Research Paper Topics

By definition a research paper requires the writer to learn a great deal about their subject, so it is always a good practice to select a topic that truly interests you before you begin gathering sources.  If you are interested in your topic, learning about it will be more pleasurable and you will write with greater passion, so choose your topic thoughtfully.  Use the following list of 101 research paper topics as a starting point for your paper.  As you begin learning and writing about your topic, you should revise or amend your research question or thesis statement to better match the information that you are interpreting, analyzing, and expressing.  Let your interest guide you.  If you’re not having fun learning and writing about your topic, perhaps you should pick one that interests you more.


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101 Research Paper Topics

By:  

  1. Why do we sleep?
  2. How do GPS systems work?
  3. Who was the first person to reach the North Pole?
  4. Did anybody ever escape Alcatraz?
  5. What was life like for a gladiator?
  6. What are the effects of prolonged steroid use on the human body?
  7. What happened during the Salem witch trials?
  8. Are there any effective means of repelling insects?
  9. How did trains and railroads change life in America?
  10. What may have occurred during the Roswell UFO incident of 1947?
  11. How is bulletproof clothing made?
  12. What Olympic events were practiced in ancient Greece?
  13. What are the major theories explaining the disappearance of the dinosaurs?
  14. How was the skateboard invented and how has it changed over the years?
  15. How did the long bow contribute to English military dominance?
  16. What caused the stock market crash of 2008?
  17. How did Cleopatra come to power in Egypt what did she do during her reign?
  18. How has airport security intensified since September 11th, 2001?
  19. What is life like inside of a beehive?
  20. Where did hip hop originate and who were its founders?
  21. What makes the platypus a unique and interesting mammal?
  22. How does tobacco use affect the human body?
  23. How do computer viruses spread and in what ways do they affect computers?
  24. What is daily life like for a Buddhist monk?
  25. What are the origins of the conflict in Darfur?
  26. How did gunpowder change warfare?
  27. In what ways do Wal-Mart stores affect local economies?
  28. How were cats and dogs domesticated and for what purposes?
  29. What do historians know about ninjas?
  30. How has the music industry been affected by the internet and digital downloading?
  31. What were the circumstances surrounding the death of Osama Bin Laden?
  32. What was the women’s suffrage movement and how did it change America?
  33. What efforts are being taken to protect endangered wildlife?
  34. How much does the war on drugs cost Americans each year?
  35. How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?
  36. Are humans still evolving?
  37. What technologies are available to home owners to help them conserve energy?
  38. How have oil spills affected the planet and what steps are being taken to prevent them?
  39. What was the Magna Carta and how did it change England?
  40. What is the curse of the pharaohs?
  41. Why was Socrates executed?
  42. What nonlethal weapons are used by police to subdue rioters?
  43. How does the prison population in America compare to other nations?
  44. How did ancient sailors navigate the globe?
  45. Can gamblers ever acquire a statistical advantage over the house in casino games?
  46. What is alchemy and how has it been attempted?
  47. How are black holes formed?
  48. How was the assassination of Abraham Lincoln plotted and executed?
  49. Do the benefits of vaccination outweigh the risks?
  50. How do submarines work?
  51. Do lie detector tests accurately determine truthful statements?
  52. How did Cold War tension affect the US and the world?
  53. What happened to the lost settlers at Roanoke?
  54. How does a hybrid car save energy?
  55. What ingredients can be found inside of a hotdog?
  56. How did Julius Caesar affect Rome?
  57. What are some common sleep disorders and how are they treated?
  58. How did the Freedom Riders change society?
  59. How is internet censorship used in China and around the world?
  60. What was the code of the Bushido and how did it affect samurai warriors?
  61. What are the risks of artificial tanning or prolonged exposure to the sun?
  62. What programs are available to help war veterans get back into society?
  63. What steps are involved in creating a movie or television show?
  64. How have the film and music industries dealt with piracy?
  65. How did Joan of Arc change history?
  66. What responsibilities do secret service agents have?
  67. How does a shark hunt?
  68. What dangers and hardships did Lewis and Clark face when exploring the Midwest?
  69. Has the Patriot Act prevented or stopped terrorist acts in America?
  70. Do states that allow citizens to carry guns have higher or lower crime rates?
  71. How are the Great Depression and the Great Recession similar and different?
  72. What are the dangers of scuba diving and underwater exploration?
  73. How does the human brain store and retrieve memories?
  74. What was the Manhattan Project and what impact did it have on the world?
  75. How does stealth technology shield aircraft from radar?
  76. What causes tornadoes?
  77. Why did Martin Luther protest against the Catholic Church?
  78. How does a search engine work?
  79. What are the current capabilities and future goals of genetic engineers?
  80. How did the Roman Empire fall?
  81. What obstacles faced scientists in breaking the sound barrier?
  82. How did the black plague affect Europe?
  83. What happened to Amelia Earhart?
  84. What are the dangers and hazards of using nuclear power?
  85. How did Genghis Khan conquer Persia?
  86. What architectural marvels were found in Tenochtitlan, capital of the Aztec Empire?
  87. From where does spam email come and can we stop it?
  88. How does night vision work?
  89. How did journalists influence US war efforts in Vietnam?
  90. What are the benefits and hazards of medical marijuana?
  91. What causes desert mirages and how do they affect wanderers?
  92. What was the cultural significance of the first moon landing?
  93. What are sinkholes and how are they formed?
  94. Have any psychics ever solved crimes or prevented them from occurring?
  95. Who is Vlad the Impaler and what is his connection to Count Dracula?
  96. What are the risks of climate change and global warming?
  97. What treatments are available to people infected with HIV and are they effective?
  98. Who was a greater inventor, Leonardo di Vinci or Thomas Edison?
  99. How are the Chinese and American economies similar and different?
  100. Why was communism unsuccessful in so many countries?
  101. In what ways do video games affect children and teenagers?

I hope this list will help you choose a topic for your research paper.  Remember that these ideas should be used as a starting point; you will have to make these topics your own during the writing and research process.  Don’t be afraid to alter and revise your thesis or research question to better match your interests or to align with your research.  Would you like to suggest a research paper topic?  Leave it in the comments below.

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923 Comments

  1. Ashcheeta

     /  September 5, 2017

    Thank you for the help! This site has been really useful!!

    Reply
  2. jojo

     /  August 17, 2017

    hello thanks for these topics helped alot

    Reply
  3. Vanessa

     /  August 14, 2017

    Hi, My name is Vanessa from the Philippines. I just want to ask if u can revise my topic because my teacher wants to revise, so my topic was “reasons why most students prefer to have a good grades than gaining a knowledge. Please I need your reply My teacher told me that it is not researchable and he dont undestand my topic that I’ve gave to him. I really dont know what to do.

    Reply
  4. VIKAS

     /  July 31, 2017

    IT WAS HELPFUL

    Reply
  5. sandise

     /  July 31, 2017

    hello, i am interested in doing research masters in marketing. what would be the suitable topic?

    Reply
  6. Ms Ndapuka

     /  July 24, 2017

    Hello! I am a crop science student at the University of Namibia, Ogongo campus. I would want to do an experimental research on Cantaloupe but I have no treatments. Would you pleasse help

    Reply
  7. Lydia

     /  July 22, 2017

    I would like to research video games affect children and teenager.

    Reply
  8. joyce

     /  July 18, 2017

    thank you so much!

    Reply
  9. Auwal Yusuf

     /  July 13, 2017

    Hello, I ma looking for suitable research topic in English literature for my masters thesis. could you suggest a variety for me to choose from? Particularly in the prose genre

    Reply
  10. Denis ojok

     /  July 13, 2017

    helo am denis a diploma student could u plz suggest me a good research topic basing on mobile application?

    Reply
  11. Pari

     /  June 21, 2017

    Hii Could you suggest me any convincing topic under financial markets and securities?
    Thank you.

    Reply
  12. numan

     /  June 9, 2017

    hello I want to write a research report four thousand word so I need your help. my topic is child labour

    Reply
  13. Ngozika Onyenze

     /  June 6, 2017

    I am trying to mix food insecurity with conflict . just cancant put them together.

    Reply
  14. Bagob Felix

     /  May 27, 2017

    Hello sir.i am a level two student in the department of accounting university of bamenda cameroon.please help me with a good topic.thanks.

    Reply
  15. Pearl

     /  May 26, 2017

    Plz, Wehv Bin Asked To Write On A Topic Nd I Dont Know What To Write On, (busines Administration)

    Reply
  16. LucyT nelombo

     /  May 17, 2017

    my reseach topic is:impriving of poor performance experience in Elementary Agricultural practicals rather than theory approches to help learners who learn by doing practicals insteady of theories in upper primary (grades 4-7) at selected school in Ohangwena region, Ohangwena circuit.i cant found information about that topic will you you help me in upto date information?

    Reply
  17. eliy

     /  May 16, 2017

    Hellow, I am doing a research in science administration. what would be a suitable research topic?

    Reply
  18. eliy

     /  May 16, 2017

    Hello, I am doing a research in science administration. what would be a suitable research topic?

    Reply
  19. Logan

     /  May 16, 2017

    I have to do a huge research project to do do you think doing one over Tcu would be good

    Reply
  20. Cynthia

     /  May 15, 2017

    I have chosen Medical Marijuana as the topic for my research but cannot come up with a problem statement.

    Reply
    • Barb

       /  June 27, 2017

      I was looking at this topic as well. Did you find it interesting to research? Was there much information?

      Reply
  21. Rose

     /  April 17, 2017

    I need to write a 3 page research paper for english on an interesting subject, do you have any suggestions?

    Reply
  22. GILBERT

     /  April 6, 2017

    hallo…. I have been looking for a topic to write a research proposal on that relates to community development…. please help me identify a topic that i can easily access variety of informations… please!

    Reply
  23. Lala

     /  April 4, 2017

    I am stuck on idea? I am studying social work and I have to do a research proposal. Any suggestion?

    Reply
  24. felecia

     /  March 30, 2017

    Hi, I want to write the research paper about topics for researching grammar. any suggestions about what can i write ?

    Reply
    • Sure. Start by looking at the great vowel shift, or how French and English intermingled when William the Conquerer took over in 1066.

      Reply
  25. Leonard

     /  March 28, 2017

    Hellow, I am doing a research in Natural Science and health Education, what would be a suitable research topic?

    Reply
  26. Fiona Kenis

     /  March 26, 2017

    Hallo I’m doing a research topic on business based on rundown (bankrupt ) of retail store. What would be my suitable research topic

    Reply
  27. Fiona Kenis

     /  March 26, 2017

    Hallo Im doing a research topic on business and i want to research on rundown of retail store is that a good topic?

    Reply
  28. yawkal

     /  March 22, 2017

    Heloo, am a student in Bahir Dar university in Ethiopia which is the best research topic on Geography and Enviromental Study?

    Reply
  29. Rogers

     /  March 18, 2017

    I am doing Public Health. What would be a suitable research topic?

    Reply
  30. Francis

     /  March 16, 2017

    haloo am Francis a student in Zetech university in Kenya which is the best research topic on broadcast journalism?

    Reply
  31. suweyd

     /  March 16, 2017

    Hi, I just want to work in number 23 How do computer viruses spread and in what ways do they affect computers? about I changed it to “Computer viruses, how it made, spread and affect computers?” do you think it sound good and is there any possibilities i will find many literature reviews on the subject

    Reply
  32. Benzo

     /  March 1, 2017

    Hi, I want to write a research proposal for Msc research in Operations research. Please I need someone to help me with a good topic. Just the topic!

    Reply
  33. olaitan Grace

     /  February 28, 2017

    Am an education student in Nigeria, from the university of Ibadan. Am interested in educational technology, what are the interesting topics you could suggest for me?

    Reply
  34. Krumenauer H

     /  February 27, 2017

    Is this a good topic?:

    “How did the Cold War tension affect the U.S and the world?”

    Reply
  35. Xavier Keaton

     /  February 27, 2017

    I have a 10 page research assignment for english, what subject is good?

    Reply
  36. truenesskaoty

     /  February 26, 2017

    Is “How does poor management occur in my area?” a good Research topic question or not?

    Reply
    • A good test for any topic is to start gathering sources. If you can find an appropriate amount of appropriately leveled texts on the topic, then you’ve got something that you can work with it. Start looking for sources. The way will open, or it won’t.

      Reply
  37. truenesskaoty

     /  February 26, 2017

    Thanx so far , this site is very helpful to finding a research topic. Eventhough they are not really related to my context, I still can change a few words to make it contextualized. Thanx indeed.

    Reply
  38. Alexa11011

     /  February 22, 2017

    Thank you, this actually helped me pick a topic for my research paper!!! 🙂

    Reply
  39. Pearl

     /  February 16, 2017

    Great site! it has helped me a lot.

    Reply
  40. Pear

     /  February 16, 2017

    Great site! it has helped me a lot.

    Reply
  41. Katelyn

     /  February 15, 2017

    Hello! i’m a 7th grader and this is my first research paper, i’m not too sure if I should write a topic about Lucid Dreaming. Any suggestions?

    Reply
  42. Tijani

     /  February 15, 2017

    Romanticism as a Period of Revolution a case study of lyrical ballad by William wordsworth and Samuel Taylor Coldridge. project topic proposal example of chapter on

    Reply
  43. LOLO

     /  February 14, 2017

    Thanks Mr. Morton for these topics.

    Reply
  44. Yohn

     /  February 12, 2017

    Hi! Im Yohn, I am looking for a statistics research title? Can you give some, please?
    Thank you.

    Reply
  45. Paige

     /  January 31, 2017

    I have to write an eight-page research project that interests me. I want to do something like your Alcatraz question but my friend already picked it. Do you have any other questions that are similar?

    Reply
  46. daniella

     /  January 31, 2017

    What are the causes of being an Adopted child, and what can affect them?

    is this a good topic for my research?

    Reply
  47. Julia

     /  January 30, 2017

    Hi! I was wondering if a good topic would be how social media affects self esteem in teenagers. Is this good?

    Reply
    • Wow, what a fantastic and interesting question! I think it’s a great topic. It might be hard to find texts on the subject, as it is so “bleeding edge,” but I encourage you to follow your inclinations and see where they lead you. Best wishes!

      Reply
    • Matthew Dern

       /  May 9, 2017

      ya thats good

      Reply
  48. Hassan Ahmed

     /  January 28, 2017

    Sir I need your help on this topic for my research the topic is “How can the use of technology make lesson plan easier and less time consuming for teachers”. I decided to pick this topic considering how teachers in my locality find it difficult to meet up with their lesson plan on time. i need your help sir.

    Reply
  49. Sandra

     /  January 26, 2017

    Why preventable diseases that have vaccinations are on the rise.

    Reply
  50. Yang chen

     /  January 14, 2017

    Hello! Thank you for those topics.. It helped me a lot..

    Reply

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