Research Paper Topics & Ideas For College and High School Students

Wondering what are good topics to write a research paper on? Here is a free guide and examples of good research paper topics for college, high school, and graduate school students. The key focus of this tutorial is:

What makes a good research paper topic
How to find a good topic for a research paper.

Now that you have learnt how to write a research paper effectively, you might have realized that this is different from writing an essay where you probably don’t need to carry out extensive research before you even start writing. In academic writing, research papers are one of the assignments which needs a lot of attention otherwise you would score low marks on your academic paper.

In most cases, you will find that your professor or teacher requires you to find a research topic, research about the topic, write a proposal, create a research paper online, and eventually write a grade winning paper. This is where academic writing becomes a difficult task to most students.

In this guide, you will learn how to find great research topics. This list applies to all students from high school, college, to graduate school students.

What makes a great research paper topic:

Here are five key factors that define a great topic for your research paper. Make sure the topic that you choose by the end of this article possesses these qualities:

A good topic must be relevant to the readers and your subject of study
Your topic of study must be clear and have focused objectives
How important is the chosen topic in relation to your field of study?
Research on issues currently affecting the community
Must be original. Your research should focus on areas not well researched.

How to find a good research paper topic

Check if the topic is already given
Pick a broad topic and narrow down
Brainstorming
Discuss with friends and family
Identify issues affecting a particular set of people in your community
Review the existing literature based of your field of study

On this extensive list of hot topics for research papers, topics have been grouped based on the subjects and also academic level.

Go through the listed topics and learn how to come up with great topics for research papers.

Argumentative research paper topics

Argumentative research paper topics are topics that can be argued in two ways. Using facts and extensive research, a student is expected to support one side of an argument. Here are a few topics you can consider for your argumentative essay paper.

Children raised by single parents are likely to have behavioral issues.
Alcohol abuse among parents increases chances of teenage drug abuse
Abortion legalization can increase immorality among teenagers
Smoking in public places should be prohibited.
Voting age should be lowered
Marijuana is more addictive than tobacco
Teenage immorality is greatly influenced by social media
Globalization is doing more harm than good to African countries
Deforestation as a core contributor to climate change
Death sentence effectiveness in administration of justice
Poverty is the major cause of domestic violence

College research paper topics

Here are some of the most popular college research topics that you can write as a student. Note that this is not an exhaustive list of all research topics for college students. You can ask for more at our research paper writing help service.

Additional 20 interesting research topics for college students

The effects of social media on mental health and well-being
The impact of climate change on biodiversity in a specific region
The effectiveness of different teaching methods on student learning outcomes
The role of genetics in predisposition to certain mental illnesses
The effects of childhood trauma on adult mental health
The impact of artificial intelligence on the job market
The relationship between diet and mental health
The effectiveness of mindfulness meditation on reducing anxiety and depression
The impact of video games on cognitive function and decision making
The role of sleep in memory consolidation and learning
The effects of music on mood and emotion regulation
The role of social support in coping with chronic illness
The relationship between physical activity and cognitive function
The impact of cultural factors on the perception of mental health and illness
The effectiveness of different types of therapy on treating anxiety disorders
The relationship between personality traits and job satisfaction
The impact of social media on political polarization and misinformation
The role of stigma in preventing individuals from seeking mental health treatment
The effects of screen time on children’s development
The impact of environmental factors on the prevalence of allergies and asthma

High school research paper topics

Here is a list of interesting topics for a research paper for high school students.

Obesity
Fast food
Climate change
Weather patterns
Teenage pregnancy
Sex education
Divorce and separation
Legal voting age
Drug abuse
Marijuana legalization
Family planning
Family structure

Controversial research paper topics

Controversial research topics are meant to enhance your debate skills. Here are sample controversial topics that you can research and write about.

Can marriage among teenagers be justified?
Should churches be taxed?
Euthanasia as a form of palliative treatment
Convicted criminals should not be allowed to join the community
Is surrogacy ethically sound?
vegans vs meat eaters
Single-sex schools and children development
Parents deportation is an unethical practice
Churches should pay taxes like any other business
Is heaven real?

Psychology research paper topics

Here are popular psychology research topics that you can write about.

Rise in mental illnesses in united states
Eating disorders and obesity
Physical exercises in stress reduction
Teenage depression
Junk food impact on learning abilities
Negative effect of divorce on children
Mental health and obesity
Exercises and mental health

History research paper topics

Writing a history research paper? Here are some of the history research paper topics that you can consider.

Palestine History before 1948
Ancient Greeks revolt
Immortality in ancient Egypt
The great recession
Syrian conflict and aftermath
United states civil war
The French revolution
Civil women’s rights in 18th century
Origin of black month
Hiroshima and Nagasaki Bombings
American history
History of black people in America

Criminal Justice research paper topics

Here are a set of popular criminal justice essay topics that you can write about.

Is current law effective in reducing domestic violence
Gender bias in the workplace
Drug abuse prevention channels
Abuse of power by policy
Racial injustices in United States
Effectiveness of witness programs
Death penalty
Psychological effects of incarceration

Persuasive Research Paper topics

Guns should be allowed in colleges and universities
Human dependence on technology
Minimum wage should be increased
Security cameras invade our privacy
Colleges education should be made free
Corporal punishment is ineffective,

English research paper topics

Here are some of the english research topics you can explore when writing your essay, research paper, or term paper. Some topics can be extended to create thesis papers.

Sociology research paper topics

Social problems of domestic violence
Teenage sex and unwanted pregnancies
Teenage conflict resolution methods
Gender stereotyping and its effect in workplaces
Security of social networking platforms
Social media addiction amongst the youth
Internet addiction and loneliness

Biology research paper topics

Biology of Marine Birds
Molecular Biology of Plants reproduction
Mutation of viruses
Spread of zoonotic virus in 21st century
Can the aging process be reversed
Effect of stress on Human immune system

Economics research paper topics

Income changes on consumer choices
Salary inequalities in developing economies
Effect of mass privatization of public enterprises by governments
Growth and development of stock markets in Africa
Effects of international trade on developing countries
Effect of online businesses on GDP of your country
Predatory Pricing and Strategic Entry Barriers

Education research paper topics

Effectiveness of homeschooling
Should the cost of education be lowered or increased
Violence in colleges
Bullying in schools
Does attaining college education guarantee higher salaries
Are college graduates more happy than high school graduates?
Is college education really worth it?

Literature research paper topics

Works of Shakespeare
Psychology and literature
Literature as a mirror of the society
Ancient Vs modern literature
Conflicts in literature
Role of literature in instilling morals
Antigone as a Feminist play: women vs. patriarchal power
Gender conflicts woman vs. man = the family vs. the state

Medicine, Medical, & Nursing research paper topics

ADHD in adults
Neonatal care in the united states
The rise of child mortality
The rise of child obesity, Nursing culture in United Kingdom
Ethical considerations when hiring foreign nurses
Rise in cardiovascular diseases
Nurses and doctors should have equal opportunities
Evolution in medicine in the last 50 years
Ethics amongst medical professionals.
Ethical medical billing.
Electronic data system and patient privacy

Science Research Paper Topics

Importance of sleep for children
Is cancer screening effective in reducing cancer related deaths
Research on main food allergies in the United States
Will Covid-19 vaccines be safe?
Should science subjects be made mandatory in college?
Should math be classified as a science?
Does eating more vegetables make your body stronger?
Research the reproductive system of an animal of your choice.

Business research paper topics

Ethical mistakes and bankruptcy
Importance of ethics in the workplace
Organizational crisis management
Role of women in managing businesses
Importance of signing NDAs
Wages versus productivity of employees

These are some of the most popular college research paper topics that you can write an essay or research paper on. Contact our tutors if you need help with writing any research topic.