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.


Download this list in RTF format

Download this list in PDF format

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.

Looking For More Resources?
Persuasive Essay Topics
Narrative Essay Topics and Story Ideas
School Project Ideas
All Reading Worksheets

Still looking for something?
Search here.





Leave a comment

923 Comments

  1. xoxo

     /  June 24, 2014

    Hi can you please me I’m thinking a topic related to supply chain management but i dont know what area should I start. Thanks

    Reply
  2. emma

     /  June 22, 2014

    hellooo…can you give me some ideas any topic that so must interesting for my research paper..thanks

    Reply
  3. Sharmaine Papellero

     /  June 22, 2014

    Hello…

    I am an IE student, we are required to submit an RPF. Can you please help me Sir to find a good research topic? I find it hard to have a topic that relates to environmental issues that is not yet published. We have to make a research for the whole semester until October from now. Or may be any thing that you can suggest Sir? Looking forward for your response Sir.

    Reply
  4. edith

     /  June 19, 2014

    i need to do a cumulative research paper but i have no idea what so ever on what to do it… any examples? will appreciate

    Reply
  5. Caroline Trevino

     /  June 19, 2014

    Hello Sir, hope you’re doing well. I’m a High School student and in a dire need of any topic in relevance to Biology for a research ASAP. Possibly a topic for questionnaire.

    I’ve been thinking to do one on Phobia, perhaps even something on cosmetic or hair, I’ve been suggested to make a working model of any human organ(The possibility of this rules out due to lack of time).

    I’m in a dilemma and perplexed on how to proceed further as this being my first time doing anything like this. I, of course want it to be creative and fun. I have to make some hypothesis for a questionnaire if I’m doing it on Phobia,cosmetic or hair.

    I’m open to any any suggestions. Thanks Heaps.

    Regards.

    Reply
    • Hi. I think the topic of phobias is very interesting, but I fear it is more psychological than biological. If your teacher approves this topic, then perhaps you can focus on a specific phobia. As far as biology goes though, you might be more successful by focusing on hair. You might consider conducting a survey of students in your class about their hair texture / color vs. their parents and using this data in conjunction with the Punnett Square. Best wishes!

      Reply
      • Caroline Trevino

         /  June 20, 2014

        Thank you so much. I think the Punnett square idea is Fab as we have learnt that recently. Best Regards.

        Reply
  6. Biru

     /  June 16, 2014

    Hello Sir, I’m looking for a research topic regarding oral health. Do you have any suggestions?

    Reply
  7. gurleen

     /  June 14, 2014

    hello sir,i’m doing engineering in computer science,can u please suggest me few topics related to this field?..thank you in advance 🙂

    Reply
  8. Samuel Atule

     /  June 14, 2014

    Hi,
    Kindly assist me chose a research topic on Mobile fleet maintenance management.

    Thanks,
    Samuel

    Reply
    • I’m sorry. This is too specialized for me. I cannot contribute to this topic. Perhaps think about what you like best about your topic or the thing that you find most interesting.

      Reply
  9. mariegrace amorganda amparado

     /  June 13, 2014

    hi! everyone! what are the interesting topic about environmental research?

    Reply
  10. Kylie Emerald

     /  June 13, 2014

    Well our topics should be related to our course and I’m a mass communication student. We were paired up and my partner’s course is entreprenuership. So we kinda need a topic that is related to both our courses. I actually had in mind something to like “the misuse of communication in advertising certain products to gain more buyers” I just don’t know how to get the sentence right. Or could you suggest something else? And by the way I’m from the philippines 🙂

    Reply
  11. Tzelsea

     /  June 13, 2014

    Hi, I am having a hard time about my business research and business title. My teacher ask to give her 3 business research titles and we will choose the best title. Could you please help me formulate? Thank you and God bless you. 😉 I am a business administration student.

    Reply
  12. Kylie Emerald

     /  June 13, 2014

    Well actually my course is mass communication and my partner’s entrepreneurship. In our school it’s done by pairs. So I’m kinda confused with the topic as it has to be related to out courses. I was thinking something related to advertising.

    Reply
  13. Hi, I’m working on my title for my research paper, about the speaking hindrances among learners. Can you help me construct a title that would fit on my topic?

    Reply
  14. Kylie Emerald

     /  June 12, 2014

    Hi could you help me with topics related to media and entrepreneurship? Please. :”)

    Reply
    • Well, I’d probably be interested in looking at the recent multibillion dollar acquisition of Beats by Apple. What interests you?

      Reply
  15. jha

     /  June 11, 2014

    Hey, can you help me construct a best title about speaking hindrances in English language.

    Reply
  16. ismael

     /  June 11, 2014

    i want to write a reaserch based on security management,please help

    Reply
    • Start by gathering resources related to your topic. Make sure that they are written at a reading level that you can handle.

      Reply
  17. Ayo

     /  June 11, 2014

    Hi,
    pls i need a research topic (in public health) relating to family planning or contraceptive update or any other interesting topic.
    Thanks

    Reply
  18. aniee

     /  June 10, 2014

    hey, i have to make research project on regulatory affairs. i m confused about good & interesting topic from the regulatory affairs. can u plz guide me about this & inform me some interesting topics …

    thnxxx

    Reply
  19. Jasmine

     /  June 6, 2014

    I want to write a research paper on law enforcement?
    I have no idea where to start, what my intro will talk about

    Reply
    • Hmm… How about examining the paradox of America being considered “the land of the free” while having the highest incarceration levels in the world over the entire course of human history?

      Reply
  20. pusp raj bhatt

     /  June 4, 2014

    Hi i would like to write research paper on physical chemistry.please give me topic.

    Reply
  21. Mehwish Jamil

     /  June 4, 2014

    What about the topic: “Deficiency of Vitamin-D” ?? Is it good to write paper ?

    Reply
  22. PhooiYee

     /  June 4, 2014

    Sir, I’m doing my research for my final year. I’m looking for a good topic that relates to event industry. I’ve no ideas .. 🙁

    Reply
    • Yeah, that’s a tough one. I would examine some successful or notable events and try to identify the elements that made them successful: celebrity guests, extravagant festivities, guerrilla marketing campaigns, etc.

      Reply
  23. Fizza

     /  May 27, 2014

    I have to write a non-fiction book. what should i do it on?

    Reply
  24. Kirito

     /  May 26, 2014

    I am starting a research paper. I wanted to write about human perception or how everyone views the world differently. I’m having trouble narrowing the topic. I’m also wondering if this is even a topic or idea that can fill out 5 pages. could you help me find a starting point?

    Reply
    • It could easily fill 5 pages.
      Your problem is that the topic is too broad.

      You need to limit it to a specific instance,
      and two specific people or groups of people.

      For example: How are social networking habits different between teenagers and elderly people?

      Reply
  25. Fabiana Stephenson Richard

     /  May 26, 2014

    Sir,i need 2 do do a research topic in physiology fr my 1st year medicine…. i need a topic dat s easier and helpful and tthat which cud be done in 2months and less expensive…
    We r n a dilemma f choosing a topic..under such categories ..pls help us!!

    Reply
    • I’m sorry. I am not knowledgeable enough in physiology to suggest any interesting topics. I suggest that you contact one of your professors.

      Reply
  26. kate

     /  May 22, 2014

    Hi I was thinking of writing an imformative research paper on possibly feline leukemia.. do you think that is a good topic? (I am in school for a vet technician and my instructor said something we would want to learn more about with this paper)

    Reply
    • Yeah, that sounds like a good one. I don’t know much about it, but it seems like a good starting point. As you read and research, your topic should narrow and fall into something more specific about this topic.

      Reply
  27. Greetings,
    Kindly help me find a good research topic related to health for my undergraduate research study. For example, in a Mission Hospital, there are a lot of patients admitted and the majority of the patients come from outside the province. Also, a lot of caesarean sections conducted with some post operative wound infection cases observed and a good number of tuberculosis patients are as well admitted. However, the majority of members of staff are untrained ( Auxiliary Nurses and Daily Classified Employees )

    Reply
    • I’m afraid that I have little to suggest. Your focus is a bit too specialized for my experience to provide much assistance. Perhaps you want to write a paper on modern sanitation practices in a medical setting?

      Reply
  28. Need help writing for attributes of a good research question concerning drug addiction and criminal behavior?

    Reply
    • Hmm… Perhaps researching the recidivism rate for similar crimes when drug treatment or other alternatives to incarceration are used versus incarceration?

      Reply
  29. Blake Pathuis

     /  May 15, 2014

    I’m looking into a topic that relates to boxing being too dangerous for the athletes, or a bad influence on young people who watch the sport on TV. I’m struggling with ideas and just need a few to think about. Thanks in advance!

    Reply
  30. Treven

     /  May 13, 2014

    i need a topic that will get me to 5 or more pages can you help me out?

    Reply
  31. hello.. how are you?
    can you help me find a good topic in my research paper about popular music?

    i really don’t know how to choose a good topic,
    it is my first time to make a research paper. please help me,,

    thanks,, ! god bless,, 🙂

    Reply
    • Hmm…

      Many interesting things are happening right now with music delivery and technology.

      If I were writing a paper on that O would focus on one of the following:

      How is the popularity of streaming affecting the music industry?

      Or, more broadly, how has digital music changed the music industry?

      Best wishes!

      Reply
  32. AG

     /  May 11, 2014

    Hello,
    I wanted to do a research paper about Alzheimer’s disease. What can be a good topic?

    Thanks.

    Reply
  33. remil

     /  May 9, 2014

    Hi, can you help me find a good research topic related to electrical or electrical construction for my graduate research study.
    i’m now doing project management works for a construction company.

    Thank you.

    Reply
    • I would be interested to learn about mobile apps available to assist electricians or those doing electrical work (if any exist). Alternatively, how the electrical industry was affected by the Great Recession.

      Reply
  34. nomes

     /  May 7, 2014

    just wondering if you meant freedom writers not freedom riders

    Reply
  35. Sammu

     /  May 3, 2014

    Hi, I’m in grade 8 and I want to do a research report on something that has to do with fashion or design, I just don’t want it to be too girly, I also need it to be specific and something I can do a lot of research on, preferably using a lot of sites and books. Please reply as soon as possible! Thx!

    Reply
  36. Need Help

     /  April 28, 2014

    Could you help me formulate a research project question about building a dream home?

    “dream home” is fairly broad but that’s my idea and I don’t know how to change it.

    Reply
    • Hmm…
      I don’t know if it will help you,
      but I am more interested in the idea
      of the American Dream (including home ownership)
      and how this notion has changed in the new millennium.

      Otherwise, you might be interested in researching
      new developments in the construction of luxury homes.

      Different people will have different ideas
      as to what makes a “dream” construction:

      eco-friendliness, extravagance, etc.

      Reply
  37. Penconteng

     /  April 27, 2014

    My teacher ask me to do mini proposal for the research. Can you suggest me any suitable topic for me? Psychology / psychiatrist. Something that fun and people love it.

    Reply
    • I would research Pavlov and his dogs.

      Reply
    • Rafik

       /  July 23, 2014

      hey!!! i need your help i just read ur comment i dont know if it is late or not i want to suggest a topic on psychology can you ask your teacher e-mail for me
      it is really very important!!
      thank you

      Reply
  38. Renee

     /  April 24, 2014

    I can talk about anything that I want, but still having a hard time figuring it out.

    Reply
  39. andriani

     /  April 24, 2014

    hi, I’m now doing research for my final year, but I don’t know what topic should I choose related to the business accounting and finance. Could you suggest any idea? thank you

    Reply
    • I would research the efforts from large corporations,
      like Turbo Tax, that lobby to keep the tax code complicated.

      This seems to me to be interesting because it is so
      clearly against the interests of the public and such
      an obvious example of faults with our current political system.

      Reply
  40. glecy

     /  April 24, 2014

    Hi, can you help me find a good research topic related to science for my graduate research study.

    Reply
    • Hmm…
      How about new applications of quantum mechanics
      which can account for previously unexplained phenomena,
      like the physics of time?

      Reply
  41. Sailom

     /  April 22, 2014

    Hi, Thank you so much for this ! Wondering if this is a feasible research topic ? (also grammatically correction)

    1. “How successful entrepreneurs use Social Network System as a tool to benefit their businesses.

    2. “Possibility the Social Network as the next generation’s educational channel.

    The aim is to have ‘less than’ 200, but if it’s only a sentence is fine ? If there are more than one sentence in one research topic is also fine ? Sorry to ask many questions, but I really need help. Thank you !

    Sailom

    Reply
    • Sorry that I’m late on this.
      Your topics are interesting and contemporary.

      I think as you begin researching you will refine
      your thesis to get it perfect.

      I am a bit confused by your second question,
      but I will attempt to answer what I think that you are asking:

      Research papers vary in length.
      Usually the teacher mandates a page range to which students must adhere.

      The research paper is guided by a thesis statement,
      in which you clearly state your purpose.

      It is possible to make this more than a sentence,
      but it is not really recommended.

      If you can’t keep it in a single sentence,
      it is an indicator that you are not really set on what
      you want to talk about.

      Rather, categorize your information into main points
      that will fit under the thesis,
      and attempt to develop each idea in its own paragraph(s).

      Best wishes!

      Reply
  42. haley

     /  April 21, 2014

    hello everyone. for my english research paper she told us to write a paper on what we were most interested in doing after we graduate. which im trying to decide between criminal law and rN. what are some good topics for either?

    Reply
    • I would attempt to combine the two topics and research what methods are in use or development to prevent nurses from abusing prescription narcotics. Kindest regards.

      Reply
  43. on your 100 101 you did the ones with a L. I don’t know how you got L01 L00

    Reply
    • They are not Ls. The numbers are in a column, and the 1 in 100 and 101 gets sort of pushed out of visibility. I will fix it one day.

      Reply
  44. Do you think how people get migraines would be a easy good research topic.

    Reply
    • Well, it will be good if you are interested in it. Research papers are never easy if you are doing them correctly.

      Reply
  45. Louna Peck

     /  March 30, 2014

    Hello, I’m looking for a topic related to music and/or medicine for a research paper due in May. Any ideas? Thanks!

    Reply
    • Sorry, I know that I’m super late on this:

      How about the effects of music on the ill?
      Music as a medical treatment?

      Surely some rouge psychologists have delved into this.

      I recall hearing of experiments with classical music being
      played in prisons and such.

      This might be interesting to look into.
      Best wishes!

      Reply
  46. Ewilli Meshack Azibanator

     /  March 20, 2014

    Could you please assist me get a research topic on either waste management, pest control and epidemics. Any of the three fields mentioned will be good for me. thanks.
    kind regards,
    Ewilli Meshack Azibanator.

    Reply
    • I would be interested in researching societies
      that have developed interesting solutions to their
      waste problems.

      Surely, there are nations doing a better job than ours.

      Reply
  47. Kris Wolvenpads

     /  February 24, 2014

    Ummmm…. you misspelled Joan of Arc…. Arc is spelled with a C not a K

    Reply
  48. A Fictitious Heroine

     /  February 21, 2014

    I am in 9th grade, and I was thinking about doing a research paper on ‘What is a black hole?’. Only I’m not sure I could talk about black holes for ten pages. I’m not very good at fluffing a paper, let alone 10. My average paper length is around 5 pages max.

    Reply
  49. How about researching Pheidippides?

    Reply
  50. Princess

     /  February 6, 2014

    Hi, i’m looking for a research topic related to Mathematics and finance. Any ideas? Thanks

    Reply
    • Sure. Why don’t you explain the mathematics behind a financial product, like a derivative? Or, explain how futures work in the coffee industry.

      Reply

Leave a Reply to donns Cancel reply

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

By Using This Website You Agree to the Terms of Use and are aware of our privacy policy.