Research Paper Topics: 50 Ideas to Get Started

You’ll most likely be writing a lot of research papers while in college, so it is important to master the skill of finding the right research paper topics. Unfortunately, not all the topics you are interested in may be that easy to write about. It becomes even more difficult if there is not enough research material about the topic you’ve chosen.

Research Paper Topics: Find A Broad Subject First Then Narrow It Down

One thing that works when finding the right research paper topics is to think of several subjects that interest you. Try writing down these subjects on a sheet of paper. Choose the one that interests you the most and then break down the general subject into smaller chunks of topics that are related to it.

Narrow down your topics to the most interesting one. If it is a controversial topic, choose a particular perspective that you will develop in your research paper. Read different points of view related to your topic as this expands your knowledge and makes writing your paper easier.

Make Sure You Have Enough Resources For Your Topic

Do a quick computer search on the topics on your list to see which one is widely researched. This means finding a topic that is discussed not just on websites or blogs, but more so in books, articles, and even encyclopedia references. Find a topic that is both interesting and has plenty of published material. Check magazine articles, because these are usually shorter and more updated than those found in books.

Check References From The Library

Once you have chosen your topic, check the internet for references and also try using your school’s library database, which may also be available online. Don’t hesitate to ask your librarian for assistance with an urgent research paper. Other resources beyond the library include research paper websites that provide professional research paper writing help.

Running out of topics to write about? Check the suggestions below that can help you choose the right research paper topics:

Business Research Paper Topics:

• Cybersecurity
• E-business
• Ethics
• Glass ceiling
• Online retail
• Outsourcing
• Sweatshops
• White collar crime

Crime and Law Research Paper Topics:

• Acquaintance rape
• Animal rights
• Assisted suicide
• Campus violence
• Capital punishment
• Civil rights
• Drinking age, legal
• Drug legalization
• Gun control
• Hate crimes
• Insanity defense
• Mandatory Minimum sentencing
• Patriot Act
• Police brutality
• Prisons and prisoners
• Roe vs. Wade
• Serial killers
• Sex crimes
• Sexual harassment
• Three Strikes Law

Drugs and Drug Abuse Research Paper Topics:

• Alcohol
• Cocaine
• Doping in sports
• Drug testing
• Drunk driving
• Heroin
• Marijuana
• Nicotine

Education Research Paper Topics:

• Attention deficit disorder
• Charter schools
• College admission policies
• College athletes
• College tuition planning
• Distance education
• Diploma mills
• Education and funding
• Grade inflation
• Greek letter societies
• Hazing
• Home schooling
• Intelligence tests
• Learning disabilities
• Literacy in America
• No Child Left Behind
• Plagiarism
• Prayer in schools
• Sex education
• School vouchers
• Standardized tests

Environmental Research Paper Topics:

• Acid rain
• Alternative fuel/hybrid vehicles
• Conservation
• Deforestation
• Endangered species
• Energy
• Global warming
• Greenhouse effect
• Landfills
• Marine pollution
• Nuclear energy
• Oil spills
• Pesticides
• Pollution
• Population control
• Radioactive waste disposal
• Recycling
• Smog
• Soil pollution
• Wildlife conservation

Family issues Research Paper Topics:

• Battered woman syndrome
• Child abuse
• Divorce rates
• Domestic abuse
• Family relationships
• Family values

Health Research Paper Topics:

• AbortionAbortion
• AIDS
• Attention deficit disorder
• Alternative medicine
• Alzheimer’s Disease
• Anorexia Nervosa
• Artificial insemination
• Autism
• Birth control
• Bulimia
• Cancer
• Depression
• Dietary supplements
• Drug abuse
• Dyslexia
• Exercise and fitness
• Fad diets
• Fast food
• Heart disease
• HIV infection
• In vitro fertilization
• Medicaid, Medicare reform
• Obesity
• Organic foods
• Prescription drugs
• Plastic surgery
• Sleep
• Smoking
• Stem cell research
• Teen pregnancy
• Vegetarianism
• Weight loss surgery

Media and Communications Research Paper Topics:

• Body image
• Censorship
• Children’s programming and advertising
• Copyright Law
• Freedom of speech
• Materialism
• Media bias
• Media conglomerates, ownership
• Minorities in mass media
• Political correctness
• Portrayal of women
• Reality television
• Stereotypes
• Talk radio
• Television violence

Political Issues Research Paper Topics:

• Affirmative Action
• Budget deficit
• Electoral College
• Election reform
• Emigration
• Genocide
• Illegal aliensIllegal aliens
• Immigration
• Impeachment
• International relations
• Medicaid, Medicare reform
• Operation Enduring Iraqi Freedom
• Partisan politics
• Prescription drugs
• Social Security Reform
• Third parties
• Taxes

Psychology Research Paper Topics:

• Child abuse
• Criminal psychology
• Depression
• Dreams
• Intelligence tests
• Learning disabilities
• Memory
• Physical attraction
• Schizophrenia

Religion Research Paper Topics:

• Cults
• Freedom of religion
• Occultism
• Prayer in schools

Social Issues Research Paper Topics:

• Abortion
• Adoption
• Airline safety, security
• Affirmative Action programs
• AIDS
• Apartheid
• Birth control
• Child abuse
• Child rearing
• Discrimination in education
• Employee rights
• Gambling, online gaming
• Gang identity
• Gay, lesbian, bisexual, or transgender
• Gay parenting
• Gender discrimination
• Genetic screening
• Homelessness
• Identity theft
• Interracial marriage
• Poverty
• Race relations
• Reverse discrimination
• Suffrage
• Suicide
• Test biases
• Textbook biases
• Welfare

Terrorism Research Paper Topics:

• Bioterrorism
• Homeland Security
• September 11

Women and Gender Research Paper Topics:

• Abortion
• Birth control and Pregnancy
• Body image
• Cultural expectations and practices
• Discrimination
• Eating disorders
• Education
• Feminism
• Gay pride
• Female genital mutilation
• Health
• Marriage and Divorce
• Media portrayals
• Menstruation and Menopause
• Parenting
• Prostitution
• LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender)
• Sex and Sexuality
• Sports
• Stereotypes
• Substance abuse
• Violence and Rape
• Work

Source: University of Illinois Online Library