that incorporate a large pool of past research on the topic.

Talk to Your Instructor

Even if you are really excited to dive right in and start working on your project, there are some important preliminary steps you need to take.

Before you decide to tackle a project for your social psychology class, you should always clear your idea with your instructor. This initial step can save you a lot of time and hassle later on.

Your instructor can offer clear feedback on things you should and should not do while conducting your research and might be able to offer some helpful tips. Also, if you plan to implement your own social experiment, your school might require you to present to and gain permission from an institutional review board.

Thinking about the questions you have about social psychology can be a great way to discover topics for your own research. Once you have a general idea, explore the literature and refine your research question to make sure it is specific enough.

Examples of Social Psychology Research Topics

The following are some specific examples of different subjects you might want to investigate further as part of a social psychology research paper, experiment, or project:

Implicit Attitudes

How do implicit attitudes influence how people respond to others? This can involve exploring how people's attitudes towards different groups of people (e.g., men, women, ethnic minorities) influence their interactions with those groups. For example, one study found that 75% of people perceive men to be more intelligent than women .

In your own project, you might explore how implicit attitudes impact perceptions of qualities such as kindness, intelligence, leadership skills, or attractiveness.

Prosocial Behavior

You might also choose to focus on prosocial behavior in your research. This can involve investigating the reasons why people help others. Some questions you could explore further include:

• What motivates people to help others?
• When are people most likely to help others?
• How does helping others cause people to feel?
• What are the benefits of helping other people?

How do people change their attitudes in response to persuasion? What are the different techniques that can be used to persuade someone? What factors make some people more susceptible to persuasion than others?

One way to investigate this could be through collecting a wide variety of print advertisements and analyzing how​ persuasion is used. What types of cognitive and affective techniques are utilized? Do certain types of advertisements tend to use specific kinds of persuasive techniques ?

Another area of social psychology that you might research is aggression and violence. This can involve exploring the factors that lead to aggression and violence and the consequences of these behaviors. Some questions you might explore further include:

• When is violence most likely to occur?
• What factors influence violent behavior?
• Do traumatic experiences in childhood lead to more aggressive behavior in adulthood?
• Does viewing violent media content contribute to increased aggressive behavior in real life?

Prejudice and discrimination are areas that present a range of research opportunities. This can involve studying the different forms that prejudice takes (e.g., sexism, racism, ageism ), as well as the psychological effects of prejudice and discrimination. You might also want to investigate topics related to how prejudices form or strategies that can be used to reduce such discrimination.

Nonverbal Behavior

How do people respond when nonverbal communication does not match up to verbal behavior (for example, saying you feel great when your facial expressions and tone of voice indicate otherwise). Which signal do people respond to most strongly?

How good are people at detecting lies ? Have participants tell a group of people about themselves, but make sure some of the things are true while others are not. Ask members of the group which statements they thought were true and which they thought were false.

Social Norms

How do people react when social norms are violated? This might involve acting in a way that is outside the norm in a particular situation or enlisting friends to act out the behaviors while you observe.

Some examples that you might try include wearing unusual clothing, applauding inappropriately at the end of a class lecture, cutting in line in front of other people, or some other mildly inappropriate behavior. Keep track of your own thoughts as you perform the experiment and observe how people around you respond.

Online Social Behavior

Does online social networking make people more or less likely to interact with people in face-to-face or other offline settings? To investigate this further, you could create a questionnaire to assess how often people participate in social networking versus how much time they spend interacting with their friends in real-world settings.

Social Perception

How does our appearance impact how people respond to us? Ask some friends to help you by having two people dress up in dramatically different ways, one in a professional manner and one in a less conventional manner. Have each person engage in a particular action, then observe how they are treated and how other people's responses differ.

Social psychologists have found that attractiveness can produce what is known as a halo effect . Essentially, we tend to assume that people who are physically attractive are also friendly, intelligent, pleasant, and likable.

To investigate this topic, you could set up an experiment where you have participants look at photographs of people of varying degrees of physical attractiveness, and then ask them to rate each person based on a variety of traits, including social competence, kindness, intellect, and overall likability.

Think about how this might affect a variety of social situations, including how employees are selected or how jurors in a criminal case might respond.

Social psychology is a broad field, so there are many different subtopics you might choose to explore in your research. Implicit attitudes, prosocial behavior, aggression, prejudice, and social perception are just a few areas you might want to consider.

A Word From Verywell

Social psychology topics can provide a great deal of inspiration for further research, whether you are writing a research paper or conducting your own experiment. In addition to some of the social psychology topics above, you can also draw inspiration from your own curiosity about social behavior or examine social issues that you see taking place in the world around you. 

American Psychological Association.  Frequently asked questions about institutional review boards .

Storage D, Charlesworth TES, Banaji M, Cimpian A.  Adults and children implicitly associate brilliance with men more than women .  J Exp Soc Psychol . 2012;90:104020. doi:10.1016/j.jesp.2020.104020

Talamas SN, Mavor KI, Perrett DI. Blinded by beauty: Attractiveness bias and accurate perceptions of academic performance . PLoS ONE . 2016;11(2):e0148284. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0148284

By Kendra Cherry, MSEd Kendra Cherry, MS, is a psychosocial rehabilitation specialist, psychology educator, and author of the "Everything Psychology Book."

• Addiction Reconceptualized

Suicide Through the Eyes of a College Student

• The Inside Out Film: Psychological Analysis
• What Made Self-Objectification A Common Part Of Womanhood
• 15% Experience Withdrawal After Stopping Anti-depressants

Your cart is empty

Master the Art of Research: Topics and Tips for Your Psychology Paper

• by Psychologs Magazine
• May 14, 2024
• 6 minutes read

Writing a psychology research paper is a journey through the depths of human behaviour and mental processes. Therefore, choosing psychology research topics is crucial for a compelling paper. Before diving into your research proposal, a thorough investigation of journal databases like PsychInfo and ERIC can unveil a wealth of relevant studies. The importance of selecting the right topics for psychology research cannot be overstated. It sets the tone for the entire research paper, ensuring your work is grounded in innovative inquiry. A roadmap can be constructed by outlining your ideas of how to go about writing the paper in detail.

Topic Selection

It’s always best to identify general areas of interest in psychology such as cognition and social behavior or mental health. This broad area will help you to narrow down to more specific topics. Identifying gaps in existing research helps to identify areas of interest. This can provide a good foundation for your study and ensure a meaningful contribution to the field of mental health. 

It’s time to narrow down your broad interests to focus on a specific and manageable topic. Structure and organization become essential at this stage to follow. Just remember that the more a research question intrigues you the more it will help you to follow through with all the research phases. 

Also, when you are narrowing down your topic, it is important to select one which is not only in trend currently, but also well-researched. This will help you during the literature review phase of your research process. Lastly, it’s always best to keep in mind guidelines or criteria set by your research guide and educational institution. Your topic should meet academic standards and procedures.

Read More: 6 Reasons You Should Study Psychology

The Review of Literature 

When you begin conducting your literature review, you must refer to online databases like PsycInfo, Social Sciences Citation Index (SSCI), and Medline to search for relevant research literature.

Make sure to read the abstract, introduction, method, results, and discussion sections of each article. Discussion sections are also important since they highlight gaps in existing research. An Excel sheet must be made where you write down the summaries and key points of each research for your literature review. 

In your literature review, you must describe, compare and evaluate the research studies. The goal of evaluation is to identify gaps and inconsistencies in the literature, thus providing suggestions for solving the research problem. These tips help you develop a thorough literature review. It highlights significant studies as well as sets a foundation for your research paper.

Read More: The Depths of Indian Psychology: Traditions and Modern Insights

Adhering to APA Format

The general structure of the APA format includes the title page, abstract, introduction, method, results, discussion, and references.

The title page should have a running head, page number, title of the paper, author’s name, and institutional affiliation. The title should be concise including the key variables or the study’s focus. The abstract should be on a new page, limited to 120 words. It should summarize the research topic, methods, results, and significance. 

Your introduction should start with an exploration of your research question, including a brief history of the same. The introduction will also include a summary of the previous findings in the form of a literature review. Make sure to address gaps in the current research and how the current research will impact the field.

The method section describes in detail how the research was performed. It includes a description of the participants, the study design, the materials that were used, and the procedure of the study. It is essential to provide enough information for another researcher to duplicate your research.

The results section should describe the data that was collected through descriptive statistics as well as inferential statistics which is your t-test, ANOVA and other appropriate tests for your study. Your discussion has to interpret the results and address your research topic. It is essential to discuss the limitations and scope of future research surrounding your research. 

When referring to current research for your review literature, make sure to compile a list of all the sources . It’s also important to cite them throughout the paper wherever direct quotations are used. Refer to the APA format for in-text citations .

Read More; Do You Know About the Basic Principles of Psychology?

Analyzing Your Data

Descriptive statistics in research provide a summary of your data sets. Calculate the mean, median and mode of your data set. Thereafter, you calculate the dispersion of your data which includes variance, standard deviation and range to understand the spread of your data. 

Creating graphs and charts like histograms, bar charts and scatter plots helps visually present the data. Identify the skewness of your data to understand the asymmetry of your data distribution. Identify the techniques you will analyze your data with like t-tests, regression, or ANOVA. This analysis should help answer your research question. 

These tips help ensure that your data analysis is communicated which makes your findings understandable to other researchers and the psychology community. 

Read more: 10 Job Roles in the Field of Psychology

The importance of selecting engaging and significant topics, conducting comprehensive literature reviews, and adhering to the standards of APA format thus far has been highlighted. Researchers ensure their work helps in the understanding of human behaviour. The journey from topic selection to data presentation has its challenges, however, research papers tend to influence the scholarly community and societal perceptions of psychological phenomena. We encourage aspiring researchers to continually seek out new avenues for inquiry and adopt a critical yet open-minded stance toward their findings. The pursuit of knowledge in psychology research helps formulate interventions and policies that can help human well-being. 

1. What are the top topics for conducting Research in psychology? 

To select a psychology research topic, consider areas such as psychotropic medications for mental health, disorders like anxiety , depression , and bipolar disorder , schizoaffective disorder, accessibility of mental health services, the impact of systemic racism on mental health, and mental health concerns within the LGBTQIA+ community.

2. What are some essential tips for writing an effective psychology research paper? 

When writing a psychology research paper, ensure to support your arguments with solid evidence from scientific studies. Adhere to the appropriate academic format.

3. Where can I get extra help with APA style for my research?

You can find support online and offline to improve your understanding of APA style. The APA Publication Manual is a key resource for guidance on formatting, citations and other important aspects. 

• Chiang, I. A., Jhangiani, R. S., & Price, P. C. (2015, October 13). Generating good research questions . Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/researchmethods/chapter/generating-good-research-questions/
• Paré, G., & Kitsiou, S. (2017, February 27). Chapter 9 Methods for literature reviews . Handbook of eHealth Evaluation: An Evidence-based Approach – NCBI Bookshelf. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/books/NBK481583/
• Ratan, S. K., Anand, T., & Ratan, J. (2019). Formulation of research question – Stepwise approach. Journal of Indian Association of Pediatric Surgeons , 24 (1), 15. https://doi.org/10.4103/jiaps.jiaps_76_18
• Chiang, I. A., Jhangiani, R. S., & Price, P. C. (2015, October 13). American Psychological Association (APA) style . Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/researchmethods/chapter/american-psychological-association-apa-style/
• Chiang, I. A., Jhangiani, R. S., & Price, P. C. (2015, October 13). Conducting your analyses . Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/researchmethods/chapter/conducting-your-analyses/
• Chiang, I. A., Jhangiani, R. S., & Price, P. C. (2015, October 13). Expressing your results . Pressbooks. https://opentextbc.ca/researchmethods/chapter/expressing-your-results/
• San José State University Writing Center, & Tablas-Mejia, I. (n.d.). Conclusion section for research papers. Fall 2021 . https://www.sjsu.edu/writingcenter/docs/handouts/Conclusion%20Section%20for%20Research%20Papers.pdf
• P, B. (2024, March 27). Learn how to write a psychology research paper here . https://www.sharkpapers.com/blog/research-paper-writing-guides/psychology-research-paper

Share This Post:

Top 12 psychology books that are a must-read in 2024, nmc showed 37,000 medicos with disturbed mental well-being, leave feedback about this cancel reply.

• Rating 5 4 3 2 1

Related Post

Munchausen Syndrome (Factious disorder imposed on Self)

James Langes Theory of Emotions

Understanding the Psychological Impact of Trigger Warnings

Mere Exposure Effect in Psychology

• How It Works
• PhD thesis writing
• Master thesis writing
• Bachelor thesis writing
• Dissertation writing service
• Dissertation abstract writing
• Thesis proposal writing
• Thesis editing service
• Thesis proofreading service
• Thesis formatting service
• Coursework writing service
• Research paper writing service
• Architecture thesis writing
• Computer science thesis writing
• Engineering thesis writing
• History thesis writing
• MBA thesis writing
• Nursing dissertation writing
• Psychology dissertation writing
• Sociology thesis writing
• Statistics dissertation writing
• Buy dissertation online
• Write my dissertation
• Cheap thesis
• Cheap dissertation
• Custom dissertation
• Dissertation help
• Pay for thesis
• Pay for dissertation
• Senior thesis
• Write my thesis

100 Psychology Thesis Topics for 2023

Students know the importance of developing great psychology dissertation topics for a graduate assignment. However, many don’t have the time to brainstorm ideas that meet the requirements their professors expect. We’ve done a lot of the heavy lifting and have put together a list of 100 psychology thesis topics suitable for several situations. Feel free to pick a topic and start writing your thesis proposal .

General Psychology Topics for High School

• Give five top reasons why you would want to become a psychologist.
• What kind of influence has psychology research had in other sciences?
• Why are teenagers at higher risk of developing an eating disorder?
• How are phobias developed in children under the age of twelve?
• In what ways did Pavlov’s conditioning experiment contribute to our understanding of addiction therapy?

Child Psychology Research Paper Topics

• What are the major differences between psychiatry and psychology?
• Discuss mental tools that can be used to determine when children are lying to adults.
• What were the ethical complications involve 12d in the Little Albert Experiment?
• What does research suggest is the origin of intelligence in children?
• How does emotional intelligence in children affect their learning abilities?

Cognitive Psychology Topics

• How did Alan Turing’s suggestion that the brain is an organized machine lead to computers?
• Do the “seven chunks of information” still hold through in research?
• Can we develop working memory to retain greater long-term memory?
• Can a person that has been convicted of a felony charge change into a law-abiding citizen?
• How can cognitive therapy be used to help patients suffering from emotional disorders?

Developmental Psychology Topics

• How do our perceptions of our experiences affect development in teenagers?
• What are the four levels of development and which is most important in children?
• Can a moral judgment be taught to toddlers who have latent reasoning skills?
• How are our personalities developed through the influence of others?
• Are children naturally beholden to one parent or the other?

Social Psychology Topics for College Students

• How are a person’s original opinions influenced by the opinions of larger groups?
• What psychological effects does spending too much time on social media have?
• How do social psychologists deal with aggression and violence in young adults?
• What impact has social psychology had on our understanding of online bullying?
• How do family dynamics change when a member of the immediate family dies?

Sports Psychology Research Topics

• Does aging have a bigger impact on retired athletes’ mental health than head trauma?
• How is mental health affected by long recovery schedules for serious body injuries?
• How does neuro-linguistic programming in professional athletes affect performance?
• How do professional athletes mentally prepare for competitions?
• How have approaches to sports training and preparation been affected by developments in psychology?

Controversial Topics in Psychology

• How did the Milgram Obedience Experiments of the 1960s help us understand how we view authority figures?
• How did the Stanford Experiment help further our knowledge of situational variables on human behavior?
• How did Harlow’s experiments of affection (especially the lack of affection) lead to advancements in child development theories?
• Does the implementation of capital punishment on sex offenders prevent them from committing a crime?
• What is the link between criminal acts and teenagers that were bullied?

Health Psychology Topics for College Students

• What impact do regular exercise and healthy eating have on mental health in young adults?
• How have the media’s depictions of body ideals have negatively impacted how young adults see themselves?
• What are the most effective strategies for getting people to develop healthy eating habits?
• What can local governments do to help people maintain mental health after a disaster?
• How do stress management techniques help people cope with difficult situations in the workplace?

More Controversial Psychology Topics

• What did the “lost in a mall” study lead to a better understanding of how memories are formed and stored?
• Why was were the Voodoo Correlation studies of the 1960s so controversial and what did they reveal about human behavior?
• What did showing a lack of affection in infants reveal about the need to nurture one’s young?
• What did the Kirsch Anti-Depressant reveal about the impact that harmless placebos have on humans?
• What are the potential risks of taking part in multiple health studies throughout a given year?

Great Educational Psychology Topics

• How can different technologies help students perform better at school?
• Does working in a small group help students retain more information?
• How does physical activity help students perform better on standardized tests?
• What psychological factors should teachers consider as they develop each year’s curriculum?
• In what ways do psychologists help develop confidence in students with learning disabilities?

Excellent Cultural Psychology Topics

• What are some of the most difficult cultural situations young people face?
• In what ways does developing culture roots with one’s family positively impact social behavior?
• What stresses do young people feel when they return to their native countries?
• What impact does cultural learning have on students in elementary school?
• How does family support help young people cope with difficult decisions?

Psychology Topics to Write About

• Why are adolescents more at risk of developing some type of eating disorder?
• What are the negative effects of insomnia in patients being treated in a medical facility?
• In what ways does group therapy positively impact a patient’s ability to overcome addiction?
• Why should therapists refrain from prescribing ADHD medications to children?
• What are the most effective ways of treating PTSD without using prescription medication?

Abnormal Psychology Topics

• What are the psychological effects of telling either a truth or a lie among young adults?
• What are the major causes of borderline personality disorder in teenagers?
• In what ways does the level of insanity change in patients under specific treatment?
• Why are some people more prone to suffer from personality disorders?
• Can the Oedipus complex first introduced by Freud be used in treatment today?

Developmental Psychology Research Topics

• What role does television media play in promoting violence in adults?
• What are the major psychological characteristics in a child prone to aggression?
• What are the major factors in sociopathic behavior among youth?
• What are some traditional ways of parenting that have been proven ineffective?
• What environmental factors increase the chances of child abuse by a parent?

Biological Psychology Topics

• How are cognitive diseases related to the development of certain disorders?
• How are our perceptions of the world around us affecting the way we behave?
• Can alcohol addiction and other drug-related dependencies be tied to genetics?
• Does biology prevent humans from experiencing a pure sense of free will?
• In what ways does functionalism play into biological psychology?

More Sports Psychology Topics

• What are the negative effects on the mind of exercising to lose weight?
• How is having a network of supporters important for athletic performance?
• How does the attention of PHDs affect the way people feel about sports?
• What impact do sports role models have on a youth’s development?
• Is the NCAA giving an adequate education to its student-athletes?
• What are the most effective ways of dealing with school bullying?
• What are the major causes of psychopathic tendencies in teenagers?
• How does our modern society deal with gender roles?
• What are the key characteristics that improve the abilities to learn a new language?
• Do children require a good foundation to excel academically?

Forensic Psychology Topics

• How can psychology be used to identify and put suspects on trial for certain crimes?
• How has forensic psychology assisted in the way we look at death penalty cases?
• Can psychotic disorders be reevaluated as a result of better psych understanding?
• Should mental diseases be considered in capital punishment cases?
• How would you evaluate the mitigating effects of capital cases in people?

What did you think of our list of psychology thesis topics? Our professional dissertation writers keep our list of ideas up-to-date so that students are always pushing the envelope of research in every discipline. Check back for new general psychology topics or contact us to have a list custom-made for a specific research project.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Comment * Error message

Name * Error message

Email * Error message

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

As Putin continues killing civilians, bombing kindergartens, and threatening WWIII, Ukraine fights for the world's peaceful future.

Ukraine Live Updates

Experimental Psychology Research Paper Topics

This page provides a comprehensive list of experimental psychology research paper topics , tailored specifically for students aiming to explore and understand the intricacies of human psychological processes through empirical research. Experimental psychology serves as a cornerstone of psychological science, employing rigorous scientific methods to investigate and interpret the vast complexities of human behavior and mental functions. Through carefully designed experiments, researchers can isolate variables and establish causal relationships, paving the way for advancements in our understanding of perception, cognition, emotion, and other psychological phenomena. By delving into these topics, students will gain valuable insights into the experimental designs, methodologies, and ethical considerations that define this vibrant field. This resource is designed to inspire and facilitate impactful research endeavors, equipping students with the knowledge to contribute significantly to the expansion and refinement of psychological science.

100 Experimental Psychology Research Paper Topics

Experimental psychology stands as a pivotal branch of psychology that applies scientific methods to investigate and unravel the mechanisms behind human thought and behavior. This field allows researchers to design experiments that precisely manipulate variables to observe their effects on subjects, thereby providing clear, causal links between psychological phenomena. The selection of the right experimental psychology research paper topics is not merely academic—it is foundational to advancing our understanding of human psychology. By choosing insightful and challenging topics, students can push the boundaries of what is known and contribute valuable new insights to the scientific community.

Academic Writing, Editing, Proofreading, And Problem Solving Services

Get 10% off with 24start discount code.

• The effects of color on mood and perception.
• Sensory deprivation and its impact on cognitive functions.
• The role of attention in perceptual processing.
• Multisensory integration and its effects on human perception.
• Perceptual illusions and what they reveal about the human brain.
• The influence of aging on sensory acuity.
• Cross-cultural differences in sensory perceptions.
• The impact of technology on visual and auditory perception.
• Neuropsychological insights into taste and smell.
• The perception of pain: mechanisms and modifiers.
• The impact of sleep on memory consolidation.
• Neuroplasticity and memory: how experiences rewire the brain.
• The effects of stress on memory retrieval.
• Comparative analysis of short-term and long-term memory.
• The role of repetition and spacing in learning effectiveness.
• Memory enhancement techniques: cognitive and pharmacological approaches.
• The reliability of eyewitness memory in different environments.
• Age-related differences in learning capacity and memory retention.
• The use of virtual reality in memory recall experiments.
• False memories: their creation and implications.
• Cognitive biases that influence decision making.
• The role of emotion in rational decision-making processes.
• The impact of cognitive overload on decision quality.
• Differences in decision making between genders.
• The effect of social influence on decision-making accuracy.
• Decision fatigue: causes and consequences.
• The use of heuristics in complex decision-making.
• Neurological underpinnings of spontaneous versus planned decisions.
• The role of intuition in cognitive processing.
• The impact of aging on decision-making abilities.
• The physiological basis of emotional responses.
• Emotional regulation and its effects on mental health.
• The impact of culture on emotional expression and recognition.
• The role of emotions in moral judgment.
• Emotional contagion in groups and crowds.
• The effects of music and art on emotional states.
• Gender differences in emotional processing.
• The relationship between emotional responses and psychopathologies.
• The development of emotional intelligence over the lifespan.
• Measuring emotions: methodologies and technologies.
• The influence of group dynamics on individual behavior.
• Conformity and obedience: experiments and explanations.
• The effects of social exclusion on psychological health.
• The role of social media in shaping public opinions.
• Stereotypes and prejudice: their formation and impacts.
• Altruism and prosocial behavior in controlled experiments.
• The psychology of persuasion and its mechanisms.
• Social loafing vs. social facilitation in work and sports.
• The impact of first impressions on subsequent interactions.
• Leadership styles and their psychological effects on group performance.
• The stages of cognitive development in children.
• The impact of parental styles on child behavior.
• Adolescence: risk factors and psychological resilience.
• Developmental disorders: early detection and intervention strategies.
• The role of play in social and cognitive development.
• Aging and cognitive decline: preventive strategies.
• Lifespan psychology: changes in aspirations and motivations.
• The effects of early educational interventions on developmental outcomes.
• The influence of genetics vs. environment in developmental trajectories.
• Social development and peer influences during childhood and adolescence.
• Brain injuries and their impact on personality and behavior.
• Neurological bases of addiction and substance abuse.
• The effects of neurological diseases on family dynamics.
• Cognitive rehabilitation techniques for stroke survivors.
• The relationship between brain structure and cognitive functions.
• Neuroethics: the implications of brain research.
• The use of neuroimaging to study thought processes.
• The impact of diet and physical health on neurological health.
• Sleep disorders and their psychological effects.
• The role of mirror neurons in empathy and learning.
• Conditioning and learning: classical and operant approaches.
• The effects of reinforcement schedules on behavior modification.
• Behavioral theories in marketing and consumer behavior.
• Animal models in behavioral research: ethics and insights.
• The use of behavior therapy techniques for psychological disorders.
• The psychology of habits: formation, maintenance, and change.
• The role of behavioral factors in obesity and other health issues.
• Behavioral genetics: separating nature from nurture.
• The impact of environmental factors on behavior.
• Behavioral adaptations to climate change and environmental stresses.
• Language acquisition in children and adults.
• The cognitive processes involved in reading and writing.
• The relationship between language and thought.
• Language disorders: dyslexia, aphasia, and others.
• The impact of bilingualism on cognitive development.
• Speech perception and processing mechanisms.
• The neuroanatomy of language production and comprehension.
• Social interactions and language use.
• The evolution of language: theories and evidence.
• Artificial intelligence and natural language processing.
• The psychological impact of chronic illness on individuals and families.
• The effectiveness of psychological interventions in physical health care.
• Stress and its effects on physical health.
• The role of psychology in pain management.
• Behavioral risk factors for heart disease and other illnesses.
• The impact of patient-practitioner communication on health outcomes.
• Psychological aspects of reproductive health.
• The role of motivation in health behavior change.
• Health disparities: the impact of socioeconomic status and race.
• Psychoneuroimmunology: the link between mental states and immune response.

The breadth and depth of experimental psychology research paper topics provide a robust platform for students to explore and contribute to various facets of psychological science. These topics not only allow students to apply scientific methodologies to real-world psychological issues but also offer opportunities to innovate and enhance the understanding of human behavior. Students are encouraged to delve deeply into these experimental psychology research paper topics, as doing so will enable them to produce significant scholarly work that has the potential to influence theoretical frameworks and practical applications in psychology.

The Range of Experimental Psychology Research Paper Topics

Research Methods in Experimental Psychology

One of the core components of experimental psychology is its focus on methodological rigor and precision. The common research methodologies used in experimental psychology include controlled experiments, observational studies, and case studies, each serving different but complementary purposes. In controlled experiments, variables are manipulated in a controlled environment to observe causation and effect, making it possible to draw conclusions about how different factors influence psychological outcomes.

The importance of experimental design, controls, and variables cannot be overstated in this context. Good experimental design ensures that the results are attributable solely to the manipulated variables, not to external factors. Controls help isolate the effects of interest by holding constant other potential influences, thereby increasing the validity of the experiment. A discussion of these elements highlights their role in minimizing biases and errors, thus enhancing the reliability and applicability of the research findings.

Analyzing case studies of successful experimental setups further illustrates these points. For instance, classic experiments in social psychology, such as the Stanford prison experiment or Milgram’s obedience study, though controversial, have provided deep insights into human social behavior and conformity. These case studies not only show effective experimental design but also underscore the ethical considerations and psychological impacts associated with experimental psychology.

Innovative Areas in Experimental Research

Experimental psychology continually evolves as new technologies and theoretical approaches emerge. Cutting-edge research areas within this field include neuropsychology, cognitive robotics, and virtual reality applications, each pushing the boundaries of traditional experimental methods. These innovations allow for more precise measurements and the simulation of complex psychological processes in controlled environments.

Emerging technologies like eye-tracking devices, EEG, and fMRI have revolutionized the way experiments are conducted in experimental psychology. These tools offer unprecedented views into the neural underpinnings of cognition and behavior, allowing for more detailed and accurate predictions about how these processes operate under various conditions. Additionally, the integration of experimental psychology with fields like genetics, neuroscience, and information technology facilitates interdisciplinary research that enriches our understanding of cognitive and behavioral sciences.

Ethical Considerations in Experimental Research

Ethical considerations form a significant pillar of research in experimental psychology. Because experimental methods often involve manipulating variables to observe effects on real participants, ethical guidelines are crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of subjects. Discussions on ethical issues in experimental psychology include considerations about informed consent, deception, and the potential psychological harm that could arise from participation in studies.

Exploring the guidelines and regulations that govern experimental research helps safeguard the interests of participants and maintain public trust in psychological research. For example, the APA’s ethical guidelines mandate that experiments involving humans or animals must adhere to strict ethical standards to minimize harm and discomfort. Case studies highlighting ethical dilemmas in past research, such as the ethical controversies surrounding the aforementioned Stanford prison experiment, serve as important learning tools for current and future psychologists to understand and navigate the complex ethical landscape of experimental research.

Reflecting on the breadth of experimental psychology research paper topics offers a window into the discipline’s vast potential to influence myriad aspects of modern life, from education and health to technology and beyond. The insights gained from rigorous experimental research provide a foundation for practical applications that improve psychological interventions, educational programs, and therapeutic practices, enhancing the quality of life across various settings. As experimental psychology continues to evolve, the fusion of innovative research methods, ethical consideration, and interdisciplinary collaboration holds the promise to further advance psychological science and its applications, ensuring its relevance and impact well into the future.

iResearchNet’s Writing Services

For experimental psychology research papers.

iResearchNet is proud to offer specialized writing services meticulously tailored for students and researchers focusing on experimental psychology. Recognizing the complexities and rigorous demands of experimental psychology, our services are designed to support the creation of high-quality research papers that adhere to the highest academic standards. Whether you are exploring intricate psychological experiments or need to articulate complex research findings, iResearchNet’s expert team is equipped to provide comprehensive support throughout your academic journey.

• Expert degree-holding writers : Our team consists of professionals who hold advanced degrees in psychology and have a deep understanding of experimental methodologies, ensuring that your research paper is both accurate and insightful.
• Custom written works : Every research paper is crafted from scratch, tailored to meet your specific research questions and academic requirements, ensuring a unique and plagiarism-free product.
• In-depth research : We conduct extensive research using the latest and most relevant sources, incorporating cutting-edge studies to enrich your paper with valuable content that is both current and informative.
• Custom formatting (APA, MLA, Chicago/Turabian, Harvard) : Our writers are proficient in all major formatting styles, ensuring that your research paper perfectly meets the formatting requirements of your academic institution.
• Top quality : We are committed to excellence and work diligently to ensure that every research paper reflects the highest quality of work, with meticulous attention to detail and adherence to academic rigor.
• Customized solutions : Understanding that experimental psychology covers a wide array of topics, we offer customized writing solutions that cater specifically to your project’s needs, ensuring relevance and specificity.
• Flexible pricing : We offer competitive pricing models that are designed to be affordable to students at all levels, providing cost-effective options without compromising on quality.
• Short deadlines up to 3 hours : Our efficient process allows us to accommodate even the most urgent deadlines, ensuring that you receive your well-crafted research paper on time, every time.
• Timely delivery : We guarantee the on-time delivery of your research paper, helping you adhere to your academic deadlines with ease and reliability.
• 24/7 support : Our customer support team is available around the clock to answer any questions you may have and to assist you throughout the writing process, ensuring a smooth and stress-free experience.
• Absolute privacy : We rigorously adhere to strict privacy policies to ensure that all your personal and project information remains confidential and secure at all times.
• Easy order tracking : Our advanced order tracking system allows you to monitor the progress of your research paper at any time, giving you peace of mind and keeping you informed throughout the process.
• Money-back guarantee : We stand behind the quality of our work with a solid money-back guarantee, providing you with assurance and confidence in our writing services.

At iResearchNet, we are deeply committed to enhancing the academic success of students specializing in experimental psychology. Our bespoke writing services are crafted to support the unique needs of this demanding field, ensuring that each research paper is not only academically rigorous but also rich in scholarly insight. Trust iResearchNet to assist you in navigating the challenges of experimental psychology research, and let us help you achieve academic excellence with our reliable, high-quality writing services.

Buy Your Custom Research Paper Today!

Step into the world of scientific exploration with iResearchNet, your ultimate partner in navigating the complex terrain of experimental psychology. As you delve into the intricacies of psychological research, let us provide the support you need to create insightful, comprehensive research papers that stand out academically. Whether you’re tackling advanced experimental designs, exploring cognitive processes, or analyzing behavioral data, iResearchNet’s expert writing services are designed to guide you every step of the way.

Take advantage of our specialized team of expert degree-holding writers who are not only well-versed in experimental psychology but are also skilled in articulating complex research findings in clear, effective language. Our commitment to providing custom written works ensures that your research paper will be unique, tailored specifically to your project’s requirements, and reflective of the highest academic standards.

Navigating the logistics of academic assignments can be challenging, which is why we’ve made our ordering process as simple and straightforward as possible. With just a few clicks, you can set up your order, specify your requirements, and start the journey towards academic excellence. Our flexible pricing models are designed to fit your budget, and our ability to handle even the tightest deadlines means you’ll have your work ready when you need it.

At iResearchNet, we understand the importance of support throughout your academic journey. That’s why we offer round-the-clock customer service to answer any questions and assist with any issues you might encounter along the way. Our absolute commitment to your privacy means all your personal and project information remains secure, and our easy order tracking system keeps you updated on the progress of your paper from start to finish.

Don’t let the challenges of experimental psychology research deter you. With iResearchNet, you have a reliable ally ready to help you succeed. Buy your custom research paper on experimental psychology today and experience the peace of mind that comes from knowing you have the best in the business backing your academic efforts. Embrace this opportunity to achieve excellence and make a significant impact in the field of experimental psychology.

ORDER HIGH QUALITY CUSTOM PAPER

Research Topics

Cutting-edge research into the workings of the human mind

Our faculty conducts scientific research on topics that span across all areas of psychology. Some themes of research concentration are listed below. Click the topics to see the list of department faculty associated with each theme.

Addictive Behaviors

Computational Approaches

Decision Science

Developmental Approaches

Interventions

Learning & Memory

Mathematical Cognition

Meaning & Mental Representation

Motivation & Emotion

Neuroimaging

Plasticity & Change

Psychopathology & Risk

Reasoning & Problem Solving

Self & Identity

Self-Regulation & Control

Social Cognition

Stereotyping & Stereotype Threat

Vision Science

Words & Categories

• How we work

55 Actual Psychology Research Topics to Open New Research Horizons

No idea about psychology research paper topics? We're here to support you comprehensively!

Why Is Picking Great Psychology Research Topics Important?

Psychology is an extensive and complex discipline that explores the complexities of the human brain and behaviors. At the same time, it’s a fascinating subject area where scholars can derive psychology research topics from various subfields, such as cognition, emotion, motivation, personality, social interaction, health, abnormality, and more. There are many possible proposal topics to choose from, and your choice could make all the difference in your paper.

Three reasons recognize the importance of right topic selection:

Selecting a fantastic proposal topic in psychology makes a lot of difference in your paper, whether you are a senior student or a seasoned researcher. So, why should you prioritize picking a topic?

An excellent subject of investigation can contribute to the field. While there are many possible psychology topics to research, picking the right one contributes to the existing knowledge in the discipline. So, your work will help advance the field. Besides, a properly executed study can influence your academic growth and open up more opportunities in academics, industry, and other sectors.

A good topic can also contribute to society. Many psychology proposal topics have real-world implications. They can lead to improvements in education, health, therapy, policy, and other aspects of human well-being. So, consider the contributions of your work when assessing our research ideas psychology.

Finally, picking an apt subject of investigation gives you a sense of achievement since you’ll have made a meaningful contribution to the psychology discipline. It will also help guarantee success in your research proposal.

To aid your search, we have compiled research proposal topics psychology you can explore to unravel the mysteries of the human brain.

Cognitive Psychology Topics to Research

The cognitive division of psychology entails understanding mental procedures such as attention, making decisions, language perception, memory, and solving problems. Check out the following intriguing cognitive research topics for psychology, helping to make immaculate proposal papers.

• Role of Attention in Multitasking
• Ways in Which Working Memory Capacity Influences Academic Success
• Ways in Which Cognitive Biases Influence Decision-Making Processes
• Factors Promoting the Development of Cognitive Abilities in Infants
• Positive Impact of Technology Use on Cognitive Functions
• Neuroplasticity and Its Role in Cognitive Rehabilitation for Persons With Brain Injuries
• Impact of Mental Imagery Techniques on Cognitive Tasks
• Effect of Metacognition on Learning and Problem-Solving Strategies
• Ways in Which Cognitive Biases Shape the Way Individuals Perceive and Interpret Information on the Internet
• The Variation of Cognitive Processes Across Different Cultures and Societies
• Influence of Emotions on Cognitive Processes

Behavior Psychology Research Paper Topics

Behavioral psychology entails investigating observable behaviors and the principles that govern them. Most behavior psychology research paper topics investigate how behaviors get acquired, modified, and maintained. Check these interesting proposal subjects of investigation to get inspired for writing a proposal paper:

• Use of Classical Conditioning Principles in Advertising to Associate Products With Positive Emotional Responses
• Effectiveness of Operant Conditioning and Parenting Strategies in Shaping Child Behavior
• Use of Behavior Modification Techniques in Clinical Psychology to Treat Conditions
• Use of Token Economies in Classrooms to Promote Desirable Behaviors and Academic Achievement Among Students
• Effectiveness of Using Evidence-Based Behavioral Interventions for Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Influence of Cognitive Biases on Consumer Choices
• Role of Social Learning Theory in the Development of Criminal Behavior
• Application of the Principles of Reinforcement to Addiction and Maintenance of Substance Use
• Effectiveness of Behavior-Based Weight Management Programs
• Behavioral Aspects of Procrastination and How to Manage Them
• The Use of Behavioral Techniques to Manage and Treat Anxiety Disorders

Great Psychology Research Proposal Topics in Human Development

Human development is a rich area in psychology that involves assessing the different aspects of growth and change across the human lifespan. Check out these captivating human development proposal topics for psychology research papers.

• Ways in Which Parental Communication Styles and Interactions Impact Language Acquisition and Development
• Influence of Social Networks and Online Interactions on the Process of Identity Development During Adolescence
• Long-Term Effects of Attachment Styles Established in Early Childhood on Adult Romantic and Interpersonal Relationships
• Psychological and Emotional Consequences of Divorce on Children’s Development
• Cognitive Changes That Occur in Older Adults and Potential Interventions to Maintain Cognitive Function and Quality of Life
• Influence of Societal Gender Roles and Stereotypes on Children’s Behavior, Aspirations, and Self-Concept
• Psychological Consequences of Bullying During Adolescence
• Influence of Sibling Relationships on Social and Emotional Development
• Relationship Between Different Parenting Styles and Children’s Academic Performance and Motivation
• Impact of Technology on Early Childhood Development
• The Effect of Adverse Childhood Experiences on Child Development

Controversial Research Topics for Psychology

Choosing a controversial topic for a psychology research paper encourages more engaging and thought-provoking investigations. These proposal topics spark discussions and can lead to a deeper exploration of some complex issues in psychology. Let’s explore several examples of such proposal themes.

• Ethical Concerns Surrounding of the Psychiatric Medications
• Psychological and Ethical Implications of Conversion Therapy
• Role of Therapy in the Retrieval of Repressed Memories
• Possible Psychological Effects of Solitary Confinement on Prisoners
• Role of Media in Shaping Unrealistic Body Standards
• Influence of Social Networks on Body Image, Self-Esteem, and Mental Health in Young Adults
• Influence of Video Game Violence on the Desensitization to Violence in Real Life
• Ethical Considerations and Controversies Surrounding the Use of Animals in Psychological Research
• Ethical and Psychological Implications of Torture and Controversial Interrogation Methods
• Psychological Effects of Encounters With Police by Individuals and Communities
• The Use of Psychedelics for Therapeutic Purposes and Their Potential Benefits and Risks

Cultural Psychology Research Topics for College Students

Cultural psychology explores how culture influences human behavior, cognition, and emotions. Here are some great cultural research topics in psychology that will make your proposal stand out.

• Role of Cultural Norms, Values and Traditions in Shaping the Way Individuals Express and Perceive Emotions
• Cross-Cultural Parenting Styles and Their Impact on Child Development in Different Cultural Contexts
• Influence of Cultural Backgrounds on Perceptual Processes
• Impact of Culture on Reinforcing Gender Roles and Stereotypes
• Cultural Variations in Definitions of Happiness, Life Satisfaction, and Well-Being
• Cultural Differences in Leadership Styles, Preferences, and Their Effectiveness in Organizations
• Ways in Which Cultural Factors Shape Decision-Making Processes
• Role of Culture in Developing and Fostering Stereotypes, Prejudice, and Intergroup Relations
• Significance of Cultural Rituals, Ceremonies, and Traditions in Promoting Social Cohesion, Identity, and Psychological Well-Being
• Ways in Which Cultural Beliefs and Attitudes Influence the Stigma Surrounding Mental Wellness Issues
• Ways in Which Cultural Influences on Body Image Impact Self-Esteem and Body Satisfaction

How to Pick the Right Psychology Research Ideas for Your Paper

Now that we’ve provided a variety of psychology research topics for college students, how can you find the right one for your paper? While all the proposal topics we’ve provided are plausible for a psychology paper, you need to take some time to identify the best fit for your investigation. Here are some steps you can follow. The steps apply to different fields, including students working on research proposal sociology .

• Identify Your Interests

Reflect on your preferences and personal interests within the field of psychology. Then, identify the psychology research ideas that align with them to keep you motivated during research.

• Narrow Down the Subfields

Once you have identified what interests you, narrow down the focus to a specific subfield to make the paper manageable. A broad proposal topic won’t be comprehensively covered, and your paper will lack the depth it needs to present your findings adequately. This is especially important for a social science research proposal .

• Review the Literature

Before settling on psychology research proposal topics, ensure they are researchable. Look for books, articles, and academic papers related to the topic. Use them to assess the available knowledge on the topic and identify research gaps.

• Assess Feasibility

Consider the availability of data, the research timeframe, and the research methods available to you. These factors will help you sort out the unmanageable psychology research paper ideas.

• Make Your Final Decision

Your final decision should be based on your passion for the topic and factors such as feasibility, research potential, and significance. Don’t be tempted by the complex research proposal ideas psychology; they will make your paper more challenging.

Psychology Research Paper Sample

To get a glimpse of how to tackle psychology proposal topics, our writers have prepared a psychology research paper example. Its authors are vetted experts in psychology, and thus, the sample research paper has been crafted by knowledgeable and skilled individuals in this field. It will guide you in writing every part of your paper, from the introduction to the conclusion. It’ll show you how to develop your thesis statement and build your points around it. Moreover, the sample will enlighten you on properly referencing a psychology paper.

Still Have Questions? Our PhD Experts Are at Your Service!

The topic lists we’ve provided should prove useful for your hunt for a research paper topic; however, we understand that they might not be enough. If you still need further assistance with topic selection, feel free to contact us. We have a variety of professionals in the field ready to answer your questions about psychology research proposal ideas and writing the paper. Send your request and get a paper helper instantly.

Upload Files

Thank you for your request!

We will get in touch with you shortly!

Please, try one more time.

Psychology Research Proposal

Proposal maker.

Proposals, whatever they may be, may it be a wedding proposal , business proposal , or a research proposal , all have a similar goal. It is to hear the word “yes” from the mouths of the recipient. Despite that, these proposals give different feelings to the proposer. If you are here to get tips on coming up with a research proposal, you get what I mean. Don’t worry, this article will help you get ideas on how to devise your psychology research proposal.

6+ Psychology Research Proposal Examples

1. cognitive psychology research proposal.

2.  Psychology Counselling Research Proposal

3. Undergraduate Psychology Research Proposal

Size: 94 KB

4. PhD Psychology Research Proposal

Size: 174 KB

5. Forensic Psychology Research Proposal

Size: 353 KB

6. Social Psychology Research Proposal

Size: 683 KB

7. Psychology Research Grant Proposal

Size: 599 KB

What Is a Psychology Research Proposal?

A psychology research proposal is an academic document that a person submits to propose a research project, specifically in the field of clinical psychology. The purpose of research proposals is to outline the research questions and summarize your selected research topic. Another necessary reason for creating this proposal is to present ways that you think would be best in conducting the study and justifying it.

How to Compose a Reliable Psychology Research Proposal

There’s a time psychology students dread. It’s the moment that signifies the beginning of hell week or maybe hell month. It is when the professors ask their students to submit their research proposals.  Coming up with a psychology research proposal might cost you a lot of sleepless nights. To get back the sleep that you deserve, instead of pulling your hair out, read this article and follow the steps mentioned below. 

1. Formulate a Working Title

The title of your educational research should reflect what your study will discuss. Omit unnecessary words. Only keep those words that contribute to the meaning and the impact of your title. Make your title engaging to attract the attention of the readers. It is necessary to take a moment to think about a research title that is both powerful and meaningful.

2. Construct Your Abstract

Abstracts should be short and concise. That said, it should be at least a hundred words and three hundred words at most. Describe your research in your proposal but don’t include too many details yet. A good abstract would provide an introduction to the key objectives and the hypothesis of your proposed research.

3. Include Necessary Components

There are necessary components that make an abstract complete. After your title and abstract statement, you should also include the research scope and your methodology. This segment will explain who your respondents are and how you will deal with possible problems you will encounter while conducting your study. Also, you should include the resources that you will use in the process.

4. Devise Your Appendices

Appendices have sections A to E. Appendix A is where you should cite a list of your sources. In the second section, Appendix B is where you should present your project timeline . Your list of skills and achievements relevant to the research belongs in Appendix C. You should detail your budget plan in Appendix D and print your approval letter in the last appendix.

What are interesting psychology research topics?

You can choose from plenty of compelling topics. Discrimination, social cognition, propaganda, gender roles, and bullying are some examples of it. Whatever topic you choose, the quality of your paper depends on how well you carry out your research. Even the most boring topics can be made interesting by a good researcher.

What are the differences between quantitative and qualitative approaches?

These approaches are two very different things. Qualitative research focuses more on analyzing and interpreting ideas, theories, and data. The methods employed in this approach are discourse analysis, content analysis, and thematic analysis. In contrast, quantitative research deals more with statistics and numbers and often involves a research survey , experiment, and testing hypotheses.

What are the qualitative approaches?

You can apply different approaches in conducting qualitative research. The most common ones are narrative research, action research , ethnography, grounded theory, and phenomenological research. Although all of these falls under the qualitative approach, they incorporate different data collection. Researchers implementing these approaches have varying aims. They also have different perspectives in the direction they should take in conducting their thesis.

The study of psychology focuses on people’s minds and cognitive behavior and how they function in different social settings and environments. That said, there are still a lot of mysteries about how people process their thoughts. If your goal is to uncover one of them, take your first step by composing a foolproof psychology research proposal and get it approved.

Text prompt

• Instructive
• Professional

Generate a proposal for a new school recycling program

Compose a proposal for a school field trip to a science museum.

151+ Research Proposal Topics [Updated 2024]

Crafting a compelling research proposal begins with selecting the right topic—a task that demands careful consideration and a thoughtful approach. In this blog post, we’ll delve into the intricacies of choosing research proposal topics, exploring the importance of a well-defined focus and guiding you through the steps to create a robust proposal.

How to Select Research Proposal Topics?

Table of Contents

Selecting research proposal topics is a crucial step in the research process. Here’s a step-by-step guide to help you choose a compelling and impactful research topic:

• Self-reflection:
• Identify your personal interests, passions, and curiosities.
• Consider topics that resonate with you on a deep level.
• Academic and Professional Interests:
• Reflect on subjects that captivated you during coursework or work experience.
• Assess the relevance of these interests to your academic or career goals.
• Current Issues and Trends:
• Stay informed about contemporary challenges and emerging trends in your field.
• Choose a topic that addresses current issues for greater relevance and impact.
• Literature Review:
• Conduct a thorough review of existing research in your chosen field.
• Identify gaps and limitations in the current body of knowledge.
• Formulate Clear Research Questions:
• Develop clear and concise research questions based on the gaps identified.
• Ensure your questions are feasible and align with the chosen topic.
• Choose a Methodology:
• Select an appropriate research methodology (experimental, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed methods).
• Justify your choice and discuss data collection techniques.
• Significance and Contribution:
• Articulate the relevance of your proposed research.
• Highlight the potential contributions your work can make to the field.
• Research Design and Plan:
• Outline the specifics of your research design.
• Create a realistic timeline, allocating resources and budget effectively.
• Address Challenges and Limitations:
• Acknowledge potential challenges and limitations.
• Discuss strategies to mitigate challenges and be transparent about constraints.
• Conclusion:
• Summarize key points of your research proposal.
• Emphasize the importance of the chosen topic and encourage feedback.

By following these steps, you can ensure that your research proposal topic is not only engaging but also has the potential to make a meaningful contribution to your field of study.

151+ Research Proposal Topics: Category Wise

Science and technology.

• The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Job Market Trends
• Advancements in Renewable Energy Technologies
• Exploring the Potential of CRISPR Technology in Genetic Engineering
• Cybersecurity Measures for Critical Infrastructure Protection
• The Role of Blockchain in Supply Chain Management
• Augmented Reality in Education: Enhancing Learning Experiences
• Quantum Computing: Current Status and Future Implications
• Sustainable Technologies for Environmental Conservation
• Smart Cities: Integrating Technology for Urban Development
• Robotics in Healthcare: Applications and Ethical Considerations

Health and Medicine

• Precision Medicine: Customizing Healthcare Based on Genetic Factors
• The Impact of Telemedicine on Patient Care
• Mental Health Stigma: Strategies for Reduction and Education
• Vaccination Hesitancy: Understanding Causes and Developing Interventions
• Aging Population and Healthcare Challenges
• Bioinformatics and Personalized Cancer Therapies
• The Role of Artificial Intelligence in Diagnosing Medical Conditions
• Emerging Infectious Diseases: Preparedness and Response Strategies
• Nutrition Education in Schools: Promoting Healthy Lifestyles
• Healthcare Disparities: Addressing and Eliminating Gaps in Access

Social Sciences

• Social Media and its Influence on Political Discourse
• Impact of Social Isolation on Mental Health in Elderly Populations
• Cultural Competence in Education: Training and Implementation
• The Role of Gender Stereotypes in Career Choices
• Cyberbullying: Prevention and Intervention Strategies
• The Effects of Immigration Policies on Migrant Communities
• Restorative Justice in Criminal Justice Systems
• Examining the Relationship Between Social Media Use and Self-Esteem
• Intersectionality in Feminist Movements: Challenges and Opportunities
• Community Policing: Building Trust between Law Enforcement and Communities
• E-Learning Platforms: Effectiveness and Challenges
• Inquiry-Based Learning: Enhancing Critical Thinking Skills
• Inclusive Education Practices: Meeting the Needs of Diverse Learners
• The Impact of Standardized Testing on Educational Equity
• School Safety Measures: Strategies for Prevention and Response
• Teacher Professional Development: Models and Effectiveness
• Online Education Accessibility for Students with Disabilities
• Gamification in Education: Engaging Students in Learning
• Bilingual Education: Benefits and Challenges
• STEM Education Initiatives: Encouraging Interest in Science and Technology

Business and Economics

• Sustainable Business Practices: Balancing Profit and Environmental Impact
• Corporate Social Responsibility in Multinational Corporations
• Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Business Operations
• Economic Consequences of Global Health Crises
• Digital Marketing Trends and Consumer Behavior
• Financial Literacy Education: Bridging the Gap
• Small Business Sustainability: Challenges and Strategies
• The Gig Economy: Implications for Workers and Employers
• Supply Chain Resilience in the Face of Global Disruptions
• Innovation and Entrepreneurship in Emerging Markets

Environment and Sustainability

• Climate Change Adaptation Strategies for Coastal Communities
• Biodiversity Conservation in Urban Environments
• Circular Economy Models: Reducing Waste and Promoting Sustainability
• Water Scarcity: Technological Solutions and Policy Measures
• Impact of Plastic Pollution on Marine Ecosystems
• Sustainable Agriculture Practices: Balancing Production and Conservation
• Environmental Education in Schools: Fostering Eco-Consciousness
• Green Building Technologies: Enhancing Energy Efficiency
• Ecotourism: Balancing Conservation and Economic Development
• The Role of International Agreements in Addressing Environmental Issues

Psychology and Behavior

• The Influence of Social Media on Body Image and Self-Esteem
• Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety and Depression
• Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Mental Health
• Positive Psychology Interventions: Enhancing Well-Being
• Sleep Hygiene and its Impact on Mental Health
• The Psychology of Procrastination: Causes and Interventions
• Emotional Intelligence in the Workplace: Benefits and Training
• The Impact of Parenting Styles on Child Development
• Cross-Cultural Psychology: Understanding Cultural Influences on Behavior
• The Role of Music in Emotional Regulation and Stress Reduction

Political Science and International Relations

• The Rise of Populism: Causes and Consequences
• Cyber Warfare and International Security
• Human Rights Violations in Conflict Zones: Challenges and Solutions
• The Role of International Organizations in Global Governance
• Political Polarization: Understanding Divisive Trends
• Nuclear Proliferation and Arms Control Agreements
• Comparative Analysis of Electoral Systems
• Immigration Policies and Social Cohesion
• Global Health Diplomacy: Collaborative Approaches to Health Challenges
• The Impact of Disinformation on Democratic Processes

History and Cultural Studies

• Reevaluating Historical Narratives: Perspectives and Interpretations
• Cultural Impact of Globalization: Trends and Reactions
• Indigenous Rights and Representation in Historical Context
• History of Scientific Discoveries and their Societal Impact
• Archaeological Excavations: Uncovering Lost Civilizations
• Cultural Appropriation: Examining Controversies and Contexts
• The Role of Women in Historical Movements
• Preservation of Cultural Heritage: Challenges and Innovations
• Historical Trauma and its Contemporary Repercussions
• Impact of Colonialism on Contemporary Societies

Communication and Media Studies

• Influence of Social Media on Political Participation
• Media Representation of Marginalized Groups
• Fake News and Misinformation: Identifying and Combating Trends
• The Evolution of Print Media in the Digital Age
• Media Literacy Education: Navigating Information in the Digital Era
• Celebrity Culture and its Impact on Society
• The Role of Public Relations in Shaping Organizational Image
• Cross-Cultural Communication in Global Business
• Podcasting as an Emerging Medium of Communication
• Advertising and Consumer Behavior: Analyzing Persuasion Techniques

Philosophy and Ethics

• Ethical Considerations in Artificial Intelligence Research
• Bioethics in Medical Decision-Making
• Existentialism and its Relevance in Contemporary Society
• Animal Rights and Ethical Treatment in Scientific Research
• Environmental Ethics: Balancing Human Needs and Ecological Sustainability
• The Ethics of Genetic Engineering and Cloning
• Virtue Ethics in Professional Decision-Making
• Technology and Privacy: Ethical Dilemmas in the Digital Age
• Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Warfare
• Utilitarianism and its Application in Ethical Decision-Making

Education Policy and Administration

• School Voucher Programs: Impact on Educational Equity
• Teacher Evaluation Systems: Effectiveness and Fairness
• Inclusive Leadership in Educational Institutions
• Early Childhood Education: Policy and Implementation
• Standardized Testing: Implications for Educational Policy
• Education Funding Models: Challenges and Solutions
• School Choice and its Impact on Student Achievement
• Educational Technology Integration in Classroom Settings
• Community Engagement in School Decision-Making
• The Role of Educational Leaders in Fostering Inclusive Schools

Economics and Development Studies

• Microfinance and Poverty Alleviation Strategies
• Impact of Global Trade Policies on Developing Economies
• Economic Empowerment of Women in Developing Countries
• Sustainable Development Goals: Progress and Challenges
• Rural-Urban Migration: Economic and Social Impacts
• Financial Inclusion: Strategies for Bridging the Gap
• Foreign Aid Effectiveness: Assessing Outcomes
• Technology Transfer and Innovation in Developing Nations
• Income Inequality: Causes and Policy Solutions
• The Role of Microenterprise in Local Economic Development

Criminal Justice and Law

• Restorative Justice: Implementation and Impact on Recidivism
• Police Body Cameras: Efficacy and Ethical Considerations
• Cybercrime Laws and Challenges in the Digital Age
• Juvenile Justice Reform: Strategies for Rehabilitation
• Bail Reform: Addressing Inequities in Pretrial Detention
• Criminal Profiling: Validity and Ethical Concerns
• Drug Policy Reform: Exploring Alternatives to Criminalization
• The Impact of Hate Crime Legislation on Social Cohesion
• Eyewitness Testimony Reliability: Challenges and Improvements
• International Criminal Court: Effectiveness and Challenges

Public Health and Epidemiology

• Disease Surveillance Systems: Enhancing Early Detection
• Health Inequalities: Social Determinants and Interventions
• Maternal and Child Health Interventions in Developing Countries
• Impact of Health Education on Preventive Behaviors
• Access to Healthcare Services in Rural Areas
• Lifestyle Interventions for Chronic Disease Prevention
• Community-Based Participatory Research in Public Health
• Mental Health Interventions in School Settings
• The Role of Public Health in Pandemic Preparedness and Response

Computer Science

• Explainable Artificial Intelligence: Bridging the Gap Between Performance and Interpretability
• The Role of Quantum Computing in Revolutionizing Cryptography
• Ethical Considerations in the Development of Autonomous Vehicles
• Cybersecurity Challenges in the Internet of Things (IoT) Ecosystem
• Human-Computer Interaction: Enhancing User Experience in Virtual Reality Environments

How to Compose a Research Proposal?

Composing a research proposal is a systematic process that involves careful planning, organization, and clear articulation of your research idea. Here’s a step-by-step guide on how to compose a research proposal:

• Title: 
• Create a clear and concise title that reflects the essence of your research.
• Introduction:
• Provide background information on the research topic.
• Clearly state the research problem or question.
• Justify the importance and relevance of your research.
• Summarize relevant existing literature.
• Identify gaps, limitations, and areas for further exploration.
• Establish a theoretical framework for your study.
• Research Questions or Hypotheses:
• Formulate clear and specific research questions or hypotheses.
• Ensure they align with the research problem and are feasible.
• Objectives or Aims:
• Outline the specific goals of your research.
• Clearly state what you aim to achieve with your study.
• Methodology:
• Describe the research design and justify your choice.
• Detail the data collection methods and tools you plan to use.
• Address ethical considerations related to your research.
• Explain the importance of your research.
• Clearly state the potential contributions your study can make.
• Provide a detailed plan for executing your research.
• Include a timeline, milestones, and the allocation of resources.
• Potential Challenges and Limitations:
• Acknowledge possible obstacles and limitations.
• Discuss strategies to address challenges proactively.
• Summarize the key points of your research proposal.
• Reiterate the significance of your research.
• Invite feedback and suggestions.
• References:
• Cite all the sources and literature used in your proposal.
• Follow the appropriate citation style ( APA, MLA, Chicago , etc.).
• Appendices (if necessary):
• Include any supplementary materials such as surveys, questionnaires, or additional data.

Tips for Composing a Research Proposal

• Clarity and Conciseness: Use clear and straightforward language. Avoid unnecessary jargon that may confuse readers.
• Alignment: Ensure that each section of your proposal aligns with the overall research objective.
• Feasibility: Confirm that your proposed research is feasible within the given time and resource constraints.
• Review and Revise: Review your proposal for coherence, consistency, and clarity. Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or advisors and make revisions accordingly.
• Adherence to Guidelines: Follow any specific guidelines or instructions provided by your institution or funding agency.
• Engage the Reader: Capture the reader’s attention in the introduction and maintain engagement throughout.
• Ethical Considerations: Clearly address any ethical concerns related to your research, ensuring compliance with ethical standards.

Selecting research proposal topics is a nuanced process that requires a blend of personal passion, academic rigor, and an understanding of the broader context.

By following this comprehensive guide, you can navigate the seas of research proposal development with confidence, ensuring that your chosen topic is not only compelling but also lays the foundation for meaningful and impactful research.

Related Posts

Step by Step Guide on The Best Way to Finance Car

The Best Way on How to Get Fund For Business to Grow it Efficiently

Everything begins with an idea!

Psychology Research Proposal Topics

A psychology research proposal allows you to study for what you’re passionate about in your Ph.D. proposal writing. Your research proposal is the basis of whether supervision would be provided to you or not in your proposed research. Only a well-written proposal can get your research idea accepted.

Psychology research proposal topics encompass new theories, ideas, experiments, arguments, etc. depending on the topic you choose. Such proposals require you to make your audience understand the complex ideas with specific psychology terms while using your own experience in the field. Moreover, the research proposal includes information that backs up your facts.

Make sure you do your own research before writing your psychology research proposal in order to find reliable sources and fact-checked examples. You must choose a solid topic that enables you to focus on the subject and has a lot of information and sources on it. You can choose a subject within a particular psychology branch, such as social psychology, modern issues psychology, etc.

Psychology Research Proposal Topic Ideas

Sometimes it becomes quite challenging to choose a good psychology research proposal topic out of so many. You might find it harder to come up with what to write about than actually researching and writing the paper. In such a case, you might wonder how to choose an interesting psychology research proposal topic.

However, for you, we have come up with a variety of psychology research proposal topics that help get you started. You can choose a good topic that catches your interest. Here, you can find a wide range of theme proposal examples and research proposal topics that you can choose for your next college research proposal.

• The Bullying Phenomenon in high schools from a psychological perspective
• The possible implications of an untreated post-traumatic stress disorder
• Comparing Family and community: A challenge for African American people
• The place of the family in the individual’s socialization
• The place of methodology in research development
• Contribution of Jean Piaget to psychology
• Relevance of having knowledge about cognitive psychology
• Seeing empathy from an evolutionary perspective
• What are the psychological causes of resistance of employees to change?
• The similarities and differences between Sociopathy and Psychopathy.
• The Impact Of Thinking Positively On Success In Life
• Tracing Aggression predictors in Children.
• Adolescents: Anger, Aggression, and Irrational Beliefs
• Emotional Intelligence as a Victimized Predictor in Male Adolescents
• Comparing Therapy Of Rational Emotive Behavior Play And Client Focused Therapy
• Implementation of a Psycho-Educational Intervention to Lower the Impacts of Exposure to Media Images on Bodies of Young Female Adolescents
• Phenomenon of altruism: How can it be explained in different social situations?
• Assessing the reason complex human behavior cannot be broken down into personality of the individual or behavioral traits
• Analyze the potential indicators of choice of partner on the basis of behavior
• Assessment of the application of game theory experiments in understanding of the actual global behavior
• What makes schizophrenics more vulnerable to auditory than visual hallucinations?
• Assess the various treatment approaches to phobias
• Are the causes of autistic spectrum conditions due to the existence of talents and savants that are isolated?
• Discover the parental factors causing obesity in childhood?
• Explain the Importance of Freud’s theories of psychoanalytic
• Assess the recent discoveries in the study of anxiety and how it can be treated
• Assess the circadian rhythm’s impact on behavior
• Explain the psychological effects that relates to theory of attachment
• Evaluate the usefulness of laughter from physical and psychological perspectives
• Cognitive dissonance impact on behavior: How can it be reconciled?
• Assess the assumed relationship between the endorphins production and happiness
• Evaluate the ways of coping and how they vary between adults, adolescents and children
• When do kids start to become fully aware of their emotions and construct defensive mechanisms to cope with them?
• Study the midlife crisis and its psychosocial causes
• How our power of recollection is affected by our belief system
• Assess the relationship between stress and memory loss
• Evaluate the impact of general health on function of the cognition
• Are roles of gender given or taught during childhood?
• How early is too early to detect a defective personality among children?
• Discuss the notion that children tend to develop eating disorders due to learned behaviors
• To what degree does food-related conflict in childhood cause eating disorders
• How does diet affect the state of mood
• Explain the perception of pain based on the impacts of expectation, attention and state of emotion
• Assess the objective techniques for the measurement of consciousness
• Discuss modular view’s limitations of the brain
• Establish the link between indirect and direct perception theories.
• How is the cognitive inter-group specified before or is it more related to social learning?
• Assess the interaction between the representational systems in the brain for children that understand two languages
• Find if the working memory is a component of the long-term memory.
• Explain the ideas in support of the role of the hippocampus in memory production
• Investigate the relationship between working memory and attention
• Assess the role of the prefrontal cortex in short-term memory
• Discuss the link between emotional memory and episodic memory.

Have top experts do your papers.

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

17 Research Proposal Examples

A research proposal systematically and transparently outlines a proposed research project.

The purpose of a research proposal is to demonstrate a project’s viability and the researcher’s preparedness to conduct an academic study. It serves as a roadmap for the researcher.

The process holds value both externally (for accountability purposes and often as a requirement for a grant application) and intrinsic value (for helping the researcher to clarify the mechanics, purpose, and potential signficance of the study).

Key sections of a research proposal include: the title, abstract, introduction, literature review, research design and methods, timeline, budget, outcomes and implications, references, and appendix. Each is briefly explained below.

Watch my Guide: How to Write a Research Proposal

Get your Template for Writing your Research Proposal Here (With AI Prompts!)

Research Proposal Sample Structure

Title: The title should present a concise and descriptive statement that clearly conveys the core idea of the research projects. Make it as specific as possible. The reader should immediately be able to grasp the core idea of the intended research project. Often, the title is left too vague and does not help give an understanding of what exactly the study looks at.

Abstract: Abstracts are usually around 250-300 words and provide an overview of what is to follow – including the research problem , objectives, methods, expected outcomes, and significance of the study. Use it as a roadmap and ensure that, if the abstract is the only thing someone reads, they’ll get a good fly-by of what will be discussed in the peice.

Introduction: Introductions are all about contextualization. They often set the background information with a statement of the problem. At the end of the introduction, the reader should understand what the rationale for the study truly is. I like to see the research questions or hypotheses included in the introduction and I like to get a good understanding of what the significance of the research will be. It’s often easiest to write the introduction last

Literature Review: The literature review dives deep into the existing literature on the topic, demosntrating your thorough understanding of the existing literature including themes, strengths, weaknesses, and gaps in the literature. It serves both to demonstrate your knowledge of the field and, to demonstrate how the proposed study will fit alongside the literature on the topic. A good literature review concludes by clearly demonstrating how your research will contribute something new and innovative to the conversation in the literature.

Research Design and Methods: This section needs to clearly demonstrate how the data will be gathered and analyzed in a systematic and academically sound manner. Here, you need to demonstrate that the conclusions of your research will be both valid and reliable. Common points discussed in the research design and methods section include highlighting the research paradigm, methodologies, intended population or sample to be studied, data collection techniques, and data analysis procedures . Toward the end of this section, you are encouraged to also address ethical considerations and limitations of the research process , but also to explain why you chose your research design and how you are mitigating the identified risks and limitations.

Timeline: Provide an outline of the anticipated timeline for the study. Break it down into its various stages (including data collection, data analysis, and report writing). The goal of this section is firstly to establish a reasonable breakdown of steps for you to follow and secondly to demonstrate to the assessors that your project is practicable and feasible.

Budget: Estimate the costs associated with the research project and include evidence for your estimations. Typical costs include staffing costs, equipment, travel, and data collection tools. When applying for a scholarship, the budget should demonstrate that you are being responsible with your expensive and that your funding application is reasonable.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: A discussion of the anticipated findings or results of the research, as well as the potential contributions to the existing knowledge, theory, or practice in the field. This section should also address the potential impact of the research on relevant stakeholders and any broader implications for policy or practice.

References: A complete list of all the sources cited in the research proposal, formatted according to the required citation style. This demonstrates the researcher’s familiarity with the relevant literature and ensures proper attribution of ideas and information.

Appendices (if applicable): Any additional materials, such as questionnaires, interview guides, or consent forms, that provide further information or support for the research proposal. These materials should be included as appendices at the end of the document.

Research Proposal Examples

Research proposals often extend anywhere between 2,000 and 15,000 words in length. The following snippets are samples designed to briefly demonstrate what might be discussed in each section.

1. Education Studies Research Proposals

See some real sample pieces:

• Assessment of the perceptions of teachers towards a new grading system
• Does ICT use in secondary classrooms help or hinder student learning?
• Digital technologies in focus project
• Urban Middle School Teachers’ Experiences of the Implementation of
• Restorative Justice Practices
• Experiences of students of color in service learning

Consider this hypothetical education research proposal:

The Impact of Game-Based Learning on Student Engagement and Academic Performance in Middle School Mathematics

Abstract: The proposed study will explore multiplayer game-based learning techniques in middle school mathematics curricula and their effects on student engagement. The study aims to contribute to the current literature on game-based learning by examining the effects of multiplayer gaming in learning.

Introduction: Digital game-based learning has long been shunned within mathematics education for fears that it may distract students or lower the academic integrity of the classrooms. However, there is emerging evidence that digital games in math have emerging benefits not only for engagement but also academic skill development. Contributing to this discourse, this study seeks to explore the potential benefits of multiplayer digital game-based learning by examining its impact on middle school students’ engagement and academic performance in a mathematics class.

Literature Review: The literature review has identified gaps in the current knowledge, namely, while game-based learning has been extensively explored, the role of multiplayer games in supporting learning has not been studied.

Research Design and Methods: This study will employ a mixed-methods research design based upon action research in the classroom. A quasi-experimental pre-test/post-test control group design will first be used to compare the academic performance and engagement of middle school students exposed to game-based learning techniques with those in a control group receiving instruction without the aid of technology. Students will also be observed and interviewed in regard to the effect of communication and collaboration during gameplay on their learning.

Timeline: The study will take place across the second term of the school year with a pre-test taking place on the first day of the term and the post-test taking place on Wednesday in Week 10.

Budget: The key budgetary requirements will be the technologies required, including the subscription cost for the identified games and computers.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: It is expected that the findings will contribute to the current literature on game-based learning and inform educational practices, providing educators and policymakers with insights into how to better support student achievement in mathematics.

2. Psychology Research Proposals

See some real examples:

• A situational analysis of shared leadership in a self-managing team
• The effect of musical preference on running performance
• Relationship between self-esteem and disordered eating amongst adolescent females

Consider this hypothetical psychology research proposal:

The Effects of Mindfulness-Based Interventions on Stress Reduction in College Students

Abstract: This research proposal examines the impact of mindfulness-based interventions on stress reduction among college students, using a pre-test/post-test experimental design with both quantitative and qualitative data collection methods .

Introduction: College students face heightened stress levels during exam weeks. This can affect both mental health and test performance. This study explores the potential benefits of mindfulness-based interventions such as meditation as a way to mediate stress levels in the weeks leading up to exam time.

Literature Review: Existing research on mindfulness-based meditation has shown the ability for mindfulness to increase metacognition, decrease anxiety levels, and decrease stress. Existing literature has looked at workplace, high school and general college-level applications. This study will contribute to the corpus of literature by exploring the effects of mindfulness directly in the context of exam weeks.

Research Design and Methods: Participants ( n= 234 ) will be randomly assigned to either an experimental group, receiving 5 days per week of 10-minute mindfulness-based interventions, or a control group, receiving no intervention. Data will be collected through self-report questionnaires, measuring stress levels, semi-structured interviews exploring participants’ experiences, and students’ test scores.

Timeline: The study will begin three weeks before the students’ exam week and conclude after each student’s final exam. Data collection will occur at the beginning (pre-test of self-reported stress levels) and end (post-test) of the three weeks.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: The study aims to provide evidence supporting the effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in reducing stress among college students in the lead up to exams, with potential implications for mental health support and stress management programs on college campuses.

3. Sociology Research Proposals

• Understanding emerging social movements: A case study of ‘Jersey in Transition’
• The interaction of health, education and employment in Western China
• Can we preserve lower-income affordable neighbourhoods in the face of rising costs?

Consider this hypothetical sociology research proposal:

The Impact of Social Media Usage on Interpersonal Relationships among Young Adults

Abstract: This research proposal investigates the effects of social media usage on interpersonal relationships among young adults, using a longitudinal mixed-methods approach with ongoing semi-structured interviews to collect qualitative data.

Introduction: Social media platforms have become a key medium for the development of interpersonal relationships, particularly for young adults. This study examines the potential positive and negative effects of social media usage on young adults’ relationships and development over time.

Literature Review: A preliminary review of relevant literature has demonstrated that social media usage is central to development of a personal identity and relationships with others with similar subcultural interests. However, it has also been accompanied by data on mental health deline and deteriorating off-screen relationships. The literature is to-date lacking important longitudinal data on these topics.

Research Design and Methods: Participants ( n = 454 ) will be young adults aged 18-24. Ongoing self-report surveys will assess participants’ social media usage, relationship satisfaction, and communication patterns. A subset of participants will be selected for longitudinal in-depth interviews starting at age 18 and continuing for 5 years.

Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of five years, including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide insights into the complex relationship between social media usage and interpersonal relationships among young adults, potentially informing social policies and mental health support related to social media use.

4. Nursing Research Proposals

• Does Orthopaedic Pre-assessment clinic prepare the patient for admission to hospital?
• Nurses’ perceptions and experiences of providing psychological care to burns patients
• Registered psychiatric nurse’s practice with mentally ill parents and their children

Consider this hypothetical nursing research proposal:

The Influence of Nurse-Patient Communication on Patient Satisfaction and Health Outcomes following Emergency Cesarians

Abstract: This research will examines the impact of effective nurse-patient communication on patient satisfaction and health outcomes for women following c-sections, utilizing a mixed-methods approach with patient surveys and semi-structured interviews.

Introduction: It has long been known that effective communication between nurses and patients is crucial for quality care. However, additional complications arise following emergency c-sections due to the interaction between new mother’s changing roles and recovery from surgery.

Literature Review: A review of the literature demonstrates the importance of nurse-patient communication, its impact on patient satisfaction, and potential links to health outcomes. However, communication between nurses and new mothers is less examined, and the specific experiences of those who have given birth via emergency c-section are to date unexamined.

Research Design and Methods: Participants will be patients in a hospital setting who have recently had an emergency c-section. A self-report survey will assess their satisfaction with nurse-patient communication and perceived health outcomes. A subset of participants will be selected for in-depth interviews to explore their experiences and perceptions of the communication with their nurses.

Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of six months, including rolling recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing within the hospital.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide evidence for the significance of nurse-patient communication in supporting new mothers who have had an emergency c-section. Recommendations will be presented for supporting nurses and midwives in improving outcomes for new mothers who had complications during birth.

5. Social Work Research Proposals

• Experiences of negotiating employment and caring responsibilities of fathers post-divorce
• Exploring kinship care in the north region of British Columbia

Consider this hypothetical social work research proposal:

The Role of a Family-Centered Intervention in Preventing Homelessness Among At-Risk Youthin a working-class town in Northern England

Abstract: This research proposal investigates the effectiveness of a family-centered intervention provided by a local council area in preventing homelessness among at-risk youth. This case study will use a mixed-methods approach with program evaluation data and semi-structured interviews to collect quantitative and qualitative data .

Introduction: Homelessness among youth remains a significant social issue. This study aims to assess the effectiveness of family-centered interventions in addressing this problem and identify factors that contribute to successful prevention strategies.

Literature Review: A review of the literature has demonstrated several key factors contributing to youth homelessness including lack of parental support, lack of social support, and low levels of family involvement. It also demonstrates the important role of family-centered interventions in addressing this issue. Drawing on current evidence, this study explores the effectiveness of one such intervention in preventing homelessness among at-risk youth in a working-class town in Northern England.

Research Design and Methods: The study will evaluate a new family-centered intervention program targeting at-risk youth and their families. Quantitative data on program outcomes, including housing stability and family functioning, will be collected through program records and evaluation reports. Semi-structured interviews with program staff, participants, and relevant stakeholders will provide qualitative insights into the factors contributing to program success or failure.

Timeline: The study will be conducted over a period of six months, including recruitment, data collection, analysis, and report writing.

Budget: Expenses include access to program evaluation data, interview materials, data analysis software, and any related travel costs for in-person interviews.

Expected Outcomes and Implications: This study aims to provide evidence for the effectiveness of family-centered interventions in preventing youth homelessness, potentially informing the expansion of or necessary changes to social work practices in Northern England.

Research Proposal Template

Get your Detailed Template for Writing your Research Proposal Here (With AI Prompts!)

This is a template for a 2500-word research proposal. You may find it difficult to squeeze everything into this wordcount, but it’s a common wordcount for Honors and MA-level dissertations.

Your research proposal is where you really get going with your study. I’d strongly recommend working closely with your teacher in developing a research proposal that’s consistent with the requirements and culture of your institution, as in my experience it varies considerably. The above template is from my own courses that walk students through research proposals in a British School of Education.

Chris Drew (PhD)

Dr. Chris Drew is the founder of the Helpful Professor. He holds a PhD in education and has published over 20 articles in scholarly journals. He is the former editor of the Journal of Learning Development in Higher Education. [Image Descriptor: Photo of Chris]

• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ 15 Self-Actualization Examples (Maslow's Hierarchy)
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Forest Schools Philosophy & Curriculum, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori's 4 Planes of Development, Explained!
• Chris Drew (PhD) https://helpfulprofessor.com/author/chris-drew-phd/ Montessori vs Reggio Emilia vs Steiner-Waldorf vs Froebel

8 thoughts on “17 Research Proposal Examples”

Very excellent research proposals

very helpful

Very helpful

Dear Sir, I need some help to write an educational research proposal. Thank you.

Hi Levi, use the site search bar to ask a question and I’ll likely have a guide already written for your specific question. Thanks for reading!

very good research proposal

Thank you so much sir! ❤️

Very helpful 👌

Leave a Comment Cancel Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

• AI Content Shield
• AI KW Research
• AI Assistant
• SEO Optimizer
• AI KW Clustering
• Customer reviews
• The NLO Revolution
• Press Center
• Help Center
• Content Resources
• Facebook Group

Key Elements of Psychology Research Proposals + Sample Templates

Table of Contents

Need help writing a research proposal for your psychology study? Then you’ve come to the right place! In this article, we’ll guide you through the key elements you should include for a winning proposal. We’ll also share a  research proposal sample psychology that you can refer to! With a well-written research proposal, you’ll be able to showcase the significance of your study. Plus, it can impress potential reviewers and secure the necessary funding for your project.

What is a Psychology Research Proposal?

A psychology research proposal outlines a proposed study consisting of the objectives, hypotheses, methods, and expected outcomes . This document serves as the blueprint for conducting a successful experiment or data collection effort in the field of psychology. Research proposals are often required by granting agencies or academic institutions. Taking the time to create an effective proposal is essential for ensuring the success of any research project.

Key Elements of Psychology Research Proposals

The section you should include in a research proposal depend on the requirements set by your professor or grant agency. But in general, research proposals will need to have the following key elements:

Research Topic

This is the main focus of the research proposal. It should be explained clearly and concisely. This section aims to:

• Identify the specific area of psychology that will be explored.
• Provide a brief overview of existing knowledge on the subject.
• Outline the objectives and goals of the proposed study.

Research Questions

A list of research questions should be included in the proposal to help guide the study’s investigation. These can range from broad inquiries into a given topic to more specific queries regarding certain aspects or areas related to the topic.

Literature Review

An effective literature review serves two essential purposes:

• It provides an overview of the current understanding of the topic.
• Demonstrates that the researcher has conducted adequate background research to develop an informed hypothesis.

Hypothesis/Research Objectives

The hypothesis forms the basis of the research project and outlines what the researcher expects to find. It should also include any specific objectives associated with testing the hypothesis.

Methodology

This sections focuses on the methods used to conduct the study. It provides information on the study’s sample size, participant demographics, research environment, data collection techniques, and so on.

Data Analysis Plan

Once data has been collected, it must be analyzed to draw meaningful conclusions. Outlining a data analysis plan helps ensure that all relevant aspects are considered during analysis.

Expected Results

You won’t be able to predict precisely how an experiment will play out. But you can still give some insight into expected outcomes based on available evidence. This will allow readers to evaluate the validity and practicality of the proposed research project.

Significance and Implications

Explaining the project’s significance gives readers a better idea of why it was conducted in the first place. Detail the potential implications of the findings. This will help others consider the study’s broader application beyond simply answering the research question.

Research Proposal Sample Psychology Template

Introduction.

A. Background of the study : Provide an overview of the studied topic. This includes pertinent facts and figures demonstrating the need for further research. Be sure to include any relevant literature reviews and a concise explanation of the focus of your proposal. B. Rationale/Rationale for Study : Explain why this study should be conducted, including its value to the scientific community. Include evidence from previous studies or theories that may suggest your proposed project’s potential outcomes. C. Hypothesis/Objectives : State your hypothesis or research objectives clearly and succinctly. Describe how you plan to conduct the study and provide detailed information on collecting and analyzing data.

A. Participants : Detail the criteria used to identify and select participants for the study. Specify how many participants are needed and describe their demographic profiles (e.g., age range, gender, education level, etc.). B. Instruments : Identify the instruments (e.g., questionnaires, interviews, surveys) used to collect data and discuss how they were developed and validated. Cite any sources consulted when creating these instruments. C. Procedures : Outline all procedures to be followed during the study, including recruitment methods, data collection techniques, and analysis processes.

D. Data Analysis

Describe the statistical tests to analyze data and explain how results will be interpreted. Make sure to specify whether any ethical issues have been considered when conducting the study and discuss any implications for future research projects.

A. Summarize your study’s purpose, methodology, and findings and make recommendations for future action based on these results. B. Conclude by comprehensively reviewing what has been learned through your work. You can also thank anyone who assisted or supported you throughout the process.

A. Background : Describe the need for research in psychology and how it relates to your study. Give a brief overview of past studies or experiments conducted on the same topic and explain why further exploration is necessary. B. Purpose & Significance : Explain why you are undertaking this research project and what impact it could have on society. Elucidate what questions will be answered by carrying out the proposed study and which theories may be examined as part of the process. C. Objectives : Outline the specific objectives of the research, such as exploring certain phenomena or measuring particular variables. Specify any hypotheses that may be tested during the investigation. D. Study Design & Methodology : Summarize the methods chosen to achieve the project’s aims and justify their selection. Describe key components of the methodology used, including participant selection criteria, data collection techniques, and analysis plans.

A. Overview : Include relevant literature on your research question and discuss its implications. B. Strengths & Limitations : Analyze the strengths and limitations of existing work in the field. You can also identify gaps that need to be filled with further research. C. Synthesis & Recommendations : Present a literature review synthesis and make recommendations for future studies based on your findings.

Results & Analysis

A. Data Collection : Describe how data was collected from participants, such as surveys or interviews, along with details about sample size and demographics. B. Analysis Techniques : Clarify which statistical tools were used for analyzing results, such as linear regression or ANOVA tests. Explain how data was processed before being presented in charts or tables. C. Findings & Implications : Present the key findings from the analysis, commenting on both positive and negative outcomes where applicable. Discuss potential implications for psychological theory, practice, or policy in light of these results.

Discussion & Conclusions

Summarize the main points discussed throughout the paper and reiterate the purpose of the study and its results/implications.

Final Words

 So there you have it: the key elements of a psychology research proposal and some sample templates to get you started. Writing a winning proposal is not easy. But by taking a cue from this  research proposal sample psychology , you can present your project more effectively.

Abir Ghenaiet

Abir is a data analyst and researcher. Among her interests are artificial intelligence, machine learning, and natural language processing. As a humanitarian and educator, she actively supports women in tech and promotes diversity.

Explore All Proposal Generator Articles

Creative terms and conditions agreement in business proposal.

In business, proposals are essential for securing contracts and agreements with clients. However, a proposal is only complete with terms…

• Proposal Generator

Free guide to a statement of proposal sample

A statement of proposal is a document that outlines a proposed project or initiative in detail. It is typically used…

Free Proposal Letter for Training and Development for a Head Start

Training and development are essential to improve employees’ skills, knowledge, and productivity. A well-crafted training proposal can help an organization…

Detailed Guide to Free HR Consulting Proposal

HR consulting is an essential service for businesses of all sizes. HR consultants provide expert guidance to organizations on various…

Key Guide to Better Remote Work Proposal

The rise of remote work has been a significant trend in the business world over the last few years. With…

Guide to Free E-Commerce Proposal Template

E-commerce has become one of the most popular ways of doing business recently. With the increasing number of people using…

70 New Psychology Dissertation Topics for Stellar Papers

This is a massive list of psychology dissertation topics for your future paper.

A bonus also awaits the most attentive and patient readers, so don’t be in a hurry to leave the page!

In this article, you’ll learn what makes for a good topic for a psychology dissertation, understand the principles behind choosing it, and get actual fresh topic ideas for papers in seven different fields of psychology.

No time to read? Scroll down for the topics list, or contact our dissertation writing services for quick help.

Psychology Dissertation: The Basics

A psychology dissertation is a substantial project. Many aspiring psychologists need to write a dissertation in order to get a Master’s or Ph.D.. The dissertation demonstrates the student’s ability to conduct independent research, contribute to the scientific community, and communicate their findings in a comprehensive document.

A dissertation undergoes a rigorous review process by a college committee and may include an oral defense.

Its structure is much more complex than a standard college essay or thesis. When writing a dissertation, get ready to spend months on researching and organizing your future dissertation outline , incorporating the following components:

• A title page
• Acknowledgments to those who helped you prepare the dissertation
• An abstract ( Dissertation abstracts summarize your research so that the audience can understand its relevance and contribution to the scientific community.)
• A table of contents
• An introduction
• A literature review
• A methodology
• Your findings and analysis
• A discussion and conclusion
• References (a bibliography)
• Appendices (any additional information you used to complete a dissertation: tables, graphs, diagrams, etc.)

How long is a dissertation ?

A dissertation’s length varies depending on your institution, field, and level of education. While you might need to write 8,000–15,000 words for an undergraduate paper, your Ph.D. dissertation will likely have 70,000–100,000 words.

For a Master’s, get ready to craft a 12,000–50,000 word dissertation.

Why bother with psychology dissertation topics?

The topic you choose for your dissertation can determine the overall success of your research. You need a good one that’s relevant and that you’ll be able to find adequate resources to complete.

Consideration of dissertation ideas psychology takes time. Explore different options, ask tutors and other professionals about relevant topics, and bear in mind your own academic interests and expertise.

Other factors to remember when choosing a dissertation topic:

• A topic’s social influence: Do you have anything new to say about the topic that will add to the field’s general body of knowledge? 
• Research limitations: Do you have sufficient resources to complete the project on your chosen topic? (Relevant data for research and analysis, financial support, faculty advisors available to guide you through the process, etc.)
• Ethical considerations: Do you or would your community have any ethical concerns about the topic?

What Are Good Psychology Dissertation Topics?

“How do I write my essay well?” is a question we often receive from students.  Well, one of the first things you can do is to pick  a good topic.

“How do I know if my topic is good enough?” What makes psychology dissertation topics interesting or worthwhile?

Here are some things to consider when choosing a dissertation topic:

• Relevant. It addresses current issues or gaps in psychology.
• Original. It brings a new perspective to the issue or explores unexamined areas.
• Specific. It’s well-defined and focused on a question in a thorough way. 
• Clear. It’s precisely articulated and maintains focus.
• Feasible. It’s achievable with the available resources and within the given time.
• Ethical. It is ethical and ensures the privacy and welfare of participants.
• Meaningful. It has clear theoretical and practical implications and improves psychological interventions or therapies.

Dissertation Topics in Psychology: How to Choose

Now that you know the features of a good dissertation topic (see above), choosing one for your future paper will be easier.

These steps are here to help you do that faster:

• Pick an interesting topic. It’s your research, and completing the project will be less challenging if you work on something that personally engages your interest.
• Evaluate a topic’s importance for the field. Does it address current issues or gaps? Does it have clear implications? What can it contribute to the field?
• Examine the accessibility to resources. Will you have enough data, funding, and time to conduct research and complete your dissertation on that topic?
• Identify potential challenges with the topic. Is it too broad or narrow for what you want to achieve? Are there any ethical issues related to it?
• Discuss your dissertation topics in psychology with supervisors or colleagues. This can help you gain new perspectives and develop a topic idea that will turn your write my dissertation challenge into a fascinating journey.

Below are 70 fresh psychology dissertation ideas for your paper. Consider the type of psychology you must focus on, and review our list of topics for inspiration.

Clinical Psychology Dissertation Topics

Try these clinical psychology dissertation topics for research:

• Evaluating the effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in managing anxiety disorders.
• Investigating the long-term mental health effects of childhood trauma in adults.
• The impact of mindfulness-based practices on depression treatment outcomes.
• Examining the prolonged effects of electroconvulsive therapy in treating severe depression.
• The connection between sleep disturbances and adolescent mental health.
• Evaluating the potency of virtual reality exposure therapy for post-traumatic stress disorder.
• How cultural factors influence the diagnosis and treatment of schizophrenia.
• A comparative study of group therapy and individual therapy for substance abuse treatment.
• The impact of social media on the self-esteem and mental well-being of adolescents.
• Understanding the role of family dynamics in the emergence of eating disorders.

Educational Psychology Topic Ideas

These dissertation topics in education can inspire you to develop yours:

• The effects of inclusive education on children with learning disabilities.
• How teacher-student relationships impact academic achievement.
• The role of parental involvement in children’s educational outcomes.
• Exploring the impact of technology on student engagement and learning.
• The effectiveness of different teaching strategies in fostering critical thinking skills.
• The link between motivation and academic performance in high school students.
• Gender differences in STEM education: Problems, causes and solutions.
• The impact of the school environment on student mental health.
• How standardized testing affects student learning and teacher performance.
• The role of educational psychology in developing interventions for bullying.

Dissertation Topics in Industrial Psychology

Below are ten dissertation topics in industrial psychology that could serve as a basis for your research:

• How different leadership styles influence employee job satisfaction.
• Exploring the relationship between workplace diversity and team performance.
• How remote work impacts employees’ productivity and well-being.
• Assessing the impact of job stress on employee turnover rates.
• How organizational culture impacts employee behavior.
• How training and development programs influence employee performance.
• Exploring the connection between employee motivation and organizational commitment.
• Evaluating the effectiveness of performance appraisal systems in improving job completion.
• Exploring the impact of work-life balance policies on employee satisfaction.
• The significance of EI for effective leadership.

Personality Psychology Ideas to Write About

Some medical education dissertation topics are about personality psychology. Consider these ten to guide you on the way to your own research:

• The influence of personality traits on career choice and job satisfaction.
• The role of character traits in coping with stress and adversity.
• Exploring the relationship between personality and mental health disorders.
• The impact of social media on the development of narcissistic traits.
• How personality traits affect relationship satisfaction and stability.
• Understanding the environmental influences on personality development.
• The relationship between personality and risk-taking behaviors.
• How personality traits influence academic achievement.
• The role of personality in predicting political beliefs and behaviors.
• Exploring the impact of personality on physical health and well-being.

Social Psychology Topic Ideas

These psychology dissertation topics are about the ways individuals behave within social contexts. If it’s the area of your expertise, feel free to consider:

• The role of social influence on decision-making processes.
• Exploring the impact of group dynamics on individual behavior.
• How stereotypes can affect academic performance.
• How social identity influences intergroup relations and conflict.
• The impact of media on shaping societal attitudes and behaviors.
• The role of social support in coping with stress and adversity.
• The influence of cultural norms on prosocial behavior.
• How prejudice and discrimination affect mental health and well-being.
• The role of social comparison in shaping self-esteem and life satisfaction.
• Exploring the psychological mechanisms underlying conformity and obedience.

Cognitive Psychology Dissertation Topics

These dissertation topics for psychology delve into cognitive processes like memory, perception, attention, and problem-solving.

• The influence of attention on the processes of memory formation and retrieval.
• Investigating how aging affects cognitive functions.
• How bilingualism affects cognitive development and functioning.
• The relationship between cognitive load and decision-making processes.
• How sleep deprivation influences cognitive abilities.
• Exploring the impact of cognitive biases on judgment and behavior.
• The role of working memory in problem-solving and reasoning.
• How emotion influences cognitive processes and decision-making.
• The effects of digital media on cognitive development in children.
• Examining the neural basis of cognitive control and executive functions.

Topic Ideas for Dissertations in Behavioral Sciences

The top psychology dissertation examples include engaging topics in this subfield of psychology. By choosing any of the below, you’ll have plenty of room to explore:

• The impact of behavioral interventions on smoking cessation.
• Exploring the relationship between diet, exercise, and mental health.
• The role of behavioral genetics in understanding addiction.
• How environmental factors influence behavioral development.
• The effectiveness of behavior modification programs in treating obesity.
• Exploring the impact of stress on health behaviors and outcomes.
• The role behavioral interventions play in managing chronic pain.
• How cultural factors influence health-related behaviors.
• The relationship between behavioral habits and overall well-being.
• The impact of technology on behavior and social interactions.

It’s Time to Choose!

With so many psychology dissertation topics listed, hopefully there’s one on there that piques your interest ?

If you’re still feeling doubtful or unready to jump into the research, feel free to buy dissertation online from professional academic writers with expertise in the field.

Photo by Becca Tapert from Unsplash

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

What our customers say

Our website uses secure cookies. More details

Get professional help from best writers right from your phone

Grab our 3 e-books bundle for $27 FREE

Case Study Research Method in Psychology

Saul Mcleod, PhD

Editor-in-Chief for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MRes, PhD, University of Manchester

Saul Mcleod, PhD., is a qualified psychology teacher with over 18 years of experience in further and higher education. He has been published in peer-reviewed journals, including the Journal of Clinical Psychology.

Learn about our Editorial Process

Olivia Guy-Evans, MSc

Associate Editor for Simply Psychology

BSc (Hons) Psychology, MSc Psychology of Education

Olivia Guy-Evans is a writer and associate editor for Simply Psychology. She has previously worked in healthcare and educational sectors.

On This Page:

Case studies are in-depth investigations of a person, group, event, or community. Typically, data is gathered from various sources using several methods (e.g., observations & interviews).

The case study research method originated in clinical medicine (the case history, i.e., the patient’s personal history). In psychology, case studies are often confined to the study of a particular individual.

The information is mainly biographical and relates to events in the individual’s past (i.e., retrospective), as well as to significant events that are currently occurring in his or her everyday life.

The case study is not a research method, but researchers select methods of data collection and analysis that will generate material suitable for case studies.

Freud (1909a, 1909b) conducted very detailed investigations into the private lives of his patients in an attempt to both understand and help them overcome their illnesses.

This makes it clear that the case study is a method that should only be used by a psychologist, therapist, or psychiatrist, i.e., someone with a professional qualification.

There is an ethical issue of competence. Only someone qualified to diagnose and treat a person can conduct a formal case study relating to atypical (i.e., abnormal) behavior or atypical development.

 Famous Case Studies

• Anna O – One of the most famous case studies, documenting psychoanalyst Josef Breuer’s treatment of “Anna O” (real name Bertha Pappenheim) for hysteria in the late 1800s using early psychoanalytic theory.
• Little Hans – A child psychoanalysis case study published by Sigmund Freud in 1909 analyzing his five-year-old patient Herbert Graf’s house phobia as related to the Oedipus complex.
• Bruce/Brenda – Gender identity case of the boy (Bruce) whose botched circumcision led psychologist John Money to advise gender reassignment and raise him as a girl (Brenda) in the 1960s.
• Genie Wiley – Linguistics/psychological development case of the victim of extreme isolation abuse who was studied in 1970s California for effects of early language deprivation on acquiring speech later in life.
• Phineas Gage – One of the most famous neuropsychology case studies analyzes personality changes in railroad worker Phineas Gage after an 1848 brain injury involving a tamping iron piercing his skull.

Clinical Case Studies

• Studying the effectiveness of psychotherapy approaches with an individual patient
• Assessing and treating mental illnesses like depression, anxiety disorders, PTSD
• Neuropsychological cases investigating brain injuries or disorders

Child Psychology Case Studies

• Studying psychological development from birth through adolescence
• Cases of learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders, ADHD
• Effects of trauma, abuse, deprivation on development

Types of Case Studies

• Explanatory case studies : Used to explore causation in order to find underlying principles. Helpful for doing qualitative analysis to explain presumed causal links.
• Exploratory case studies : Used to explore situations where an intervention being evaluated has no clear set of outcomes. It helps define questions and hypotheses for future research.
• Descriptive case studies : Describe an intervention or phenomenon and the real-life context in which it occurred. It is helpful for illustrating certain topics within an evaluation.
• Multiple-case studies : Used to explore differences between cases and replicate findings across cases. Helpful for comparing and contrasting specific cases.
• Intrinsic : Used to gain a better understanding of a particular case. Helpful for capturing the complexity of a single case.
• Collective : Used to explore a general phenomenon using multiple case studies. Helpful for jointly studying a group of cases in order to inquire into the phenomenon.

Where Do You Find Data for a Case Study?

There are several places to find data for a case study. The key is to gather data from multiple sources to get a complete picture of the case and corroborate facts or findings through triangulation of evidence. Most of this information is likely qualitative (i.e., verbal description rather than measurement), but the psychologist might also collect numerical data.

1. Primary sources

• Interviews – Interviewing key people related to the case to get their perspectives and insights. The interview is an extremely effective procedure for obtaining information about an individual, and it may be used to collect comments from the person’s friends, parents, employer, workmates, and others who have a good knowledge of the person, as well as to obtain facts from the person him or herself.
• Observations – Observing behaviors, interactions, processes, etc., related to the case as they unfold in real-time.
• Documents & Records – Reviewing private documents, diaries, public records, correspondence, meeting minutes, etc., relevant to the case.

2. Secondary sources

• News/Media – News coverage of events related to the case study.
• Academic articles – Journal articles, dissertations etc. that discuss the case.
• Government reports – Official data and records related to the case context.
• Books/films – Books, documentaries or films discussing the case.

3. Archival records

Searching historical archives, museum collections and databases to find relevant documents, visual/audio records related to the case history and context.

Public archives like newspapers, organizational records, photographic collections could all include potentially relevant pieces of information to shed light on attitudes, cultural perspectives, common practices and historical contexts related to psychology.

4. Organizational records

Organizational records offer the advantage of often having large datasets collected over time that can reveal or confirm psychological insights.

Of course, privacy and ethical concerns regarding confidential data must be navigated carefully.

However, with proper protocols, organizational records can provide invaluable context and empirical depth to qualitative case studies exploring the intersection of psychology and organizations.

• Organizational/industrial psychology research : Organizational records like employee surveys, turnover/retention data, policies, incident reports etc. may provide insight into topics like job satisfaction, workplace culture and dynamics, leadership issues, employee behaviors etc.
• Clinical psychology : Therapists/hospitals may grant access to anonymized medical records to study aspects like assessments, diagnoses, treatment plans etc. This could shed light on clinical practices.
• School psychology : Studies could utilize anonymized student records like test scores, grades, disciplinary issues, and counseling referrals to study child development, learning barriers, effectiveness of support programs, and more.

How do I Write a Case Study in Psychology?

Follow specified case study guidelines provided by a journal or your psychology tutor. General components of clinical case studies include: background, symptoms, assessments, diagnosis, treatment, and outcomes. Interpreting the information means the researcher decides what to include or leave out. A good case study should always clarify which information is the factual description and which is an inference or the researcher’s opinion.

1. Introduction

• Provide background on the case context and why it is of interest, presenting background information like demographics, relevant history, and presenting problem.
• Compare briefly to similar published cases if applicable. Clearly state the focus/importance of the case.

2. Case Presentation

• Describe the presenting problem in detail, including symptoms, duration,and impact on daily life.
• Include client demographics like age and gender, information about social relationships, and mental health history.
• Describe all physical, emotional, and/or sensory symptoms reported by the client.
• Use patient quotes to describe the initial complaint verbatim. Follow with full-sentence summaries of relevant history details gathered, including key components that led to a working diagnosis.
• Summarize clinical exam results, namely orthopedic/neurological tests, imaging, lab tests, etc. Note actual results rather than subjective conclusions. Provide images if clearly reproducible/anonymized.
• Clearly state the working diagnosis or clinical impression before transitioning to management.

3. Management and Outcome

• Indicate the total duration of care and number of treatments given over what timeframe. Use specific names/descriptions for any therapies/interventions applied.
• Present the results of the intervention,including any quantitative or qualitative data collected.
• For outcomes, utilize visual analog scales for pain, medication usage logs, etc., if possible. Include patient self-reports of improvement/worsening of symptoms. Note the reason for discharge/end of care.

4. Discussion

• Analyze the case, exploring contributing factors, limitations of the study, and connections to existing research.
• Analyze the effectiveness of the intervention,considering factors like participant adherence, limitations of the study, and potential alternative explanations for the results.
• Identify any questions raised in the case analysis and relate insights to established theories and current research if applicable. Avoid definitive claims about physiological explanations.
• Offer clinical implications, and suggest future research directions.

5. Additional Items

• Thank specific assistants for writing support only. No patient acknowledgments.
• References should directly support any key claims or quotes included.
• Use tables/figures/images only if substantially informative. Include permissions and legends/explanatory notes.
• Provides detailed (rich qualitative) information.
• Provides insight for further research.
• Permitting investigation of otherwise impractical (or unethical) situations.

Case studies allow a researcher to investigate a topic in far more detail than might be possible if they were trying to deal with a large number of research participants (nomothetic approach) with the aim of ‘averaging’.

Because of their in-depth, multi-sided approach, case studies often shed light on aspects of human thinking and behavior that would be unethical or impractical to study in other ways.

Research that only looks into the measurable aspects of human behavior is not likely to give us insights into the subjective dimension of experience, which is important to psychoanalytic and humanistic psychologists.

Case studies are often used in exploratory research. They can help us generate new ideas (that might be tested by other methods). They are an important way of illustrating theories and can help show how different aspects of a person’s life are related to each other.

The method is, therefore, important for psychologists who adopt a holistic point of view (i.e., humanistic psychologists ).

Limitations

• Lacking scientific rigor and providing little basis for generalization of results to the wider population.
• Researchers’ own subjective feelings may influence the case study (researcher bias).
• Difficult to replicate.
• Time-consuming and expensive.
• The volume of data, together with the time restrictions in place, impacted the depth of analysis that was possible within the available resources.

Because a case study deals with only one person/event/group, we can never be sure if the case study investigated is representative of the wider body of “similar” instances. This means the conclusions drawn from a particular case may not be transferable to other settings.

Because case studies are based on the analysis of qualitative (i.e., descriptive) data , a lot depends on the psychologist’s interpretation of the information she has acquired.

This means that there is a lot of scope for Anna O , and it could be that the subjective opinions of the psychologist intrude in the assessment of what the data means.

For example, Freud has been criticized for producing case studies in which the information was sometimes distorted to fit particular behavioral theories (e.g., Little Hans ).

This is also true of Money’s interpretation of the Bruce/Brenda case study (Diamond, 1997) when he ignored evidence that went against his theory.

Breuer, J., & Freud, S. (1895).  Studies on hysteria . Standard Edition 2: London.

Curtiss, S. (1981). Genie: The case of a modern wild child .

Diamond, M., & Sigmundson, K. (1997). Sex Reassignment at Birth: Long-term Review and Clinical Implications. Archives of Pediatrics & Adolescent Medicine , 151(3), 298-304

Freud, S. (1909a). Analysis of a phobia of a five year old boy. In The Pelican Freud Library (1977), Vol 8, Case Histories 1, pages 169-306

Freud, S. (1909b). Bemerkungen über einen Fall von Zwangsneurose (Der “Rattenmann”). Jb. psychoanal. psychopathol. Forsch ., I, p. 357-421; GW, VII, p. 379-463; Notes upon a case of obsessional neurosis, SE , 10: 151-318.

Harlow J. M. (1848). Passage of an iron rod through the head.  Boston Medical and Surgical Journal, 39 , 389–393.

Harlow, J. M. (1868).  Recovery from the Passage of an Iron Bar through the Head .  Publications of the Massachusetts Medical Society. 2  (3), 327-347.

Money, J., & Ehrhardt, A. A. (1972).  Man & Woman, Boy & Girl : The Differentiation and Dimorphism of Gender Identity from Conception to Maturity. Baltimore, Maryland: Johns Hopkins University Press.

Money, J., & Tucker, P. (1975). Sexual signatures: On being a man or a woman.

Further Information

• Case Study Approach
• Case Study Method
• Enhancing the Quality of Case Studies in Health Services Research
• “We do things together” A case study of “couplehood” in dementia
• Using mixed methods for evaluating an integrative approach to cancer care: a case study

Related Articles

Research Methodology

Qualitative Data Coding

What Is a Focus Group?

Cross-Cultural Research Methodology In Psychology

What Is Internal Validity In Research?

Research Methodology , Statistics

What Is Face Validity In Research? Importance & How To Measure

Criterion Validity: Definition & Examples

What Is Flourishing in Positive Psychology? (+8 Tips & PDF)

We can probably agree that a plant which is healthy and blooming can be said to “flourish,” and that a business that is booming and raking in record profit is “flourishing.” But what does it mean for a human being to flourish?

Some might think of financial success as “flourishing.” Others might think of self-development and growth. You might believe that a person is flourishing when she is happy and content, or when she is learning new things and applying her skills to new challenges.

As it turns out, all of these definitions are right! Or at least, partly right.

Flourishing is a multi-dimensional construct, meaning it’s made up of several important parts, and maximum flourishing can only happen when a person experiences a healthy level of each dimension or component.

Read on to find out which components make up flourishing, how flourishing is conceptualized and measured in positive psychology, and what you can do to flourish.

Before you read on, we thought you might like to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free . These science-based exercises will explore fundamental aspects of positive psychology including strengths, values, and self-compassion, and will give you the tools to enhance the wellbeing of your clients, students, or employees.

This Article Contains:

What is flourishing a definition and history, research and findings, measuring flourishing in positive psychology, contributing factors: how can a human flourish, applying flourishing: practical tips (download free pdf).

• Flourish: The Martin Seligman Book (Summary)

Flourishing: Positive Psychology and the Life Well-Lived (Book)

The flourishing center, flourishing quotes, a take-home message.

Flourishing is one of the most important and promising topics studied in positive psychology . Not only does it relate to many other positive concepts, it holds the key to improving the quality of life for people around the world. Discovering the pieces to the flourishing puzzle and learning how to effectively apply research findings to real life has tremendous implications for the way we live, love, and relate to one another.

Flourishing moves beyond the confines of simple happiness or wellbeing ; it encompasses a wide range of positive psychological constructs and offers a more holistic perspective on what it means to feel well and happy. According to the “founding father” of flourishing, Dr. Martin Seligman , flourishing is the result of paying careful attention to building and maintaining the five aspects of the PERMA model .

The PERMA model is a model Seligman developed to explain what contributes to a sense of flourishing. The five factors in this model are:

• Positive emotions
• Relationships
• Accomplishments (Seligman, 2011)

Using this model as our framework, we can understand flourishing as the state that we create when we tend to each aspect of the PERMA model: increasing our positive emotions, engaging with the world and our work (or hobbies), develop deep and meaningful relationships, find meaning and purpose in our lives, and achieve our goals through cultivating and applying our strengths and talents.

To flourish is to find fulfillment in our lives, accomplishing meaningful and worthwhile tasks, and connecting with others at a deeper level—in essence, living the “good life” (Seligman, 2011).

Positive psychologist and professor Dr. Lynn Soots (n.d.) describe flourishing as the following:

“Flourishing is the product of the pursuit and engagement of an authentic life that brings inner joy and happiness through meeting goals, being connected with life passions, and relishing in accomplishments through the peaks and valleys of life.”

Soots is careful to note that flourishing is not a trait or a characteristic ; it’s not something that you “either have or don’t have.” She states that flourishing is not a static, immutable piece of who you are, it is a process that requires action. Anyone can flourish, but it will likely require some effort to get there.

The idea of flourishing as a separate—but intimately related—concept from happiness and wellbeing began long ago, but was formally proposed by Dr. Seligman in the early years of positive psychology . Seligman initially believed that happiness was composed of three factors: positive emotions, engagement, and meaning. However, after looking closer at the research on happiness, he discovered that some important factors were missing from the overarching sense of the “good life” that he was trying to define.

After doing some digging, he identified the two components that were missing: accomplishments (or the need for achievement) and relationships.

Once Seligman identified these last two pieces to the puzzle, he put forth his PERMA model, proposing that each of these five components are:

• Foundations of human wellbeing.
• Integral to flourishing/living the good life.
• Sought for their own sake rather than in service of a greater goal (2011)

Since Seligman proposed his PERMA model and theory of flourishing, the term quickly took positive psychology by storm. In the relatively short time period between Seligman’s proposal and today, hundreds of researchers have explored flourishing from a broad range of perspectives.

This difficulty is a result of the multiple definitions and proposed components of flourishing.

Most psychologists agree that flourishing encompasses wellbeing, happiness, and life satisfaction ; however, even these components of flourishing have their own subcomponents, including:

• Self-acceptance
• Positive relationships
• Self-determination
• Personal growth
• Self-esteem (VanderWeele, 2017)

The idea of measuring flourishing becomes more unwieldy with each addition to the list—and we’re not done yet!

In addition to wellbeing, happiness , and life satisfaction, it has also been proposed that constructs like virtue and health be considered components of flourishing. In addition, financial stability and religious or spiritual health may also come into play (VanderWeele, 2017).

Early research on flourishing confirmed that, at the very least, positive emotions play an important role in flourishing (Fredrickson & Losada, 2005). Although it was later determined that the mathematical modeling used in Fredrickson and Losada’s study had significant weaknesses, the general findings still hold true: that those who are flourishing report more positive emotions than those who are not.

Although there is still much debate about the dimensions or aspects of flourishing, there is one thing that most scholars have agreed on when it comes to flourishing: it is not simply the opposite or absence of depression or mental illness.

This might seem obvious to you as someone interested in positive psychology, but it’s easy to forget how revolutionary an idea this was at the time it was posed. The idea that mental illness and maximal wellbeing (i.e., flourishing) were two bipolar ends of the mental health spectrum was a popular one for a long time.

However, research on positive psychology and mental health has revealed that there are truly two spectrums:

• Mental illness
• Mental health/flourishing

One can be diagnosed with mental illness but still flourish, and one can be diagnosis-free but still languish. As flourishing and positive psychology expert Corey Keyes puts it:

“…even if we could find a cure for mental illness tomorrow, it does not mean that most people would necessarily be flourishing in life. In other words, we cannot treat our way out of the problem of mental illness; we must also promote a life of balance in which people can achieve happiness and realize lives in which they can flourish.” (2016)

In addition to the agreement that flourishing is not simply the absence of mental illness, there is also agreement that flourishing provides numerous benefits. For example, flourishing has been found to have the following impacts:

• Fewer missed days of works
• Fewer half-days and work cutbacks
• Lower helplessness
• More clear life goals
• Higher resilience
• Higher intimacy
• Lower risk of cardiovascular disease
• Lower number of chronic physical diseases with age
• Fewer health limitations of daily living activities
• Lower health care utilization (Keyes, 2007)

It’s easy to see why flourishing is such a growing topic of research!

And speaking of growth in this area: as research on flourishing continues, it’s important to keep an open mind and embrace changes to pet theories as evidence comes along to support such changes. Young fields such as these are prone to abrupt shifts and refocusing, but we can’t let that distract us from how vital it is to learn what makes us flourish and how to apply it.

After all, we live in a world where only about 40% of adults are flourishing (Keyes, 2016)!

At this point, you might be asking yourself, “How do you even measure such a construct?” If so, you have predicted exactly where this piece was headed! Read on to learn about how the concept of flourishing is measured.

Martin Seligman ‘Flourishing – a new understanding of wellbeing’ at Happiness & Its Causes

As with any popular topic, there are many ways to measure flourishing! Since we can’t cover them all here, we provide a brief overview of the three most popular or promising scales of flourishing.

This scale for measuring flourishing is based on the idea that there are six domains that contribute to the experience of flourishing:

• Happiness and Life Satisfaction
• Mental and Physical Health
• Meaning and Purpose
• Character and Virtue
• Close Social Relationships
• Financial and Material Stability (VanderWeele, 2017)

To create a comprehensive measurement of flourishing, two questions are posed per domain. These questions are:

• Happiness and Life Satisfaction o Overall, how satisfied are you with your life as a whole these days? ▪ 0 = Not Satisfied at All, 10 = Completely Satisfied o In general, how happy or unhappy do you usually feel? ▪ 0 = Extremely Unhappy, 10 = Extremely Happy
• Mental and Physical Health o In general, how would you rate your physical health? ▪ 0 = Poor, 10 = Excellent o How would you rate your overall mental health? ▪ 0 = Poor, 10 = Excellent
• Meaning and Purpose o Overall, to what extent do you feel the things you do in your life are worthwhile? ▪ 0 = Not at All Worthwhile, 10 = Completely Worthwhile o I understand my purpose in life. ▪ 0 = Strongly Disagree, 10 = Strongly Agree
• Character and Virtue o I always act to promote good in all circumstances, even in difficult and challenging situations. ▪ 0 = Not True, 10 = Completely True of Me o I am always able to give up some happiness now for greater happiness later. ▪ 0 = Not True of Me, 10 = Completely True of Me
• Close Social Relationships o I am content with my friendships and relationships. ▪ 0 = Strongly Disagree, 10 = Strongly Agree o My relationships are as satisfying as I would want them to be. ▪ 0 = Strongly Disagree, 10 = Strongly Agree
• Financial and Material Stability o How often do you worry about being able to meet normal monthly living expenses? ▪ 0 = Worry All of the Time, 10 = Do Not Ever Worry o How often do you worry about safety, food, or housing? ▪ 0 = Worry All of the Time, 10 = Do Not Ever Worry

To calculate a score of flourishing, you simply need to sum up the responses from the first five domains. To calculate a score of what the author terms “Secure Flourishing” you can simply add the responses from the sixth domain. It provides a total score between 0 (no flourishing whatsoever) to 100 for the five-domain version or 120 for the six-domain version (maximum flourishing; VanderWeele, 2017).

This measure can be a great way to get an idea of someone’s level of flourishing, especially if you are concerned about financial and material stability as well as the other, more traditionally “flourishing” aspects.

Another useful scale for measuring flourishing comes from researchers Butler and Kern (2016). They developed the PERMA-Profiler, a brief multidimensional measure of flourishing based on Seligman’s five pillars.

The PERMA-Profiler poses 23 questions on a scale from 0 to 10, measuring the five PERMA pillars (positive emotion, engagement, relationships, meaning, and accomplishment) via three questions each, as well as one question on overall wellbeing, three questions on negative emotions (sadness, anger, and anxiety ), one question on loneliness, and three questions on self-perceived physical health.

A sample question from each 3-question group is included below, as well as the two individual questions on over wellbeing and loneliness:

• Positive Emotion o In general, to what extent do you feel contented? (1 = not at all, 10 = completely)
• Engagement o How often do you lose track of time while doing something you enjoy? (1 = 0, 10 = always)
• Relationships o To what extent do you receive help and support from others when you need it? (1 = not at all, 10 = completely)
• Meaning o To what extent do you feel that what you do in your life is valuable and worthwhile? (1 = not at all, 10 = completely)
• Accomplishment o How much of the time do you feel you are making progress towards accomplishing your goals? (1 = never, 10 = always)
• Health o Compared to others of your same age and sex, how is your health? (0 = terrible, 10 = excellent)
• Negative Emotions o In general, how often do you feel sad? (0 = never, 10 = always)
• Overall Wellbeing o Taking all things together, how happy would you say you are? (0 = not at all, 10 = completely)
• Loneliness o How lonely do you feel in your daily life? (0 = not at all, 10 = completely)

This measure results in 7 domain scores (one for each of the five pillars, negative emotion, and health), an overall happiness/wellbeing score, and a loneliness score. A composite wellbeing score can be calculated by averaging all 15 PERMA items and the overall wellbeing item (Butler & Kern, 2016).

Finally, another handy scale for measuring flourishing comes from wellbeing expert Ed Diener and colleagues (2010). This measure is a brief, 8-item “summary measure” of the respondent’s psychological wellbeing, also sometimes referred to as flourishing. It is not based strictly on Dr. Seligman’s five pillars, but it has a lot of overlap and offers a good alternative to Seligman’s conceptualization.

The Flourishing Scale, as Diener and colleagues named it, is composed of the following eight statements rated on a scale from 1 (strongly disagree) to 7 (strongly agree):

• I lead a purposeful and meaningful life.
• My social relationships are supportive and rewarding.
• I am engaged and interested in my daily activities.
• I actively contribute to the happiness and wellbeing of others.
• I am competent and capable in the activities that are important to me.
• I am a good person and live a good life.
• I am optimistic about my future.
• People respect me.

The responses are scored by adding up each value for a total score from 8 (lowest possible flourishing) to 56 (highest possible flourishing).

Each of these measures can provide a valid and reliable measure of flourishing; which one is “best” depends on your goals and your particular understanding of flourishing. If you’re a fan of Seligman’s five pillars, Butler and Kern’s (2016) measure may be best.

If you want a measure that focuses more on the wellbeing aspect of flourishing, the Flourishing Scale may be the right choice. If you’re looking for a more comprehensive measure that takes variables that are often ignored into account, VanderWeele’s (2017) measure may suit your purposes.

A few of the factors are inherent characteristics that we cannot change—but don’t be disheartened, since many are at least somewhat within our control!

A long-term study of adults in The Netherlands discovered that these factors were related to flourishing:

• High levels of conscientiousness
• High levels of extraversion
• Low levels of neuroticism
• Social support
• Positive life events
• Hedonic wellbeing
• Eudaimonic wellbeing (Schotanus-Dijkstra, Pieterse, Drossaert, Westerhof, de Graaf, ten Have, Walburg, & Bolmeijer, 2016)

These findings indicate that a person who is highly conscientious, friendly and outgoing, and confident in him- or herself is most likely to flourish. If you have taken a Big Five test before and discovered that you are not particularly high in conscientiousness or extraversion and not particularly low in neuroticism, don’t worry!

While these personality traits are generally stable across time, they are not completely static—there are some occurrences of significant changes in personality, usually spurred by a high-impact, life-changing event. Sometimes hitting “rock bottom” or running into serious obstacles between us and our goals can provoke a shift in our values, our beliefs, and even our personality.

However, even if your personality remains fairly stable on these traits, there is still hope! The other factors identified are much more within your control.

To improve your chances of flourishing, try the following suggestions:

• Work to expand and enhance your social support system. Make new friends and deepen your existing relationships with friends, family, and romantic partners.
• Commit to experiencing the good in life. Plan fun, exciting, meaningful, and fulfilling events in your life. Set goals for reaching milestones in life that are important to you, and savor the experience when you achieve those milestones.
• Focus on having more fun! Schedule opportunities to simply enjoy life’s pleasures once in a while. Plan a vacation, go out for a nice dinner, or book a fun activity you’ve always wanted to try. Do whatever it takes to smile more, laugh more, and enjoy yourself more (bonus points if you combine this with improving your relationships by bringing others along!).
• Enhance your sense of purpose and meaning in life. Decide what you value most and commit to keeping these values in focus as you work, learn, love, and live. Do things that are fulfilling, at work (if you can) and in your free time. Make sure you are living a life that is authentic to your values.

None of these steps are easy, but the end result is worth it. When we enjoy deep and satisfying relationships, fill our days with positive experiences, have fun, and find fulfillment in our activities, it’s easy to flourish.

To learn how to apply some of these factors to improve your own flourishing, it’s a good idea to start with this PDF from Martin Seligman (please note that clicking this link will start a download of the PDF).

It contains his lecture Flourish: Positive Psychology and Positive Interventions, given at the Tanner Lectures on Human Values at the University of Michigan.

It provides a good overview of positive psychology, how it came to be, and how you can use the findings from this area of research to improve your own health, happiness, and wellbeing.

Seligman describes a few studies on what takes people from “okay” to flourishing, and shares three of the positive interventions that have shown the most promise in boosting your sense of flourishing.

In addition to the actions outlined in this lecture, there are five other general qualities that set apart those who just get along from those who flourish. Consider these qualities carefully and think about how you tend to behave; do you embody these qualities, or could you do more to emulate them?

These five qualities are:

• The ability to direct and re-direct your attention. Just as we must carefully manage our time and our financial resources, we should also carefully manage our attention. Attention that is focused towards worrying, fretting, anger, revenge, and sadness is generally wasted attention; instead, focus your attention on analysis, imagination, investigation, compassion, and growth.
• The tendency to shape your time with intention and for impact. We all have to deal with constraints and barriers due to lack of time, but we don’t have to throw our hands into the air and admit defeat; instead, we can consciously choose to apply our time wisely and avoid wasting it on activities that do not bring us joy or move us closer to our goals.
• The practice of constant improvement. Those who flourish do so not because they are “natural flourishers” but because they are constantly finding ways to improve, develop, and grow. They do not settle for the status quo; they find out what they need to know and what they need to do to and work hard to acquire the knowledge and skills necessary to get them where they want to go.
• The ability to communicate and listen to others. Soliciting feedback from others is vital to just about every human endeavor, and flourishing is no different. It’s tough to evaluate ourselves, so we should consider ourselves lucky for every single person who is willing to provide honest information on ourselves and our efforts. Those who flourish do so, in part, because they are willing to listen to others, learn from them, and take advice.
• The commitment to positive experiences. If we want to flourish, we must open ourselves up to experiencing all the good that life has to offer. We must commit to experiencing joy and delight, to finding meaning and purpose, and to offering ourselves what we need to remain healthy and happy. We cannot flourish if we do not take care of ourselves and consciously sustain our own ability to flourish (Davis, 2014).

If you read through this list and found that you do not have any of these qualities, then you know exactly what you need to work on in order to enhance your life!

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Exercises (PDF)

Enhance wellbeing with these free, science-based exercises that draw on the latest insights from positive psychology.

Download 3 Free Positive Psychology Tools Pack (PDF)

By filling out your name and email address below.

Flourish : The Martin Seligman Book (Summary)

The book that set off an explosive chain reaction in positive psychological research, Seligman’s Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Wellbeing laid the foundations for all the work that followed. Although happiness, wellbeing, life satisfaction, and positive emotions had all been studied prior to the 2011 release of this book, Seligman proposed a new conceptualization of these topics—a reimagining of what we mean when we talk about happiness.

Although the book itself did not add greatly to the scientific literature, it sparked significant interest in the topic.

Seligman’s aim was to help move positive psychology from what is termed “Positive Psychology 1.0” (i.e., “authentic happiness” as the focus of positive psychology) to “Positive Psychology 2.0” (i.e., wellbeing/flourishing as the focus of positive psychology).

With this new “Positive Psychology 2.0” came the PERMA model, which proposes the five components of wellbeing described earlier:

• Achievement

Seligman also lists the twenty-four strengths and virtues that contribute to overall wellbeing and flourishing, strengths like kindness, humor, and courage.

The rest of this book delves deeper into character, dealing with negative emotions, optimism, positive education, and the measurement of wellbeing, and offers useful exercises you can apply in your own life to enhance and increase your opportunities to flourish.

If you’re interested in reading this book, you can find it for sale here .

Although Seligman and his 2011 book increased the interest in flourishing, it was not the first exploration of the topic. Researchers Keyes and Haidt published an edited book on flourishing in 2002, which incorporated findings from the leading psychologists on happiness, wellbeing, and living the best life possible.

It was written just as positive psychology was emerging as a field in its own right. The book documents the forces that drove the field, emphasizing the influence of decades of focusing on mental illness on the development of positive psychology.

The chapters cover a broad range of positive psychological topics relevant to living the good life, including:

• Citizenship
• Engagement and job satisfaction
• Healthy relationships
• Volunteering/serving others

These explorations of positive, life-giving constructs provided an early guidebook for work in positive psychology, laying the foundations for hundreds of articles and books published in the years that followed.

To learn more about this book or purchase it for your library, click here .

The Flourishing Center is an organization devoted to spreading positive change and enhancing human flourishing around the world.

To this end, the center offers:

• Comprehensive training on the factors that enable people to thrive.
• Ready-to-use tools to apply the science of flourishing.
• Strategies to help people create sustainable work for themselves.

The home page of their website offers the following motto: “Where the science of happiness fuels the art of thriving”, which they take seriously. The Flourishing Center offers a range of programs aimed at helping people flourish and showing people how to help other people to flourish, including:

• Positive Psychology Practitioner Programs for psychologists, therapists, counselors, social workers, life coaches, consultants, and any other practitioners of positive psychology.
• Advanced Certificate in Positive Psychology (CAPP) Programs for positive psychology practitioners who want to really dive into the application of positive psychological principles.
• General Public Programs for teachers, coaches, mentors, and parents to boost their own flourishing and pass the knowledge and skills on to the children in their lives.

Aside from the training programs, the center also offers a free introduction to positive psychology course, a webinar introducing viewers to the CAPP program, a sneak peek at the CAPP Program syllabus, a quiz to learn about what kind of “change agent” you are, and much more.

If you’re interested in learning more about The Flourishing Center, you can find their website here .

World’s Largest Positive Psychology Resource

The Positive Psychology Toolkit© is a groundbreaking practitioner resource containing over 500 science-based exercises , activities, interventions, questionnaires, and assessments created by experts using the latest positive psychology research.

Updated monthly. 100% Science-based.

“The best positive psychology resource out there!” — Emiliya Zhivotovskaya , Flourishing Center CEO

A good quote can be extremely effective in boosting our motivation and enhancing our mood. Bookmark this page and come back to these quotes anytime you need a little extra encouragement!

Change is essential to growth. Embrace the unpredictability, accept your own painful process, and know opinion can never take away your personal truth. Allow yourself to flourish into a matured, improved version of yourself, but know that it takes time.

Kristin Michelle Elizabeth

No society can be flourishing and happy, of which the far greater part of the members are poor and miserable.

Flourishing is everyone’s birthright. I’m trying to break this hold that being smiley and cheery has on what people think the good life is.

Steve Jurvetson

‘Who do you think you are?’ That’s the big one, isn’t it? A flourishing life depends on how you answer that.

Robert Fulghum

I think you can be depressed and flourish, I think you can have cancer and flourish, I think you can be divorced and flourish. When we believed that happiness was only smiling and good mood, that wasn’t very good for people like me, people in the lower half of positive affectivity.

Martin Seligman

I believe it is within our capacity that by the year 2051 that 51 percent of the human population will be flourishing. That is my charge.

Happiness is not the same as life satisfaction, while neither are identical to what we might call flourishing.

Julian Baggini

Be a first rate version of yourself, not a second rate version of someone else.

Judy Garland

The foolish man seeks happiness in the distance; the wise grows it under his feet.

James Oppenheim

I hope this piece has given you a useful overview of flourishing and a good idea of what you can do to enhance your own flourishing and that of your loved ones. It’s a big topic in positive psychology right now and it looks like it will continue to be popular with researchers, academics, and laymen alike.

Keep an eye out for new research on flourishing, and remember to tend to your “five pillars” to achieve and maintain a happy, healthy, and fulfilling life.

What do you think about the factors that contribute to flourishing? Did we miss any that you feel are important? How do you “flourish”? Let us know in the comments!

Thanks for reading, and happy flourishing!

We hope you enjoyed reading this article. Don’t forget to download our three Positive Psychology Exercises for free .

• Butler, J., & Kern, M. L. (2016). The PERMA-Profiler: A brief multidimensional measure of flourishing. International Journal of Wellbeing, 6 , 1-48.
• Davis, J. (2014). 5 foundations to flourish? Psychology Today. Retrieved from https://www.psychologytoday.com/us/blog/tracking-wonder/201401/5-foundations-flourish
• Diener, E., Wirtz, D., Tov, W., Kim-Prieto, C., Choi, D., Oishi, S., & Biswas-Diener, R. (2010). New well-being measures: Short scales to assess flourishing and positive and negative feelings. Social Indicators Research, 97, 143-156.
• Fredrickson, B. L., & Losada, M. F. (2005). Positive affect and the complex dynamics of human flourishing. American Psychologist, 60, 678-686.
• Keyes, C. L. M. (2007). Promoting and protecting mental health as flourishing: A complementary strategy for improving national mental health. American Psychologist, 62 , 95-108.
• Keyes, C. L. M. (2016). Why flourishing? In D. W. Harward (Ed.) Well-being and higher education: A strategy for change and the realization of education’s greater purposes (pp. 99-107).
• Keyes, C. L. M., & Haidt, J. (2002). Flourishing: Positive psychology and the life well-lived. Washington, DC, US: American Psychological Association.
• Schotanus-Dijkstra, M., Pieterse, M. E., Drossaert, C. H. C., Westerhof, G. J., de Graaf, R., ten Have, M., Walburg, J. A., & Bohlmeijer, E. T. (2016). What factors are associated with flourishing? Results from a large representative national sample. Journal of Happiness Studies, 17, 1351-1370.
• Seligman, M. E. P. (2011). Flourish: A Visionary New Understanding of Happiness and Well-being. New York City, NY: Atria Books.
• Soots, L. (n.d.). Flourishing. Positive Psychology People. Retrieved from http://www.thepositivepsychologypeople.com/flourishing
• VanderWeele, T. J. (2017). On the promotion of human flourishing. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences of the United States of America, 114, 8148-8156.

Share this article:

Article feedback

What our readers think.

I’ve learn more after i read those articles.

Let us know your thoughts Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published.

Save my name, email, and website in this browser for the next time I comment.

Related articles

Dysregulation: Navigating Through Emotional Turmoil

As mental health professionals, we often find emotional dysregulation at the heart of our clients’ challenges. Like a yoyo, the ups and downs of emotions [...]

Neuroticism: 12 Emotion Regulation Skills & Worksheets

Neuroticism is a crucial aspect of personality and significantly impacts how we see ourselves and the world around us (Widiger & Oltmanns, 2017). Those of [...]

Childhood Emotional Neglect: 5 Hidden Consequences

Almost one in five adults globally may have been neglected as a child, and it most likely happened unintentionally (Stoltenborgh et al., 2013). Parents or [...]

Read other articles by their category

• Body & Brain (50)
• Coaching & Application (58)
• Compassion (25)
• Counseling (51)
• Emotional Intelligence (23)
• Gratitude (18)
• Grief & Bereavement (21)
• Happiness & SWB (40)
• Meaning & Values (26)
• Meditation (20)
• Mindfulness (44)
• Motivation & Goals (45)
• Optimism & Mindset (34)
• Positive CBT (30)
• Positive Communication (22)
• Positive Education (47)
• Positive Emotions (32)
• Positive Leadership (19)
• Positive Parenting (16)
• Positive Psychology (34)
• Positive Workplace (37)
• Productivity (18)
• Relationships (44)
• Resilience & Coping (39)
• Self Awareness (21)
• Self Esteem (38)
• Strengths & Virtues (32)
• Stress & Burnout Prevention (34)
• Theory & Books (46)
• Therapy Exercises (37)
• Types of Therapy (64)

Download 3 Free Emotional Intelligence Tools Pack (PDF)

3 Emotional Intelligence Exercises (PDF)

American Psychological Association

The impact of transgender legislation

Psychological science points to an increased risk of suicide and poor mental health amid a record number of bills aimed at restricting the rights of the LGBTQ+ population

APA policy supporting transgender, gender diverse, nonbinary individuals

Membership in APA

APA Community

A new exclusive destination tailored for APA members

Membership benefits

Unlock the tools, discounts, and services included with your membership

Renew your membership

Keep your benefits and access to leading psychological information

Psychology topics spotlight

Misinformation and disinformation

Resources to navigate trauma

Tips to foster a healthy workplace

Science and practice of psychology

Ethics Code

Continuing Education

Grants, Awards, and Funding

Standards and Guidelines

Networks and communities

Network with peers, enhance your professional development, expand your personal growth, and more

APA Divisions

High school teachers

Undergraduate educators

Graduate students

Early career psychologists

Managing your career

Resources to help you throughout your career in psychology, including finding a job, salary data, finances and money management, mentoring and supervision, and training and professional development

Explore career paths

Psychologist profiles

How did you get that job?

Events and training

Featured jobs

Apa publications and products.

Write with clarity, precision, and inclusion

Children’s books

Monitor on Psychology

Newsletters

Reports and surveys

Continuing education

Merchandise

Real Siblings

Jacob's Missing Book

Harper Becomes a Big Sister

Attachment-Based Family Therapy for Sexual and Gender Minority Young Adults and Their Non-Accepting Parents

Dismantling Everyday Discrimination

APA Services

Learn how you can help APA advocate for psychology-informed federal policy and legislation, and support psychological research

APA Services, Inc.

A companion professional organization to APA, serving all members and advocating for psychology

Are You Emotionally Numb?

A Key to Healing

• Find a Therapist

Verified by Psychology Today

• Psychiatrists
• Treatment Centers
• Support Groups

Professionals

Therapists Sign Up | Login

Psychology Today: Health, Help, Happiness + Find a Therapist

Today’s essentials today’s essential reads.

Growth Mindset

Before you bet big, be curious and ask questions.

Jeff Wetzler Ed.D. on June 9, 2024 in Unexpected Breakthroughs

When we feel certain of our conclusions, we fail to think about the consequences if we’re wrong. As they say, when you assume, you make an… well, you know the rest.

The Secret Power of Mind-Wandering

Sebastian Ocklenburg, Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in The Asymmetric Brain

Mind-wandering is a common phenomenon, but it is not well understood how it affects our emotions. A new meta-analysis sheds some light on this complex question.

Why Sleep Is So Important During Pregnancy

Isabel Morales-Munoz, Ph.D. on June 8, 2024 in Understanding and Improving Mental Health

We all need to sleep. We are often unaware of just how important sleep is, though, especially during pregnancy.

A New Peek Behind the Mirror of Narcissism

Susan Krauss Whitbourne PhD, ABPP on June 8, 2024 in Fulfillment at Any Age

Narcissists are seen as antagonistic and attention-grabbing, but is that always true? A new study shows 5 ways to consider narcissism's true qualities.

• Relationships

The Goldilocks Method for Getting Your Needs Met

Shannon Sauer-Zavala Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in Self: Made

Maximize the chances of a positive outcome when you ask for what you need or set a boundary.

Still In Love With Your Partner? 3 Questions to Find Out

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in Liking the Child You Love

Answer these three questions to discover if your love for your partner is still strong.

The Role Gut Bacteria Play in Health and Disease

Thomas R. Verny M.D. on June 9, 2024 in Explorations of the Mind

Examining the interplay between the gut microbiome, the brain, and the immune system throughout life and the role of nutrition in optimizing treatment strategies.

The (Not So) Secret to Life: Invest in Others

Seth J. Schwartz Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in Proceed at Your Own Risk

Personal Perspective: The secret to life is not a secret. Nurturing your relationships and valuing others will improve your life and theirs, and doing so costs almost nothing.

Building Bridges Before Loved Ones Pass

Sarah Rayner on June 9, 2024 in Worry and Panic?

A Personal Perspective: Recovering from the loss of a loved one.

Where Do I Belong? Identity, Belonging, and Possible Peace

Deborah J. Cohan Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in Social Lights

Personal Perspective: Identity is deeply interwoven with a sense of belonging or not belonging.

Postpartum Depression

Can fathers suffer from postpartum depression.

Rachel Diamond Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in Preparing for Parenthood

Symptoms, risk factors, and gender-based treatment strategies for paternal postpartum depression.

Maladaptive Daydreaming: When We Live in Our Imaginations

Leon Garber LMHC on June 9, 2024 in Perfectionism

Maladaptive daydreaming is a chronic and automatic retreat into one's fantasies when upset or bored. This pattern of being has the potential to completely upend one's life.

• Emotional Intelligence

When Emotional Intelligence Makes You a Narcissist's Target

Erin Leonard Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in Peaceful Parenting

It may be hard to trust your emotional intelligence when you feel continually targeted. It can help to understand the dynamic between emotional intelligence and narcissism.

What's the Best Tempo for a Workout Song?

Christopher Bergland on June 9, 2024 in The Athlete's Way

Fast-tempo music boosts motivation when people are doing cardio. New research pinpoints how many beats per minute are ideal in different exercise environments.

Creating a Workplace Culture in Which People Want to Work

Joyce Marter LCPC on June 9, 2024 in Mental Wealth

What employers can do to create a more inclusive and productive workplace culture.

3 Simple Ways to Make Meaningful, Lifelong Connections

Mark Travers Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in Social Instincts

Tired of shallow friendships? Here's how to make ones with purpose and meaning.

What to Say to Someone Who Is Experiencing Estrangement

Fern Schumer Chapman on June 9, 2024 in Brothers, Sisters, Strangers

The estranged say the depth of their loss is often misunderstood by many who tell them to "move on." Here are better ways to approach the difficult topic and offer support.

Imagination

Imagination: it's not just for children.

Maggie Rowe on June 9, 2024 in Bodhisattva Wannabe

Personal Perspective: When we use our imagination, it is often in the service of productivity. What if we used our imagination to transform our entire lives?

Self-Esteem

Self-gifting: with love from myself.

Cathrine V. Jansson-Boyd Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in Consumer Psychology

Self-gifting can have a positive impact on general well-being.

Find Your Life’s Fulfillment

In Love and Work

Movement Is Medicine: Exercise for Well-Being

Daniel Fryer M.Sc., MBSCH on June 9, 2024 in Keeping an Even Keel

Any kind of exercise, from low to moderate to high intensity, will work wonders for your mental health and well-being.

When Your Coworker Takes Advantage of Your Good Nature

Amy Cooper Hakim Ph.D. on June 9, 2024 in Working With Difficult People

Does your coworker take advantage and borrow money without returning it? How to stand your ground when a colleague tries to mooch off you.

How Gandhi’s Non-Violence Is Rooted in Indian Philosophy

Neel Burton M.D. on June 9, 2024 in Ataraxia

Gandhi’s satyagraha influenced both Martin Luther King and Nelson Mandela.

What I Learned from One Trip Around the Ferris Wheel

Jennifer Gerlach LCSW on June 9, 2024 in Beyond Mental Health

A Personal Perspective: What small acts of kindness do you remember?

Myths About Using Surveys and Questionnaires in Psychology

Salene M. W. Jones Ph.D. on June 8, 2024 in All About Cognitive and Behavior Therapy

Why surveys and questionnaires may still be some of our most useful tools.

“Rolling Coal” and Other Taunts: The Psycho-Politics of a Bad Joke

Scott G. Eberle Ph.D. on June 8, 2024 in Play in Mind

Political and cultural hatred targets bicyclists and pedestrians.

Dopamine for ADHD: Creating a Dopa-menu

Michael Ascher, M.D., and Lauren Ascher, J.D. M.S.T. on June 8, 2024 in Changing the Narrative on ADHD

Unlock a secret to managing ADHD with a "dopamenu" - a creative way to boost dopamine levels and transform your daily routine for better focus, motivation, and joy.

11 Ways People Hide Infidelity

Barbara Greenberg Ph.D. on June 8, 2024 in The Teen Doctor

Could your partner be cheating?

The Most Important 4-Word Question to Ask Yourself

Jeffrey Bernstein Ph.D. on June 8, 2024 in Liking the Child You Love

The profound influence of a single, straightforward question can enhance your life significantly.

Do You Know These 5 Unconventional Tools to Reduce Anxiety?

Victoria Maxwell on June 8, 2024 in Crazy for Life

A Personal Perspective: Let go of preconceived ideas about wellness tools and allow yourself the freedom to find what works for you, no matter how uncommon it seems.

With Disagreements, Try Respect, Walking Away, and Gratitude

Rita Watson MPH on June 8, 2024 in With Love and Gratitude

Research has found that young people in the U.S. are angry and becoming even moreso. Learning to disagree with respect is an important aspect of a civil society.

Leaning Into Slowing Down

Jennifer Caspari Ph.D. on June 8, 2024 in Living Well When Your Body Doesn't Cooperate

Practicing leaning into slowing down creates an opportunity to rest, support your well-being, and challenge the idea that you must prove your worth.

The Impact of Evolving Medical Practice

Ran D. Anbar M.D. on June 8, 2024 in Understanding Hypnosis

A Personal Perspective: How will advances in artificial intelligence impact the practice of medicine?

Teamwork: Stop Looking for the Root Cause Move Forward

Stephen Friedman MA Psych on June 8, 2024 in Leadership Learning and Growth

When a problem disrupts teamwork, do you look for the root cause? You might not want to do that.

• Find a Treatment Center
• Find a Psychiatrist
• Find a Support Group
• Find Online Therapy
• United States
• Brooklyn, NY
• Chicago, IL
• Houston, TX
• Los Angeles, CA
• New York, NY
• Portland, OR
• San Diego, CA
• San Francisco, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Washington, DC
• Asperger's
• Bipolar Disorder
• Chronic Pain
• Eating Disorders
• Passive Aggression
• Personality
• Goal Setting
• Positive Psychology
• Stopping Smoking
• Low Sexual Desire
• Child Development
• Self Tests NEW
• Therapy Center
• Diagnosis Dictionary
• Types of Therapy

At any moment, someone’s aggravating behavior or our own bad luck can set us off on an emotional spiral that threatens to derail our entire day. Here’s how we can face our triggers with less reactivity so that we can get on with our lives.

• Gaslighting
• Affective Forecasting
• Neuroscience

Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

APA Sample Paper

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

This page is brought to you by the OWL at Purdue University. When printing this page, you must include the entire legal notice.

Copyright ©1995-2018 by The Writing Lab & The OWL at Purdue and Purdue University. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, reproduced, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed without permission. Use of this site constitutes acceptance of our terms and conditions of fair use.

Note:  This page reflects the latest version of the APA Publication Manual (i.e., APA 7), which released in October 2019. The equivalent resource for the older APA 6 style  can be found here .

Media Files: APA Sample Student Paper  ,  APA Sample Professional Paper

This resource is enhanced by Acrobat PDF files. Download the free Acrobat Reader

Note: The APA Publication Manual, 7 th Edition specifies different formatting conventions for student  and  professional  papers (i.e., papers written for credit in a course and papers intended for scholarly publication). These differences mostly extend to the title page and running head. Crucially, citation practices do not differ between the two styles of paper.

However, for your convenience, we have provided two versions of our APA 7 sample paper below: one in  student style and one in  professional  style.

Note: For accessibility purposes, we have used "Track Changes" to make comments along the margins of these samples. Those authored by [AF] denote explanations of formatting and [AWC] denote directions for writing and citing in APA 7. 

APA 7 Student Paper:

Apa 7 professional paper:.

Numbers, Facts and Trends Shaping Your World

Read our research on:

Full Topic List

Regions & Countries

Publications

• Our Methods
• Short Reads
• Tools & Resources

Read Our Research On:

Internet & Technology

6 facts about americans and tiktok.

62% of U.S. adults under 30 say they use TikTok, compared with 39% of those ages 30 to 49, 24% of those 50 to 64, and 10% of those 65 and older.

Many Americans think generative AI programs should credit the sources they rely on

Americans’ use of chatgpt is ticking up, but few trust its election information, whatsapp and facebook dominate the social media landscape in middle-income nations, sign up for our internet, science, and tech newsletter.

New findings, delivered monthly

Electric Vehicle Charging Infrastructure in the U.S.

64% of Americans live within 2 miles of a public electric vehicle charging station, and those who live closest to chargers view EVs more positively.

When Online Content Disappears

A quarter of all webpages that existed at one point between 2013 and 2023 are no longer accessible.

A quarter of U.S. teachers say AI tools do more harm than good in K-12 education

High school teachers are more likely than elementary and middle school teachers to hold negative views about AI tools in education.

Teens and Video Games Today

85% of U.S. teens say they play video games. They see both positive and negative sides, from making friends to harassment and sleep loss.

Americans’ Views of Technology Companies

Most Americans are wary of social media’s role in politics and its overall impact on the country, and these concerns are ticking up among Democrats. Still, Republicans stand out on several measures, with a majority believing major technology companies are biased toward liberals.

22% of Americans say they interact with artificial intelligence almost constantly or several times a day. 27% say they do this about once a day or several times a week.

About one-in-five U.S. adults have used ChatGPT to learn something new (17%) or for entertainment (17%).

Across eight countries surveyed in Latin America, Africa and South Asia, a median of 73% of adults say they use WhatsApp and 62% say they use Facebook.

5 facts about Americans and sports

About half of Americans (48%) say they took part in organized, competitive sports in high school or college.

REFINE YOUR SELECTION

Research teams, signature reports.

The State of Online Harassment

Roughly four-in-ten Americans have experienced online harassment, with half of this group citing politics as the reason they think they were targeted. Growing shares face more severe online abuse such as sexual harassment or stalking

Parenting Children in the Age of Screens

Two-thirds of parents in the U.S. say parenting is harder today than it was 20 years ago, with many citing technologies – like social media or smartphones – as a reason.

Dating and Relationships in the Digital Age

From distractions to jealousy, how Americans navigate cellphones and social media in their romantic relationships.

Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information

Majorities of U.S. adults believe their personal data is less secure now, that data collection poses more risks than benefits, and that it is not possible to go through daily life without being tracked.

Americans and ‘Cancel Culture’: Where Some See Calls for Accountability, Others See Censorship, Punishment

Social media fact sheet, digital knowledge quiz, video: how do americans define online harassment.

1615 L St. NW, Suite 800 Washington, DC 20036 USA (+1) 202-419-4300 | Main (+1) 202-857-8562 | Fax (+1) 202-419-4372 |  Media Inquiries

Research Topics

• Email Newsletters

ABOUT PEW RESEARCH CENTER  Pew Research Center is a nonpartisan fact tank that informs the public about the issues, attitudes and trends shaping the world. It conducts public opinion polling, demographic research, media content analysis and other empirical social science research. Pew Research Center does not take policy positions. It is a subsidiary of  The Pew Charitable Trusts .

© 2024 Pew Research Center