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One of the hardest parts of writing a research paper can be just finding a good topic to write about. Fortunately we've done the hard work for you and have compiled a list of 113 interesting research paper topics. They've been organized into ten categories and cover a wide range of subjects so you can easily find the best topic for you.

In addition to the list of good research topics, we've included advice on what makes a good research paper topic and how you can use your topic to start writing a great paper.

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

Not all research paper topics are created equal, and you want to make sure you choose a great topic before you start writing. Below are the three most important factors to consider to make sure you choose the best research paper topics.

#1: It's Something You're Interested In

A paper is always easier to write if you're interested in the topic, and you'll be more motivated to do in-depth research and write a paper that really covers the entire subject. Even if a certain research paper topic is getting a lot of buzz right now or other people seem interested in writing about it, don't feel tempted to make it your topic unless you genuinely have some sort of interest in it as well.

#2: There's Enough Information to Write a Paper

Even if you come up with the absolute best research paper topic and you're so excited to write about it, you won't be able to produce a good paper if there isn't enough research about the topic. This can happen for very specific or specialized topics, as well as topics that are too new to have enough research done on them at the moment. Easy research paper topics will always be topics with enough information to write a full-length paper.

Trying to write a research paper on a topic that doesn't have much research on it is incredibly hard, so before you decide on a topic, do a bit of preliminary searching and make sure you'll have all the information you need to write your paper.

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

Don't get so carried away looking at lists of research paper topics that you forget any requirements or restrictions your teacher may have put on research topic ideas. If you're writing a research paper on a health-related topic, deciding to write about the impact of rap on the music scene probably won't be allowed, but there may be some sort of leeway. For example, if you're really interested in current events but your teacher wants you to write a research paper on a history topic, you may be able to choose a topic that fits both categories, like exploring the relationship between the US and North Korea. No matter what, always get your research paper topic approved by your teacher first before you begin writing.

113 Good Research Paper Topics

Below are 113 good research topics to help you get you started on your paper. We've organized them into ten categories to make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Arts/Culture

Discuss the main differences in art from the Italian Renaissance and the Northern Renaissance .
Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.
How is sexism portrayed in different types of media (music, film, video games, etc.)? Has the amount/type of sexism changed over the years?
How has the music of slaves brought over from Africa shaped modern American music?
How has rap music evolved in the past decade?
How has the portrayal of minorities in the media changed?

Current Events

What have been the impacts of China's one child policy?
How have the goals of feminists changed over the decades?
How has the Trump presidency changed international relations?
Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
How have the US's immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
How has the Black Lives Matter movement affected discussions and view about racism in the US?
What impact has the Affordable Care Act had on healthcare in the US?
What factors contributed to the UK deciding to leave the EU (Brexit)?
What factors contributed to China becoming an economic power?
Discuss the history of Bitcoin or other cryptocurrencies (some of which tokenize the S&P 500 Index on the blockchain) .
Do students in schools that eliminate grades do better in college and their careers?
Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
Do students who receive free meals at school get higher grades compared to when they weren't receiving a free meal?
Do students who attend charter schools score higher on standardized tests than students in public schools?
Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Montessori Method ?
Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
How does the US education system compare to education systems in other countries?
What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students' health?
Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
Do homeschoolers who attend college do as well as students who attended traditional schools?
Does offering tenure increase or decrease quality of teaching?
How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
Should graduate students be able to form unions?

What are different ways to lower gun-related deaths in the US?
How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
Is affirmative action still necessary in education and/or the workplace?
Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?
Which types of juvenile punishment have proven most effective at preventing future crimes?
Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
Analyze the immigration policies of certain countries and how they are similar and different from one another.
Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
Do tariffs increase the number of domestic jobs?
Which prison reforms have proven most effective?
Should governments be able to censor certain information on the internet?
Which methods/programs have been most effective at reducing teen pregnancy?
What are the benefits and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
How effective are different exercise regimes for losing weight and maintaining weight loss?
How do the healthcare plans of various countries differ from each other?
What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
What are the pros and cons of genetically modified foods?
Which methods are most effective for improving memory?
What can be done to lower healthcare costs in the US?
What factors contributed to the current opioid crisis?
Analyze the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic .
Are low-carbohydrate or low-fat diets more effective for weight loss?
How much exercise should the average adult be getting each week?
Which methods are most effective to get parents to vaccinate their children?
What are the pros and cons of clean needle programs?
How does stress affect the body?
Discuss the history of the conflict between Israel and the Palestinians.
What were the causes and effects of the Salem Witch Trials?
Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation?
How has New Orleans and the government's response to natural disasters changed since Hurricane Katrina?
What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
What were the impacts of British rule in India ?
Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
What were the successes and failures of the women's suffrage movement in the United States?
What were the causes of the Civil War?
How did Abraham Lincoln's assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
What caused Hitler's rise to power?
Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
What led to Cleopatra's fall as ruler of Egypt?
How has Japan changed and evolved over the centuries?
What were the causes of the Rwandan genocide ?

Why did Martin Luther decide to split with the Catholic Church?
Analyze the history and impact of a well-known cult (Jonestown, Manson family, etc.)
How did the sexual abuse scandal impact how people view the Catholic Church?
How has the Catholic church's power changed over the past decades/centuries?
What are the causes behind the rise in atheism/ agnosticism in the United States?
What were the influences in Siddhartha's life resulted in him becoming the Buddha?
How has media portrayal of Islam/Muslims changed since September 11th?

Science/Environment

How has the earth's climate changed in the past few decades?
How has the use and elimination of DDT affected bird populations in the US?
Analyze how the number and severity of natural disasters have increased in the past few decades.
Analyze deforestation rates in a certain area or globally over a period of time.
How have past oil spills changed regulations and cleanup methods?
How has the Flint water crisis changed water regulation safety?
What are the pros and cons of fracking?
What impact has the Paris Climate Agreement had so far?
What have NASA's biggest successes and failures been?
How can we improve access to clean water around the world?
Does ecotourism actually have a positive impact on the environment?
Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
What can be done to save amphibian species currently at risk of extinction?
What impact has climate change had on coral reefs?
How are black holes created?
Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
How will the loss of net neutrality affect internet users?
Analyze the history and progress of self-driving vehicles.
How has the use of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
Has social media made people more or less connected?
What progress has currently been made with artificial intelligence ?
Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
When is the best age for a child to begin owning a smartphone?
Has frequent texting reduced teen literacy rates?

How to Write a Great Research Paper

Even great research paper topics won't give you a great research paper if you don't hone your topic before and during the writing process. Follow these three tips to turn good research paper topics into great papers.

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

Before you start writing a single word of your paper, you first need to know what your thesis will be. Your thesis is a statement that explains what you intend to prove/show in your paper. Every sentence in your research paper will relate back to your thesis, so you don't want to start writing without it!

As some examples, if you're writing a research paper on if students learn better in same-sex classrooms, your thesis might be "Research has shown that elementary-age students in same-sex classrooms score higher on standardized tests and report feeling more comfortable in the classroom."

If you're writing a paper on the causes of the Civil War, your thesis might be "While the dispute between the North and South over slavery is the most well-known cause of the Civil War, other key causes include differences in the economies of the North and South, states' rights, and territorial expansion."

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

Remember, this is a research paper you're writing, so you'll need to use lots of research to make your points. Every statement you give must be backed up with research, properly cited the way your teacher requested. You're allowed to include opinions of your own, but they must also be supported by the research you give.

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

You don't want to start writing your research paper and then learn that there isn't enough research to back up the points you're making, or, even worse, that the research contradicts the points you're trying to make!

Get most of your research on your good research topics done before you begin writing. Then use the research you've collected to create a rough outline of what your paper will cover and the key points you're going to make. This will help keep your paper clear and organized, and it'll ensure you have enough research to produce a strong paper.

What's Next?

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These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

Christine graduated from Michigan State University with degrees in Environmental Biology and Geography and received her Master's from Duke University. In high school she scored in the 99th percentile on the SAT and was named a National Merit Finalist. She has taught English and biology in several countries.

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Research Paper Guide

Research Paper Topics

Interesting Research Paper Topics for 2024

21 min read

What are Good Topics for a Research Paper?

An interesting research topic is the one that has the following characteristics:

Specific and Clear . The topic should cover a specific aspect or question within a broader subject area. A focused topic allows for in-depth exploration.
Original and Unique - Great research topics are original. They explore a unique angle or perspective on a subject.
Significant - Good topics have academic or real-world significance. They contribute to existing knowledge or address a problem with practical implications.
Relevant - Topics that are timely and related to the current issues and debates in your field of study are better for research.

Research Paper Topics for Your Academic Level

All students get research writing assignments, whether they are in high school, college, or higher. Here are some engaging ideas suitable for different academic levels.

High School Research Essay Topics

Examine the impact of social media on teenagers' well-being.
Assess the effects of climate change and its consequences.
Analyze the dynamics of cyberbullying and online safety.
Explore the influence of music on adolescents.
Investigate the importance of financial literacy education.
Assess gender inequality in high school sports programs.
Examine the impact of technology on the education system.
Analyze youth voting trends and political engagement.
Investigate the role of video games in cognitive development.
Assess teenage substance abuse and prevention programs.

College Research Paper Topics

IELTS vs. TOEFL - Discuss the similarities and differences.
College admission policies and criteria in the United States.
How to plan to pay college tuition?
Elaborate on ACT vs. SAT.
Benefits of Distance Learning.
Impacts of China's one-child policy.
Do college students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
Effect of the No Child Left Behind Act.
Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
Should people be able to donate organs in exchange for money?

Graduate Research Paper Topics

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Business Operations and Strategy
Environmental Sustainability in Supply Chain Management: Strategies for Global Corporations
The Ethical Implications of Gene Editing Technologies: CRISPR-Cas9 and Beyond
Financial Derivatives and Risk Management: Advanced Strategies for Portfolio Optimization
The Role of Big Data Analytics in Healthcare: Improving Patient Care and Outcomes
Cybersecurity Threats and Mitigation in Critical Infrastructure: A Comprehensive Analysis
The Intersection of International Trade and Intellectual Property Rights: Trade Agreements and Dispute Resolution
Exploring the Impacts of Climate Change on Urban Planning and Infrastructure
Educational Leadership and School Reform in the 21st Century: Innovative Approaches and Challenges
Theoretical Advances in Quantum Computing: Applications, Limitations, and Future Prospects

Research Paper Topics for Science & Technology

Looking for research paper ideas in your discipline? The list of topics below covers a variety of subjects and disciplines to help you out.

Research Paper Topics for Computer Science

Quantum Computing: Current State and Future Prospects
Artificial Intelligence in Healthcare: Diagnosis and Treatment
Blockchain Technology and Its Applications Beyond Cryptocurrency
Cybersecurity in the Age of IoT: Challenges and Solutions
The Ethical Implications of Machine Learning Algorithms
Natural Language Processing for Sentiment Analysis in Social Media
The Role of Computer Vision in Autonomous Vehicles
Big Data Analytics for Business Intelligence and Decision-Making
Human-Computer Interaction: Enhancing User Experience
The Evolution of Cloud Computing: Trends and Innovations

Research Paper Topics in Machine Learning

Explainable AI (XAI): Techniques and Challenges in Interpretable Machine Learning Models
Federated Learning: Privacy-Preserving Machine Learning Across Decentralized Data Sources
Transfer Learning in Deep Neural Networks: Methods, Applications, and Limitations
Reinforcement Learning: Recent Advances and Real-World Applications
Bias and Fairness in Machine Learning: Detection, Mitigation, and Ethical Considerations
Multi-Modal Learning: Integrating Data from Multiple Sources for Improved Performance
Generative Adversarial Networks (GANs): Innovations in Image Generation and Beyond
Natural Language Processing (NLP) for Healthcare: Applications in Clinical Data Analysis and Diagnosis
AutoML (Automated Machine Learning): Tools, Challenges, and Implications for Non-Experts
Quantum Machine Learning: Harnessing Quantum Computing for Advanced Data Analysis

Research Paper Topics in Chemistry

Green Chemistry: Sustainable Approaches to Chemical Synthesis
Nanotechnology in Drug Delivery: Innovations and Challenges
Chemical Analysis of Environmental Pollutants and Their Remediation
Advancements in Organic Synthesis: New Methods and Strategies
The Role of Catalysis in Industrial Chemical Processes
Chemical Kinetics: Studying Reaction Rates and Mechanisms
Analytical Chemistry Techniques for Food Safety and Quality Control
Supramolecular Chemistry: Self-assembly and Molecular Recognition
The Chemistry of Renewable Energy Sources
Chemical Bonding in Complex Molecules: Insights from Quantum Chemistry

Information Technology Research Paper Topics

The Impact of Artificial Intelligence on Information Technology
Blockchain Technology: Security and Privacy Implications
Data Governance and Compliance in the Digital Age
Cloud Computing Adoption Strategies for Small and Medium Enterprises
Internet of Things (IoT) Security Challenges and Solutions
E-Government: Advancements and Challenges in Digital Transformation
The Role of Machine Learning in Healthcare Data Management
Cybersecurity Threat Intelligence: Trends and Best Practices
Digital Twins and their Applications in Industry 4.0
Human-Centric IT: Designing Systems with User Well-being in Mind

Research Paper Topics Environmental Science

Climate Change and Its Impact on Global Ecosystems
Biodiversity Conservation and Habitat Restoration
Sustainable Agriculture Practices for Food Security
Air Pollution Control Strategies in Urban Environments
The Effects of Deforestation on Watersheds and Biodiversity
Waste Management and Recycling: Towards a Circular Economy
Ocean Acidification and Coral Reef Conservation
Environmental Impacts of Renewable Energy Technologies
Eco-friendly Transportation Solutions: Promoting Sustainable Mobility
Human Health and Environmental Pollution: Assessing Risks and Mitigation

Research Paper Topics for Medical Students

The Role of Telemedicine in Improving Healthcare Access and Delivery
Epidemiology and Management of Infectious Diseases: A Focus on Emerging Pathogens
Precision Medicine and Personalized Healthcare: Advancements and Challenges
Ethical Considerations in Medical Research: Informed Consent and Human Rights
Mental Health in Medical Education: Strategies for Reducing Burnout and Promoting Well-being
Global Health Disparities: Analyzing Causes and Strategies for Health Equity
Advancements in Surgical Techniques and Robotics in Medicine
The Opioid Epidemic: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
Healthcare for Underserved Populations: Access, Barriers, and Innovations
Medical Innovations in Diagnostic Imaging: Impact on Patient Care and Diagnosis

Research Paper Topics in Zoology

The Impact of Climate Change on Wildlife Migration Patterns and Habitats
Behavioral Ecology of Apex Predators: From Wolves to Tigers
Zoonotic Diseases: Investigating the Transmission of Diseases Between Animals and Humans
Marine Biology and Conservation: Coral Reefs, Ocean Acidification, and Marine Biodiversity
The Role of Zoos in Conservation and Species Preservation
Invasive Species: Ecological Impacts and Management Strategies
Bird Migration and Navigation: Mechanisms and Conservation Implications
Animal Communication and Language: Insights from Studies on Dolphins and Primates
Endangered Species Recovery Programs: Successes, Failures, and Lessons Learned
Evolutionary Biology: The Coevolution of Predators and Prey

Research Paper Topics For Social Sciences

Are you a student of social sciences? The list of research paper topics below is for you!

History Research Paper Topics

The Causes and Consequences of the American Civil War
The Impact of the Industrial Revolution on Society and Labor
The Rise and Fall of the Roman Empire: Lessons from History
Women's Suffrage Movements Around the World
The Cold War: Origins, Conflicts, and Effects on Global Politics
The Role of Religion in Ancient Civilizations: Egypt, Mesopotamia, and Greece
The Renaissance Era: Art, Science, and Cultural Transformation
The Development of Culture in Mughal India
The Decolonization of Africa and Asia: Struggles for Independence
The Civil Rights Movement in the United States: Progress and Challenges

Research Paper Topics for Education

The Impact of Technology in the Classroom: Enhancing Learning or Distracting Students?
Inclusive Education: Strategies for Supporting Students with Disabilities
The Role of Parental Involvement in Student Academic Achievement
Education and Socioeconomic Inequality: Bridging the Gap
The Effectiveness of Online Learning: Pros and Cons
Early Childhood Education: The Importance of Preschool Programs
Teacher Burnout and Strategies for Teacher Well-being
The Influence of Standardized Testing on Curriculum and Instruction
Culturally Responsive Teaching: Promoting Diversity and Inclusion
Education Policy Reform: Challenges and Impacts on Student Success

Sociology Research Paper Topics

The Impact of Social Media on Social Interaction and Relationships
Gender Inequality in the Workplace: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
Racial Profiling and Policing: Examining Bias and Discrimination
The Sociology of Deviance: Understanding Criminal Behavior
Income Inequality and Its Effects on Society
The Influence of Family Structure on Child Development
Migration and the Social Integration of Immigrants
Environmental Sociology: Exploring the Relationship Between Society and the Environment
The Role of Religion in Shaping Societal Norms and Values
Health Disparities in Marginalized Communities: A Sociological Perspective

Psychology Research Paper Topics

The Impact of Childhood Trauma on Adult Mental Health
Psychological Effects of Social Media Use on Adolescents
Stress and Coping Mechanisms: Strategies for Resilience
The Psychology of Decision-Making: Biases and Heuristics
The Role of Attachment Theory in Parent-Child Relationships
Mental Health Stigma: Barriers to Seeking and Receiving Treatment
The Effects of Sleep Deprivation on Cognitive Functioning
Psychological Factors in Addiction and Recovery
Cognitive Development in Infants: Theories and Milestones
The Psychology of Happiness and Well-being: Factors and Interventions

Research Paper Topics On Media And Communication

The Influence of Social Media on Political Discourse and Public Opinion
Media Bias: Examining News Coverage and Its Impact on Perception
The Evolution of Journalism in the Digital Age: Challenges and Opportunities
The Effects of Advertising on Consumer Behavior and Purchasing Decisions
Media Literacy Education: Preparing Citizens for a Digital World
The Role of Media in Shaping Gender Stereotypes and Representation
Fake News and Misinformation: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
Cultural Appropriation in Media: Analyzing Its Implications
Media and Crisis Communication: Case Studies and Best Practices
Media Effects on Body Image and Self-esteem: Exploring the Impact of Beauty Standards

Political Science Research Paper Topics

The Role of Political Parties in Shaping Government Policies
Electoral Systems and Their Impact on Representation and Governance
The Rise of Populism: Causes and Consequences
The Influence of Lobbying and Interest Groups on Policy-Making
Comparative Analysis of Political Systems: Democracies vs. Authoritarian Regimes
Foreign Policy Decision-Making: Case Studies and Models
Political Polarization: Understanding the Divisions in Contemporary Politics
Human Rights and International Relations: Challenges and Solutions
Environmental Politics and Climate Change Agreements
The Role of Social Media in Shaping Political Discourse and Activism

Research Paper Topics for International Relations

The Impact of Globalization on International Security
International Human Rights Law: Challenges and Progress
Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution: Case Studies in Successful Negotiations
The Role of International Organizations in Promoting Peace and Cooperation
Nuclear Proliferation: Examining the Threats and Non-Proliferation Efforts
Cybersecurity in International Relations: Challenges and Strategies
Global Economic Governance: The Role of International Financial Institutions
The Refugee Crisis: International Responses and the Humanitarian Challenge
Climate Change Diplomacy: Agreements, Obstacles, and Climate Justice
The Geopolitics of Energy: Resource Competition and Security Issues

Research Paper Topics On Culture

Cultural Appropriation: Understanding the Controversy and Implications
Cultural Relativism vs. Universalism: Debates in Anthropology and Ethics
Cultural Expressions in Art: Analyzing Cultural Identity Through Creative Works
Globalization and Its Impact on Cultural Homogenization vs. Cultural Diversity
Cultural Influences on Gender Roles and Identity
The Role of Culture in Shaping Dietary Habits and Food Traditions
Cultural Heritage Preservation: Challenges and Strategies
Language and Culture: The Relationship Between Linguistic Diversity and Cultural Identity
Cultural Rituals and Their Significance in Different Societies
Intercultural Communication: Navigating Cultural Differences in a Globalized World

Research Paper Topics for Humanities

Here are some engaging ideas for research paper topics in humanities disciplines.

Research Paper Topics for English Literature

Exploring the Themes of Love and Desire in Shakespeare's Sonnets
Postcolonial Literature: Analyzing the Works of Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie
The Role of Symbolism in F. Scott Fitzgerald's "The Great Gatsby"
Feminist Critique of Classic Literature: Reevaluating Jane Austen's Heroines
The Gothic Tradition in Literature: A Comparative Study of Edgar Allan Poe and Mary Shelley
Dystopian Literature: Examining Social Commentary in George Orwell's "1984"
The Evolution of Science Fiction: From H.G. Wells to Contemporary Authors
The Modernist Movement in Poetry: T.S. Eliot and "The Waste Land"
Literary Representations of War: Analysis of Ernest Hemingway's Works
The Influence of Mythology in Literature: A Study of Greek and Roman Epics

Research Paper Topics for English Linguistics

The Evolution of English Language: A Historical Analysis
Exploring Dialectical Variations: A Study of Regional English Accents
Syntax in Shakespearean English: Unraveling Linguistic Patterns
Code-Switching in Bilingual Literature: Impacts on Linguistic Identity
The Influence of Technology on Modern English: A Linguistic Perspective
Gendered Language in Literature: Analyzing Linguistic Representations
Sociolinguistic Aspects of English in Global Communication
Cognitive Linguistics: Understanding Language Processing and Comprehension
The Role of Phonetics in English Language Teaching: Strategies and Challenges
Linguistic Analysis of Online Discourse: Trends in Digital Communication

Research Paper Topics on Arts

The Influence of Renaissance Art on Modern Visual Culture
The Evolution of Street Art: From Vandalism to Urban Beautification
Gender and Identity in Contemporary Performance Art
The Role of Public Art in Shaping Urban Spaces and Communities
Censorship in the Arts: Balancing Expression and Sensitivity
The Intersection of Technology and Art: Digital Media and New Frontiers
Art as a Form of Political Protest: Examining Contemporary Activist Art
The Psychology of Art Appreciation: Understanding Aesthetic Experiences
Art Conservation and Preservation: Challenges and Ethical Considerations
Art Therapy: Exploring the Healing Power of Creativity

Research Paper Topics on Religion

Religious Pluralism and Interfaith Dialogue: Promoting Understanding and Tolerance
The Role of Religion in Shaping Moral Values and Ethics
Religion and Politics: Examining the Influence of Faith on Governance
Religious Rituals and Their Significance in Different Cultures
Secularism and Its Impact on Religious Practice and Belief
Religion and Science: Exploring the Compatibility and Conflict
The Influence of Religion on Gender Roles and Equality
Religious Fundamentalism and Its Implications for Society
Religion and Environmental Ethics: Perspectives on Stewardship
Religious Conversion and the Psychology Behind Faith Changes

Philosophy Research Paper Topics

The Philosophy of Ethics: Exploring Different Ethical Theories
The Problem of Free Will and Determinism: Philosophical Perspectives
Existentialism in Literature: A Philosophical Analysis
The Philosophy of Mind: Dualism vs. Materialism
The Nature of Reality: Metaphysical Approaches and Debates
Moral Dilemmas and Ethical Decision-Making: A Philosophical Examination
Philosophy of Technology: Ethical Implications of Advancements
Political Philosophy: Theories of Justice and Social Contracts
Philosophy of Religion: The Existence of God and Theodicy
Environmental Ethics: Philosophical Perspectives on Nature and Sustainability

Research Paper Topics for Ethics

Ethical Dilemmas in Medical Decision-Making: Balancing Autonomy and Beneficence
The Ethics of Artificial Intelligence: Accountability and Bias in AI Systems
Corporate Ethics: Ethical Responsibility of Multinational Corporations
Ethical Considerations in Environmental Conservation: Sustainability and Future Generations
The Ethics of Genetic Engineering and Designer Babies
The Intersection of Ethics and Technology: Privacy, Surveillance, and Data Ethics
Ethical Implications of End-of-Life Care and Euthanasia
Animal Rights and Ethical Treatment of Animals in Research
The Role of Ethics in Criminal Justice: Police Conduct and Criminal Punishment
The Ethics of Whistleblowing: Balancing Loyalty and Accountability

Law Research Paper Topics

The Evolution of Privacy Rights in the Digital Age: Legal and Ethical Considerations
Criminal Justice Reform: Assessing the Impact of Changes in Sentencing and Policing
Intellectual Property Rights in the Digital Era: Copyright, Trademarks, and Patents
The Role of International Law in Addressing Global Human Rights Violations
Environmental Law and Sustainable Development: Balancing Conservation and Economic Interests
Legal Aspects of Cybersecurity: Privacy, Data Protection, and Cybercrime
The Legalization of Marijuana: Implications for Criminal Justice and Public Health
Corporate Governance and Ethics: Analyzing Legal Frameworks for Accountability
Family Law and Child Custody Disputes: Examining Best Interests and Parental Rights
The Intersection of Law and Bioethics: Ethical Dilemmas in Medical and Scientific Research

Research Paper Topics on Criminal Justice

Racial Disparities in the Criminal Justice System: Causes and Consequences
Police Use of Force: Policies, Accountability, and Community Relations
Criminal Profiling and Its Effectiveness in Solving Crimes
Mental Illness in the Criminal Justice System: Diversion Programs and Treatment
The Impact of Mass Incarceration on Communities and Rehabilitation Efforts
Forensic Science and Criminal Investigations: Advances, Challenges, and Ethics
Cybercrime and Digital Forensics: Investigative Techniques and Legal Implications
Juvenile Justice: Rehabilitation vs. Punishment and the Recidivism Rate
The Death Penalty: Ethical, Legal, and Policy Considerations
Victim Rights and Restorative Justice Programs: Balancing the Scales of Justice

Research Paper Topics on Economics

Income Inequality: Causes, Consequences, and Policy Solutions
The Impact of Economic Globalization on Developing Countries
Behavioral Economics: Exploring Psychological Factors in Decision-Making
The Economics of Climate Change: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
Monetary Policy and Its Effects on Economic Stability
Trade Wars and Tariffs: Economic Effects and Global Trade Relations
Healthcare Economics: Examining Healthcare Costs, Access, and Reform
The Economics of Education: Investment in Human Capital and Economic Growth
Urban Economics: Challenges and Solutions in Sustainable City Development
Labor Market Trends: Gig Economy, Automation, and Future of Work

Research Paper Topics Related to Marketing

Influencer Marketing: Effectiveness, Ethics, and the Role of Social Media
Consumer Behavior in the Digital Age: Online Shopping Trends and Decision-Making
Brand Loyalty and Customer Retention Strategies in Competitive Markets
Neuromarketing: Understanding the Psychology of Consumer Choices
The Impact of Social Media Marketing on Brand Image and Customer Engagement
E-commerce and Marketplaces: Strategies for Success in Online Retail
Content Marketing: Creating and Measuring the Value of Branded Content
Marketing to Generation Z: Preferences, Values, and Communication Channels
The Role of Sustainability and Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) in Marketing
Crisis Marketing and Reputation Management: Strategies for Navigating Challenges

Best Research Paper Topics 2023

Here are some impressive and easy research paper topics to write an extraordinary paper.

Argumentative Research Paper Topics

Should the Minimum Wage be Raised?
The Impact of Social Media on Mental Health: Harmful or Beneficial?
Is Genetic Engineering Ethical? Examining the Pros and Cons of Genetic Modification
The Death Penalty: Should it be Abolished or Retained?
Gun Control: Balancing Second Amendment Rights and Public Safety
Universal Healthcare: Is it a Right or a Privilege?
The Role of Government in Regulating Big Tech Companies
Climate Change: Is Human Activity the Primary Cause?
Online Privacy: Balancing Security and Civil Liberties
The Legalization of Recreational Marijuana: Weighing the Social and Economic Impacts

US History Research Paper Topics

The American Revolution: Causes, Key Figures, and Impact on the Nation
The Abolitionist Movement: Strategies, Leaders, and the Fight Against Slavery
The Reconstruction Era: Challenges, Achievements, and Failures
The Women's Suffrage Movement: Struggles and Triumphs in the Fight for Voting Rights
The Civil Rights Movement: Leaders, Events, and the Struggle for Equality
The Great Depression: Causes, Effects, and Government Responses
The Vietnam War: Origins, Controversies, and Legacy
The Space Race: The Cold War Competition for Supremacy Beyond Earth
The Civil War: Battlefronts, Political Divisions, and the Emancipation Proclamation
The American Westward Expansion: Manifest Destiny, Conflicts, and Impacts on Native Americans

Persuasive Research Paper Topics

The Importance of Comprehensive Sex Education in Schools
Banning Single-Use Plastics: Protecting the Environment and Marine Life
Promoting Renewable Energy: Transitioning to a Sustainable Future
Mandatory Vaccination: Protecting Public Health and Herd Immunity
The Benefits of Telecommuting: A Win-Win for Employers and Employees
Promoting Healthy Eating Habits: The Case for Implementing Sugar Taxes
The Need for Stricter Animal Welfare Laws: Preventing Animal Cruelty
Accessible Education for All: The Case for Affordable College Tuition
Promoting Voting Rights: Ensuring a Fair and Inclusive Democracy
The Importance of Mental Health Awareness and Support: Breaking the Stigma

Easy Research Paper Topics

The Benefits of Regular Exercise for Physical and Mental Health
The History and Impact of Social Media on Society
The Basics of Climate Change: Causes, Effects, and Solutions
The Life and Achievements of a Notable Inventor or Scientist
The Importance of Recycling and Waste Reduction in Daily Life
The Impact of Fast Food on Diet and Health
Effect of Global Warming on The Frequency And Intensity Of Natural Disasters
Should Marijuana be legalized in US? Costs, Economic And Social Benefits
How Do Terrorist Attacks Influence Public Opinion And Political Behavior In Democratic Countries
Crime Rates: Main Factors That Explain The Variation In Crime Rates Across Different Countries And Regions

Research Paper Topics on Current Affairs

The Impact of COVID-19 on Global Health Systems and Preparedness
Climate Change and Extreme Weather Events: Mitigation and Adaptation Strategies
The Future of Work: Remote Work Trends and Implications
Economic Recovery Post-Pandemic: Challenges and Opportunities
Vaccine Hesitancy: Understanding Causes and Addressing Concerns
Cybersecurity in the Digital Age: Threats, Vulnerabilities, and Defense
Immigration Policies and Border Security: A Global Perspective
The Role of Social Media in Political Movements and Disinformation
Global Supply Chain Disruptions: Causes and Strategies for Resilience
Racial and Social Justice Movements: Progress and Ongoing Challenges

Controversial Research Paper Topics

The Legalization of Assisted Suicide and Euthanasia: Ethical and Legal Considerations
Gun Control Laws: Balancing Second Amendment Rights and Public Safety
The Death Penalty: Is it an Effective Deterrent or a Violation of Human Rights?
Animal Testing: Ethical Issues and Alternatives for Scientific Research
The Legalization of Recreational Drugs: Assessing Risks and Benefits
Abortion: Examining the Ethical, Legal, and Medical Aspects
Freedom of Speech vs. Hate Speech: Protecting Civil Liberties in a Digital Age
Climate Change Denial: Analyzing the Science and Skepticism
School Vouchers and School Choice: The Future of Public Education
Genetically Modified Organisms (GMOs): Safety, Labeling, and Environmental Concerns

Research Paper Topics on Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Historical Roots of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Tracing the Beginnings
Media Framing of the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: Impact on Public Perception
The Role of International Diplomacy in Resolving the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict
Human Rights Violations in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Critical Analysis
Refugees and Displacement: The Ongoing Humanitarian Crisis in the Conflict
Religious Perspectives in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict: A Comparative Study
Water Scarcity and Resource Management in the Context of the Conflict
Education and Propaganda: Examining the Impact of Curricula on Perpetuating Conflict Narratives
The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs) in Peacebuilding Efforts
Media and Social Media's Influence on Shaping Public Opinion in the Israeli-Palestinian Conflict

Nursing Research Paper Topics

The Impact of Nurse-to-Patient Ratios on Patient Outcomes
Nursing Shortages: Causes, Consequences, and Solutions
Evidence-Based Practice in Nursing: Implementing Research into Clinical Care
Nursing Ethics: Ethical Dilemmas and Decision-Making in Patient Care
Palliative Care and End-of-Life Nursing: Improving Quality of Life for Patients
Nursing Informatics: Advancements in Healthcare Technology and Data Management
The Role of Cultural Competence in Nursing: Providing Culturally Sensitive Care
Nursing Burnout and Staff Well-being: Strategies for Prevention and Support
The Impact of Nurse Leadership on Patient Safety and Quality of Care
Pediatric Nursing: Specialized Care for Children and Families

How to Choose a Good Research Paper Topic?

Now that you have a plethora of ideas for your research paper, which one should you choose? Here are some steps you need to follow to choose a good research paper topic:

Identify Your Interests: Start by considering your own interests and passions. Research is much more enjoyable when you're exploring a topic you're genuinely curious about. Think about subjects, issues, or questions that intrigue you.
Brainstorm and Mind Map: Write down potential topics or research questions and create a mind map to visualize how they connect to one another. This can help you see the relationships between different ideas and narrow down your options.
Do Some Preliminary Research: Conduct initial research to see what resources are available on potential topics. This will help you gauge whether there is enough information and credible sources to support your research.
Consider Your Audience: Think about who will be reading your research paper. Tailor your topic to your target audience's interests and knowledge level. You should also comply with the instructor's requirements. Make sure your topic gets approved before you begin with the writing process.
Discuss with Others: Talk to your peers, professors, or mentors about your potential topics. They may offer valuable insights, suggest relevant resources, or help you refine your ideas.

To conclude,

Selecting a good topic is the first and most important step in writing a research paper. Your decision should be guided by your interests, the assignment requirements, and the availability of credible resources.

With this list of potential research paper topics and tips on how to choose a good topic, you are able to select a topic that is both engaging for you and relevant to your audience.

Remember that staying current and conducting preliminary research will help you make an informed choice. Seek feedback from peers and mentors, and don't shy away from challenging or controversial topics when appropriate.

Looking for a research paper writing service? Look no further! MyPerfectWords.com can help you out!

At our professional writing service, we have subject specialists and research writers with advanced knowledge and expertise. They offer essay help according to your academic requirements.

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101 research paper topics.

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

This is an image of a young woman in a library. She is sitting at a desk with a pile of books and looking toward the ceiling. She appears to be in deep thought.

923 Comments

I like using this website when I assist kids with learning as a lot of these topics are quickly covered in the school systems. Thankyou

Mackenah Nicole Molina

Wow! I always have trouble deiciding what to do a research project on but this list has totally solved that. Now my only problem is choosing what idea on this list I should do first!

Most of these my teacher rejected because apparently ‘these aren’t grade level topics, and I doubt they interest you”

I’m sorry to hear that. Sounds like you will have a potentially valuable character-building experience in the short-term.

Edwin Augusto Galindo Cuba

THIS SITE IS AWESOME, THERE ARE LOTS OF TOPICS TO LEARN AND MASTER OUR SKILLS!

research kid

I need one about animals, please. I have been challenged to a animal research project, Due Friday. I have no clue what to research! somebody help, thanks for reading!

You can do one on bats

For international studies you can do Defense and Security.

This was very helpful.

Research on Ben Franklin? I think THAT will get a real charge out of everyone (hehehehegetit)

Mandy Maher

“Is it possible to colonize Mars?”

maddy burney

these are silly topics

thx for making this real.

Mary Nnamani

Please I need project topics on Language Literature

Marcella Vallarino

I would appreciate a list of survey questions for middle school grades 6-8

I need a research topics about public sector management

I NEED FIVE EXAMPLES EACH ON QUALITATIVE AND QUANTITATIVE RESEARCH (EDUCATION, HEALTH, TECHNOLOGY, ECONOMY AND ENGINEERING)

publish research that are interesting please……

hey can you do one on the burmiueda triangle

Anybody know video games effect kids,and,teens. There Fun!!

they’re

I need a topic about woman history if any of u can find 1 please that would be great!

You could research about the history of the astronauts, and of human past (WWI, WWII, etc.)

so about women? Manitoba Women Win the Right to Vote in Municipal Elections, The First Women, January 23, 1849: Elizabeth Blackwell becomes the first woman to graduate from medical school and become a doctor in the United States, Rosa Parks Civil Rights Equal Pay. I have way more. so if you need more just ask.

communism is good

what are you a communist?!?!

Did FDR know about the upcoming attack on Pearl Harbor on 07 DEC 1941.

do you know how babies are born

Christine Singu

kindly assist with a research topic in the field of accounting or auditing

need more about US army

Please can yiu give me a topic in education

I think one should be how can music/Video games can affect the life for people

or How Do Video Games Affect Teenagers?

zimbabwe leader

I think a good topic is supporting the confederate flag!

Need a research topic within the context of students union government and dues payments

do more weird ones plz

joyce alcantara

Hi pls po can you give me a topic relate for humanities pls thank u.

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500 Good Research Paper Topics

Bonus Material: Essential essay checklist

Writing a research paper for a class and not sure how to start?

One of the most important steps to creating a great paper is finding a good topic!

Here’s a hand-drafted list from a Princeton grad who has helped professors at Harvard and Yale edit their papers for publication and taught college writing at the University of Notre Dame and .

What’s more, we give you some foolproof formulas for creating your own paper topic to fit the requirements of your class.

Using these simple formulas, we’ve helped hundreds of students turn a B- paper topic into an A+ paper topic.

Keep reading for our list of 500 vetted research paper topics and our magic formulas for creating your own topic!

Of course, if you want help learning to write research papers tailored to your individual needs, check out our one-on-one writing coaching or academic writing workshop . Set up a free consultation to see how we can help you learn to write A+ papers!

Jump to paper topics in:

European & Mediterranean History

African history, asian history, history of the pre-columbian americas.

Latin American History

History of Science

Politics & public policy, education & education policy, political theory, science policy.

Health Sciences & Psychology

What is a research paper?

In order to write a good research paper, it’s important to know what it is!

In general, we can divide academic writing into three broad categories:

Analytical: analyze the tools an author uses to make their point
Research: delve deeply into a research topic and share your findings
Persuasive : argue a specific and nuanced position backed by evidence

What’s the difference between an analytical paper and a research paper? For an analytical paper, it’s okay to just use one or two sources (a book, poem, work of art, piece of music, etc.) and examine them in detail. For a research paper, however, the expectation is that you do, well . . . research .

The depth of research that you’re expected to do will depend on your age and the type of class you’re taking.

In elementary or middle school, a “research paper” might mean finding information from a few general books or encyclopedias in your school library.

In high school, your teachers might expect you to start using information from academic articles and more specific books. You might use encyclopedias and general works as a starting point, but you’ll be expected to go beyond them and do more work to synthesize information from different perspectives or different types of sources. You may also be expected to do “primary research,” where you study the source material yourself, instead of synthesizing what other people have written about the source material.

In college, you’ll be required to use academic journals and scholarly books, and your professors will now expect that you be more critical of these secondary sources, noticing the methodology and perspectives of whatever articles and books you’re using.

In more advanced college courses, you’ll be expected to do more exhaustive surveys of the existing literature on a topic. You’ll need to conduct primary research that makes an original contribution to the field—the kind that could be published in a journal article itself.

For a walkthrough of the 12 essential steps to writing a good paper, check out our step-by-step guide .

Working on a research paper? Grab our free checklist to make sure your essay has everything it needs to earn an A grade.

Get the essential essay checklist

What makes a good research paper topic?

One of the most important features of a research paper topic is that it has a clear, narrow focus.

For example, your teacher may assign you to write a research paper related to the US Revolutionary War. Does that mean that your topic should be “the US Revolutionary War”?

Definitely not! There’s no way to craft a good paper with in-depth research with such a broad topic. (Unless you’re in elementary or middle school, in which case it’s okay to have a more general topic for your research paper.)

Instead, you need to find a more specific topic within this broader one. There are endless ways that you can make this narrower! Some ideas generated from this one broader topic might be:

Causes of the US Revolutionary War
Changes in military strategy during the Revolutionary War
The experiences of Loyalists to England who remained in the American colonies during the Revolutionary War
How the Revolutionary War was pivotal for the career of Alexander Hamilton
The role of alliances with France during the US Revolutionary War
The experiences of people of color during the Revolutionary War
How George Washington’s previous military career paved the way for his leadership in the Revolutionary War
The main types of weaponry during the Revolutionary War
Changes in clothing and fashion over the courses of the Revolutionary War
How Valley Forge was a key moment in the Revolutionary War
How women contributed to the Revolutionary War
What happened in Amherst, Massachusetts during the Revolutionary War
Field medicine during the Revolutionary War
How the Battle of Saratoga was a turning point in the Revolutionary War
How different opinions about the Revolutionary War were reflected in poetry written during that time
Debates over abolition during the Revolutionary War
The importance of supply chains during the Revolutionary War
Reactions to the US Revolutionary war in Europe
How the US Revolutionary war impacted political theory in England and France
Similarities and differences between the US Revolutionary War and the French Revolution
Famous paintings inspired by the US Revolutionary War
Different ways that the US Revolutionary War has been depicted in modern contemporary culture
The appropriation of the “Boston Tea Party” by US politicians in the 2010s

This list could go on forever!

good research paper topics about the US Revolution

In fact, any of these topics could become even more specific. For example, check out the evolution of this topic:

Economic causes of the Revolutionary war
The way that tax policies helped lead to the Revolutionary War
How tax laws enacted 1763–1775 helped lead to the Revolutionary War
How the tax-free status of the British East India Company helped lead to the Revolutionary War
How the 1773 tax-free status of the British East India Company helped lead to the Revolutionary War, as reflected in letters written 1767–1775
How the 1773 tax-free status of the British East India Company helped lead to the Revolutionary War, as reflected in letters written by members of the Sons of Liberty 1767–1775

As you advance in your educational career, you’ll need to make your topic more and more specific. Steps 1–3 of this topic might be okay in high school, but for a college research paper steps 4–7 would be more appropriate!

As you craft your research paper topic, you should also keep in mind the availability of research materials on your subject. There are millions of topics that would make interesting research papers, but for which you yourself might not be able to investigate with the primary and secondary sources to which you have access.

Access to research materials might look like:

To the best of our knowledge, the sources exist somewhere
The source isn’t behind a paywall (or you or your school can pay for it)
Your school or local library has a copy of the source
Your school or local library can order a copy of the source for you
The source is in a language that you speak
The source has been published already (there’s tons of amazing research that hasn’t been published yet, a frustrating problem!)
You can access the archive, museum, or database where the primary source is held—this might mean online access or travel! To access a source in an archive or museum you’ll often need permission, which often requires a letter of support from your school.

If you’re not sure about access to source materials, talk to a librarian! They’re professionals for this question.

Finally, pick a research topic that interests you! Given that there are unlimited research topics in the world and many ways to adapt a broad topic, there should absolutely be a way to modify a research topic to fit your interests.

Want help learning to write an amazing research paper? Work one-on-one with an experienced Ivy-League tutor to improve your writing skills or sign up for our bestselling academic writing workshop .

Insider tips to generate your own research paper topic

Use these formulas to generate your own research paper topics:

How did X change over a period of time (year, decade, century)?
What is the impact (or consequences) of X?
What led to X?
What is the role of X in Y?
How did X influence Y?
How did X become Y?
How was X different from Y?
How is X an example of Y?
How did X affect Y?
What were some reactions to X?
What are the most effective policies to produce X result?
What are some risks of X?
How is our current understanding of X incorrect? (advanced)
What happens if we look at X through the lens of Y theory or perspective? (advanced)

A good research paper topic often starts with the question words—why, how, what, who, and where. Remember to make it as specific as possible!

Good research paper topics

These research paper topics have been vetted by a Princeton grad and academic book editor!

How did European rivalries (British vs French) impact North American history?
What was the role of British and French alliances with indigneous tribes during the Seven Years’ War?
Reactions to the 1754 Albany Congress among North American intellectual figures
How the Albany Plan served as a model for future attempts at union among the North American colonies
How did different religious identities (Calvinist, Catholic, etc.) play a role in the aftermath of the Seven Years’ War?
What were the consequences of the 1763 Treaty of Paris?
How did the Seven Years’ War impact British debt and colonial economics?
What were some causes of the US Revolutionary War?
How did military strategy change during the Revolutionary War?
What were the experiences of Loyalists to England who remained in the American colonies during the Revolutionary War?
How was the Revolutionary War pivotal for the career of Alexander Hamilton?
What was the role of alliances with France during the US Revolutionary War?
What were the experiences of people of color during the Revolutionary War?
How did George Washington’s previous military career pave the way for his leadership in the Revolutionary War?
What were the main types of weaponry during the Revolutionary War? How did that affect the options for military strategies?
How did clothing and fashion change over the courses of the Revolutionary War?
How was Valley Forge a key moment in the Revolutionary War?
How did women contribute to the Revolutionary War?
What happened in Amherst, Massachusetts (or any other specific location) during the Revolutionary War?
What was field medicine like during the Revolutionary War?
How was the Battle of Saratoga a turning point in the Revolutionary War?
How were different opinions about the Revolutionary War reflected in poetry written during that time?
What were the debates over abolition during the Revolutionary War?
What was the role of supply chains during the Revolutionary War?
What were reactions to the US Revolutionary war like in Europe? What does that tell us about politics in England, France, the Netherlands, etc?
How did the US Revolutionary war impact political theory in England and France?
What are similarities and differences between the US Revolutionary War and the French Revolution?
What are some famous paintings inspired by the US Revolutionary War? What do differences between these paintings tell us about how the artists who created them saw the war?
What are some different ways that the US Revolutionary War has been depicted in modern contemporary culture? What does that tell us?
How was the story of the “Boston Tea Party” appropriated by US politicians in the 2010s, and why?
What was the difference between the Federalists and the Jeffersonians?
How did the 1797 XYZ Affair lead to the Quasi-War with France?
How were loans from European countries and companies (France, Spain, Dutch bankers) key to the early US?
What were reactions to the Constitutional Convention of 1787?
Why did the US remain neutral during the French Revolution?
How did the Alien and Sedition acts contribute to the election of Thomas Jefferson as president?
What was the US’s reaction to the Haitian revolution? Why did the US not recognize Haitian independence until 1862?
What were the reactions to John Jay’s Treaty of 1794?
How have the remarks made by George Washington in his Farewell Address inspired isolationist policies?
How did interpretations of the Monroe Doctrine change over the decades since its creation?
How did the Roosevelt Corollary and Lodge Corollary change and expand the Monroe Doctrine?
How did the presence of US companies like the United Fruit Company affect US military interventions in Latin America?
How was the Monroe Doctrine invoked in the Cuban Missile Crisis of 1962?
How was US culture shaped by the Cold War?
How did ecology play a role in the rise of Ancient Egypt?
How did water management technologies impact Ancient Egypt?
How did bureaucracies function in Ancient Egypt?
How did Egyptian art influence Ancient Greek art?
Who could be a citizen in Athens in the 5th century BCE? What does this tell us about classical Athenian society?
What was the impact of the Peloponnesian War?
What was the impact of Alexander the Great’s attempt to create an empire?
How does the way that Alexander the Great is represented in art demonstrate conceptions about the relationship between the human and the divine?
Was there a conception of race in the ancient world? How were these ideas different from our own modern conceptions of race?
What was the role of debt slavery in the Roman republic? How were these policies ended, and what is the significance of the end of debt slavery? What kinds of slavery remained?
To what degree does the movie Gladiator accurately the Roman Empire in 176–192 CE?
What was the role of slavery in managing the large latifundia ?
How and why did the emperor Constantine I adopt Christianity?
How did patterns of urbanism in the latter Roman empire change? What does this tell us about challenges being faced at that time?
What do reactions to the Byzantine empress Theodora tell us about ideas of gender in 6th-century Byzantium?
How did scientific advancements in Islamic Spain influence the rest of Europe?
What was the relationship between Muslim, Christian, and Jewish populations in Islamic Spain? How does this compare to the experience of Muslim and Jewish populations in Christian Spain?
How did medieval troubadour poetry represent a new idea of romantic relationships?
What are similarities and differences between medieval troubadour poetry and lyric poetry in Ancient Greece?
What do letters between women and popes tell us about gender, power, and religion in medieval Europe?
In what ways was Hildegard of Bingen groundbreaking for her time?
Who produced beer in medieval England, and what does this tell us about society?
How did the adoption of hops affect the production and distribution of beer?
How did beer production allow some women a way to be financially independent?
How was clothing used to mark religious and cultural identities in 15th- and 16th-century Spain?
How did print culture change relationships and courting in Georgian England?
How did churches function as social gathering spaces in Georgian England?
To what degree is Netflix’s Bridgerton series historically accurate?
How did ideas of love change in the 18th century? How did philosophy play a role in this?
When were Valentine cards first commercially available? What does that show us about cultural ideas of love and courtship?
What were the consequences of the desertification of the Sahara?
How did trade links on the Red Sea influence Nubian culture?
How did Carthage build power in Northern Africa around 600–500 BCE?
What was the impact of the Mercenary War (241–238 BCE) in Carthage?
How did the Roman province of Africa play a key role in financing the Roman Empire?
What were the consequences of the Donatist division in the 300s in Northern Africa?
What was the impact of the large-scale movement of Bedouins from the Arabian peninsula into the Maghreb?
How was Mande society organized in the Mali Empire?
What was the role of the book trade in Timbuktu? What does this tell us about culture and learning in the Mali Empire?
How did Aksum use trade to build wealth and power?
What do Nok terracotta sculptures tell us about Nok culture?
How did the Luba Empire create a centralized political system? How did the idea of spiritual kins ( balopwe ) play a role in this system?
How did tax collection work in the Lunda empire?
What does it mean to say that the Ajuran Empire was a hydraulic empire? How did control over water resources allow the Ajuran Empire to build and consolidate power?
What is the significance of diplomatic ties between the Somai Ajuran Empire and Ming dynasty China?
How did the tribute system in the Kingdom of Kongo help to stimulate interregional trade?
What was the impact of the introduction of maize and cassava to the Kingdom of Kongo?
How did women wield influence in the Kingdom of Benin?
How did the Industrial Revolution in Europe help lead to the Scramble for Africa 1878–1898?
What were the consequences of the Second Boer War?
What happened in the Year of Africa (1960)?
How did the Han dynasty consolidate power in frontier regions?
How and why did the Han dynasty nationalize the private salt and iron industries in 117 BCE?
What are the earliest records of papermaking, and what is the significance of this invention?
What was the role of Daoist religious societies in rebellions at the end of the Han dynasty (Yellow Turban Rebellion, Five Pecks of Rice Rebellion)?
What do tomb paintings tell us about ancient Chinese society?
What was the impact of the Sui dynasty’s standardization and re-unification of the coinage?
What was the role of standardized testing in Sui dynasty and Tang dynasty China?
Why is the Tang dynasty often regarded as a golden age of cosmopolitan culture in Chinese history?
What was the role of slavery in imperial China?
How did the rise of jiedushi (regional military governments) undermine the civil-service system? What were the consequences of this?
How did Tang dynasty China exert power over Japan and Korea?
What was the Three Departments and Six Ministries system in imperial China and how did it work?
What does the appearance of Inca, Maya, and Aztec goods in North America (Utah, Canada) and the appearance of goods from the Great Lakes region in Maya and Aztec ruins tell us about trade in the Pre-Columbian Americas?
How did celebration of maize play a central role in Mesoamerican cultures?
How did the Aztec empire use relationships with client city-states to establish power? How did the Aztec empire use taxation to exert power?
How did the luxury good trade impact Aztec political power?
How did the building of roads play a key role in the Aztec empire?
How and why has archaeology played a pivotal role in expanding our understanding of the pre-Columbian Americas?
What are some common misconceptions about the Americas in the year 1491? Why do these misconceptions exist?

Latin American History (post-1492)

How and why did the Spanish appropriate Aztec sites of significance (e.g. Mexico City at the site of Tenochtitlan)?
What were reactions among Latin American intellectuals (e.g. Luis María Drago, Alejandro Álvarez and Baltasar Brum) to the Monroe Doctrine?
How was the US’s involvement in the Venezuela Crisis of 1902–1903 a pivotal turning point in the relationship between the US and Latin American countries?
What were the effects of the US’s involvement in the Cuban War for Independence?
How did the Roosevelt Corollary of 1904 benefit the US?
How did Simon Bolivar’s time in Europe affect his ideas about Latin American independence?
How did 19th century academic societies play a role in the advancement of scientific discoveries? Who was excluded from these societies?
How was music connected to the sciences in medieval thinking?
When was the concept of zero first used, and how was it instrumental for advancements in math?
What role did Islamic Spain play in the spread of scientific advancements in medieval Europe?
What role has translation between languages played in the development of sciences?
Why were Galileo’s ideas about astronomy controversial at the time?
What was the connection between art and advancements in human anatomy?
Why were Darwin’s ideas about natural selection controversial at the time?
To what degree does the film Master and Commander accurately depict the voyages of Charles Darwin?
How did the discovery of quinine and other medical innovations help to facilitate the European colonization of Africa?
How and why was the internet invented?
Does Virgil’s Aeneid celebrate the new Roman Empire or subvert it?
Why was the poet Ovid exiled from Rome?
What are the pagan influences in Beowulf ? What are the Christian elements in Beowulf ? What does that tell us about late Anglo-Saxon England?
How does Chaucer’s Canterbury Tales reflect gender roles in late medieval England?
How does Dante’s Inferno draw on book IV of Virgil’s Aeneid ?
How are gender roles presented and subverted in Shakespeare’s plays?
To what degree did Henry David Thoreau live out the ideals he described in Walden in his own life?
How did the serialized publication of novels affect the way that they were written?
Does Dickens’ novel A Tale of Two Cities accurately portray the French Revolution?
How did 18th-century novels propagate the idea of marrying for love?
What did contemporary readers think about Jane Austen and her novels?
To what degree do Jane Austen’s novels reflect economic realities for women in Regency England? What do they leave out?
How did Lord Byron’s personal life affect his poetry?
What do we know about the romantic life of Emily Dickinson?
What were the religious movements that influenced the writer George Eliot, and how do those influences appear in her novels?
In what ways were Walt Whitman’s writings new or different?
How did British poets react to the horrors of Word War I?
What do Tolkien’s letters reveal about the ways in which the two world wars influenced his writings?
How did the friendship between CS Lewis and Tolkien affect their respective writings?
What are the arguments for and against Catalonian independence from Spain?
What are the arguments for and against Scottish independence from the United Kingdom?
What are some risks of contact sports, especially for children?
What are the most effective policies for combating childhood obesity?
What are the most effective policies for reducing gun violence?
Which countries have the longest life expectancy and why?
What are some differences between the healthcare system in the US and in European countries? Which country has the most similar system to the US?
What policies for parental leave exist in different countries? What are some effects of these policies?
Has the drinking age in the US always been 21? What have been some different policies, and what were some consequences of them?
What is the debate around museum artifacts like the Elgin Marbles in London or the Benin Bronzes in Berlin?
How have politicians attempted to control population growth in different countries, either directly or indirectly? What have been some effects of these policies?
Which countries have the most gender parity reflected in national governments? How have they accomplished this?
How has public funding of K-12 education changed since the 1930s in the US?
How has public funding of higher education changed in the US?
What is early childhood education like in different countries?
What are some effects of free or reduced-cost meals in schools?
How does access to menstrual products affect education outcomes for girls in different countries?
What was the impact of Rousseau’s writings on education?
How did Plato’s ideal forms of government reflect contemporary Athenian concerns about the unruly masses ( demos )?
How did Aristotle justify slavery?
How has wealth inequality increased in recent decades?
How is inflation calculated, and what are the implications of this methodology?
How have genetically-engineered crops changed the way that the planet feeds itself?
How has animal testing changed since 2000?
How is animal testing regulated differently in different countries?

Health Sciences and Psychology

How do different societies reflect the natural circadian rhythms of the human body?
How does secondhand smoke affect the human body?
How does lack of sleep affect the body?
How does stress affect the body?
What are some ways to reduce stress?
How have cancer treatments changed in the past 30 years?
Why is it hard to find a “cure” for cancer?
How has the Human Genome Project changed medical science?
How were the Covid vaccines developed so quickly? What is the difference between the various Covid vaccines that have been developed?

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99 Great Handpicked Ideas for Argumentative Essays 12 Essential Steps for Writing an Argumentative Essay The 13 SAT and ACT Grammar Rules to Know 16 Essential Literary Devices to Know

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100 Interesting Research Paper Topics for High Schoolers

What’s covered:, how to pick the right research topic, elements of a strong research paper.

Interesting Research Paper Topics

Composing a research paper can be a daunting task for first-time writers. In addition to making sure you’re using concise language and your thoughts are organized clearly, you need to find a topic that draws the reader in.

CollegeVine is here to help you brainstorm creative topics! Below are 100 interesting research paper topics that will help you engage with your project and keep you motivated until you’ve typed the final period.

A research paper is similar to an academic essay but more lengthy and requires more research. This added length and depth is bittersweet: although a research paper is more work, you can create a more nuanced argument, and learn more about your topic. Research papers are a demonstration of your research ability and your ability to formulate a convincing argument. How well you’re able to engage with the sources and make original contributions will determine the strength of your paper.

You can’t have a good research paper without a good research paper topic. “Good” is subjective, and different students will find different topics interesting. What’s important is that you find a topic that makes you want to find out more and make a convincing argument. Maybe you’ll be so interested that you’ll want to take it further and investigate some detail in even greater depth!

For example, last year over 4000 students applied for 500 spots in the Lumiere Research Scholar Program , a rigorous research program founded by Harvard researchers. The program pairs high-school students with Ph.D. mentors to work 1-on-1 on an independent research project . The program actually does not require you to have a research topic in mind when you apply, but pro tip: the more specific you can be the more likely you are to get in!

Introduction

The introduction to a research paper serves two critical functions: it conveys the topic of the paper and illustrates how you will address it. A strong introduction will also pique the interest of the reader and make them excited to read more. Selecting a research paper topic that is meaningful, interesting, and fascinates you is an excellent first step toward creating an engaging paper that people will want to read.

Thesis Statement

A thesis statement is technically part of the introduction—generally the last sentence of it—but is so important that it merits a section of its own. The thesis statement is a declarative sentence that tells the reader what the paper is about. A strong thesis statement serves three purposes: present the topic of the paper, deliver a clear opinion on the topic, and summarize the points the paper will cover.

An example of a good thesis statement of diversity in the workforce is:

Diversity in the workplace is not just a moral imperative but also a strategic advantage for businesses, as it fosters innovation, enhances creativity, improves decision-making, and enables companies to better understand and connect with a diverse customer base.

The body is the largest section of a research paper. It’s here where you support your thesis, present your facts and research, and persuade the reader.

Each paragraph in the body of a research paper should have its own idea. The idea is presented, generally in the first sentence of the paragraph, by a topic sentence. The topic sentence acts similarly to the thesis statement, only on a smaller scale, and every sentence in the paragraph with it supports the idea it conveys.

An example of a topic sentence on how diversity in the workplace fosters innovation is:

Diversity in the workplace fosters innovation by bringing together individuals with different backgrounds, perspectives, and experiences, which stimulates creativity, encourages new ideas, and leads to the development of innovative solutions to complex problems.

The body of an engaging research paper flows smoothly from one idea to the next. Create an outline before writing and order your ideas so that each idea logically leads to another.

The conclusion of a research paper should summarize your thesis and reinforce your argument. It’s common to restate the thesis in the conclusion of a research paper.

For example, a conclusion for a paper about diversity in the workforce is:

In conclusion, diversity in the workplace is vital to success in the modern business world. By embracing diversity, companies can tap into the full potential of their workforce, promote creativity and innovation, and better connect with a diverse customer base, ultimately leading to greater success and a more prosperous future for all.

Reference Page

The reference page is normally found at the end of a research paper. It provides proof that you did research using credible sources, properly credits the originators of information, and prevents plagiarism.

There are a number of different formats of reference pages, including APA, MLA, and Chicago. Make sure to format your reference page in your teacher’s preferred style.

Analyze the benefits of diversity in education.
Are charter schools useful for the national education system?
How has modern technology changed teaching?
Discuss the pros and cons of standardized testing.
What are the benefits of a gap year between high school and college?
What funding allocations give the most benefit to students?
Does homeschooling set students up for success?
Should universities/high schools require students to be vaccinated?
What effect does rising college tuition have on high schoolers?
Do students perform better in same-sex schools?
Discuss and analyze the impacts of a famous musician on pop music.
How has pop music evolved over the past decade?
How has the portrayal of women in music changed in the media over the past decade?
How does a synthesizer work?
How has music evolved to feature different instruments/voices?
How has sound effect technology changed the music industry?
Analyze the benefits of music education in high schools.
Are rehabilitation centers more effective than prisons?
Are congestion taxes useful?
Does affirmative action help minorities?
Can a capitalist system effectively reduce inequality?
Is a three-branch government system effective?
What causes polarization in today’s politics?
Is the U.S. government racially unbiased?
Choose a historical invention and discuss its impact on society today.
Choose a famous historical leader who lost power—what led to their eventual downfall?
How has your country evolved over the past century?
What historical event has had the largest effect on the U.S.?
Has the government’s response to national disasters improved or declined throughout history?
Discuss the history of the American occupation of Iraq.
Explain the history of the Israel-Palestine conflict.
Is literature relevant in modern society?
Discuss how fiction can be used for propaganda.
How does literature teach and inform about society?
Explain the influence of children’s literature on adulthood.
How has literature addressed homosexuality?
Does the media portray minorities realistically?
Does the media reinforce stereotypes?
Why have podcasts become so popular?
Will streaming end traditional television?
What is a patriot?
What are the pros and cons of global citizenship?
What are the causes and effects of bullying?
Why has the divorce rate in the U.S. been declining in recent years?
Is it more important to follow social norms or religion?
What are the responsible limits on abortion, if any?
How does an MRI machine work?
Would the U.S. benefit from socialized healthcare?
Elderly populations
The education system
State tax bases
How do anti-vaxxers affect the health of the country?
Analyze the costs and benefits of diet culture.
Should companies allow employees to exercise on company time?
What is an adequate amount of exercise for an adult per week/per month/per day?
Discuss the effects of the obesity epidemic on American society.
Are students smarter since the advent of the internet?
What departures has the internet made from its original design?
Has digital downloading helped the music industry?
Discuss the benefits and costs of stricter internet censorship.
Analyze the effects of the internet on the paper news industry.
What would happen if the internet went out?
How will artificial intelligence (AI) change our lives?
What are the pros and cons of cryptocurrency?
How has social media affected the way people relate with each other?
Should social media have an age restriction?
Discuss the importance of source software.
What is more relevant in today’s world: mobile apps or websites?
How will fully autonomous vehicles change our lives?
How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?

Mental Health

What are the benefits of daily exercise?
How has social media affected people’s mental health?
What things contribute to poor mental and physical health?
Analyze how mental health is talked about in pop culture.
Discuss the pros and cons of more counselors in high schools.
How does stress affect the body?
How do emotional support animals help people?
What are black holes?
Discuss the biggest successes and failures of the EPA.
How has the Flint water crisis affected life in Michigan?
Can science help save endangered species?
Is the development of an anti-cancer vaccine possible?

Environment

What are the effects of deforestation on climate change?
Is climate change reversible?
How did the COVID-19 pandemic affect global warming and climate change?
Are carbon credits effective for offsetting emissions or just marketing?
Is nuclear power a safe alternative to fossil fuels?
Are hybrid vehicles helping to control pollution in the atmosphere?
How is plastic waste harming the environment?
Is entrepreneurism a trait people are born with or something they learn?
How much more should CEOs make than their average employee?
Can you start a business without money?
Should the U.S. raise the minimum wage?
Discuss how happy employees benefit businesses.
How important is branding for a business?
Discuss the ease, or difficulty, of landing a job today.
What is the economic impact of sporting events?
Are professional athletes overpaid?
Should male and female athletes receive equal pay?
What is a fair and equitable way for transgender athletes to compete in high school sports?
What are the benefits of playing team sports?
What is the most corrupt professional sport?

Where to Get More Research Paper Topic Ideas

If you need more help brainstorming topics, especially those that are personalized to your interests, you can use CollegeVine’s free AI tutor, Ivy . Ivy can help you come up with original research topic ideas, and she can also help with the rest of your homework, from math to languages.

Disclaimer: This post includes content sponsored by Lumiere Education.

150 Research Paper Topics

Whether you’re in high school or college, there will come a time when you’ll be required to write a research paper. For many students, writing a research paper can be a challenging task.

Writing the research paper might seem like it’s the hardest part of the entire paper, but for many students, it’s picking out what topic to write about.

If you’re having a difficult time figuring out what topic to write your research paper about, we’ve compiled a list of 150 topics for you to choose from!

How to Choose a Topic for a Research Paper

Pick a few areas or topics that you’re interested in and narrow it down to the topic that you like the best. You’ll be able to put together an insightful paper if you’re interested in the topic you chose.
Make sure you have enough references for your topic. Doing a quick search will help you see if your topic is discussed enough for you to do research.
Make sure your topic fits within your teacher’s guidelines. Your teacher may have set restrictions on certain topics or even requirements that they may want in your paper.

Health Topics

How can lifestyle habits influence overall health?
How does breastfeeding improve the infant’s health?
Reasons why the flu virus is different from year to year.
Different types of stem cells and their usage.
Sleep disorders’ impact on the overall health condition.
The healthiest diet does not exist.
Stop smoking to improve mental health.
Why are carbs bad for people who are insulin resistant?
Why is the skin on a face more sensitive to breakouts and touch than on any other part of the body?
Low carbohydrate vs. low-fat diets.

Science Topics

How has the earth’s climate changed in the past few decades?
What are the pros and cons of fracking?
Should the US rely on nuclear energy more?
How are black holes created?
Why is “dark matter” important?
Is global warming a hoax? Is it being exaggerated?
What are the main sources of marine pollution?
Endangered species – How can we preserve them?
What did you do to make the world a better place?
What have NASA’s biggest successes and failures been?

Psychology Topics

What Are Psychological Effects of Technology Addiction?
What Causes Eating Disorders?
How Do Certain People Become Leaders?
How Important Is Love for the Child’s Development?
How Does Lack of Sleep Affect Our Mental Health?
Insomnia and its Effects on Human Health.
Physical and Mental Violence on Children and Domestic Abuse.
How dangerous are eating disorders?
Post-traumatic stress syndrome.
What causes depression?

Ethics Topics

How and why have divorce rates changed over time?
Should physician-assisted suicide be legal?
How has stem cell research impacted the medical field?
How can human trafficking be reduced in the United States/world?
Importance of following ethics in psychological research.

Social Media Topics

Are social networks making us lonely and unsociable?
How to protect children online?
Is there such a thing as social media addiction?
Who are world-famous influencers on social media?
Does social media affect our relationships?
Are teens who spend more time on social media more likely to suffer anxiety and/or depression?
Has social media made people more or less connected?
How does social media influence interpersonal communication?
How can one defend privacy issues on Facebook and other social media?
Impacts of social media on youth.

Legal Issues Topics

Should marijuana be legalized at the national level?
Should there be a law preventing cyber-bullying?
What can be done to improve family law?
What countries have the worst legal systems?
What countries have the best legal systems?
What are the main flaws of the legal system in the USA?
Does police brutality contribute to the onset of hate crimes?
Why should the minimum legal drinking age be kept at eighteen years?
Does drug legalization contribute to the increased crime rate?
How do torrenting sites influence creativity and copyright?

Technology Topics

Do smartphones increase or decrease workplace productivity?
What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
How is Google search affecting our intelligence?
What are some advances in technology related to medicine?
Can everything be solar powered?
How is text messaging affecting teen literacy?
How can technology help in preventing terrorist attacks?

Government Topics

Several states have legalized recreational marijuana. What positive and negative impacts have they experienced as a result?
Has the increase in US airport security made passengers safer?
Should the federal government be allowed to regulate information on the internet?
Should the United States of America reform its Immigration policies?
Which prison reforms have proven most effective?

Education Topics

Do students from wealthier backgrounds score higher on standardized tests?
How does giving each student access to an iPad or laptop affect their studies?
Do children who attend preschool do better in school later on?
What impact does mandatory physical education classes have on students’ health?
Which methods are most effective at reducing bullying in schools?
How does college debt affect future life choices of students?
E-Learning at home VS traditional education.
The Effectiveness and Flaws of the No Child Left Behind Act.
General tests and their effectiveness in various institutions.
How to encourage students to study what they are passionate about?

Business Topics

How has business etiquette changed in the past few years?
Features that define a true business leader.
Things that make young startups fail during the first couple of years.
Does franchising make it easier to run a business?
Pros & cons of outsourcing services.

Sports Topics

Importance of physical exercise in school.
Is cheerleading a sport?
Do sports influence an individual’s emotional well-being?
Safest exercises for students with disabilities.
Collaboration on a sports field. What is the most effective communication strategy among sports team members?
Differences in the Italian Renaissance and Northern Renaissance.
Impacts famous artists had on the world.
The art of Ancient Egypt.
Censorship in art.
Analyze the impact a famous artist had on the world.

Entertainment Topics

Are violent video games really to blame for problems in children’s behavior?
Are beauty contests making beauty standards even more unachievable?
Are modern media gradually replacing newspapers?
Reasons why we cannot do without the mass media.
Compare and contrast the benefits of mass media to society.
How have shows like “Project Runway” influenced fashion? Have they motivated people to become more creative and personal in what they wear?
Are newspapers going extinct?
Do TV shows impose unreal moral standards?
Women competing against men: is it really fair?
How fake moral standards are imposed by television

Current Events Topics

Analyze the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
What factors contributed to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
What have been the impacts of states which have increased their minimum wage?
How do US immigration laws compare to immigration laws of other countries?
How have the US’s immigration laws changed in the past few years/decades?
Is the U.S. economy becoming stronger or weaker?
Is there a better way to fight the war against drugs internationally?
Can Bitcoin really become the currency of the future in America?
Preventing police brutality: history and what citizens can do.
History of the electoral college system of voting.

History Topics

What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
Was the atomic bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki necessary?
What were the causes of the Civil War?
How did Abraham Lincoln’s assassination impact the country and reconstruction after the Civil War?
Which factors contributed to the colonies winning the American Revolution?
What caused Hitler’s rise to power?
Discuss how a specific invention impacted history.
What Factors Caused the Stock Market Crash in 1929?
What Were the Social Consequences of the Vietnam War?
What Is the Role of Women in the Military?

Physics and Astronomy Topics

What Is Pluto if It’s not a Planet?
Can We Determine How Old the Universe Is?
What Are Dark Holes?
Could People Survive on Mars?
Is Space Exploration Really Necessary?
Can We Prevent a Large Comet from Striking the Earth?
What are the physics behind the creation of rainbows?
The importance of robots in industries.
The evolution of the self-driving car and its impact on the economy.
The role of physics in the healthcare industry.

Animals Topics

Do animals express love?
Is animal testing a kind of animal cruelty?
Should environments be protected if endangered species live there?
How have humans bred domestic animals to be different from their original wild counterparts?
What is the current genetic and fossil evidence that chickens, dogs, and other domestic animals were much different even a few hundred years ago?

Medical Topics

The use of medical marijuana: pros and cons
Is it safe for children to be vegetarians?
How the society views on vaccines change
Can pharmaceutical companies advertise prescription drugs directly to buyers?
The role of doctors in the growing nation’s drug addiction
How many treatments to Autism are there?
How is ageism impacting mental health and addictions?
What are the pros and cons of antipsychotics?
Should alternative medicine be legalized?
Is the relationship between the FDA and the pharmaceutical industry a good one?

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Research Topics & Ideas: Education

170+ Research Ideas To Fast-Track Your Project

Topic Kickstarter: Research topics in education

If you’re just starting out exploring education-related topics for your dissertation, thesis or research project, you’ve come to the right place. In this post, we’ll help kickstart your research topic ideation process by providing a hearty list of research topics and ideas , including examples from actual dissertations and theses..

PS – This is just the start…

We know it’s exciting to run through a list of research topics, but please keep in mind that this list is just a starting point . To develop a suitable education-related 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 sounds foreign to you, check out our free research topic webinar that explores how to find and refine a high-quality research topic, from scratch. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, consider our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Education Research Topics

How to find a research topic (video)
List of 50+ education-related research topics/ideas
List of 120+ level-specific research topics
Examples of actual dissertation topics in education
Tips to fast-track your topic ideation (video)
Free Webinar : Topic Ideation 101
Where to get extra help

Education-Related Research Topics & Ideas

Below you’ll find a list of education-related research topics and idea kickstarters. These are fairly broad and flexible to various contexts, so keep in mind that you will need to refine them a little. Nevertheless, they should inspire some ideas for your project.

The impact of school funding on student achievement
The effects of social and emotional learning on student well-being
The effects of parental involvement on student behaviour
The impact of teacher training on student learning
The impact of classroom design on student learning
The impact of poverty on education
The use of student data to inform instruction
The role of parental involvement in education
The effects of mindfulness practices in the classroom
The use of technology in the classroom
The role of critical thinking in education
The use of formative and summative assessments in the classroom
The use of differentiated instruction in the classroom
The use of gamification in education
The effects of teacher burnout on student learning
The impact of school leadership on student achievement
The effects of teacher diversity on student outcomes
The role of teacher collaboration in improving student outcomes
The implementation of blended and online learning
The effects of teacher accountability on student achievement
The effects of standardized testing on student learning
The effects of classroom management on student behaviour
The effects of school culture on student achievement
The use of student-centred learning in the classroom
The impact of teacher-student relationships on student outcomes
The achievement gap in minority and low-income students
The use of culturally responsive teaching in the classroom
The impact of teacher professional development on student learning
The use of project-based learning in the classroom
The effects of teacher expectations on student achievement
The use of adaptive learning technology in the classroom
The impact of teacher turnover on student learning
The effects of teacher recruitment and retention on student learning
The impact of early childhood education on later academic success
The impact of parental involvement on student engagement
The use of positive reinforcement in education
The impact of school climate on student engagement
The role of STEM education in preparing students for the workforce
The effects of school choice on student achievement
The use of technology in the form of online tutoring

Level-Specific Research Topics

Looking for research topics for a specific level of education? We’ve got you covered. Below you can find research topic ideas for primary, secondary and tertiary-level education contexts. Click the relevant level to view the respective list.

Research Topics: Pick An Education Level

Primary education.

Investigating the effects of peer tutoring on academic achievement in primary school
Exploring the benefits of mindfulness practices in primary school classrooms
Examining the effects of different teaching strategies on primary school students’ problem-solving skills
The use of storytelling as a teaching strategy in primary school literacy instruction
The role of cultural diversity in promoting tolerance and understanding in primary schools
The impact of character education programs on moral development in primary school students
Investigating the use of technology in enhancing primary school mathematics education
The impact of inclusive curriculum on promoting equity and diversity in primary schools
The impact of outdoor education programs on environmental awareness in primary school students
The influence of school climate on student motivation and engagement in primary schools
Investigating the effects of early literacy interventions on reading comprehension in primary school students
The impact of parental involvement in school decision-making processes on student achievement in primary schools
Exploring the benefits of inclusive education for students with special needs in primary schools
Investigating the effects of teacher-student feedback on academic motivation in primary schools
The role of technology in developing digital literacy skills in primary school students
Effective strategies for fostering a growth mindset in primary school students
Investigating the role of parental support in reducing academic stress in primary school children
The role of arts education in fostering creativity and self-expression in primary school students
Examining the effects of early childhood education programs on primary school readiness
Examining the effects of homework on primary school students’ academic performance
The role of formative assessment in improving learning outcomes in primary school classrooms
The impact of teacher-student relationships on academic outcomes in primary school
Investigating the effects of classroom environment on student behavior and learning outcomes in primary schools
Investigating the role of creativity and imagination in primary school curriculum
The impact of nutrition and healthy eating programs on academic performance in primary schools
The impact of social-emotional learning programs on primary school students’ well-being and academic performance
The role of parental involvement in academic achievement of primary school children
Examining the effects of classroom management strategies on student behavior in primary school
The role of school leadership in creating a positive school climate Exploring the benefits of bilingual education in primary schools
The effectiveness of project-based learning in developing critical thinking skills in primary school students
The role of inquiry-based learning in fostering curiosity and critical thinking in primary school students
The effects of class size on student engagement and achievement in primary schools
Investigating the effects of recess and physical activity breaks on attention and learning in primary school
Exploring the benefits of outdoor play in developing gross motor skills in primary school children
The effects of educational field trips on knowledge retention in primary school students
Examining the effects of inclusive classroom practices on students’ attitudes towards diversity in primary schools
The impact of parental involvement in homework on primary school students’ academic achievement
Investigating the effectiveness of different assessment methods in primary school classrooms
The influence of physical activity and exercise on cognitive development in primary school children
Exploring the benefits of cooperative learning in promoting social skills in primary school students

Secondary Education

Investigating the effects of school discipline policies on student behavior and academic success in secondary education
The role of social media in enhancing communication and collaboration among secondary school students
The impact of school leadership on teacher effectiveness and student outcomes in secondary schools
Investigating the effects of technology integration on teaching and learning in secondary education
Exploring the benefits of interdisciplinary instruction in promoting critical thinking skills in secondary schools
The impact of arts education on creativity and self-expression in secondary school students
The effectiveness of flipped classrooms in promoting student learning in secondary education
The role of career guidance programs in preparing secondary school students for future employment
Investigating the effects of student-centered learning approaches on student autonomy and academic success in secondary schools
The impact of socio-economic factors on educational attainment in secondary education
Investigating the impact of project-based learning on student engagement and academic achievement in secondary schools
Investigating the effects of multicultural education on cultural understanding and tolerance in secondary schools
The influence of standardized testing on teaching practices and student learning in secondary education
Investigating the effects of classroom management strategies on student behavior and academic engagement in secondary education
The influence of teacher professional development on instructional practices and student outcomes in secondary schools
The role of extracurricular activities in promoting holistic development and well-roundedness in secondary school students
Investigating the effects of blended learning models on student engagement and achievement in secondary education
The role of physical education in promoting physical health and well-being among secondary school students
Investigating the effects of gender on academic achievement and career aspirations in secondary education
Exploring the benefits of multicultural literature in promoting cultural awareness and empathy among secondary school students
The impact of school counseling services on student mental health and well-being in secondary schools
Exploring the benefits of vocational education and training in preparing secondary school students for the workforce
The role of digital literacy in preparing secondary school students for the digital age
The influence of parental involvement on academic success and well-being of secondary school students
The impact of social-emotional learning programs on secondary school students’ well-being and academic success
The role of character education in fostering ethical and responsible behavior in secondary school students
Examining the effects of digital citizenship education on responsible and ethical technology use among secondary school students
The impact of parental involvement in school decision-making processes on student outcomes in secondary schools
The role of educational technology in promoting personalized learning experiences in secondary schools
The impact of inclusive education on the social and academic outcomes of students with disabilities in secondary schools
The influence of parental support on academic motivation and achievement in secondary education
The role of school climate in promoting positive behavior and well-being among secondary school students
Examining the effects of peer mentoring programs on academic achievement and social-emotional development in secondary schools
Examining the effects of teacher-student relationships on student motivation and achievement in secondary schools
Exploring the benefits of service-learning programs in promoting civic engagement among secondary school students
The impact of educational policies on educational equity and access in secondary education
Examining the effects of homework on academic achievement and student well-being in secondary education
Investigating the effects of different assessment methods on student performance in secondary schools
Examining the effects of single-sex education on academic performance and gender stereotypes in secondary schools
The role of mentoring programs in supporting the transition from secondary to post-secondary education

Tertiary Education

The role of student support services in promoting academic success and well-being in higher education
The impact of internationalization initiatives on students’ intercultural competence and global perspectives in tertiary education
Investigating the effects of active learning classrooms and learning spaces on student engagement and learning outcomes in tertiary education
Exploring the benefits of service-learning experiences in fostering civic engagement and social responsibility in higher education
The influence of learning communities and collaborative learning environments on student academic and social integration in higher education
Exploring the benefits of undergraduate research experiences in fostering critical thinking and scientific inquiry skills
Investigating the effects of academic advising and mentoring on student retention and degree completion in higher education
The role of student engagement and involvement in co-curricular activities on holistic student development in higher education
The impact of multicultural education on fostering cultural competence and diversity appreciation in higher education
The role of internships and work-integrated learning experiences in enhancing students’ employability and career outcomes
Examining the effects of assessment and feedback practices on student learning and academic achievement in tertiary education
The influence of faculty professional development on instructional practices and student outcomes in tertiary education
The influence of faculty-student relationships on student success and well-being in tertiary education
The impact of college transition programs on students’ academic and social adjustment to higher education
The impact of online learning platforms on student learning outcomes in higher education
The impact of financial aid and scholarships on access and persistence in higher education
The influence of student leadership and involvement in extracurricular activities on personal development and campus engagement
Exploring the benefits of competency-based education in developing job-specific skills in tertiary students
Examining the effects of flipped classroom models on student learning and retention in higher education
Exploring the benefits of online collaboration and virtual team projects in developing teamwork skills in tertiary students
Investigating the effects of diversity and inclusion initiatives on campus climate and student experiences in tertiary education
The influence of study abroad programs on intercultural competence and global perspectives of college students
Investigating the effects of peer mentoring and tutoring programs on student retention and academic performance in tertiary education
Investigating the effectiveness of active learning strategies in promoting student engagement and achievement in tertiary education
Investigating the effects of blended learning models and hybrid courses on student learning and satisfaction in higher education
The role of digital literacy and information literacy skills in supporting student success in the digital age
Investigating the effects of experiential learning opportunities on career readiness and employability of college students
The impact of e-portfolios on student reflection, self-assessment, and showcasing of learning in higher education
The role of technology in enhancing collaborative learning experiences in tertiary classrooms
The impact of research opportunities on undergraduate student engagement and pursuit of advanced degrees
Examining the effects of competency-based assessment on measuring student learning and achievement in tertiary education
Examining the effects of interdisciplinary programs and courses on critical thinking and problem-solving skills in college students
The role of inclusive education and accessibility in promoting equitable learning experiences for diverse student populations
The role of career counseling and guidance in supporting students’ career decision-making in tertiary education
The influence of faculty diversity and representation on student success and inclusive learning environments in higher education

Education-Related Dissertations & Theses

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

Below, we’ve included a selection of education-related research projects 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.

From Rural to Urban: Education Conditions of Migrant Children in China (Wang, 2019)
Energy Renovation While Learning English: A Guidebook for Elementary ESL Teachers (Yang, 2019)
A Reanalyses of Intercorrelational Matrices of Visual and Verbal Learners’ Abilities, Cognitive Styles, and Learning Preferences (Fox, 2020)
A study of the elementary math program utilized by a mid-Missouri school district (Barabas, 2020)
Instructor formative assessment practices in virtual learning environments : a posthumanist sociomaterial perspective (Burcks, 2019)
Higher education students services: a qualitative study of two mid-size universities’ direct exchange programs (Kinde, 2020)
Exploring editorial leadership : a qualitative study of scholastic journalism advisers teaching leadership in Missouri secondary schools (Lewis, 2020)
Selling the virtual university: a multimodal discourse analysis of marketing for online learning (Ludwig, 2020)
Advocacy and accountability in school counselling: assessing the use of data as related to professional self-efficacy (Matthews, 2020)
The use of an application screening assessment as a predictor of teaching retention at a midwestern, K-12, public school district (Scarbrough, 2020)
Core values driving sustained elite performance cultures (Beiner, 2020)
Educative features of upper elementary Eureka math curriculum (Dwiggins, 2020)
How female principals nurture adult learning opportunities in successful high schools with challenging student demographics (Woodward, 2020)
The disproportionality of Black Males in Special Education: A Case Study Analysis of Educator Perceptions in a Southeastern Urban High School (McCrae, 2021)

As you can see, these research topics are a lot more focused than the generic topic ideas we presented earlier. So, in order for you to develop a high-quality research topic, you’ll need to get specific and laser-focused on a specific context with specific variables of interest. In the video below, we explore some other important things you’ll need to consider when crafting your research topic.

Get 1-On-1 Help

If you’re still unsure about how to find a quality research topic within education, check out our Research Topic Kickstarter service, which is the perfect starting point for developing a unique, well-justified research topic.

Research Topic Kickstarter - Need Help Finding A Research Topic?

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64 Comments

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parental involvement and students academic performance

Science education topics?

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I am a graduate with two masters. 1) Master of arts in religious studies and 2) Master in education in foundations of education. I intend to do a Ph.D. on my second master’s, however, I need to bring both masters together through my Ph.D. research. can I do something like, ” The contribution of Philosophy of education for a quality religion education in Kenya”? kindly, assist and be free to suggest a similar topic that will bring together the two masters. thanks in advance

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Although research activities and topics should stem from reflection on one’s practice, I found this site valuable as it effectively addressed many issues we have been experiencing as practitioners.

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200 Research Essay Topics

To prove your writing and academic research skills throughout your education, you’ll be required to write a research essay.

This form of essay writing is highly technical, requiring students to research information on a particular topic and provide an in-depth analysis in the form of an essay.

For example, students might be assigned topics such as ‘ The Invention Of The Bicycle’ or ‘The Effects Of Technology On Children.’ Then, with a research essay, students would be expected to compile their viewpoint on this topic and support it with facts and references throughout the writing.

In addition to facts that provide credible information on the topic, students should also include references to other relevant sources such as books and academic journals. These sources must be cited each time used to make the writer’s viewpoint more credible to the reader.

Even harder than writing this detailed essay is finding a good topic for a research essay. Topics too broad may not allow for a focused argument, while topics too specific may be limiting in credible sources and information.

Fortunately, this guide will provide you with 200 research essay topics perfect for any level of study, as well as helpful tips to structure your research essay, so you get the grade you deserve!

The Rules for Writing a Research Essay

Writing a research essay doesn’t have to be difficult if you follow the rules of the essay. To qualify as a research essay, students should never forget to:

Cite all quoted and fact-based information with the author’s name or alternative source location. Be sure quoted sources begin and end with quotation marks.
Use your own words throughout 80% of the research essay and factual statistics, quotes, and other cited sources throughout 20% of the essay.
Limit the topic to a manageable length according to the parameters of the assignment.
Paraphrase and summarize researched information, leaving out unnecessary detail to avoid confusing the reader.

The final rule essential to a well-written research essay is that students should pick a topic that they are passionate about when possible. This will make choosing an essay topic easier and make the research and writing of the essay more enjoyable.

How to Write a Research Paper

With a research essay, it is always helpful to outline your ideas in an easy-to-read format as follows to avoid getting stuck during the writing process.

Introduction

The introduction for a research essay serves many purposes. The first is that it set the tone of the entire paper. Therefore, students should focus on crafting an engaging introduction that includes:

A topic sentence or ‘hook’ that entices the reader and makes them want to continue reading.
Definitions to key concepts and terms throughout the essay
Relevant background information necessary for the reader to know before transitioning into the body of the essay
A thesis statement that provides a roadmap to the essay’s structure in chronological order.

With an introduction that includes all of these components, students are well on their way to writing an informative and engaging essay.

Body Paragraphs

Once the introductory paragraph is complete, students should write body paragraphs that continue the discussion of the topic sentence in chronological order.

Students should use facts and statistics throughout each of these paragraphs while keeping in mind not to overuse or repeat the same information. A well-written body paragraph should follow a structure similar to this format:

Topic sentence
Explanation of examples

Be sure to close each paragraph with a transition phrase that wraps up the topic and moves the reader seamlessly into the next section. Examples of transition phrases and words include:

in conclusion
as a result
to summarize
another take
on the other hand
however, there was also

Any of these transition phrases will help move the essay forward without confusing the reader.

The final step in writing a strong research essay is to write a conclusion that provides an extended closing for your paper. This section should be no more than two paragraphs long, summarizing key points from each body paragraph and reiterating the thesis statement.

If the tone, style, and topic of the essay allow for it, students can choose to end their research essay with a thought-provoking question or insight, a general consequence of the information provided, or a rhetorical question for the reader to ponder.

Be sure not to include any new information in the conclusion paragraph, only a recap of what has already been stated or a final word or insight the reader can take with them.

With the basics of research essay writing out of the way, students can now choose any of the following 200 research essay topics from the list below.

Research Essay Topics About Science

The impact of asteroids on the Earth’s formation
How crystals form in caves
The geologic history of the Grand Canyon
How big is our galaxy?
What happens to the Earth’s temperature when its tilted side faces away from the sun?
Who is the father of astrophysics?
What is the lifecycle of a locust?
What is the average speed of a hurricane?
How much damage can lightning cause?
What is the difference between active and passive solar heating?
How can we harness energy from ocean currents?
Was there life on Mars?
What happens to matter during nuclear fission and fusion reactions?
Why do volcanoes exist?
How can mosquitos spread the Zika virus?
What is the composition of the air on Venus?
How does a mass spectrometer work?
What is climate change?
What is ocean acidification, and why should we care about it?
How was the microscope invented?

Research Essay Topics About History

What battle sealed the victory for Union soldiers during the civil war?
Who was the 32nd president of the United States of America?
How did the Battle of Plassey change British control in India?
Which books were banned during China’s cultural revolution?
What is a V-Day, and why does it matter?
What caused the collapse of the USSR?
What was the Cold War?
What spurred the French Revolution?
Who was Abraham Lincoln?
Who were the Luddites?
What caused World War II?
When did World War I start, and when did it end?
Why was Germany involved in WWI?
How did Genghis Khan shape Eurasia’s history?
Who are the ancient Sumerians?
What were the motivations behind the Salem witch trials?
Was Emperor Constantine responsible for converting Christianity into a state religion, and what was his motivation for doing so?

Research Essay Topics About Math

How does a calculator calculate?
How do computers recognize letters and numbers?
What is the Fibonacci sequence, and why is it significant?
How does cryptography work?
What are prime numbers, and how are they used in cryptography?
What is the golden ratio?
Is pi an irrational number or a rational one?
Why are prime numbers important for encryption?
Who invented calculus?
What is the fundamental theorem of arithmetic?
How do quarks affect the structure of atoms?
How does an induction coil work?
What is pi, and why is it important in mathematics?
What are Euler’s equations in math, and why are they significant?
What is quantum entanglement?
How do variable stars affect life on Earth?
How did Pythagoras contribute to math, and why is he important in the field of math?
What are right triangles significant in geometry?
How can chaos theory help study populations?
What are tesseracts?

Research Essay Topics About Fine Art

Why was art in the late 19th century so controversial?
Who was David Bowie, and what made him notable?
Why are Picasso’s paintings significant?
Why was Greek sculpture unique?
What is cubism, and how did it change the way people think about art?
What is feminist art criticism, and what impact has it had?
What makes a painting successful?
How did photography change the way people viewed fine art?
What is postmodernism, and why has it been significant in fine arts today?
Who were the Fauves, and what made them so unique?
What are dadaists significant in fine art history today?
What was surrealism, and why is it important to the fine arts of today?
How did the Impressionist movement impact the way people view art today?
Why was impressionism controversial for its time?
Where did impressionism begin, and how did it impact fine arts today?
How is a Pollock painting created, and why should we care about them?
What is the difference between modernism and postmodernism in fine arts?
What are watercolors, and how have different cultures viewed them throughout time?
Why should people care about the arts today?
What are trompe l’oeil paintings, and why are they essential pieces of fine art?
How has pop art changed the way people view artwork throughout time?
What is abstract impressionism, and how has it impacted fine arts today?
What is Van Gogh’s life story?

Research Essay Topics About Technology

What is a computer?
What is the difference between a Turing machine and a Von Neumann machine?
Who was Alan Turing, and why is he significant in technology today?
What is a linked list, and what makes them important to programming today?
How does artificial intelligence work, and how has it changed the way we think of computers today?
What are neural networks, and what role do they play in AI today?
How did Ada Lovelace contribute to computer science, and why is she important in technology today?
Who was Grace Hopper, and what were her accomplishments as a woman in STEM?
What is quantum computing, and how does it work?
Who was Nikola Tesla, and what were his contributions to the world of science?
How did Charles Babbage contribute to computer science, and why is he important in technology today?
Why are passwords critical to protecting computers today?
What is the Turing test, and what are its implications on artificial intelligence today?
How did the Turing test influence AI research in computer science?
How have social media sites impacted technology throughout time?
Who were the Luddites, and why are they significant in technology today?
What are the impacts of cybersecurity on computers today?
What is an optical computer, and what makes them unique in computing today?
What are the pros and cons of social media sites in technology today?
What is Moore’s Law, and why does it matter to modern-day computers?
What is the difference between real-time systems and embedded systems?
How has technology changed our lives for better or worse?
How does the cloud work?

Research Essay Topics About Pop Culture

How did Pokemon change the world of video games?
What are video game genres, and what impact do they have on society?
Who was Ralph Baer, and why is he significant in pop culture today?
What is social gaming, and where is it headed?
What rock icons from the ’80s had the most impact on pop musicians today?
Why do we need copyright laws?
What is dubstep, and why has it been significant in pop culture today?
What was grunge, and how did it change the way people viewed music?
Who were the Beastie Boys, and what are their contributions to pop music today?
What is the difference between pop music and rock music?
Who were the Kingsmen, and why are they significant in pop culture today?
Why were the Beatles’ groundbreaking for their time?
What was punk rock, and how did it change the world of music throughout time?
Who were the Black Eyed Peas, and how have they impacted pop music today?
Who was Bob Marley, and what are his contributions to modern-day pop musicians?
What is a rave, and how has it influenced pop culture throughout time?
What is a music video, and how does it tie into the music industry today?
What is famous for creating the first true digital camera in history?
Why was A.D.I.D.A.S by Korn significant to pop culture today?
What is nu-metal, and how did it impact pop culture throughout time?
Who was Lady Gaga, and what are her contributions to pop music today?
How have hip-hop lyrics changed over time?
What are the pros and cons of being famous in the age of social media?

Research Essay Topics About Economics & Finance

What is the importance of GDP in economics?
What is the importance of inflation in economics?
What are central banks, and how do they influence economies today?
How did Keynesian economics impact the global economy throughout time?
Who was John Maynard Keynes, and why was his theory significant?
Why is G7 important in global economics today?
What is the difference between G7 and BRICS?
What are crypto-economists, and what are their impacts on modern-day economics?
How has Bitcoin impacted finance throughout time?
What is the Euro, and why is it an influential factor in global economics today?
How has economic growth impacted modern-day countries around the world?
Why was Adam Smith’s theory of “the invisible hand” important to society today?
What is socialism, and what are its impacts on modern nations around the world?
Why did China’s economy transition from a centrally-planned economy?
What is the purpose of central banking, and how has it changed throughout history?
How did socialism feed into Marxian economics?
What is a commodity currency, and why does it impact global economics today?
What is the difference between fiat, commodity, and mixed currency?
What are the pros and cons of being part of the G20 in modern-day politics?

Research Essay Topics About Health & Fitness

What is the importance of mental health in today’s society?
What are some of the causes of mental illness?
Who was Sigmund Freud, and why is he significant to psychology today?
Why is smoking bad for one’s health?
What are the leading causes of heart disease?
How do cholesterol levels impact health?
What are the leading causes of cancer today?
What is an obesity epidemic, and why has it affected society today?
Why are antibiotics necessary to modern-day medicine?
How are vaccines made?
Who was Alexander Fleming?
What exercises are good for your health?
What is cardiovascular exercise as a form of training?
Why are the feet one of the most vital parts of our body?

Research Essay Topics About Politics & Government

What are the three branches of the US government, and how is each necessary?
Who was John Locke?
What are the core principles of capitalism?
What is anarchism, and how has it impacted politics throughout history?
What are the pros and cons of being a democratic society?
How did Karl Marx influence modern-day politics throughout time?
Who was John Maynard Keynes?
What are public goods, and how have they impacted economics throughout history?
When did the Vietnam War begin, and why was it important?
What are the pros and cons of being part of NATO?
What is a constitutional democracy? What are its benefits?
What is the difference between socialism and communism?
Why was Vladimir Lenin so significant in modern-day politics throughout history?
What is populism, and why has it impacted politics throughout history?
How does a bill become a law?
Where did the Korean War take place, and why was it significant in modern history?
What are some ways that biased media can influence politics throughout time?
How does voter turnout impact elections?

Research Topics About Women’s Studies

Who was Sojourner Truth, and what were her contributions to women’s rights?
Who was Susan B. Anthony and what are her contributions to women’s rights?
What is intersectionality?
What does it mean to be a feminist in today’s society?
How has technology impacted the lives of modern-day women?
What are some of the leading causes of sexual assault?
What is rape culture, and why does it impact society today?
Who was Simone de Beauvoir, and what are her influences on women’s studies?
What is the difference between sex and gender?
How has language impacted feminism throughout time?
What are some of the leading causes of breast cancer?
What is homophobia, and why does it impact society today?
Who was Simone Veil, and what were her contributions to women’s studies?
What are the leading causes of death for pregnant women in labor?
How have birth control options impacted society today?
What is slut-shaming, and how does it affect women in today’s society?
How have reproductive rights impacted today’s society?
Who was Mary Wollstonecraft, and what are her contributions to feminism?
What are some of the leading causes of depression in pregnant women?
Who was Emmeline Pankhurst, and what were her contributions to women’s rights?
What does reproductive justice mean?
Who was Lysistrata, and why is she significant in modern-day feminism?
What is the pay gap between men and women in different professions?

Any of these 200 research essay topics are perfect for getting students started on their writing assignments. Remember to cite all of your sources and back up any claims with credible facts that will pull the reader to your point of view.

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50+ Research Topics for Psychology Papers

How to Find Psychology Research Topics for Your Student Paper

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

Steven Gans, MD is board-certified in psychiatry and is an active supervisor, teacher, and mentor at Massachusetts General Hospital.

Specific Branches of Psychology
Topics Involving a Disorder or Type of Therapy
Human Cognition
Human Development
Critique of Publications
Famous Experiments
Historical Figures
Specific Careers
Case Studies
Literature Reviews
Your Own Study/Experiment

Are you searching for a great topic for your psychology paper ? Sometimes it seems like coming up with topics of psychology research is more challenging than the actual research and writing. Fortunately, there are plenty of great places to find inspiration and the following list contains just a few ideas to help get you started.

Finding a solid topic is one of the most important steps when writing any type of paper. It can be particularly important when you are writing a psychology research paper or essay. Psychology is such a broad topic, so you want to find a topic that allows you to adequately cover the subject without becoming overwhelmed with information.

I can always tell when a student really cares about the topic they chose; it comes through in the writing. My advice is to choose a topic that genuinely interests you, so you’ll be more motivated to do thorough research.

In some cases, such as in a general psychology class, you might have the option to select any topic from within psychology's broad reach. Other instances, such as in an abnormal psychology course, might require you to write your paper on a specific subject such as a psychological disorder.

As you begin your search for a topic for your psychology paper, it is first important to consider the guidelines established by your instructor.

Research Topics Within Specific Branches of Psychology

The key to selecting a good topic for your psychology paper is to select something that is narrow enough to allow you to really focus on the subject, but not so narrow that it is difficult to find sources or information to write about.

One approach is to narrow your focus down to a subject within a specific branch of psychology. For example, you might start by deciding that you want to write a paper on some sort of social psychology topic. Next, you might narrow your focus down to how persuasion can be used to influence behavior .

Other social psychology topics you might consider include:

Prejudice and discrimination (i.e., homophobia, sexism, racism)
Social cognition
Person perception
Social control and cults
Persuasion, propaganda, and marketing
Attraction, romance, and love
Nonverbal communication
Prosocial behavior

Psychology Research Topics Involving a Disorder or Type of Therapy

Exploring a psychological disorder or a specific treatment modality can also be a good topic for a psychology paper. Some potential abnormal psychology topics include specific psychological disorders or particular treatment modalities, including:

Eating disorders
Borderline personality disorder
Seasonal affective disorder
Schizophrenia
Antisocial personality disorder
Profile a type of therapy (i.e., cognitive-behavioral therapy, group therapy, psychoanalytic therapy)

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Cognition

Some of the possible topics you might explore in this area include thinking, language, intelligence, and decision-making. Other ideas might include:

False memories
Speech disorders
Problem-solving

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Development

In this area, you might opt to focus on issues pertinent to early childhood such as language development, social learning, or childhood attachment or you might instead opt to concentrate on issues that affect older adults such as dementia or Alzheimer's disease.

Some other topics you might consider include:

Language acquisition
Media violence and children
Learning disabilities
Gender roles
Child abuse
Prenatal development
Parenting styles
Aspects of the aging process

Do a Critique of Publications Involving Psychology Research Topics

One option is to consider writing a critique paper of a published psychology book or academic journal article. For example, you might write a critical analysis of Sigmund Freud's Interpretation of Dreams or you might evaluate a more recent book such as Philip Zimbardo's The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil .

Professional and academic journals are also great places to find materials for a critique paper. Browse through the collection at your university library to find titles devoted to the subject that you are most interested in, then look through recent articles until you find one that grabs your attention.

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Famous Experiments

There have been many fascinating and groundbreaking experiments throughout the history of psychology, providing ample material for students looking for an interesting term paper topic. In your paper, you might choose to summarize the experiment, analyze the ethics of the research, or evaluate the implications of the study. Possible experiments that you might consider include:

The Milgram Obedience Experiment
The Stanford Prison Experiment
The Little Albert Experiment
Pavlov's Conditioning Experiments
The Asch Conformity Experiment
Harlow's Rhesus Monkey Experiments

Topics of Psychology Research About Historical Figures

One of the simplest ways to find a great topic is to choose an interesting person in the history of psychology and write a paper about them. Your paper might focus on many different elements of the individual's life, such as their biography, professional history, theories, or influence on psychology.

While this type of paper may be historical in nature, there is no need for this assignment to be dry or boring. Psychology is full of fascinating figures rife with intriguing stories and anecdotes. Consider such famous individuals as Sigmund Freud, B.F. Skinner, Harry Harlow, or one of the many other eminent psychologists .

Psychology Research Topics About a Specific Career

Another possible topic, depending on the course in which you are enrolled, is to write about specific career paths within the field of psychology . This type of paper is especially appropriate if you are exploring different subtopics or considering which area interests you the most.

In your paper, you might opt to explore the typical duties of a psychologist, how much people working in these fields typically earn, and the different employment options that are available.

Topics of Psychology Research Involving Case Studies

One potentially interesting idea is to write a psychology case study of a particular individual or group of people. In this type of paper, you will provide an in-depth analysis of your subject, including a thorough biography.

Generally, you will also assess the person, often using a major psychological theory such as Piaget's stages of cognitive development or Erikson's eight-stage theory of human development . It is also important to note that your paper doesn't necessarily have to be about someone you know personally.

In fact, many professors encourage students to write case studies on historical figures or fictional characters from books, television programs, or films.

Psychology Research Topics Involving Literature Reviews

Another possibility that would work well for a number of psychology courses is to do a literature review of a specific topic within psychology. A literature review involves finding a variety of sources on a particular subject, then summarizing and reporting on what these sources have to say about the topic.

Literature reviews are generally found in the introduction of journal articles and other psychology papers , but this type of analysis also works well for a full-scale psychology term paper.

Topics of Psychology Research Based on Your Own Study or Experiment

Many psychology courses require students to design an actual psychological study or perform some type of experiment. In some cases, students simply devise the study and then imagine the possible results that might occur. In other situations, you may actually have the opportunity to collect data, analyze your findings, and write up your results.

Finding a topic for your study can be difficult, but there are plenty of great ways to come up with intriguing ideas. Start by considering your own interests as well as subjects you have studied in the past.

Online sources, newspaper articles, books , journal articles, and even your own class textbook are all great places to start searching for topics for your experiments and psychology term papers. Before you begin, learn more about how to conduct a psychology experiment .

What This Means For You

After looking at this brief list of possible topics for psychology papers, it is easy to see that psychology is a very broad and diverse subject. While this variety makes it possible to find a topic that really catches your interest, it can sometimes make it very difficult for some students to select a good topic.

If you are still stumped by your assignment, ask your instructor for suggestions and consider a few from this list for inspiration.

Hockenbury, SE & Nolan, SA. Psychology. New York: Worth Publishers; 2014.
Santrock, JW. A Topical Approach to Lifespan Development. New York: McGraw-Hill Education; 2016.

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

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271 Strong Argumentative Research Paper Topics You Must Know

Writing good argumentative research paper topics can always place you in a rock and a hard place. Writing from scratch can be daunting, but writing to a deadline is worse. Creating a terrific academic argumentative research paper takes a few tweaks. Through them, you will eventually craft a standardized paper that would earn you all points and, if not all, perhaps better grades.

This article will discuss the various angles you could take flawlessly to finish an argumentative research paper. Consequently, do not let terror take over you when writing a research paper.

Instead, it will be your forte after reading through this article’s steps.

What Is An Argumentative Research Paper?

An argumentative research paper is a paper that is structured in a way that allows you to present and defend your ideas about the topic, and that’s what definitional argument paper topics involve. The main purpose of an argumentative research paper is to make it possible for you to demonstrate your arguments. They may be based on either scientific knowledge or personal experience.

College argumentative research paper topics can be a single paper or a collection of several papers that you have written. Alternatively, it can be a series of papers in which you have analyzed different aspects of the topic. It will take you a while of introspection to understand this.

An award-winning research paper or one that could earn you better grades must be deeply rooted in facts. Generally, you must employ extensive evidence to defend your opinion or point.

What Are The Different Types Of Argumentative Research Paper Topics?

The are many different types of argumentative research paper topics. Here we explore the classic classification of the topics and their characteristics

Classical Western Argument These types of classical argument paper topics have always been footed on two bases: to convince the audience that they are right and give well-reasoned answers to questionsThey are easy argument paper topics. Topics for argumentative research paper tasks do not necessarily have to be complicated. An introduction is imperative for a classical western argument since it welcomes the audience and builds goodwill and a connection with the readers. It also announces the overall theme or thesis of the argument.It must have a narration that portrays necessary background facts. It is intended to inform the listener about the setting and occurrences that produced the argument.A classic western argument must have confirmation, refutation, and summation. Remember, the summary must be concrete, echoing the gravity of the argument and equally reflecting the best solution to the readers.
Toulon Argument The primary goal of a Toulmin argument is frequently to gather the most compelling proof in favor of the presented statements. For example, if you take “Philosophy argument paper topics”, you have to work through this topic well and understand it.The goal of a Toulmin argument is precise, unlike the previous types. It is made up of six parts, namely: introduction, data, warrants, qualifiers, rebuttal, and backing. It has a conclusion intended to trigger evocative thought among the readers.
Rogerian Argument The Rogerian argument seeks the greatest plausible solution based on the wants and preferences of everyone concerned, or, in other words, some form of unanimity. The essay structure of this type of argument does not bear innate disparities to the different types. It has a structure that aims at reaching a consensus amidst the contest.The Rogerian argument topics for a paper focus on expanding comprehension between conflicting viewpoints by noting that an issue can be viewed from various perspectives. Its building blocks are; an introduction, an acknowledgement of the opposition, a thesis statement, support for the thesis, and a conclusion.Notably, the summary has to highlight the imperatives of a classical argument paper topic, even if it cannot resolve the problem wholly. Also, it has to acknowledge that more work needs to be done in the future to find lasting remedies.

How To Write A Strong Thesis Statement

A thesis statement outlines the topic of your assignments, that is, argumentative research essay topics, and provides a summary of the article’s content, particularly your position on the subject. It is helpful to pose a concern before making your assertion in a thesis, so that your thesis can provide a resolution.

This is a powerful strategy for getting the reader interested in your subject and the viewpoint you advocate. The basic custom of any argument should be briefly covered in a thesis. By accomplishing this-getting thesis writing help, you can assist the reader in becoming ready for the essay’s main body.

When writing a thesis statement, you must include: A question A provocative statement A well-laid description An anecdote that compels the readers to find out more about the essay

Whenever you start writing, make an effort to define your aim explicitly. This is what argumentative research paper topics college institutions demand. Constantly write on your subject if you cannot express your purpose effectively.

How To Select A Topic For An Argumentative Essay

You might occasionally find yourself debating points you do not particularly agree with. That is just good – making a convincing argument does not need you to believe what you are saying fervently.

However, picking a subject you are passionate about is a fantastic option when you have complete freedom over it. A strong perspective and various supporting arguments are the two essential elements of a high quality successful argumentative essay.

It will be simpler for a student to obtain proof to back up an argument if they are fascinated and enthusiastic about the issue that they chose. The evidence itself is what matters most.

Decide on a topic by considering issues that are important to you, irrespective of whether they are good or bad. Create a list of concepts, and then pick a couple to focus on. You will then elaborate upon such concepts by addressing a few compensatory picks.

Making these lists may lead you to discover that a few are more powerful than others. The greater the issue, the more proof you have and the more compelling you believe that proved to be.

Again, choosing a different argument research topic is acceptable if you think one issue would have more verifiable data, but you would prefer not to pen about it. If you are enthusiastic about our topic, it might be much simpler to uncover solid arguments and evidence to support your claims than if you are not.

Well, here is a list of sample argumentative research paper topics you could decide to choose from and develop a terrific essay.

Good Argument Paper Topics On Education

Here are some ingenious argumentative essay sample topics touching on matters of education:

Can parents be able to alter their unborn children’s characteristics?
Should pupils need to be immunized to attend a public school?
Should global governments take action to combat climate change?
Should physical education classes have an impact on a student’s grades?
Is free college a good idea?
Should Greek life be banned from academic institutions?
Should comprehensive sex education be given to scholars?
It should be possible for pupils to choose the high school curriculum.
The importance of physical education in education.
Schools should not permit the use of cell phones.
Like scholars, teachers need to pass a professional exam.
Less work should be assigned to pupils in schools.
High schools should be required to include sex education.
The Best Alternative to Regular School is Home Schooling
Scholars should only spend three months studying and nine months vacationing.
Sporting Activities Can Help You Change Your Life.
Lies Are a Vital Component of a Healthy Relationship
There Are Aliens
Keeping a Journal Is a Fun Stress Reduction Technique
Colleges need medical facilities to aid scholars in overcoming stress and depression.
You Can Learn Important Life Skills from Video Games
Having a pet is a way to improve your happiness.
Better Off Renting Than Buying a Home
Is the American educational system ideal for the modern world?

Interesting Argument Paper Topics On Ethics

When faced with an argumentative essay touching on ethics, here are samples to jog your mind:

Do GMOs benefit or hurt humans?
Should Facebook be permitted to gather user data?
Should autonomous vehicles be made legal?
Is it moral to use automation to replace human labor?
Should use a cell phone while driving is prohibited by law?
Has the Internet had a good or bad impact on society?
Should college athletes receive compensation for playing on teams?
Must fracking be permitted?
Same-sex couples ought to be permitted to wed.
Death Penalties: Are They Still Valid in the Twenty-First Century?
Benefits of Medical Marijuana Legalization
Without organized religion, the world might be a better place.
More harm than good is caused by technology.
What would life be like if animals ruled the world?
What if scholars and teachers switched places?
How will having flying automobiles affect our daily lives?
The most prosperous people are school dropouts.
Why drinking is advisable before a test
What if humans were to view the world as dogs do?
The causes behind Starbucks’ delicious flavor
How defying your parents can help you succeed?
Why passing the driving test is crucial
The top pupils are those who do not attend class.
The best visitors are those who arrived already stuffed.
Why I enjoy junk mail
Why setting your school on fire is not an option
Clowns are not as terrifying as you would imagine.
The reason why your washing won’t do itself
Why you should continue to wear a mask even after COVID-19
Which film has ever been the worst?
How playing video games can benefit your career search
Why I don’t like country music
Why films are superior to books
Is it wrong to show sex scenes on television?
Should learning institutions condone cheating?
Should young people have access to birth control?
Is religion a valid justification for terrorism?
Does bullying make one stronger?
Do you think young kids should have access to cell phones and tablets?
Should minors be allowed to obtain contraception without their parent’s permission?
Is it time for single-payer healthcare in the US?
Should assisted suicide be allowed to exist?
Should nutritional supplements and products for weight loss, such as teas, be allowed to use influencer marketing?
Should physicians be permitted to promote medications?
Is the electoral college still a useful mechanism in contemporary America?
Should Puerto Rico gain statehood?
Is automatic voter registration a good idea?
Should prisoners have the right to vote?
Should justices of the Supreme Court be voted into power?
Children should not be served soda at restaurants.
Should sexual labor be made legal?
Should Indigenous Peoples’ Day take the place of Columbus Day?
Should executions be permitted?
Are uniforms for schools a good idea?
Should using animals for clinical tests be permitted?
Should the crime of drug possession be dropped?
Must unpaid internships be permitted?
Must abortion be outlawed?
Do individuals misuse their freedom to carry weapons?
Is there a racial component to police violence?
It is time to raise the legal drinking age.
A child’s sexual orientation is established when they are young.
All around the world, same-sex unions should be permitted.
Inmates should not be kept as illegal immigrants.
Should all women have access to reproductive health care and birth control?
Would anyone benefit equally from our tax system?
Is vaping just as dangerous as cigarette smoking?
Is global consumption a serious problem?
Is social media a privacy infringement?
Does everyone need to get vaccinated?
Do food firms have a say in what we eat?
Does our system of education fit our culture?
Why should certain languages be recognized as official in the US?
Is the death penalty ever justified?
Victims of rape ought to abort their unborn children.
Equal paternity leave should be granted to fathers.
Do trouble-making behaviors among teenagers stem from boredom?
Parents who have failed their children should be disciplined.
Animal testing ought to be prohibited.
Gaming that is violent needs to be prohibited.
Adopting parents with mental impairments should not be permitted.
Islamist nations should allow alcohol usage.
Everyone should receive the COVID-19 vaccine.
School dress codes ought to be abolished
Assignments should not be required
Pets ought to be allowed in learning institutions
Cellphone use should be permitted in class for scholars.
The daily schooling hours ought to be cut shorter
Why longer school breaks are necessary
Every classroom needs a TV.
We must extend our summer vacation.
Schools ought to have recess in between class sessions.
A pet belongs in every classroom.
Is a College Education Still Required?
Should High School Graduates Have a Gap Year?
Cyberbullying in High School Is a Serious Problem
Scholars ought to be permitted to dress however they like.
The Existing Grading System Does Not Reflect Scholars’ Knowledge in the Contemporary World
Is a Lower Voting Age Needed?
The Benefits of Offering Free Condoms to Scholars
Partners expecting a child ought to take parenting classes
Sex education ought to be taught in schools.
Should the legal drinking age be lowered?
Standardized Tests Need to Be Banned
Scholar loans: Are They Favorable or Bad?
Is drug use on campuses a test or a genuine issue?
Do College Relationships Last a Long Time?
Children should not be permitted to attend college classes by scholars.
Fraternities’ detrimental effects on scholars’ behavior and performance
When Is a Gap Year a Welcomed Idea?
There should be more benefits for college athletes when schooling.
Most college units are already obsolete and unfit for the contemporary world.
The cost of lodging in universities ought to be zero.
Celebs ought not to serve as teenage girls’ role models.
Diet obsession can result in a variety of eating conditions and health complications.
School uniforms ought to be required.
Males and females can have friendships that are limited to just that.
The vegetarian lifestyle is not practical
Democracy is currently the sanest form of government.
GMO diets aren’t as risky as we once thought
Horror films may harm one’s mental health.
Junk food ought not to be offered in school lunches.

Easy Argument Paper Topics On Sports

Sports argumentative essay topics can prove hard to formulate. Here are samples:

Should there be a gender divide in sports?
Should baseball’s designated hitter system be eliminated?
Should American sports treat soccer with more respect?
Should players and coaches receive the same compensation?
Girls should be urged to participate in sports and put just as much effort into their studies as boys do.
College Sports Players Must Be Paid
Sports should allow women to compete against men.
Countries benefit economically and socially by hosting the Olympic Games.
Media coverage of female athletes is still sexist.
Certain sports can encourage violent behavior.
Injury Has a Significant Impact on an Athlete’s Mental Health
Among Athletes, Eating Disorders Are a Common Issue
Schools and Colleges should emphasize physical education more
Taking part in sports can have calming, resonant effects on the body and mind.
Motivating girls to participate in sports is important.

Argument Paper Topics On Religion

Argumentative essay topics on religion could prove contentious. Below are samples:

Should religious institutions be subject to taxation?
Should schools allow religious clubs?
Should the pledge of allegiance include “one nation under God”?
Should religion be covered in the classroom?
Should clerics be permitted to wed?

Professional Argument Paper Topics On Economics

Argumentative topics in economics essays are easy. Here are some examples:

Is raising the minimum wage necessary?
Do monopolies deserve to exist?
Is the concept of universal basic income wisely?
Should the tax rate on companies be higher or cheap?

Argument Paper Topics On Society And Culture

Formulating argumentative essay topics on culture and society, in general, should not bother you that much. Here are samples. But if you have problems with your writing you can order a dissertation online .

Is graffiti considered destruction or art?
Should books with offensive language be prohibited?
Should YouTube content be more strictly regulated?
Is the study of art important?
Should people be able to share their art and music online?
Current assessments do not match the scholar’s ability.
Breastfeeding in public should be permitted for women.
To bring about change, the Internet was developed.
When it comes to giving their kids a nutritious diet, parents should be accountable.
Churches ought to be taxed as well.
The Contribution of Art to the Evolution of Our World
Using Art Therapy to Treat Mental Illness
Scholars that participate in the arts excel academically.
Unlike traditional art, digital art lacks soul.
Everybody ought to enrol in art classes in school
Is Art Actually Required?
What Inner Fears Do Children Express in Their Art?
What Is Art For?
How Has the Representation of Women in Art Changed Over the Centuries?
Most art forms were created in ancient Greece, which is where they originated.
A potent treatment for psychological issues is music.
Hard Rock Harmfully influences teenage Behavior
If You Pay Attention, You Can Hear Music in the Natural World
Billie Eilish Is Not Your Average Teen Pop Star-Star
The Human Brain is Positively affected by Music
The Calming Power of Celtic Music
Modern music is largely commercial rather than artistic.
Rap music encourages aggression.
A better pregnancy can be ensured by classical music.
College scholars’ academic performance is improved through music

Technology Argument Paper Topics

Many learners avoid technology-related argumentative topics due to their technicality. Below are samples:

Owners of social media platforms should keep an eye on and delete comments that use offensive language.
Does technology contribute to individuals feeling more alone?
Will there ever be a moment when no new technological developments take place?
Vlogging is not a legitimate career.
Is LinkedIn useful in terms of job search?
The number of business opportunities has significantly increased thanks to social media.
Is Java going out of style?
Are social media profiles of candidates something employers should look through?
Social media cause teenage despair.

Science Argument Paper Topics

Below are argumentative topics touching on the science field:

The Morality of Cloning the Benefits of Genetic Engineering and How They Can Change the World the Potential Benefits of Investing in Space Exploration
Universities should spend more money on scientific programs.
How Do New Scientific Discoveries Affect Our Everyday Lives?
Do New Technologies Pose Health Risks?
The use of animals in scientific research should be prohibited
The Science of Medical Marijuana’s Healing Effect
Food that has been genetically modified: Is it healthy for us or not?
Why Science Should Be Taught to Everyone.

Argument Paper Topics On The Environment

Argumentative topics on the environment tend to be broad. Here are useful samples:

Existing environmental statutes do not avert human encroachment and habitat obliteration
Human encroachment endangers the lives of plants and animals
Climate change is real
Developed nations primarily cause global warming
A change in farming practices is required to cease environmental obliteration.
Environment-friendly effects of vegetarianism
The worst polluters of air and water are industrial by-products and farming additives
Overpopulation is the root cause of city pollution
We must protect the world’s resources.
Hunting is a sinful activity.
Is using animals in a circus acceptable?
Evil dogs ought to be put to sleep.
Recycling ought to be required.
Should recycling be made required?
Is competition advantageous?
Does blogging as a profession have a future?
Is it possible for people to ever exist without the Internet?
Should everyone volunteer and donate to charities?
Does the media infringe on famous people’s privacy?

Argument Paper Topics On Government

Politics is not everyone. Below are argumentative topics on governance you could exploit:

In wealthy nations, unlawful immigration is a serious problem.
Citizenship should always be granted to persons sired within a particular country’s borders. Stricter immigration laws should be enforced against illegal immigration
Border restrictions should be tightened to stop illegal immigration.
The main driver of unlawful immigration is poverty.
Deporting illegal immigrants to their nations of origin is usually pointless.
High Illegal Immigration Rates May Encourage Prostitution
High levels of unlawful immigration are one of the main causes of terrorism.
Lowering immigration costs may help avert illegal immigration
Refugee applicants ought not to be viewed as unauthorized immigrants.
Is Racial Profiling Still Appropriate in Today’s World?
Euthanasia for terminally ill patients should be made legal.
All should have access to free higher education.
Is Donald Trump’s presidency detrimental to the US and the rest of the world, or beneficial?
In colleges and schools, energy drinks have to be prohibited.
In the US, gambling ought to be outlawed.
Should abortion be outlawed globally?
Should the death penalty be carried out universally?
Certain kinds of animal experimentation and other forms of study ought to be prohibited.
Should the government take additional steps to provide accessibility for the physically challenged?
Are people born with the skill to be a politician, or do they learn it?

High Quality Argument Paper Topics On Health

There are numerous argumentative topics on health to choose from. Below are samples:

Everyone should have access to free health care.
It is possible to discover a working cure for AIDs
Art therapy can be effective for a wide range of health issues
Healthy alternatives: benefits and drawbacks
The negative consequences of a head injury
Does the media accurately represent the risk of coronavirus?
Are electronic cigarettes more harmless than smoke?
Could 3D printing help the medical field?
Nanotechnology can aid in cancer treatment
How would stem cells reduce cardiac arrest patients’ mortality rates?
Pro-life vs. Pro-choice views on abortion
Alcoholism harms all aspects of life, not just health
The production and sale of tobacco should be prohibited
Vaping is safer than cigarette smoking.
The risks of the COVID-19 vaccine outweigh the benefits.

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601 Controversial Questions & Topics for Research, Essays, & Debate

People constantly participate in passionate debates about sensitive and divisive societal issues. Some may utilize memes or social media to discuss hot topics, while others join online forums and blogs. Even though controversial topics are believed to address trivial issues, many may have a tangible impact on the world and global problems.

Below, you’ll find a list of controversial questions and topics for research that can come in handy on days when you lack inspiration!

🔝 Top 10 Controversial Questions in 2024

🤔 most controversial questions — and why.

🏫 Topics for High School Students
🎓 Topics for College Students

🔎 Controversial Research Topics

📝 Controversial Argumentative Topics

💼 Controversial Business Topics

🏥 controversial medical topics, 🔬 controversial science topics, 💡 controversial philosophical questions, 😛 funny controversial topics, 🗣️ controversial debate topics, 🔗 references.

Why should brain control techniques in psychology be banned?
How to stop sexual abuse in the motion picture industry?
How is homosexuality discriminated against in the 21st century?
Does drug control help to reduce drug consumption among teenagers?
What is the role of plastic pollution in global warming?
How to make domestic violence victims speak out?
Why are alternatives to prison sentences more effective?
What is the impact of human overpopulation on food security?
What is the positive impact of free trade on the international market?
Why do abusive power and control often take part in modern relationships?

A controversial topic differs from others in that it causes considerable disagreement, debate, and varied emotional reactions in society. It usually involves opposing points of view, beliefs, or interests.

Below, we’ve listed several most controversial questions and explained what makes them such.

❔ Should abortion be legalized around the world?

Abortion is controversial due to its ethical, moral, and legal consequences. It raises the question of the fetus’ rights to life and a person’s right to govern their own body.

❔ What are the most effective measures to prevent gun violence?

Gun control is among the most controversial and emotional topics in many nations. Its discussion is mainly centered around two questions:

Can the limit on people’s right to bear weapons be considered an unfair restriction on liberty?
Is there a link between gun ownership and crime?

❔ Should capital punishment be canceled?

Opponents of the death sentence point out its inhumanity, irreversibility, and unfairness due to the persistence of racial and economic inequalities. Proponents believe that it is reasonable retribution for specific acts and is effective in deterring crime and protecting society.

❔ To what degree should freedom of speech be protected?

Freedom of speech is controversial because society struggles to define its limits. There is still a need to find a balance between safeguarding the freedom of expression and protecting individuals against the harm caused by speech.

❔ What measures should be taken to stop global warming?

The global warming controversy refers to the public dispute over whether the planet is getting warmer. Also, people argue about the leading causes of climate change, its consequences, and methods to stop it.

This image shows the most controversial topics.

🏫 Controversial Topics for High School Students

Investigating controversial topics may help high school students develop critical thinking skills, engage in meaningful dialogues, and expand their awareness of challenging social issues. Below you can find some controversial questions for students!

Should sports classes in school be mandatory?
Abortion as a controversy .
Why can technologies destroy the world?
The benefits of year-round school.
Circumcision as a controversial topic in the United States .
Social networks make people less social.
Alcohol should be banned under 25.
Child labor and exploitation controversies .
Bad parenting is a leading reason for childhood obesity .
Is it time to decriminalize prostitution ?
Same-sex marriage as a moral controversy .
Happiness is more crucial than a career.
Zoos around the world should be closed.
The controversy over marijuana legalization .
Why will cryptocurrencies replace cash?
The institution of marriage is a relic of the past.
Genetic engineering and cloning controversy .
Climate change has already become irreversible.
Why is playing online games a sport?
Controversy about global warming: skepticism and reality .
Alternative medicines are more dangerous than helpful.
Why is remote studying the future of education?
Victorian period corset controversy .
Leisure time is critical for working productivity.
Is nationalism beneficial or harmful?
The Barbie doll controversy in a Latinx community .
The government should permit gay couples to adopt children .
The positive side of smoking and vaping .
Why is immigration a controversial topic in the US ?
Should we outlaw the use of fatal force by police ?

🎓 Controversial Topics for College Students

Controversial topics often reflect current social challenges , allowing college students to contribute to discussions and decisions that influence the world around them. Look at the most interesting controversial debate questions for college that we have prepared for you!

The crime behind animal testing in the beauty industry.
Biracial adoption and its controversies .
Why are many people ignoring cybersecurity ?
The benefits of expanding stem cell research .
The gun control controversy in the constitutional context .
Why should churches and religious institutions pay taxes?
The issue of media bias and discrimination in the modern world.
Women in army infantry: controversial issues .
Non-chemical cleaning products: worth the cost or not?
Capitalism is an economic system that perpetuates inequality.
The United States Patriot Act controversies .
Should the death penalty be abolished in the US?
The effectiveness of using hacking skills in business.
Ethical controversies in COVID-19 pandemic regulations .
Why is being transgender not a gender disorder ?
The risk of religious discrimination in a multi-cultured society.
Controversial art and censorship .
Does a smoking ban reduce lung cancer rates?
The influence of mixed-race backgrounds on personal development.
Minimum wage policy and its impact: controversy .
The importance of policies and religious accommodations at the workplace.
How to raise awareness of women’s rights in society?
Attention deficit hyperactivity disorder diagnosis controversy .
Legalization of marijuana for medical usage: for and against.
What are the potentially harmful effects of consuming genetically modified food ?
Dementia and its controversial treatment .
The effects of globalization on national economies and job losses.
How to reduce the incidence of alcoholism and drug addiction in society?
The Jamestown massacre controversy .
The efficiency of drug testing programs in schools .

Controversial research topics inspire discussions and push limits on established beliefs. In the following paragraphs, you can find risky but interesting controversial questions for your future study!

Controversial Topics in Education

How do cell phones decrease learning productivity?
The role of textbooks in education .
The impact of fast food on students’ learning skills.
Do armed guards reduce crime rates in schools?
Why does education require political intervention ?
The negative side of individualized approach in education .
Advantages and disadvantages of tracking and grouping in classes.
School sex education and teenage pregnancy in the United States .
Does a college education lower the unemployment rate ?
Early childhood education and its influence on success in the future.
Education: internet courses versus traditional courses .
Does a low level of IQ affect academic performance?
The importance of detention in disciplining students.
Labeling in special education .
Does homeschooling provide a better education than traditional schooling?

Controversial Psychology Topics

What factors contribute to the persistence of stereotypes in diverse societies?
Happiness as a Way of Living and Perceiving Reality .
The impact of advertising on the human brain and mental health.
How does yoga affect a person’s mental state?
Gaming influence on psychology and personality .
The effect of biological factors on sexual orientation .
Do violent video games influence real-life aggression?
Psychology: does a criminal mind exist ?
Placebo effect and its role in demonstrating the power of the mind.
Can psychological profiling accurately forecast criminal behavior?
Psychological testing: beneficial or harmful ?
The impact of subconscious biases on decision-making.
Does testimony from witnesses properly represent historical events?
Experimental psychology: science vs. ideology .
Do near-death experiences provide evidence of an afterlife?

Controversial Criminal Justice Topics

Do mandatory minimum sentences lower crime rates?
Racial bas in criminal justice systems and workplaces .
The ethical side of capital punishment in the US .
The role of racial bias in the criminal justice system.
Recidivism in criminal justice: the prison system of America .
Do private prisons put profit above inmate welfare?
The effectiveness of body cameras in maintaining accountability and transparency.
Ethical dilemmas in the criminal justice system .
Is the drug war successful in lowering drug abuse?
The impact of solitary confinement on the occurrence of mental disorders in prisoners.
Non-inclusiveness of the criminal justice system .
How to prevent sexual assault in the military ?
The role of restitution in dealing with prison overcrowding .
Cyberbullying as a criminal offense in Singapore .
How does the prison system impact the mental health of prisoners ?

Controversial Political Questions

Is wealth redistribution a successful way of addressing income inequality?
Political culture: failure of democracy in Iraq .
Do restrictive abortion policies decrease the abortion rates among teens?
What impact do campaign funding regulations have on political corruption ?
Mexican immigration as a political controversy .
How do religious factors shape public opinion on LGBTQ+ rights?
How to regulate the misinformation or propaganda inside the country?
Abortion in Texas as a political issue .
How does the accessibility of weapons affect the frequency of mass shootings ?
What effect does immigration have on crime and public safety in host countries?
Tolerance and political diversity in the US .
Why does power concentration negatively affect press freedom?
How do politicians reconcile private power interests and democratic values?
Political ecologies of electronic waste: does it really make a difference ?
What is the role of government in providing affordable healthcare ?

Controversial Environmental Topics

Does the ban on plastic help to stop climate change?
Environment: oil drilling in the Arctic National Refuge .
Nuclear power as the solution for sustainable energy production.
Can banning fast fashion be beneficial to the environment?
The controversies of climate change .
How does noise pollution affect marine life?
Does recycling cause more trash in the environment?
Global warming and the free rider problem .
The benefits of efficient toilets in conserving water.
The establishment of the carbon tax as a way to reduce carbon footprint.
Global warming: myth or reality ?
What threat to the Earth does overpopulation pose?
The negative consequences of leftover foods in restaurants.
It’s not my fault: global warming and moral responsibility .
Would the ban on mining aid in preserving the environment?

📝 Controversial Argumentative Essay Topics

Controversial argumentative essay topics require the student to investigate a problem, examine the evidence, and present a concise viewpoint on an issue. Some of the hottest topics are already waiting for you below!

Should athletes be checked for steroid usage regularly?
The controversy between free will and determinism .
Procrastination has a negative influence on critical thinking.
Pharmacies should provide teenagers with free contraception.
Operation Geronimo: controversy and the legal authority .
Torture can be efficient in solving some crimes.
Why should computer addiction be treated seriously?
Should illegal immigrants be made legal citizens ?
Prenuptial agreements can strengthen families’ relationships.
Why should media violence be censored?
Should smoking be illegal ?
Are social networks helpful, or are they just a waste of time?
Cyberbullying should have legal consequences.
Have “three-strikes” laws been effective and should they be continued ?
Religious courses should be mandatory for everyone.
Why is modern technology too isolating?
Should Georgia legalize gambling to raise revenue ?
Tourist tax is essential to protect cultural heritage .
All individuals should have the right to possess firearms.
The Right-to-Die bill: why all states should pass it .
Do TV shows reinforce harmful stereotypes?
Values of fashion should not contradict the healthy body image .

Controversial Questions About Art

Why is the depiction of nudity in art considered vulgar?
Pornography vs. artistic nude photographs .
Should obscene artistic expression without “serious artistic value” be censored?
Why is art not an objective branch of human culture?
Graffiti as a monumental form of art .
Can governments stop the trafficking of antiquities?
What role does criticism play in modern art?
Art and entertainment: is there any difference ?
Are museums ready to cope with competition and demands for change?
Why is visiting a theater good for cultural growth?
Freedom of expression in artworks .
Why are new directions in architecture widely criticized?
Is an artwork’s worth determined by its price?
Defining art in the past and present .
Can graffiti be considered a legitimate form of art?

Controversial History Questions

Is the existence of Atlantis not entirely mythical?
How has the invention of gunpowder affected the world ?
Why is it not true that pyramids were built by slaves in Egypt?
What would be with Germany if Hitler had not happened?
How did WWI change women’s role in America ?
What was the leading cause of the American Civil War ?
Who funded the assassins of Archduke Ferdinand?
What led up to the assassination of Julius Caesar ?
Why was slavery unprofitable for enslavers?
From whom did Charles Darwin get his idea of evolution?
Jacksonian democracy: who benefitted ?
Why was Galileo tortured for his beliefs?
Who actually wrote Shakespeare’s plays?
Was the Industrial Revolution positive for society ?
How did European pathogens cause the decline of the Cahokia and Mississippian mounds?

Controversial Opinion Questions

Why should religion be separated from politics?
Euthanasia in public opinion and policy-making .
Do a person’s thoughts and behavior contribute to mental illnesses?
How can curfews keep teens out of trouble?
Internet in our life: personal opinion .
Why are immigrants more of a benefit rather than a problem?
Are social media platforms accountable for the material they publish?
Money and expenditures: personal opinion .
What is the harmful impact of homework ?
Should LGBT+ problems be discussed during school sex education classes?
Our opinions on vaccines and what factors influence them .
Why allowing a child to be overweight is a form of child abuse ?
How can smartphones damage our IQs?
Opinions about euthanasia: for and against .
Why is war never an option for solving international disputes?

Like any other sphere, business has many exciting topics that provoke deep discussion and boost people’s curiosity. Here are some ideas that you can use for your papers!

The issue of discrimination and harassment at the workplace.
Business ethics and CSR: when corporate values must be upgraded .
How does abuse of leadership authority impact employees’ productivity?
The risks of nepotism and favoritism in big corporations.
Samsung and child labor: business ethics case .
How to find the balance between work and personal life?
The ethical side of corporate espionage.
Business ethics: Indian tea plantation workers .
Social media networks should be blocked at work.
Why are remote workers more productive?
Business ethics of concealing facts in a report .
The efficiency of open-space offices in creating fresh business ideas.
Companies should provide health care to part-time employees.
Management issues: diversity in the workplace .
How to avoid ethical issues in the business industry?
A casual dress code should be mandatory in the office.
Socialization of people with disabilities in the workplace .
Will AI replace human jobs soon?
Minimum wages should be increased around the world.
Workplace sexual harassment and legal boundaries .
Stakeholder capitalism as a fundamental violation of fiduciary duty.
How to deal with a toxic working environment?

Controversial Topics in Business Management

How to obtain an advantage over competitors ethically?
Artificial intelligence in strategic business management .
The importance of workforce diversity in global organizations.
Participative management approach as a method to empower the workforce.
Women minorities in business management .
Why is it vital to implement quality management systems ?
Employers should make accommodations for employees with mental health issues.
The marginal productivity of labor in business management .
All workplace relationships should be banned.
Time management as a way to boost productivity.
Moral wayfinding for a business manager .
Outsourcing as a way of redirecting the company’s resources.
The effectiveness of banning political discussion in resolving labor conflicts.
Technological changes in business management .
Why is focusing on customer service not vital in the business industry?

Controversial Marketing Topics

Overpromising as a harmful way to gain customers’ trust.
Marketing: social responsibility and the law .
Misusing customer data should be punished by the government.
How does misleading pricing affect the number of sales?
Is it necessary to develop a marketing plan ?
The risks and benefits of controversial marketing.
The impact of colors on the brand and marketing campaigns .
Advertising to children and social responsibility .
Why should advertising potentially dangerous products be banned?
Virtual influencers in marketing and their impact on teenagers.
Sex in advertising and its harmful effects .
Recycling content as a way to draw more customers.
What is the role of social justice issues in ads of popular brands?
Pharmaceutical advertising is propaganda .
The role of racial diversity in marketing campaigns.

This image shows examples of controversial marketing campaigns.

Controversial medical topics can inspire passionate discussions within healthcare. In the following paragraphs, you can check out the hottest ideas to discuss in the medical field!

Controversial Nursing Topics

The importance of nurses in end-of-life care .
Staffing issues in nursing .
How long should nurses rest between patients?
The benefits and drawbacks of nurse-physician collaboration .
Circumcision ethical dilemma and a nurse’s role in it .
The efficiency of nursing unions in defending nurses’ rights.
Medical errors and disclosure in pediatric nursing .
Nurse Robaczynski’s case: crime or mercy killing ?
Nursing approaches to ophthalmic care for older adults.
What is the value of informed consent in nursing practice?
Drug addiction among nurses .
The worth of nursing leadership in fostering a culture of transparency.
The role of nurses in addressing medical futility.
Nurses’ work-life balance and patient safety .
How to balance patient autonomy and healthcare professional expertise?

Controversial Public Health Topics

Should medical experiments on humans be legalized?
Vaccination as a public health policy issue .
The pros and cons of exercising for pregnant women.
Social media disinformation as a key cause of COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy .
Abortion from legal and public health perspectives .
How should the issue of obesity be treated?
The impact of the coronavirus on a specific vulnerable population.
Sugary drink tax as a public health policy .
Did COVID-19 give a boost to telemedicine ?
The opioid crisis is a public health catastrophe.
Is bottled water safe for public health ?
The impact of aging water and sewer infrastructure on health.
Why are electronic cigarettes more harmful than regular ones?
Firearm violence as a public health issue .
Federal privacy laws should protect the privacy of patients.

Controversial Medical Ethics Topics

Medical students’ involvement in patient care: for or against.
Patient’s violence and the use of the doctor’s force .
Is it ethical for healthcare workers to accept gifts from patients?
The peculiarities of working with surrogate decision-makers.
Medical ethics: a do-not-resuscitate order .
How to address disparities in health care professionally?
The importance of patient privacy and confidentiality.
Medical ethics: performing an unnecessary test .
The possible pitfalls of legalization of organ transplantation .
Euthanasia should be a free choice of a patient.
Is lying to patients against medical ethics ?
What is the ethical side of DNR orders ?
Moral dilemmas concerning physician-assisted suicide .
Medical ethics: pet euthanasia .
How should malpractice and negligence in healthcare be punished?

Controversial Questions about Mental Health

Why is self-help in coping with mental disorders a waste of time?
What are the dangers of fad diets for mental health ?
Are mental health issues a result of personality weakness or character flaws?
Do children experience mental health issues?
What causes medication administration errors in a mental health hospital ?
How to prevent a mental health condition?
What is the role of psychosurgery in treating depression?
How does ageism affect mental health and addiction ?
Why do people use self-harm to overcome traumatic experiences?
Is hearing voices the first symptom of schizophrenia ?
What are the mental health issues in incarcerated adults ?
Why is having bipolar disorder considered fancy among teenagers?
What is the role of practical pharmacotherapy in child psychiatry ?
How can violence potential be assessed in forensic psychiatric institutions ?
How can suicidal behavior be unnoticed in society?

Do you need a controversial scientific topic for your term paper or essay? Read on to find the perfect topics on science that you can use in your favor!

Science should try to revive extinct species.
Vaccines and autism: does the controversy persist ?
Will expanding stem cell research be beneficial?
The role of genes in determining a person’s behavior.
Controversies related to technology: newborn screening .
What is the evidence of life on other planets?
The scientific side of reincarnation .
Controversies between religion and science .
Why should alternative medicine be forbidden?
Genetic variations as the leading cause of alcoholism.
How is science demarcated from pseudoscience ?
The efficiency of symptomatic care in the separation of conjoined twins .
Is it possible to create a virus in the lab?
Faith and science: did Darwin kill God ?
The impact of scientific creationism on education.
Why should the development of neural lace technology be banned?
Cyber-science: fiction or modern reality ?
Why should people have the right to refuse vaccinations?
Should governments invest significant resources in space exploration ?
The promises and perils of artificial intelligence .
The ethical aspects of human cloning for medical purposes.
Why is animal testing necessary?

Controversial Biology Topics

Drinking a lot of water wipes away the vital nutrients the body needs.
Is gender a culturally or biologically perscribed role ?
Why are overweight people more likely to develop chronic diseases ?
Current generations are responsible for preventing climate change.
Mind-body problem in psychobiology .
Charles Darwin’s evolution hypothesis may not be flawless.
The potential for gene editing to heal genetic diseases .
Substance abuse: environmental influences and biology .
Cancer treatment does additional harm to the health.
The debate in evolutionary biology regarding the validity of the molecular clock.
Biotechnology: impact on biological warfare and biodefense .
What are healthy bacteria that should remain in the body?
The impact of synthetic biology on the environment.
Advantages and disadvantages of stem cell research .
What are the evolutionary origins of homosexuality ?

Controversial Engineering Topics

The design and construction of weaponry should be banned.
Engineering professionalism and ethics .
What is the ethical side of bioengineering?
The possible consequences of the “conflict mineral” exploitation.
Loudness war in sound engineering .
How can AI replace humans in engineering processes?
The debate between imperial and metric measurements.
Green engineering: principles, benefits, and constraints .
Why do environmental engineers play a huge role in mitigating climate change?
The safety of products and structures is a crucial concern for engineers.
Human factor engineering problem: carpal tunnel syndrome .
Manipulation of organisms with the help of genetic engineering .
Why do males dominate the engineering industry?
Ethical dilemmas in software engineering: Volkswagen ethical dilemma .
The efficiency of chemical engineering technologies in diagnosing diseases.

Controversial Chemistry Topics

How do chemical agendas impact cultural values or religious ideas?
Government preparedness to chemical and bio terrorism .
The role of chemistry in the prediction of environmental or health problems.
Chemical weapons as a primary threat to the world.
Chemical pollution and loans in business ethics .
The role of chemical laboratories in increasing drug abuse rates.
How does desalinated water impact human health?
Dumping chemical wastes in the lake .
The negative side of using nuclear energy .
Why is avoiding pesticides in agriculture vital?
An unethical decision of the Rongping Chemical Company .
The use of radiant energy in making food safer.
What is the potential side effect of fluoridation?
Chemical impact on the US vulnerable communities .
The safety of using BPA in food packaging .

This image shows controversial topics in science.

Deep, controversial questions can challenge our beliefs and prompt introspection. Check out the most contentious philosophical questions that you can use for your essay or paper below!

How can we identify good without knowing what evil is?
What is the problem of evil in relation to philosophy and religion ?
Do you have control over your destiny, or does everything happen by fate?
Is happiness the most essential goal in life?
Philosophy prospectus: why should we be moral ?
Does life exist somewhere else in the universe?
Is it immoral to distribute riches inequitably?
Issues in philosophy: does God exist ?
Is love simply a physical desire or something more?
Can a life without friends still be fulfilling?
Are there limits to what should be questioned ?
What will happen when the world ends?
Does religion have an impact on scientific thinking?
Is euthanasia morally acceptable ?
How can you know that your perceptions are accurate?
What is the distinction between being alive and living?
Is watching football morally acceptable ?
Is beauty a subjective or objective concept?
Are we ethically obliged to help others?
Are rich countries morally obligated to assist poor countries ?
Is suffering an unavoidable aspect of human life?
What does an afterlife look like?
When is the use of military force justified ?

Moral Controversial Topics

Would you kill one person to save the lives of hundreds?
What is the moral doctrine of active and passive euthanasia ?
Why is there no absolute morality in the world?
Is refusing life-saving medical care morally wrong?
What is the moral status of an abnormal fetus ?
Would you lie in the name of love?
Does putting others before yourself give your life purpose?
Should athletes be held to a higher moral standard ?
Would you want to know when you are going to die?
Would you go against the law to save someone you care about?
What is the moral status of the human embryo ?
Would you use a dating service to find a lover?
Can money buy happiness?
Is it morally permissible to drive after having one drink ?
What would you change in the world if you could?

Controversial Religious Topics

How does religion impact a woman’s right to have an abortion?
Religion in schools: is there a place for it ?
What are the negative consequences of blasphemy laws?
Why should animal sacrifice be banned in every religion?
What are the consequences of religious freedom in America ?
Why do autopsy laws conflict with religious objections?
Is there scientific evidence for God’s existence ?
Is religion the root of terrorism ?
Why is gay marriage not supported in many religions?
Can prayer affect the fate of events?
What are the religious and moral aspects of slavery ?
How should the church respond to racial injustice and discrimination ?
Why can’t Satanism be a valid religion?
Is Islam a religion that practices just war ?
Do religions cause more conflict than they solve?

Do you know that funny, controversial questions can provide you with a dose of laughter and debate at the same time? Look at the entertaining topics we have prepared for you!

Why are women often used as inspiration for writing poems?
Should apartments ban dogs based on breed ?
How quickly can children become addicted to video games?
Why is procrastination necessary for achieving goals?
Should stimulants be prescribed to boost grades ?
What impact does noise pollution have on human well-being?
Why should guys avoid wearing skinny jeans?
Should plant-based dairy be labeled as milk ?
How to choose a role model for your children?
Why do people enjoy making things complicated?
Should schools distribute condoms ?
Why may clowns frighten both children and adults?
How to win an argument with the husband?
Why pitbulls should not be banned .
What are the most effective ways to survive a zombie apocalypse?
What is the most useless talent in the world?
Should spamming be illegal ?
Why is listening to podcasts instead of music more beneficial?
The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time.
Should people be paid to stay healthy ?
Only hardworking people can achieve their goals.
What makes someone a “good person”?

Random Controversial Questions

What are the leading causes of awkward dates?
Gender stereotypes: should real men wear pink ?
What is the importance of mandatory napping hours for adults?
What is the proper technique for applying toothpaste on a brush?
Should wolves come back to Colorado ?
How does laughter influence academic success in elementary school?
When is it useful to be a good liar?
Why shouldn’t you have grades in school ?
Why should pajamas be a part of the work dress code ?
Why is retail therapy an effective method for boosting happiness?
Repatriate or keep: should museums return artifacts ?
What are the possible consequences of falling coconuts for human health?
Why should wearing socks with sandals be banned?
Should societies impose monogamy ?
Why are emojis the superior way of communication?

Controversial Sports Topics

Why should the use of animals in the sports industry be banned?
The issue of violence in sports .
The benefits and drawbacks of social media’s influence on the sports world.
Why does money play an essential role in professional sports?
Steroid use and sports .
Advertising during football matches should be banned.
Why should sports betting be legalized?
Transgender women athletes in professional sports .
The impact of funny nicknames on sports career.
Gender discrimination is the biggest problem in the sports industry.
Accessibility of sports facilities for people with disabilities .
What are the risks and rewards of steroids in sports?
The role of sport in preventing mental problems.
Public funding for professional sports facilities .
Why are all Brazilian athletes good at soccer?

Controversial Music Topics

Why is rap music considered to promote rape?
The need for censorship in the music industry .
Michael Jackson : a musical genius or a mentally ill man?
The role of classical music in improving learning skills.
Hip-hop and violence: does this music genre promote crime ?
The effectiveness of piracy laws in curbing illegal copying of songs.
What is the secret behind the success of Justin Bieber?
Tupac’s fake death conspiracy theory .
The impact of music types on sleep quality .
Why isn’t auto-tuned music real music?
Controversies about how to interpret music .
The importance of lyrics in modern pop songs.
The relationship between music and lifestyle of a music fan.
Legalizing free downloads of music and movies .
Why is talent not important in the music industry in the 21st century?

Controversial Animal Topics

Why is animal testing never justified?
Is animal creativity possible ?
The efficiency of government laws in protecting animals’ rights.
The ethical drawbacks of horse racing.
Using animals in medical experiments .
What should there be the penalty for animal poachers?
What are the effective ways to prevent animal extinctions?
Animal welfare: why animals should be treated with kindness and respect .
Sacrificing an animal for religious reasons: an ethical side.
What are humans’ responsibilities to animals?
Captivity in zoos adversely affects animals .
Using animals for food should be banned.
The impact of farming on the environment.
Animal transplantation and commerce in organs .
Why should keeping exotic animals as pets be illegal?

Social Media Controversial Topics

The influence of social networks on self-esteem.
Social media’s influence on the children and teens .
Social networks as a method to manipulate people.
The importance of digital connectedness in modern society.
Transparency of services: social media and the Internet usage .
How to stop the dissemination of fake news on Twitter?
Digital friendship: benefits and possible drawbacks.
Social media for children: threat or opportunity ?
How does the platform BeReal differ from other social networks?
The impact of Instagram masks on the perception of one’s appearance.
Law enforcement: online crimes and social media .
Why should politicians be banned from social media?
Social networks as a platform for the emergence of new professions.
Nursing professionalism in social media .
Social media destroys creativity in teenagers.

Controversial Relationship Questions

How does divorce impact a child’s mental health?
Money issues in romantic and marital relationships .
Is there a place for monogamy in today’s world?
Why are mothers expected to prioritize their children’s needs over their own?
Family relationships and dominant culture .
Why is it important for a couple to move in together before marriage?
How does violence in a family affect a child?
Family relationships and response to health issues .
Why is a man considered the head of the family?
Is it good for spouses to have different religious beliefs?
Domestic violence in same-sex relationships .
Should couples put their careers above their relationships?
Why should adoptive parents not hide information about a child’s biological origins?
Interpersonal qualities for good relationships .
How does betrayal impact relationships?

Controversial Food Questions

What are the health risks of genetically modified foods?
Labeling food with genetically modified organisms .
Why should pineapple on pizza be banned?
How does food misinformation in the media impact consumers’ choices?
Food additives: dangers and health impacts .
Why is McDonald’s the best fast-food restaurant in the world?
What is bad about taking photos of food at restaurants?
Is fast food really harmful and can it be healthy ?
Why should people not eat meat daily?
What is the role of a healthy diet in dealing with childhood obesity?
Food consumption: enjoyment and ethics .
Can your diet be modified to match your genetic profile?
Why do people in different countries have opposite views on nutrition?
Advantages and disadvantages of biotechnology in improving the nutritive value of foods .
What are the main risks of eating too much sweets?

Looking for controversial questions to debate in the classroom or during the conversation? Check out the list we’ve created especially for you!

Addicts should receive help rather than punishment.
Breastfeeding and bottle feeding controversies .
Why does the beauty industry create unrealistic beauty standards ?
Is it possible for alternative energy to replace fossil fuels effectively?
Rationalism and empiricism controversy .
The possible drawbacks of binge-watching .
The importance of a parenting class before having a child.
Holocaust denial and antisemitism ideas .
Why is war never justified?
Smoking e-cigarettes should be made illegal.
Contemporary global controversies: labor standards .
The single-gender schools are better for teenagers.
Why should we ban “diet culture”?
Debate on circumcision: is it unethical and unlawful ?
Effective ways of solving the problem of ageism in society.
The drawbacks of patriotism exceed the advantages.
Mass starvation: is it a real danger for humans ?
Why is it impossible to achieve world peace ?
The negative impact of beauty pageants on self-esteem.
Graffiti: is it art or vandalism ?
Are pharmaceutical medication prices reasonable?
Women are better at managing large corporations than men.
Sport hunting: is it cruel to kill animals for sport ?
Organ donation should be made compulsory.
Why is feminism out of date in the 21st century?
Criminal profiling: is it science ?
Cryptocurrencies will replace traditional currencies soon.
Corporate jobs are a new form of slavery.
Obesity: is it a disease ?
Why is blockchain technology the future?

❓ Controversial Questions FAQ

What is a controversial topic.

Controversial topics are topics that elicit strong emotions and divide opinions. Dealing with controversial issues may be highly emotional, especially if they involve values, beliefs, and ethical standards. At the same time, such topics help distinguish between fact and opinion and teach respect for other people’s viewpoints.

What Are Some Controversial Questions?

Is freedom of speech essential in a functional society?
Should burning the flag be punished?
Is solar power the energy of the future?
Should more people become vegetarian?
Is tourism harmful to the environment?
Will technology kill the world?

How to Present a Controversial Topic?

Ensure you have all the necessary information and are well-versed in the subject.
Avoid unnecessary jargon or technical terminology.
Consider your target listeners’ age, gender, and ethnicity.
Establish credibility by sharing accurate facts or relevant stories.
Present both sides of the argument to be objective.
Hot Topics and Controversial Issues | Texas State University
Guidelines for Discussing Difficult or High-Stakes Topics | University of Michigan
What Do Americans Think About Controversial Topics in Schools? | USC Dornsife
Topics | Brookings
Issues and Controversies: Find a Topic | Marquette University
Political Issues | Pew Research Center
Issues & Controversies: topics on Crime and Juvenile Justice | A&M University
Engaging in Discussions about Controversial Issues | Alys Avalos-Rivera
Business Management Topics | The University of Maine
Topics: Issues Related to Religion | The First Amendment Encyclopedia
5 Major Controversies and Challenges in Engineering | Interesting Engineering
What Are the Top 10 Public Health Challenges in 2023? | News Medical
Select a Research Topic: Current Events and Controversial Issues | Southern Adventist University
110+ Controversial Debate Topics to Challenge Your Students | We Are Teachers
Addressing Controversial Issues | Council of Europe
100+ Interesting Debate Topics | Owlcation
Room for Debate | The New York Times
The 22 Debates That Made Us Rage, Roll Our Eyes, and Change Our Minds In 2022 | The New York Times
Current Debates | SAGE edge
Current Debates in Health Care Policy: A Brief Overview | Brookings
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How to write a 250-word essay: length, outline, & example, how to write a 200-word essay: length, prompts, & example, 740 funny research topics — a list of superb writing ideas.

50 Argumentative Essay Topics

Illustration by Catherine Song. ThoughtCo.

M.Ed., Education Administration, University of Georgia
B.A., History, Armstrong State University

An argumentative essay requires you to decide on a topic and argue for or against it. You'll need to back up your viewpoint with well-researched facts and information as well. One of the hardest parts is deciding which topic to write about, but there are plenty of ideas available to get you started. Then you need to take a position, do some research, and present your viewpoint convincingly.

Choosing a Great Argumentative Essay Topic

Students often find that most of their work on these essays is done before they even start writing. This means that it's best if you have a general interest in your subject. Otherwise, you might get bored or frustrated while trying to gather information. You don't need to know everything, though; part of what makes this experience rewarding is learning something new.

It's best if you have a general interest in your subject, but the argument you choose doesn't have to be one that you agree with.

The subject you choose may not necessarily be one you are in full agreement with, either. You may even be asked to write a paper from the opposing point of view. Researching a different viewpoint helps students broaden their perspectives.

Ideas for Argument Essays

Sometimes, the best ideas are sparked by looking at many different options. Explore this list of possible topics and see if a few pique your interest. Write those down as you come across them, then think about each for a few minutes.

Which would you enjoy researching? Do you have a firm position on a particular subject? Is there a point you would like to make sure you get across? Did the topic give you something new to think about? Can you see why someone else may feel differently?

List of 50 Possible Argumentative Essay Topics

A number of these topics are rather controversial—that's the point. In an argumentative essay , opinions matter, and controversy is based on opinions. Just make sure your opinions are backed up by facts in the essay. If these topics are a little too controversial or you don't find the right one for you, try browsing through persuasive essay and speech topics as well.

Is global climate change caused by humans?
Is the death penalty effective?
Is the U.S. election process fair?
Is torture ever acceptable?
Should men get paternity leave from work?
Are school uniforms beneficial?
Does the U.S. have a fair tax system?
Do curfews keep teens out of trouble?
Is cheating out of control?
Are we too dependent on computers?
Should animals be used for research?
Should cigarette smoking be banned?
Are cell phones dangerous?
Are law enforcement cameras an invasion of privacy?
Do we have a throwaway society ?
Is child behavior better or worse than it was years ago?
Should companies market to children?
Should the government have a say in our diets?
Does access to condoms prevent teen pregnancy?
Should members of Congress have term limits?
Are actors and professional athletes paid too much?
Are CEOs paid too much?
Should athletes be held to high moral standards?
Do violent video games cause behavior problems?
Should creationism be taught in public schools?
Are beauty pageants exploitative ?
Should English be the official language of the United States?
Should the racing industry be forced to use biofuels?
Should the alcohol-drinking age be increased or decreased?
Should everyone be required to recycle?
Is it okay for prisoners to vote (as they are in some states)?
Should same-sex marriage be legalized in more countries?
Are there benefits to attending a single-sex school ?
Does boredom lead to trouble?
Should schools be in session year-round ?
Does religion cause war?
Should the government provide health care?
Should abortion be illegal?
Should more companies expand their reproductive health benefits for employees?
Is homework harmful or helpful?
Is the cost of college too high?
Is college admission too competitive?
Should euthanasia be illegal?
Should the federal government legalize marijuana use nationally ?
Should rich people be required to pay more taxes?
Should schools require foreign language or physical education?
Is affirmative action fair?
Is public prayer okay in schools?
Are schools and teachers responsible for low test scores?
Is greater gun control a good idea?

How to Craft a Persuasive Argument

After you've decided on your essay topic, gather evidence to make your argument as strong as possible. Your research could even help shape the position your essay ultimately takes. As you craft your essay, remember to utilize persuasive writing techniques , such as invoking emotional language or citing facts from authoritative figures.

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How to Craft Your Ideal Thesis Research Topic

Catherine Miller

Writing your undergraduate thesis is probably one of the most interesting parts of studying, especially because you get to choose your area of study. But as both a student and a teacher who’s helped countless students develop their research topics, I know this freedom can be just as intimidating as it is liberating.

Fortunately, there’a a step-by-step process you can follow that will help make the whole process a lot easier. In this article, I’ll show you how to choose a unique, specific thesis topic that’s true to your passions and interests, while making a contribution to your field.

Choose a topic that you’re interested in

First things first: double-check with your teachers or supervisor if there are any constraints on your research topic. Once your parameters are clear, it’s time to identify what lights you up — after all, you’re going to be spending a lot of time thinking about it.

Within your field of study, you probably already have some topics that have grabbed your attention more than others. This can be a great place to start. Additionally, consider using the rest of your academic and extra-curricular interests as a source of ideas. At this stage, you only need a broad topic before you narrow it down to a specific question.

If you’re feeling stuck, here are some things to try:

Look back through old course notes to remind yourself of topics you previously covered. Do any of these inspire you?
Talk to potential supervisors about your ideas, as they can point you toward areas you might not have considered.
Think about the things you enjoy in everyday life — whether that’s cycling, cinema, cooking, or fashion — then consider if there are any overlaps with your field of study.
Imagine you have been asked to give a presentation or record a podcast in the next three days. What topics would you feel confident discussing?
Watch a selection of existing lectures or explainer videos, or listen to podcasts by experts in your field. Note which topics you feel curious to explore further.
Discuss your field of study with teachers friends and family, some with existing knowledge and some without. Which aspects do you enjoy talking about?

By doing all this, you might uncover some unusual and exciting avenues for research. For example, when writing my Master’s dissertation, I decided to combine my field of study (English teaching methodology) with one of my passions outside work (creative writing). In my undergraduate course, a friend drew on her lived experience of disability to look into the literary portrayal of disability in the ancient world.

Do your research

Once you’ve chosen your topic of interest, it’s time to dive into research. This is a really important part of this early process because it allows you to:

See what other people have written about the topic — you don’t want to cover the same old ground as everyone else.
Gain perspective on the big questions surrounding the topic.
Go deeper into the parts that interest you to help you decide where to focus.
Start building your bibliography and a bank of interesting quotations.

A great way to start is to visit your library for an introductory book. For example, the “A Very Short Introduction” series from the Oxford University Press provides overviews of a range of themes. Similar types of overviews may have the title “ A Companion to [Subject]” or “[Subject] A Student Companion”. Ask your librarian or teacher if you’re not sure where to begin.

Your introductory volume can spark ideas for further research, and the bibliography can give you some pointers about where to go next. You can also use keywords to research online via academic sites like JStor or Google Scholar. Check which subscriptions are available via your institution.

At this stage, you may not wish to read every single paper you come across in full — this could take a very long time and not everything will be relevant. Summarizing software like Wordtune could be very useful here.

Just upload a PDF or link to an online article using Wordtune, and it will produce a summary of the whole paper with a list of key points. This helps you to quickly sift through papers to grasp their central ideas and identify which ones to read in full.

Screenshot of Wordtune's summarizing tool

Get Wordtune for free > Get Wordtune for free >

You can also use Wordtune for semantic search. In this case, the tool focuses its summary around your chosen search term, making it even easier to get what you need from the paper.

As you go, make sure you keep organized notes of what you’ve read, including the author and publication information and the page number of any citations you want to use.

Some people are happy to do this process with pen and paper, but if you prefer a digital method, there are several software options, including Zotero , EndNote , and Mendeley . Your institution may have an existing subscription so check before you sign up.

Narrowing down your thesis research topic

Now you’ve read around the topic, it’s time to narrow down your ideas so you can craft your final question. For example, when it came to my undergraduate thesis, I knew I wanted to write about Ancient Greek religion and I was interested in the topic of goddesses. So, I:

Did some wide reading around the topic of goddesses
Learned that the goddess Hera was not as well researched as others and that there were some fascinating aspects I wanted to explore
Decided (with my supervisor’s support) to focus on her temples in the Argive region of Greece

As part of this process, it can be helpful to consider the “5 Ws”: why, what, who, when, and where, as you move from the bigger picture to something more precise.

Why did you choose this research topic?

Come back to the reasons you originally chose your theme. What grabbed you? Why is this topic important to you — or to the wider world? In my example, I knew I wanted to write about goddesses because, as a woman, I was interested in how a society in which female lives were often highly controlled dealt with having powerful female deities. My research highlighted Hera as one of the most powerful goddesses, tying into my key interest.

What are some of the big questions about your topic?

During your research, you’ll probably run into the same themes time and time again. Some of the questions that arise may not have been answered yet or might benefit from a fresh look.

Equally, there may be questions that haven’t yet been asked, especially if you are approaching the topic from a modern perspective or combining research that hasn’t been considered before. This might include taking a post-colonial, feminist, or queer approach to older texts or bringing in research using new scientific methods.

In my example, I knew there were still controversies about why so many temples to the goddess Hera were built in a certain region, and was keen to explore these further.

Who is the research topic relevant to?

Considering the “who” might help you open up new avenues. Is there a particular audience you want to reach? What might they be interested in? Is this a new audience for this field? Are there people out there who might be affected by the outcome of this research — for example, people with a particular medical condition — who might be able to use your conclusions?

Which period will you focus on?

Depending on the nature of your field, you might be able to choose a timeframe, which can help narrow the topic down. For example, you might focus on historical events that took place over a handful of years, look at the impact of a work of literature at a certain point after its publication, or review scientific progress over the last five years.

With my thesis, I decided to focus on the time when the temples were built rather than considering the hundreds of years for which they have existed, which would have taken me far too long.

Where does your topic relate to?

Place can be another means of narrowing down the topic. For example, consider the impact of your topic on a particular neighborhood, city, or country, rather than trying to process a global question.

In my example, I chose to focus my research on one area of Greece, where there were lots of temples to Hera. This meant skipping other important locations, but including these would have made the thesis too wide-ranging.

Create an outline and get feedback

Once you have an idea of what you are going to write about, create an outline or summary and get feedback from your teacher(s). It’s okay if you don’t know exactly how you’re going to answer your thesis question yet, but based on your research you should have a rough plan of the key points you want to cover. So, for me, the outline was as follows:

Context: who was the goddess Hera?
Overview of her sanctuaries in the Argive region
Their initial development
Political and cultural influences
The importance of the mythical past

In the final thesis, I took a strong view on why the goddess was so important in this region, but it took more research, writing, and discussion with my supervisor to pin down my argument.

To choose a thesis research topic, find something you’re passionate about, research widely to get the big picture, and then move to a more focused view. Bringing a fresh perspective to a popular theme, finding an underserved audience who could benefit from your research, or answering a controversial question can make your thesis stand out from the crowd.

For tips on how to start writing your thesis, don’t miss our advice on writing a great research abstract and a stellar literature review . And don’t forget that Wordtune can also support you with proofreading, making it even easier to submit a polished thesis.

How do you come up with a research topic for a thesis?

To help you find a thesis topic, speak to your professor, look through your old course notes, think about what you already enjoy in everyday life, talk about your field of study with friends and family, and research podcasts and videos to find a topic that is interesting for you. It’s a good idea to refine your topic so that it’s not too general or broad.

Do you choose your own thesis topic?

Yes, you usually choose your own thesis topic. You can get help from your professor(s), friends, and family to figure out which research topic is interesting to you.

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160 Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Students in 2024

April 3, 2024

The skill of writing an excellent argumentative essay is a crucial one for every high school or college student to master. In sum, argumentative essays teach students how to organize their thoughts logically and present them in a convincing way. This skill is helpful not only for those pursuing degrees in law , international relations , or public policy , but for any student who wishes to develop their critical thinking faculties. In this article, we’ll cover what makes a good argument essay and offer several argumentative essay topics for high school and college students. Let’s begin!

What is an Argumentative Essay?

An argumentative essay is an essay that uses research to present a reasoned argument on a particular subject . As with the persuasive essay , the purpose of an argumentative essay is to sway the reader to the writer’s position. However, a strong persuasive essay makes its point through diligent research and emotion while a strong argumentative essay should be based solely on facts, not feelings.

Moreover, each fact should be supported by clear evidence from credible sources . Furthermore, a good argumentative essay will have an easy-to-follow structure. When organizing your argumentative essay, use this format as a guide:

Introduction
Supporting body paragraphs
Paragraph(s) addressing common counterarguments

Argumentative Essay Format

In the introduction , the writer presents their position and thesis statement —a sentence that summarizes the paper’s main points. The body paragraphs then draw upon supporting evidence to back up this initial statement, with each paragraph focusing on its own point. The length of your paper will determine the amount of examples you need. In general, you’ll likely need at least two to three. Additionally, your examples should be as detailed as possible, citing specific research, case studies, statistics, or anecdotes.

In the counterargument paragraph , the writer acknowledges and refutes opposing viewpoints. Finally, in the conclusion , the writer restates the main argument made in the thesis statement and summarizes the points of the essay. Additionally, the conclusion may offer a final proposal to persuade the reader of the essay’s position.

How to Write an Effective Argumentative Essay, Step by Step

Choose your topic. Use the list below to help you pick a topic. Ideally, a good argumentative essay topic will be meaningful to you—writing is always stronger when you are interested in the subject matter. In addition, the topic should be complex with plenty of “pro” and “con” arguments. Avoid choosing a topic that is either widely accepted as fact or too narrow. For example, “Is the earth round?” would not be a solid choice.
Research. Use the library, the web, and any other resources to gather information about your argumentative essay topic. Research widely but smartly. As you go, take organized notes, marking the source of every quote and where it may fit in the scheme of your larger essay. Moreover, remember to look for (and research) possible counterarguments.
Outline . Using the argument essay format above, create an outline for your essay. Then, brainstorm a thesis statement covering your argument’s main points, and begin to put your examples in order, focusing on logical flow. It’s often best to place your strongest example last.
Write . Draw on your research and outline to create a first draft. Remember, your first draft doesn’t need to be perfect. (As Voltaire says, “Perfect is the enemy of good.”) Accordingly, just focus on getting the words down on paper.
Does my thesis statement need to be adjusted?
Which examples feel strongest? Weakest?
Do the transitions flow smoothly?
Do I have a strong opening paragraph?
Does the conclusion reinforce my argument?

Tips for Revising an Argument Essay

Evaluating your own work can be difficult, so you might consider the following strategies:

Read your work aloud to yourself.
Record yourself reading your paper, and listen to the recording.
Reverse outline your paper. Firstly, next to each paragraph, write a short summary of that paragraph’s main points/idea. Then, read through your reverse outline. Does it have a logical flow? If not, where should you adjust?
Print out your paper and cut it into paragraphs. What happens when you rearrange the paragraphs?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics for Middle School, High School, and College Students

Family argumentative essay topics.

Should the government provide financial incentives for families to have children to address the declining birth rate?
Should we require parents to provide their children with a certain level of nutrition and physical activity to prevent childhood obesity?
Should parents implement limits on how much time their children spend playing video games?
Should cell phones be banned from family/holiday gatherings?
Should we hold parents legally responsible for their children’s actions?
Should children have the right to sue their parents for neglect?
Should parents have the right to choose their child’s religion?
Are spanking and other forms of physical punishment an effective method of discipline?
Should courts allow children to choose where they live in cases of divorce?
Should parents have the right to monitor teens’ activity on social media?
Should parents control their child’s medical treatment, even if it goes against the child’s wishes?
Should parents be allowed to post pictures of their children on social media without their consent?
Should fathers have a legal say in whether their partners do or do not receive an abortion?
Can television have positive developmental benefits on children?
Should the driving age be raised to prevent teen car accidents?
Should adult children be legally required to care for their aging parents?

Education Argument Essay Topics

Should schools ban the use of technology like ChatGPT?
Are zoos unethical, or necessary for conservation and education?
To what degree should we hold parents responsible in the event of a school shooting?
Should schools offer students a set number of mental health days?
Should school science curriculums offer a course on combating climate change?
Should public libraries be allowed to ban certain books? If so, what types?
What role, if any, should prayer play in public schools?
Should schools push to abolish homework?
Are gifted and talented programs in schools more harmful than beneficial due to their exclusionary nature?
Should universities do away with Greek life?
Should schools remove artwork, such as murals, that some perceive as offensive?
Should the government grant parents the right to choose alternative education options for their children and use taxpayer funds to support these options?
Is homeschooling better than traditional schooling for children’s academic and social development?
Should we require schools to teach sex education to reduce teen pregnancy rates?
Should we require schools to provide sex education that includes information about both homosexual and heterosexual relationships?
Should colleges use affirmative action and other race-conscious policies to address diversity on campus?
Should public schools remove the line “under God” from the Pledge of Allegiance?
Should college admissions officers be allowed to look at students’ social media accounts?
Should schools abolish their dress codes, many of which unfairly target girls, LGBTQ students, and students of color?
Should schools be required to stock free period products in bathrooms?
Should legacy students receive preferential treatment during the college admissions process?
Are school “voluntourism” trips ethical?

Government Argumentative Essay Topics

Should the U.S. decriminalize prostitution?
Should the U.S. issue migration visas to all eligible applicants?
Should the federal government cancel all student loan debt?
Should we lower the minimum voting age? If so, to what?
Should the federal government abolish all laws penalizing drug production and use?
Should the U.S. use its military power to deter a Chinese invasion of Taiwan?
Should the U.S. supply Ukraine with further military intelligence and supplies?
Should the North and South of the U.S. split up into two regions?
Should Americans hold up nationalism as a critical value?
Should we permit Supreme Court justices to hold their positions indefinitely?
Should Supreme Court justices be democratically elected?
Is the Electoral College still a productive approach to electing the U.S. president?
Should the U.S. implement a national firearm registry?
Is it ethical for countries like China and Israel to mandate compulsory military service for all citizens?
Should the U.S. government implement a ranked-choice voting system?
Should institutions that benefited from slavery be required to provide reparations?
Based on the 1619 project, should history classes change how they teach about the founding of the U.S.?
Should term limits be imposed on Senators and Representatives? If so, how long?
Should women be allowed into special forces units?
Should the federal government implement stronger, universal firearm licensing laws?
Do public sex offender registries help prevent future sex crimes?
Should the government be allowed to regulate family size?
Should all adults legally be considered mandated reporters?
Should the government fund public universities to make higher education more accessible to low-income students?
Should the government fund universal preschool to improve children’s readiness for kindergarten?

Health/Bioethics Argumentative Essay Topics

Should the U.S. government offer its own healthcare plan?
In the case of highly infectious pandemics, should we focus on individual freedoms or public safety when implementing policies to control the spread?
Should we legally require parents to vaccinate their children to protect public health?
Is it ethical for parents to use genetic engineering to create “designer babies” with specific physical and intellectual traits?
Should the government fund research on embryonic stem cells for medical treatments?
Should the government legalize assisted suicide for terminally ill patients?
Should organ donation be mandatory?
Is cloning animals ethical?
Should cancer screenings start earlier? If so, what age?
Is surrogacy ethical?
Should birth control require a prescription?
Should minors have access to emergency contraception?
Should hospitals be for-profit or nonprofit institutions?

Good Argumentative Essay Topics — Continued

Social media argumentative essay topics.

Should the federal government increase its efforts to minimize the negative impact of social media?
Do social media and smartphones strengthen one’s relationships?
Should antitrust regulators take action to limit the size of big tech companies?
Should social media platforms ban political advertisements?
Should the federal government hold social media companies accountable for instances of hate speech discovered on their platforms?
Do apps such as TikTok and Instagram ultimately worsen the mental well-being of teenagers?
Should governments oversee how social media platforms manage their users’ data?
Should social media platforms like Facebook enforce a minimum age requirement for users?
Should social media companies be held responsible for cases of cyberbullying?
Should the United States ban TikTok?
Is social media harmful to children?
Should employers screen applicants’ social media accounts during the hiring process?

Religion Argument Essay Topics

Should religious institutions be tax-exempt?
Should religious symbols such as the hijab or crucifix be allowed in public spaces?
Should religious freedoms be protected, even when they conflict with secular laws?
Should the government regulate religious practices?
Should we allow churches to engage in political activities?
Religion: a force for good or evil in the world?
Should the government provide funding for religious schools?
Is it ethical for healthcare providers to deny abortions based on religious beliefs?
Should religious organizations be allowed to discriminate in their hiring practices?
Should we allow people to opt out of medical treatments based on their religious beliefs?
Should the U.S. government hold religious organizations accountable for cases of sexual abuse within their community?
Should religious beliefs be exempt from anti-discrimination laws?
Should religious individuals be allowed to refuse services to others based on their beliefs or lifestyles? (As in this famous case .)
Should the US ban religion-based federal holidays?
Should public schools be allowed to teach children about religious holidays?

Science Argument Essay Topics

Would the world be safer if we eliminated nuclear weapons?
Should scientists bring back extinct animals? If so, which ones?
Should we hold companies fiscally responsible for their carbon footprint?
Should we ban pesticides in favor of organic farming methods?
Should the federal government ban all fossil fuels, despite the potential economic impact on specific industries and communities?
What renewable energy source should the U.S. invest more money in?
Should the FDA outlaw GMOs?
Should we worry about artificial intelligence surpassing human intelligence?
Should the alternative medicine industry be more stringently regulated?
Is colonizing Mars a viable option?
Is the animal testing worth the potential to save human lives?

Sports Argument Essay Topics

Should colleges compensate student-athletes?
How should sports teams and leagues address the gender pay gap?
Should youth sports teams do away with scorekeeping?
Should we ban aggressive contact sports like boxing and MMA?
Should professional sports associations mandate that athletes stand during the national anthem?
Should high schools require their student-athletes to maintain a certain GPA?
Should transgender athletes compete in sports according to their gender identity?
Should schools ban football due to the inherent danger it poses to players?
Should performance-enhancing drugs be allowed in sports?
Do participation trophies foster entitlement and unrealistic expectations?
Should sports teams be divided by gender?
Should professional athletes be allowed to compete in the Olympics?
Should women be allowed on NFL teams?

Technology Argumentative Essay Topics

Should sites like DALL-E compensate the artists whose work it was trained on?
Should the federal government make human exploration of space a more significant priority?
Is it ethical for the government to use surveillance technology to monitor citizens?
Should websites require proof of age from their users? If so, what age?
Should we consider A.I.-generated images and text pieces of art?
Does the use of facial recognition technology violate individuals’ privacy?
Is online learning as effective as in-person learning?
Does computing harm the environment?
Should buying, sharing, and selling collected personal data be illegal?
Are electric cars really better for the environment?
Should car companies be held responsible for self-driving car accidents?
Should private jets be banned?
Do violent video games contribute to real-life violence?

Business Argument Essay Topics

Should the U.S. government phase out the use of paper money in favor of a fully digital currency system?
Should the federal government abolish its patent and copyright laws?
Should we replace the Federal Reserve with free-market institutions?
Is free-market ideology responsible for the U.S. economy’s poor performance over the past decade?
Will cryptocurrencies overtake natural resources like gold and silver?
Is capitalism the best economic system? What system would be better?
Should the U.S. government enact a universal basic income?
Should we require companies to provide paid parental leave to their employees?
Should the government raise the minimum wage? If so, to what?
Should antitrust regulators break up large companies to promote competition?
Is it ethical for companies to prioritize profits over social responsibility?
Should gig-economy workers like Uber and Lyft drivers be considered employees or independent contractors?
Should the federal government regulate the gig economy to ensure fair treatment of workers?
Should the government require companies to disclose the environmental impact of their products?
Should companies be allowed to fire employees based on political views or activities?
Should tipping practices be phased out?
Should employees who choose not to have children be given the same amount of paid leave as parents?
Should MLMs (multi-level marketing companies) be illegal?
Should employers be allowed to factor tattoos and personal appearance into hiring decisions?

In Conclusion – Argument Essay Topics

Using the tips above, you can effectively structure and pen a compelling argumentative essay that will wow your instructor and classmates. Remember to craft a thesis statement that offers readers a roadmap through your essay, draw on your sources wisely to back up any claims, and read through your paper several times before it’s due to catch any last-minute proofreading errors. With time, diligence, and patience, your essay will be the most outstanding assignment you’ve ever turned in…until the next one rolls around.

Looking for more fresh and engaging topics for use in the classroom? You might consider checking out the following:

125 Good Debate Topics for High School Students
150 Good Persuasive Speech Topics
7 Best Places to Study
Guide to the IB Extended Essay
How to Write the AP Lang Rhetorical Analysis Essay
AP Lit Reading List
How to Write the AP Lang Synthesis Essay
49 Most Interesting Biology Research Topics
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The Simple Macroeconomics of AI

This paper evaluates claims about large macroeconomic implications of new advances in AI. It starts from a task-based model of AI’s effects, working through automation and task complementarities. So long as AI’s microeconomic effects are driven by cost savings/productivity improvements at the task level, its macroeconomic consequences will be given by a version of Hulten’s theorem: GDP and aggregate productivity gains can be estimated by what fraction of tasks are impacted and average task-level cost savings. Using existing estimates on exposure to AI and productivity improvements at the task level, these macroeconomic effects appear nontrivial but modest—no more than a 0.66% increase in total factor productivity (TFP) over 10 years. The paper then argues that even these estimates could be exaggerated, because early evidence is from easy-to-learn tasks, whereas some of the future effects will come from hard-to-learn tasks, where there are many context-dependent factors affecting decision-making and no objective outcome measures from which to learn successful performance. Consequently, predicted TFP gains over the next 10 years are even more modest and are predicted to be less than 0.53%. I also explore AI’s wage and inequality effects. I show theoretically that even when AI improves the productivity of low-skill workers in certain tasks (without creating new tasks for them), this may increase rather than reduce inequality. Empirically, I find that AI advances are unlikely to increase inequality as much as previous automation technologies because their impact is more equally distributed across demographic groups, but there is also no evidence that AI will reduce labor income inequality. Instead, AI is predicted to widen the gap between capital and labor income. Finally, some of the new tasks created by AI may have negative social value (such as design of algorithms for online manipulation), and I discuss how to incorporate the macroeconomic effects of new tasks that may have negative social value.

Paper prepared for Economic Policy. I am grateful to Can Yeşildere for phenomenal research assistance, and to Leonardo Bursztyn, Mert Demirer, Lauren Fahey, Roberto Galbiati, Isabelle Méjean, Shakked Noy, Sida Peng, Julia Regier, and Whitney Zhang as well as participants in the MIT Solow Memorial conference and the Economic Policy conference for useful comments. I am especially grateful to my discussants, David Hémous and Benoît Coeuré, for insightful comments and suggestions. I thank Pamela Mishkin and Daniel Rock for generously sharing their data on AI exposure. I am also heavily indebted to my collaborators on several projects related to these topics, David Autor, Simon Johnson and Pascual Restrepo, from whom I learned a great deal and who have also given me very useful comments on the current draft. Financial support from the Hewlett Foundation is gratefully acknowledged. All remaining errors are mine. The views expressed herein are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Bureau of Economic Research.

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A systematic literature review of empirical research on ChatGPT in education

Open access
Published: 26 May 2024
Volume 3 , article number 60 , ( 2024 )

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Yazid Albadarin ORCID: orcid.org/0009-0005-8068-8902 1 ,
Mohammed Saqr 1 ,
Nicolas Pope 1 &
Markku Tukiainen 1

Over the last four decades, studies have investigated the incorporation of Artificial Intelligence (AI) into education. A recent prominent AI-powered technology that has impacted the education sector is ChatGPT. This article provides a systematic review of 14 empirical studies incorporating ChatGPT into various educational settings, published in 2022 and before the 10th of April 2023—the date of conducting the search process. It carefully followed the essential steps outlined in the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) guidelines, as well as Okoli’s (Okoli in Commun Assoc Inf Syst, 2015) steps for conducting a rigorous and transparent systematic review. In this review, we aimed to explore how students and teachers have utilized ChatGPT in various educational settings, as well as the primary findings of those studies. By employing Creswell’s (Creswell in Educational research: planning, conducting, and evaluating quantitative and qualitative research [Ebook], Pearson Education, London, 2015) coding techniques for data extraction and interpretation, we sought to gain insight into their initial attempts at ChatGPT incorporation into education. This approach also enabled us to extract insights and considerations that can facilitate its effective and responsible use in future educational contexts. The results of this review show that learners have utilized ChatGPT as a virtual intelligent assistant, where it offered instant feedback, on-demand answers, and explanations of complex topics. Additionally, learners have used it to enhance their writing and language skills by generating ideas, composing essays, summarizing, translating, paraphrasing texts, or checking grammar. Moreover, learners turned to it as an aiding tool to facilitate their directed and personalized learning by assisting in understanding concepts and homework, providing structured learning plans, and clarifying assignments and tasks. However, the results of specific studies (n = 3, 21.4%) show that overuse of ChatGPT may negatively impact innovative capacities and collaborative learning competencies among learners. Educators, on the other hand, have utilized ChatGPT to create lesson plans, generate quizzes, and provide additional resources, which helped them enhance their productivity and efficiency and promote different teaching methodologies. Despite these benefits, the majority of the reviewed studies recommend the importance of conducting structured training, support, and clear guidelines for both learners and educators to mitigate the drawbacks. This includes developing critical evaluation skills to assess the accuracy and relevance of information provided by ChatGPT, as well as strategies for integrating human interaction and collaboration into learning activities that involve AI tools. Furthermore, they also recommend ongoing research and proactive dialogue with policymakers, stakeholders, and educational practitioners to refine and enhance the use of AI in learning environments. This review could serve as an insightful resource for practitioners who seek to integrate ChatGPT into education and stimulate further research in the field.

Empowering learners with ChatGPT: insights from a systematic literature exploration

Incorporating AI in foreign language education: An investigation into ChatGPT’s effect on foreign language learners

Large language models in education: A focus on the complementary relationship between human teachers and ChatGPT

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

1 Introduction

Educational technology, a rapidly evolving field, plays a crucial role in reshaping the landscape of teaching and learning [ 82 ]. One of the most transformative technological innovations of our era that has influenced the field of education is Artificial Intelligence (AI) [ 50 ]. Over the last four decades, AI in education (AIEd) has gained remarkable attention for its potential to make significant advancements in learning, instructional methods, and administrative tasks within educational settings [ 11 ]. In particular, a large language model (LLM), a type of AI algorithm that applies artificial neural networks (ANNs) and uses massively large data sets to understand, summarize, generate, and predict new content that is almost difficult to differentiate from human creations [ 79 ], has opened up novel possibilities for enhancing various aspects of education, from content creation to personalized instruction [ 35 ]. Chatbots that leverage the capabilities of LLMs to understand and generate human-like responses have also presented the capacity to enhance student learning and educational outcomes by engaging students, offering timely support, and fostering interactive learning experiences [ 46 ].

The ongoing and remarkable technological advancements in chatbots have made their use more convenient, increasingly natural and effortless, and have expanded their potential for deployment across various domains [ 70 ]. One prominent example of chatbot applications is the Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer, known as ChatGPT, which was introduced by OpenAI, a leading AI research lab, on November 30th, 2022. ChatGPT employs a variety of deep learning techniques to generate human-like text, with a particular focus on recurrent neural networks (RNNs). Long short-term memory (LSTM) allows it to grasp the context of the text being processed and retain information from previous inputs. Also, the transformer architecture, a neural network architecture based on the self-attention mechanism, allows it to analyze specific parts of the input, thereby enabling it to produce more natural-sounding and coherent output. Additionally, the unsupervised generative pre-training and the fine-tuning methods allow ChatGPT to generate more relevant and accurate text for specific tasks [ 31 , 62 ]. Furthermore, reinforcement learning from human feedback (RLHF), a machine learning approach that combines reinforcement learning techniques with human-provided feedback, has helped improve ChatGPT’s model by accelerating the learning process and making it significantly more efficient.

This cutting-edge natural language processing (NLP) tool is widely recognized as one of today's most advanced LLMs-based chatbots [ 70 ], allowing users to ask questions and receive detailed, coherent, systematic, personalized, convincing, and informative human-like responses [ 55 ], even within complex and ambiguous contexts [ 63 , 77 ]. ChatGPT is considered the fastest-growing technology in history: in just three months following its public launch, it amassed an estimated 120 million monthly active users [ 16 ] with an estimated 13 million daily queries [ 49 ], surpassing all other applications [ 64 ]. This remarkable growth can be attributed to the unique features and user-friendly interface that ChatGPT offers. Its intuitive design allows users to interact seamlessly with the technology, making it accessible to a diverse range of individuals, regardless of their technical expertise [ 78 ]. Additionally, its exceptional performance results from a combination of advanced algorithms, continuous enhancements, and extensive training on a diverse dataset that includes various text sources such as books, articles, websites, and online forums [ 63 ], have contributed to a more engaging and satisfying user experience [ 62 ]. These factors collectively explain its remarkable global growth and set it apart from predecessors like Bard, Bing Chat, ERNIE, and others.

In this context, several studies have explored the technological advancements of chatbots. One noteworthy recent research effort, conducted by Schöbel et al. [ 70 ], stands out for its comprehensive analysis of more than 5,000 studies on communication agents. This study offered a comprehensive overview of the historical progression and future prospects of communication agents, including ChatGPT. Moreover, other studies have focused on making comparisons, particularly between ChatGPT and alternative chatbots like Bard, Bing Chat, ERNIE, LaMDA, BlenderBot, and various others. For example, O’Leary [ 53 ] compared two chatbots, LaMDA and BlenderBot, with ChatGPT and revealed that ChatGPT outperformed both. This superiority arises from ChatGPT’s capacity to handle a wider range of questions and generate slightly varied perspectives within specific contexts. Similarly, ChatGPT exhibited an impressive ability to formulate interpretable responses that were easily understood when compared with Google's feature snippet [ 34 ]. Additionally, ChatGPT was compared to other LLMs-based chatbots, including Bard and BERT, as well as ERNIE. The findings indicated that ChatGPT exhibited strong performance in the given tasks, often outperforming the other models [ 59 ].

Furthermore, in the education context, a comprehensive study systematically compared a range of the most promising chatbots, including Bard, Bing Chat, ChatGPT, and Ernie across a multidisciplinary test that required higher-order thinking. The study revealed that ChatGPT achieved the highest score, surpassing Bing Chat and Bard [ 64 ]. Similarly, a comparative analysis was conducted to compare ChatGPT with Bard in answering a set of 30 mathematical questions and logic problems, grouped into two question sets. Set (A) is unavailable online, while Set (B) is available online. The results revealed ChatGPT's superiority in Set (A) over Bard. Nevertheless, Bard's advantage emerged in Set (B) due to its capacity to access the internet directly and retrieve answers, a capability that ChatGPT does not possess [ 57 ]. However, through these varied assessments, ChatGPT consistently highlights its exceptional prowess compared to various alternatives in the ever-evolving chatbot technology.

The widespread adoption of chatbots, especially ChatGPT, by millions of students and educators, has sparked extensive discussions regarding its incorporation into the education sector [ 64 ]. Accordingly, many scholars have contributed to the discourse, expressing both optimism and pessimism regarding the incorporation of ChatGPT into education. For example, ChatGPT has been highlighted for its capabilities in enriching the learning and teaching experience through its ability to support different learning approaches, including adaptive learning, personalized learning, and self-directed learning [ 58 , 60 , 91 ]), deliver summative and formative feedback to students and provide real-time responses to questions, increase the accessibility of information [ 22 , 40 , 43 ], foster students’ performance, engagement and motivation [ 14 , 44 , 58 ], and enhance teaching practices [ 17 , 18 , 64 , 74 ].

On the other hand, concerns have been also raised regarding its potential negative effects on learning and teaching. These include the dissemination of false information and references [ 12 , 23 , 61 , 85 ], biased reinforcement [ 47 , 50 ], compromised academic integrity [ 18 , 40 , 66 , 74 ], and the potential decline in students' skills [ 43 , 61 , 64 , 74 ]. As a result, ChatGPT has been banned in multiple countries, including Russia, China, Venezuela, Belarus, and Iran, as well as in various educational institutions in India, Italy, Western Australia, France, and the United States [ 52 , 90 ].

Clearly, the advent of chatbots, especially ChatGPT, has provoked significant controversy due to their potential impact on learning and teaching. This indicates the necessity for further exploration to gain a deeper understanding of this technology and carefully evaluate its potential benefits, limitations, challenges, and threats to education [ 79 ]. Therefore, conducting a systematic literature review will provide valuable insights into the potential prospects and obstacles linked to its incorporation into education. This systematic literature review will primarily focus on ChatGPT, driven by the aforementioned key factors outlined above.

However, the existing literature lacks a systematic literature review of empirical studies. Thus, this systematic literature review aims to address this gap by synthesizing the existing empirical studies conducted on chatbots, particularly ChatGPT, in the field of education, highlighting how ChatGPT has been utilized in educational settings, and identifying any existing gaps. This review may be particularly useful for researchers in the field and educators who are contemplating the integration of ChatGPT or any chatbot into education. The following research questions will guide this study:

What are students' and teachers' initial attempts at utilizing ChatGPT in education?

What are the main findings derived from empirical studies that have incorporated ChatGPT into learning and teaching?

2 Methodology

To conduct this study, the authors followed the essential steps of the Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses (PRISMA 2020) and Okoli’s [ 54 ] steps for conducting a systematic review. These included identifying the study’s purpose, drafting a protocol, applying a practical screening process, searching the literature, extracting relevant data, evaluating the quality of the included studies, synthesizing the studies, and ultimately writing the review. The subsequent section provides an extensive explanation of how these steps were carried out in this study.

2.1 Identify the purpose

Given the widespread adoption of ChatGPT by students and teachers for various educational purposes, often without a thorough understanding of responsible and effective use or a clear recognition of its potential impact on learning and teaching, the authors recognized the need for further exploration of ChatGPT's impact on education in this early stage. Therefore, they have chosen to conduct a systematic literature review of existing empirical studies that incorporate ChatGPT into educational settings. Despite the limited number of empirical studies due to the novelty of the topic, their goal is to gain a deeper understanding of this technology and proactively evaluate its potential benefits, limitations, challenges, and threats to education. This effort could help to understand initial reactions and attempts at incorporating ChatGPT into education and bring out insights and considerations that can inform the future development of education.

2.2 Draft the protocol

The next step is formulating the protocol. This protocol serves to outline the study process in a rigorous and transparent manner, mitigating researcher bias in study selection and data extraction [ 88 ]. The protocol will include the following steps: generating the research question, predefining a literature search strategy, identifying search locations, establishing selection criteria, assessing the studies, developing a data extraction strategy, and creating a timeline.

2.3 Apply practical screen

The screening step aims to accurately filter the articles resulting from the searching step and select the empirical studies that have incorporated ChatGPT into educational contexts, which will guide us in answering the research questions and achieving the objectives of this study. To ensure the rigorous execution of this step, our inclusion and exclusion criteria were determined based on the authors' experience and informed by previous successful systematic reviews [ 21 ]. Table 1 summarizes the inclusion and exclusion criteria for study selection.

2.4 Literature search

We conducted a thorough literature search to identify articles that explored, examined, and addressed the use of ChatGPT in Educational contexts. We utilized two research databases: Dimensions.ai, which provides access to a large number of research publications, and lens.org, which offers access to over 300 million articles, patents, and other research outputs from diverse sources. Additionally, we included three databases, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, and ERIC, which contain relevant research on the topic that addresses our research questions. To browse and identify relevant articles, we used the following search formula: ("ChatGPT" AND "Education"), which included the Boolean operator "AND" to get more specific results. The subject area in the Scopus and ERIC databases were narrowed to "ChatGPT" and "Education" keywords, and in the WoS database was limited to the "Education" category. The search was conducted between the 3rd and 10th of April 2023, which resulted in 276 articles from all selected databases (111 articles from Dimensions.ai, 65 from Scopus, 28 from Web of Science, 14 from ERIC, and 58 from Lens.org). These articles were imported into the Rayyan web-based system for analysis. The duplicates were identified automatically by the system. Subsequently, the first author manually reviewed the duplicated articles ensured that they had the same content, and then removed them, leaving us with 135 unique articles. Afterward, the titles, abstracts, and keywords of the first 40 manuscripts were scanned and reviewed by the first author and were discussed with the second and third authors to resolve any disagreements. Subsequently, the first author proceeded with the filtering process for all articles and carefully applied the inclusion and exclusion criteria as presented in Table 1 . Articles that met any one of the exclusion criteria were eliminated, resulting in 26 articles. Afterward, the authors met to carefully scan and discuss them. The authors agreed to eliminate any empirical studies solely focused on checking ChatGPT capabilities, as these studies do not guide us in addressing the research questions and achieving the study's objectives. This resulted in 14 articles eligible for analysis.

2.5 Quality appraisal

The examination and evaluation of the quality of the extracted articles is a vital step [ 9 ]. Therefore, the extracted articles were carefully evaluated for quality using Fink’s [ 24 ] standards, which emphasize the necessity for detailed descriptions of methodology, results, conclusions, strengths, and limitations. The process began with a thorough assessment of each study's design, data collection, and analysis methods to ensure their appropriateness and comprehensive execution. The clarity, consistency, and logical progression from data to results and conclusions were also critically examined. Potential biases and recognized limitations within the studies were also scrutinized. Ultimately, two articles were excluded for failing to meet Fink’s criteria, particularly in providing sufficient detail on methodology, results, conclusions, strengths, or limitations. The review process is illustrated in Fig. 1 .

The study selection process

2.6 Data extraction

The next step is data extraction, the process of capturing the key information and categories from the included studies. To improve efficiency, reduce variation among authors, and minimize errors in data analysis, the coding categories were constructed using Creswell's [ 15 ] coding techniques for data extraction and interpretation. The coding process involves three sequential steps. The initial stage encompasses open coding , where the researcher examines the data, generates codes to describe and categorize it, and gains a deeper understanding without preconceived ideas. Following open coding is axial coding , where the interrelationships between codes from open coding are analyzed to establish more comprehensive categories or themes. The process concludes with selective coding , refining and integrating categories or themes to identify core concepts emerging from the data. The first coder performed the coding process, then engaged in discussions with the second and third authors to finalize the coding categories for the first five articles. The first coder then proceeded to code all studies and engaged again in discussions with the other authors to ensure the finalization of the coding process. After a comprehensive analysis and capturing of the key information from the included studies, the data extraction and interpretation process yielded several themes. These themes have been categorized and are presented in Table 2 . It is important to note that open coding results were removed from Table 2 for aesthetic reasons, as it included many generic aspects, such as words, short phrases, or sentences mentioned in the studies.

2.7 Synthesize studies

In this stage, we will gather, discuss, and analyze the key findings that emerged from the selected studies. The synthesis stage is considered a transition from an author-centric to a concept-centric focus, enabling us to map all the provided information to achieve the most effective evaluation of the data [ 87 ]. Initially, the authors extracted data that included general information about the selected studies, including the author(s)' names, study titles, years of publication, educational levels, research methodologies, sample sizes, participants, main aims or objectives, raw data sources, and analysis methods. Following that, all key information and significant results from the selected studies were compiled using Creswell’s [ 15 ] coding techniques for data extraction and interpretation to identify core concepts and themes emerging from the data, focusing on those that directly contributed to our research questions and objectives, such as the initial utilization of ChatGPT in learning and teaching, learners' and educators' familiarity with ChatGPT, and the main findings of each study. Finally, the data related to each selected study were extracted into an Excel spreadsheet for data processing. The Excel spreadsheet was reviewed by the authors, including a series of discussions to ensure the finalization of this process and prepare it for further analysis. Afterward, the final result being analyzed and presented in various types of charts and graphs. Table 4 presents the extracted data from the selected studies, with each study labeled with a capital 'S' followed by a number.

This section consists of two main parts. The first part provides a descriptive analysis of the data compiled from the reviewed studies. The second part presents the answers to the research questions and the main findings of these studies.

3.1 Part 1: descriptive analysis

This section will provide a descriptive analysis of the reviewed studies, including educational levels and fields, participants distribution, country contribution, research methodologies, study sample size, study population, publication year, list of journals, familiarity with ChatGPT, source of data, and the main aims and objectives of the studies. Table 4 presents a comprehensive overview of the extracted data from the selected studies.

3.1.1 The number of the reviewed studies and publication years

The total number of the reviewed studies was 14. All studies were empirical studies and published in different journals focusing on Education and Technology. One study was published in 2022 [S1], while the remaining were published in 2023 [S2]-[S14]. Table 3 illustrates the year of publication, the names of the journals, and the number of reviewed studies published in each journal for the studies reviewed.

3.1.2 Educational levels and fields

The majority of the reviewed studies, 11 studies, were conducted in higher education institutions [S1]-[S10] and [S13]. Two studies did not specify the educational level of the population [S12] and [S14], while one study focused on elementary education [S11]. However, the reviewed studies covered various fields of education. Three studies focused on Arts and Humanities Education [S8], [S11], and [S14], specifically English Education. Two studies focused on Engineering Education, with one in Computer Engineering [S2] and the other in Construction Education [S3]. Two studies focused on Mathematics Education [S5] and [S12]. One study focused on Social Science Education [S13]. One study focused on Early Education [S4]. One study focused on Journalism Education [S9]. Finally, three studies did not specify the field of education [S1], [S6], and [S7]. Figure 2 represents the educational levels in the reviewed studies, while Fig. 3 represents the context of the reviewed studies.

Educational levels in the reviewed studies

Context of the reviewed studies

3.1.3 Participants distribution and countries contribution

The reviewed studies have been conducted across different geographic regions, providing a diverse representation of the studies. The majority of the studies, 10 in total, [S1]-[S3], [S5]-[S9], [S11], and [S14], primarily focused on participants from single countries such as Pakistan, the United Arab Emirates, China, Indonesia, Poland, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Spain, Tajikistan, and the United States. In contrast, four studies, [S4], [S10], [S12], and [S13], involved participants from multiple countries, including China and the United States [S4], China, the United Kingdom, and the United States [S10], the United Arab Emirates, Oman, Saudi Arabia, and Jordan [S12], Turkey, Sweden, Canada, and Australia [ 13 ]. Figures 4 and 5 illustrate the distribution of participants, whether from single or multiple countries, and the contribution of each country in the reviewed studies, respectively.

The reviewed studies conducted in single or multiple countries

The Contribution of each country in the studies

3.1.4 Study population and sample size

Four study populations were included: university students, university teachers, university teachers and students, and elementary school teachers. Six studies involved university students [S2], [S3], [S5] and [S6]-[S8]. Three studies focused on university teachers [S1], [S4], and [S6], while one study specifically targeted elementary school teachers [S11]. Additionally, four studies included both university teachers and students [S10] and [ 12 , 13 , 14 ], and among them, study [S13] specifically included postgraduate students. In terms of the sample size of the reviewed studies, nine studies included a small sample size of less than 50 participants [S1], [S3], [S6], [S8], and [S10]-[S13]. Three studies had 50–100 participants [S2], [S9], and [S14]. Only one study had more than 100 participants [S7]. It is worth mentioning that study [S4] adopted a mixed methods approach, including 10 participants for qualitative analysis and 110 participants for quantitative analysis.

3.1.5 Participants’ familiarity with using ChatGPT

The reviewed studies recruited a diverse range of participants with varying levels of familiarity with ChatGPT. Five studies [S2], [S4], [S6], [S8], and [S12] involved participants already familiar with ChatGPT, while eight studies [S1], [S3], [S5], [S7], [S9], [S10], [S13] and [S14] included individuals with differing levels of familiarity. Notably, one study [S11] had participants who were entirely unfamiliar with ChatGPT. It is important to note that four studies [S3], [S5], [S9], and [S11] provided training or guidance to their participants before conducting their studies, while ten studies [S1], [S2], [S4], [S6]-[S8], [S10], and [S12]-[S14] did not provide training due to the participants' existing familiarity with ChatGPT.

3.1.6 Research methodology approaches and source(S) of data

The reviewed studies adopted various research methodology approaches. Seven studies adopted qualitative research methodology [S1], [S4], [S6], [S8], [S10], [S11], and [S12], while three studies adopted quantitative research methodology [S3], [S7], and [S14], and four studies employed mixed-methods, which involved a combination of both the strengths of qualitative and quantitative methods [S2], [S5], [S9], and [S13].

In terms of the source(s) of data, the reviewed studies obtained their data from various sources, such as interviews, questionnaires, and pre-and post-tests. Six studies relied on interviews as their primary source of data collection [S1], [S4], [S6], [S10], [S11], and [S12], four studies relied on questionnaires [S2], [S7], [S13], and [S14], two studies combined the use of pre-and post-tests and questionnaires for data collection [S3] and [S9], while two studies combined the use of questionnaires and interviews to obtain the data [S5] and [S8]. It is important to note that six of the reviewed studies were quasi-experimental [S3], [S5], [S8], [S9], [S12], and [S14], while the remaining ones were experimental studies [S1], [S2], [S4], [S6], [S7], [S10], [S11], and [S13]. Figures 6 and 7 illustrate the research methodologies and the source (s) of data used in the reviewed studies, respectively.

Research methodologies in the reviewed studies

Source of data in the reviewed studies

3.1.7 The aim and objectives of the studies

The reviewed studies encompassed a diverse set of aims, with several of them incorporating multiple primary objectives. Six studies [S3], [S6], [S7], [S8], [S11], and [S12] examined the integration of ChatGPT in educational contexts, and four studies [S4], [S5], [S13], and [S14] investigated the various implications of its use in education, while three studies [S2], [S9], and [S10] aimed to explore both its integration and implications in education. Additionally, seven studies explicitly explored attitudes and perceptions of students [S2] and [S3], educators [S1] and [S6], or both [S10], [S12], and [S13] regarding the utilization of ChatGPT in educational settings.

3.2 Part 2: research questions and main findings of the reviewed studies

This part will present the answers to the research questions and the main findings of the reviewed studies, classified into two main categories (learning and teaching) according to AI Education classification by [ 36 ]. Figure 8 summarizes the main findings of the reviewed studies in a visually informative diagram. Table 4 provides a detailed list of the key information extracted from the selected studies that led to generating these themes.

The main findings in the reviewed studies

4 Students' initial attempts at utilizing ChatGPT in learning and main findings from students' perspective

4.1 virtual intelligent assistant.

Nine studies demonstrated that ChatGPT has been utilized by students as an intelligent assistant to enhance and support their learning. Students employed it for various purposes, such as answering on-demand questions [S2]-[S5], [S8], [S10], and [S12], providing valuable information and learning resources [S2]-[S5], [S6], and [S8], as well as receiving immediate feedback [S2], [S4], [S9], [S10], and [S12]. In this regard, students generally were confident in the accuracy of ChatGPT's responses, considering them relevant, reliable, and detailed [S3], [S4], [S5], and [S8]. However, some students indicated the need for improvement, as they found that answers are not always accurate [S2], and that misleading information may have been provided or that it may not always align with their expectations [S6] and [S10]. It was also observed by the students that the accuracy of ChatGPT is dependent on several factors, including the quality and specificity of the user's input, the complexity of the question or topic, and the scope and relevance of its training data [S12]. Many students felt that ChatGPT's answers were not always accurate and most of them believed that it requires good background knowledge to work with.

4.2 Writing and language proficiency assistant

Six of the reviewed studies highlighted that ChatGPT has been utilized by students as a valuable assistant tool to improve their academic writing skills and language proficiency. Among these studies, three mainly focused on English education, demonstrating that students showed sufficient mastery in using ChatGPT for generating ideas, summarizing, paraphrasing texts, and completing writing essays [S8], [S11], and [S14]. Furthermore, ChatGPT helped them in writing by making students active investigators rather than passive knowledge recipients and facilitated the development of their writing skills [S11] and [S14]. Similarly, ChatGPT allowed students to generate unique ideas and perspectives, leading to deeper analysis and reflection on their journalism writing [S9]. In terms of language proficiency, ChatGPT allowed participants to translate content into their home languages, making it more accessible and relevant to their context [S4]. It also enabled them to request changes in linguistic tones or flavors [S8]. Moreover, participants used it to check grammar or as a dictionary [S11].

4.3 Valuable resource for learning approaches

Five studies demonstrated that students used ChatGPT as a valuable complementary resource for self-directed learning. It provided learning resources and guidance on diverse educational topics and created a supportive home learning environment [S2] and [S4]. Moreover, it offered step-by-step guidance to grasp concepts at their own pace and enhance their understanding [S5], streamlined task and project completion carried out independently [S7], provided comprehensive and easy-to-understand explanations on various subjects [S10], and assisted in studying geometry operations, thereby empowering them to explore geometry operations at their own pace [S12]. Three studies showed that students used ChatGPT as a valuable learning resource for personalized learning. It delivered age-appropriate conversations and tailored teaching based on a child's interests [S4], acted as a personalized learning assistant, adapted to their needs and pace, which assisted them in understanding mathematical concepts [S12], and enabled personalized learning experiences in social sciences by adapting to students' needs and learning styles [S13]. On the other hand, it is important to note that, according to one study [S5], students suggested that using ChatGPT may negatively affect collaborative learning competencies between students.

4.4 Enhancing students' competencies

Six of the reviewed studies have shown that ChatGPT is a valuable tool for improving a wide range of skills among students. Two studies have provided evidence that ChatGPT led to improvements in students' critical thinking, reasoning skills, and hazard recognition competencies through engaging them in interactive conversations or activities and providing responses related to their disciplines in journalism [S5] and construction education [S9]. Furthermore, two studies focused on mathematical education have shown the positive impact of ChatGPT on students' problem-solving abilities in unraveling problem-solving questions [S12] and enhancing the students' understanding of the problem-solving process [S5]. Lastly, one study indicated that ChatGPT effectively contributed to the enhancement of conversational social skills [S4].

4.5 Supporting students' academic success

Seven of the reviewed studies highlighted that students found ChatGPT to be beneficial for learning as it enhanced learning efficiency and improved the learning experience. It has been observed to improve students' efficiency in computer engineering studies by providing well-structured responses and good explanations [S2]. Additionally, students found it extremely useful for hazard reporting [S3], and it also enhanced their efficiency in solving mathematics problems and capabilities [S5] and [S12]. Furthermore, by finding information, generating ideas, translating texts, and providing alternative questions, ChatGPT aided students in deepening their understanding of various subjects [S6]. It contributed to an increase in students' overall productivity [S7] and improved efficiency in composing written tasks [S8]. Regarding learning experiences, ChatGPT was instrumental in assisting students in identifying hazards that they might have otherwise overlooked [S3]. It also improved students' learning experiences in solving mathematics problems and developing abilities [S5] and [S12]. Moreover, it increased students' successful completion of important tasks in their studies [S7], particularly those involving average difficulty writing tasks [S8]. Additionally, ChatGPT increased the chances of educational success by providing students with baseline knowledge on various topics [S10].

5 Teachers' initial attempts at utilizing ChatGPT in teaching and main findings from teachers' perspective

5.1 valuable resource for teaching.

The reviewed studies showed that teachers have employed ChatGPT to recommend, modify, and generate diverse, creative, organized, and engaging educational contents, teaching materials, and testing resources more rapidly [S4], [S6], [S10] and [S11]. Additionally, teachers experienced increased productivity as ChatGPT facilitated quick and accurate responses to questions, fact-checking, and information searches [S1]. It also proved valuable in constructing new knowledge [S6] and providing timely answers to students' questions in classrooms [S11]. Moreover, ChatGPT enhanced teachers' efficiency by generating new ideas for activities and preplanning activities for their students [S4] and [S6], including interactive language game partners [S11].

5.2 Improving productivity and efficiency

The reviewed studies showed that participants' productivity and work efficiency have been significantly enhanced by using ChatGPT as it enabled them to allocate more time to other tasks and reduce their overall workloads [S6], [S10], [S11], [S13], and [S14]. However, three studies [S1], [S4], and [S11], indicated a negative perception and attitude among teachers toward using ChatGPT. This negativity stemmed from a lack of necessary skills to use it effectively [S1], a limited familiarity with it [S4], and occasional inaccuracies in the content provided by it [S10].

5.3 Catalyzing new teaching methodologies

Five of the reviewed studies highlighted that educators found the necessity of redefining their teaching profession with the assistance of ChatGPT [S11], developing new effective learning strategies [S4], and adapting teaching strategies and methodologies to ensure the development of essential skills for future engineers [S5]. They also emphasized the importance of adopting new educational philosophies and approaches that can evolve with the introduction of ChatGPT into the classroom [S12]. Furthermore, updating curricula to focus on improving human-specific features, such as emotional intelligence, creativity, and philosophical perspectives [S13], was found to be essential.

5.4 Effective utilization of CHATGPT in teaching

According to the reviewed studies, effective utilization of ChatGPT in education requires providing teachers with well-structured training, support, and adequate background on how to use ChatGPT responsibly [S1], [S3], [S11], and [S12]. Establishing clear rules and regulations regarding its usage is essential to ensure it positively impacts the teaching and learning processes, including students' skills [S1], [S4], [S5], [S8], [S9], and [S11]-[S14]. Moreover, conducting further research and engaging in discussions with policymakers and stakeholders is indeed crucial for the successful integration of ChatGPT in education and to maximize the benefits for both educators and students [S1], [S6]-[S10], and [S12]-[S14].

6 Discussion

The purpose of this review is to conduct a systematic review of empirical studies that have explored the utilization of ChatGPT, one of today’s most advanced LLM-based chatbots, in education. The findings of the reviewed studies showed several ways of ChatGPT utilization in different learning and teaching practices as well as it provided insights and considerations that can facilitate its effective and responsible use in future educational contexts. The results of the reviewed studies came from diverse fields of education, which helped us avoid a biased review that is limited to a specific field. Similarly, the reviewed studies have been conducted across different geographic regions. This kind of variety in geographic representation enriched the findings of this review.

In response to RQ1 , "What are students' and teachers' initial attempts at utilizing ChatGPT in education?", the findings from this review provide comprehensive insights. Chatbots, including ChatGPT, play a crucial role in supporting student learning, enhancing their learning experiences, and facilitating diverse learning approaches [ 42 , 43 ]. This review found that this tool, ChatGPT, has been instrumental in enhancing students' learning experiences by serving as a virtual intelligent assistant, providing immediate feedback, on-demand answers, and engaging in educational conversations. Additionally, students have benefited from ChatGPT’s ability to generate ideas, compose essays, and perform tasks like summarizing, translating, paraphrasing texts, or checking grammar, thereby enhancing their writing and language competencies. Furthermore, students have turned to ChatGPT for assistance in understanding concepts and homework, providing structured learning plans, and clarifying assignments and tasks, which fosters a supportive home learning environment, allowing them to take responsibility for their own learning and cultivate the skills and approaches essential for supportive home learning environment [ 26 , 27 , 28 ]. This finding aligns with the study of Saqr et al. [ 68 , 69 ] who highlighted that, when students actively engage in their own learning process, it yields additional advantages, such as heightened motivation, enhanced achievement, and the cultivation of enthusiasm, turning them into advocates for their own learning.

Moreover, students have utilized ChatGPT for tailored teaching and step-by-step guidance on diverse educational topics, streamlining task and project completion, and generating and recommending educational content. This personalization enhances the learning environment, leading to increased academic success. This finding aligns with other recent studies [ 26 , 27 , 28 , 60 , 66 ] which revealed that ChatGPT has the potential to offer personalized learning experiences and support an effective learning process by providing students with customized feedback and explanations tailored to their needs and abilities. Ultimately, fostering students' performance, engagement, and motivation, leading to increase students' academic success [ 14 , 44 , 58 ]. This ultimate outcome is in line with the findings of Saqr et al. [ 68 , 69 ], which emphasized that learning strategies are important catalysts of students' learning, as students who utilize effective learning strategies are more likely to have better academic achievement.

Teachers, too, have capitalized on ChatGPT's capabilities to enhance productivity and efficiency, using it for creating lesson plans, generating quizzes, providing additional resources, generating and preplanning new ideas for activities, and aiding in answering students’ questions. This adoption of technology introduces new opportunities to support teaching and learning practices, enhancing teacher productivity. This finding aligns with those of Day [ 17 ], De Castro [ 18 ], and Su and Yang [ 74 ] as well as with those of Valtonen et al. [ 82 ], who revealed that emerging technological advancements have opened up novel opportunities and means to support teaching and learning practices, and enhance teachers’ productivity.

In response to RQ2 , "What are the main findings derived from empirical studies that have incorporated ChatGPT into learning and teaching?", the findings from this review provide profound insights and raise significant concerns. Starting with the insights, chatbots, including ChatGPT, have demonstrated the potential to reshape and revolutionize education, creating new, novel opportunities for enhancing the learning process and outcomes [ 83 ], facilitating different learning approaches, and offering a range of pedagogical benefits [ 19 , 43 , 72 ]. In this context, this review found that ChatGPT could open avenues for educators to adopt or develop new effective learning and teaching strategies that can evolve with the introduction of ChatGPT into the classroom. Nonetheless, there is an evident lack of research understanding regarding the potential impact of generative machine learning models within diverse educational settings [ 83 ]. This necessitates teachers to attain a high level of proficiency in incorporating chatbots, such as ChatGPT, into their classrooms to create inventive, well-structured, and captivating learning strategies. In the same vein, the review also found that teachers without the requisite skills to utilize ChatGPT realized that it did not contribute positively to their work and could potentially have adverse effects [ 37 ]. This concern could lead to inequity of access to the benefits of chatbots, including ChatGPT, as individuals who lack the necessary expertise may not be able to harness their full potential, resulting in disparities in educational outcomes and opportunities. Therefore, immediate action is needed to address these potential issues. A potential solution is offering training, support, and competency development for teachers to ensure that all of them can leverage chatbots, including ChatGPT, effectively and equitably in their educational practices [ 5 , 28 , 80 ], which could enhance accessibility and inclusivity, and potentially result in innovative outcomes [ 82 , 83 ].

Additionally, chatbots, including ChatGPT, have the potential to significantly impact students' thinking abilities, including retention, reasoning, analysis skills [ 19 , 45 ], and foster innovation and creativity capabilities [ 83 ]. This review found that ChatGPT could contribute to improving a wide range of skills among students. However, it found that frequent use of ChatGPT may result in a decrease in innovative capacities, collaborative skills and cognitive capacities, and students' motivation to attend classes, as well as could lead to reduced higher-order thinking skills among students [ 22 , 29 ]. Therefore, immediate action is needed to carefully examine the long-term impact of chatbots such as ChatGPT, on learning outcomes as well as to explore its incorporation into educational settings as a supportive tool without compromising students' cognitive development and critical thinking abilities. In the same vein, the review also found that it is challenging to draw a consistent conclusion regarding the potential of ChatGPT to aid self-directed learning approach. This finding aligns with the recent study of Baskara [ 8 ]. Therefore, further research is needed to explore the potential of ChatGPT for self-directed learning. One potential solution involves utilizing learning analytics as a novel approach to examine various aspects of students' learning and support them in their individual endeavors [ 32 ]. This approach can bridge this gap by facilitating an in-depth analysis of how learners engage with ChatGPT, identifying trends in self-directed learning behavior, and assessing its influence on their outcomes.

Turning to the significant concerns, on the other hand, a fundamental challenge with LLM-based chatbots, including ChatGPT, is the accuracy and quality of the provided information and responses, as they provide false information as truth—a phenomenon often referred to as "hallucination" [ 3 , 49 ]. In this context, this review found that the provided information was not entirely satisfactory. Consequently, the utilization of chatbots presents potential concerns, such as generating and providing inaccurate or misleading information, especially for students who utilize it to support their learning. This finding aligns with other findings [ 6 , 30 , 35 , 40 ] which revealed that incorporating chatbots such as ChatGPT, into education presents challenges related to its accuracy and reliability due to its training on a large corpus of data, which may contain inaccuracies and the way users formulate or ask ChatGPT. Therefore, immediate action is needed to address these potential issues. One possible solution is to equip students with the necessary skills and competencies, which include a background understanding of how to use it effectively and the ability to assess and evaluate the information it generates, as the accuracy and the quality of the provided information depend on the input, its complexity, the topic, and the relevance of its training data [ 28 , 49 , 86 ]. However, it's also essential to examine how learners can be educated about how these models operate, the data used in their training, and how to recognize their limitations, challenges, and issues [ 79 ].

Furthermore, chatbots present a substantial challenge concerning maintaining academic integrity [ 20 , 56 ] and copyright violations [ 83 ], which are significant concerns in education. The review found that the potential misuse of ChatGPT might foster cheating, facilitate plagiarism, and threaten academic integrity. This issue is also affirmed by the research conducted by Basic et al. [ 7 ], who presented evidence that students who utilized ChatGPT in their writing assignments had more plagiarism cases than those who did not. These findings align with the conclusions drawn by Cotton et al. [ 13 ], Hisan and Amri [ 33 ] and Sullivan et al. [ 75 ], who revealed that the integration of chatbots such as ChatGPT into education poses a significant challenge to the preservation of academic integrity. Moreover, chatbots, including ChatGPT, have increased the difficulty in identifying plagiarism [ 47 , 67 , 76 ]. The findings from previous studies [ 1 , 84 ] indicate that AI-generated text often went undetected by plagiarism software, such as Turnitin. However, Turnitin and other similar plagiarism detection tools, such as ZeroGPT, GPTZero, and Copyleaks, have since evolved, incorporating enhanced techniques to detect AI-generated text, despite the possibility of false positives, as noted in different studies that have found these tools still not yet fully ready to accurately and reliably identify AI-generated text [ 10 , 51 ], and new novel detection methods may need to be created and implemented for AI-generated text detection [ 4 ]. This potential issue could lead to another concern, which is the difficulty of accurately evaluating student performance when they utilize chatbots such as ChatGPT assistance in their assignments. Consequently, the most LLM-driven chatbots present a substantial challenge to traditional assessments [ 64 ]. The findings from previous studies indicate the importance of rethinking, improving, and redesigning innovative assessment methods in the era of chatbots [ 14 , 20 , 64 , 75 ]. These methods should prioritize the process of evaluating students' ability to apply knowledge to complex cases and demonstrate comprehension, rather than solely focusing on the final product for assessment. Therefore, immediate action is needed to address these potential issues. One possible solution would be the development of clear guidelines, regulatory policies, and pedagogical guidance. These measures would help regulate the proper and ethical utilization of chatbots, such as ChatGPT, and must be established before their introduction to students [ 35 , 38 , 39 , 41 , 89 ].

In summary, our review has delved into the utilization of ChatGPT, a prominent example of chatbots, in education, addressing the question of how ChatGPT has been utilized in education. However, there remain significant gaps, which necessitate further research to shed light on this area.

7 Conclusions

This systematic review has shed light on the varied initial attempts at incorporating ChatGPT into education by both learners and educators, while also offering insights and considerations that can facilitate its effective and responsible use in future educational contexts. From the analysis of 14 selected studies, the review revealed the dual-edged impact of ChatGPT in educational settings. On the positive side, ChatGPT significantly aided the learning process in various ways. Learners have used it as a virtual intelligent assistant, benefiting from its ability to provide immediate feedback, on-demand answers, and easy access to educational resources. Additionally, it was clear that learners have used it to enhance their writing and language skills, engaging in practices such as generating ideas, composing essays, and performing tasks like summarizing, translating, paraphrasing texts, or checking grammar. Importantly, other learners have utilized it in supporting and facilitating their directed and personalized learning on a broad range of educational topics, assisting in understanding concepts and homework, providing structured learning plans, and clarifying assignments and tasks. Educators, on the other hand, found ChatGPT beneficial for enhancing productivity and efficiency. They used it for creating lesson plans, generating quizzes, providing additional resources, and answers learners' questions, which saved time and allowed for more dynamic and engaging teaching strategies and methodologies.

However, the review also pointed out negative impacts. The results revealed that overuse of ChatGPT could decrease innovative capacities and collaborative learning among learners. Specifically, relying too much on ChatGPT for quick answers can inhibit learners' critical thinking and problem-solving skills. Learners might not engage deeply with the material or consider multiple solutions to a problem. This tendency was particularly evident in group projects, where learners preferred consulting ChatGPT individually for solutions over brainstorming and collaborating with peers, which negatively affected their teamwork abilities. On a broader level, integrating ChatGPT into education has also raised several concerns, including the potential for providing inaccurate or misleading information, issues of inequity in access, challenges related to academic integrity, and the possibility of misusing the technology.

Accordingly, this review emphasizes the urgency of developing clear rules, policies, and regulations to ensure ChatGPT's effective and responsible use in educational settings, alongside other chatbots, by both learners and educators. This requires providing well-structured training to educate them on responsible usage and understanding its limitations, along with offering sufficient background information. Moreover, it highlights the importance of rethinking, improving, and redesigning innovative teaching and assessment methods in the era of ChatGPT. Furthermore, conducting further research and engaging in discussions with policymakers and stakeholders are essential steps to maximize the benefits for both educators and learners and ensure academic integrity.

It is important to acknowledge that this review has certain limitations. Firstly, the limited inclusion of reviewed studies can be attributed to several reasons, including the novelty of the technology, as new technologies often face initial skepticism and cautious adoption; the lack of clear guidelines or best practices for leveraging this technology for educational purposes; and institutional or governmental policies affecting the utilization of this technology in educational contexts. These factors, in turn, have affected the number of studies available for review. Secondly, the utilization of the original version of ChatGPT, based on GPT-3 or GPT-3.5, implies that new studies utilizing the updated version, GPT-4 may lead to different findings. Therefore, conducting follow-up systematic reviews is essential once more empirical studies on ChatGPT are published. Additionally, long-term studies are necessary to thoroughly examine and assess the impact of ChatGPT on various educational practices.

Despite these limitations, this systematic review has highlighted the transformative potential of ChatGPT in education, revealing its diverse utilization by learners and educators alike and summarized the benefits of incorporating it into education, as well as the forefront critical concerns and challenges that must be addressed to facilitate its effective and responsible use in future educational contexts. This review could serve as an insightful resource for practitioners who seek to integrate ChatGPT into education and stimulate further research in the field.

Data availability

The data supporting our findings are available upon request.

Abbreviations

Artificial intelligence

AI in education

Large language model

Artificial neural networks

Chat Generative Pre-Trained Transformer

Recurrent neural networks

Long short-term memory

Reinforcement learning from human feedback

Natural language processing

Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-Analyses

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The paper is co-funded by the Academy of Finland (Suomen Akatemia) Research Council for Natural Sciences and Engineering for the project Towards precision education: Idiographic learning analytics (TOPEILA), Decision Number 350560.

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YA contributed to the literature search, data analysis, discussion, and conclusion. Additionally, YA contributed to the manuscript’s writing, editing, and finalization. MS contributed to the study’s design, conceptualization, acquisition of funding, project administration, allocation of resources, supervision, validation, literature search, and analysis of results. Furthermore, MS contributed to the manuscript's writing, revising, and approving it in its finalized state. NP contributed to the results, and discussions, and provided supervision. NP also contributed to the writing process, revisions, and the final approval of the manuscript in its finalized state. MT contributed to the study's conceptualization, resource management, supervision, writing, revising the manuscript, and approving it.

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See Table 4

The process of synthesizing the data presented in Table 4 involved identifying the relevant studies through a search process of databases (ERIC, Scopus, Web of Knowledge, Dimensions.ai, and lens.org) using specific keywords "ChatGPT" and "education". Following this, inclusion/exclusion criteria were applied, and data extraction was performed using Creswell's [ 15 ] coding techniques to capture key information and identify common themes across the included studies.

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Albadarin, Y., Saqr, M., Pope, N. et al. A systematic literature review of empirical research on ChatGPT in education. Discov Educ 3 , 60 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1007/s44217-024-00138-2

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Americans have mixed views about how the news media cover Biden’s, Trump’s ages

President Joe Biden in 2023 and then-President Donald Trump in 2021. (Jim Watson/AFP and Brendan Smialowski/AFP, both via Getty Images)

At age 81, Joe Biden is already the oldest president in American history . But former President Donald Trump, who will turn 78 in June, will become the oldest person ever elected president – surpassing Biden – if he wins back the White House this year.

It’s no surprise, then, that the ages of the candidates have been a major topic of conversation in news coverage of the 2024 presidential election. A new Pew Research Center survey finds that Americans have mixed feelings about the way news organizations are handling the issue for each candidate, with views sharply divided by political party.

To examine Americans’ perceptions of news coverage of the 2024 U.S. presidential candidates, Pew Research Center surveyed 8,709 U.S. adults from April 8 to April 14, 2024.

Everyone who completed the survey is a member of the Center’s American Trends Panel (ATP), an online survey panel that is recruited through national, random sampling of residential addresses. This way nearly all U.S. adults have a chance of selection. The survey is weighted to be representative of the U.S. adult population by gender, race, ethnicity, partisan affiliation, education and other categories. Read more about the ATP’s methodology .

Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology .

Pew Research Center is a subsidiary of The Pew Charitable Trusts, its primary funder. This is the latest analysis in Pew Research Center’s ongoing investigation of the state of news, information and journalism in the digital age, a research program funded by The Pew Charitable Trusts, with generous support from the John S. and James L. Knight Foundation.

A diverging bar chart showing that Americans have mixed views on the amount of media attention given to Biden’s and Trump’s ages.

Overall, similar shares of U.S. adults believe news organizations are giving too much attention (32%) or too little attention (29%) to Biden’s age. An additional 38% think the media cover Biden’s age about the right amount.

By comparison, Americans are less likely to say the news media are overemphasizing Trump’s age (19%) and more likely to think that news organizations give it about the right amount of attention (49%).

The same survey found that a larger share of American voters express confidence that Trump has the physical and mental fitness needed to be president than say the same about Biden.

Americans’ opinions on news coverage are split along party lines. Each party’s supporters tend to say that the opposing candidate’s age is getting too little attention.

A diverging bar chart showing that many Republicans and Democrats think the opposing candidate’s age gets too little attention in the media.

Nearly half of Democrats and Democratic-leaning independents (46%) say news organizations are giving Trump’s age too little attention, compared with just 14% of Republicans and GOP leaners.

The numbers are virtually flipped when it comes to Biden: 48% of Republicans say Biden’s age is getting too little attention, while only 12% of Democrats say the same.

When it comes to coverage of their own party’s candidate, patterns within each party differ. While 48% of Democrats say that Biden’s age is getting too much attention, far fewer Republicans (23%) hold this view about Trump. Instead, most Republicans (63%) say Trump’s age is getting about the right amount of attention.

Any differences between older and younger Americans are much smaller than the gaps between partisans. Among Americans ages 65 and older, for example, 34% say news organizations give Biden’s age too little attention. That compares with 29% of those ages 50 to 64, 27% of those ages 30 to 49 and 26% of adults under 30.

Note: Here are the questions used for this analysis , along with responses, and the survey methodology . Senior Researcher Kirsten Eddy and Research Assistant Emily Tomasik contributed to this analysis.

Donald Trump
Election 2024
News Coverage
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Katerina Eva Matsa is a director of news and information research at Pew Research Center .

Michael Lipka is an associate director focusing on news and information research at Pew Research Center .

Use of anonymous sources uncommon in early Biden coverage, least likely in outlets with right-leaning audiences

Covid-19 was pervasive in the media’s early coverage of the biden administration, trump mentioned in about half of biden stories during early weeks in office, but less so over time, immigration was a top focus of early biden coverage, especially among outlets with right-leaning audiences, at 100 day mark: coverage of biden has been slightly more negative than positive, varied greatly by outlet type, most popular.

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AI on Trial: Legal Models Hallucinate in 1 out of 6 Queries

A new study reveals the need for benchmarking and public evaluations of AI tools in law.

Artificial intelligence (AI) tools are rapidly transforming the practice of law. Nearly three quarters of lawyers plan on using generative AI for their work, from sifting through mountains of case law to drafting contracts to reviewing documents to writing legal memoranda. But are these tools reliable enough for real-world use?

Large language models have a documented tendency to “hallucinate,” or make up false information. In one highly-publicized case, a New York lawyer faced sanctions for citing ChatGPT-invented fictional cases in a legal brief; many similar cases have since been reported. And our previous study of general-purpose chatbots found that they hallucinated between 58% and 82% of the time on legal queries, highlighting the risks of incorporating AI into legal practice. In his 2023 annual report on the judiciary , Chief Justice Roberts took note and warned lawyers of hallucinations.

Across all areas of industry, retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) is seen and promoted as the solution for reducing hallucinations in domain-specific contexts. Relying on RAG, leading legal research services have released AI-powered legal research products that they claim “avoid” hallucinations and guarantee “hallucination-free” legal citations. RAG systems promise to deliver more accurate and trustworthy legal information by integrating a language model with a database of legal documents. Yet providers have not provided hard evidence for such claims or even precisely defined “hallucination,” making it difficult to assess their real-world reliability.

AI-Driven Legal Research Tools Still Hallucinate

In a new preprint study by Stanford RegLab and HAI researchers, we put the claims of two providers, LexisNexis and Thomson Reuters (the parent company of Westlaw), to the test. We show that their tools do reduce errors compared to general-purpose AI models like GPT-4. That is a substantial improvement and we document instances where these tools can spot mistaken premises. But even these bespoke legal AI tools still hallucinate an alarming amount of the time: these systems produced incorrect information more than 17% of the time—one in every six queries.

Read the full study, Hallucination-Free? Assessing the Reliability of Leading AI Legal Research Tools

To conduct our study, we manually constructed a pre-registered dataset of over 200 open-ended legal queries, which we designed to probe various aspects of these systems’ performance.

Broadly, we investigated (1) general research questions (questions about doctrine, case holdings, or the bar exam); (2) jurisdiction or time-specific questions (questions about circuit splits and recent changes in the law); (3) false premise questions (questions that mimic a user having a mistaken understanding of the law); and (4) factual recall questions (questions about simple, objective facts that require no legal interpretation).

Bar chart showing rate of hallucinations and incomplete responses from three different tools

Figure 1: Comparison of hallucinated (red) and incomplete (yellow) answers across generative legal research tools.

These systems can hallucinate in one of two ways. First, a response from an AI tool might just be incorrect —it describes the law incorrectly or makes a factual error. Second, a response might be misgrounded —the AI tool describes the law correctly, but cites a source which does not in fact support its claims.

Given the critical importance of authoritative sources in legal research and writing, the second type of hallucination may be even more pernicious than the outright invention of legal cases. A citation might be “hallucination-free” in the narrowest sense that the citation exists , but that is not the only thing that matters. The core promise of legal AI is that it can streamline the time-consuming process of identifying relevant legal sources. If a tool provides sources that seem authoritative but are in reality irrelevant or contradictory, users could be misled. They may place undue trust in the tool's output, potentially leading to erroneous legal judgments and conclusions.

Examples of incorrect responses to legal queries from various AI tools

Figure 2: Left: Example of a hallucinated response by Thomson Reuters’s Ask Practical Law AI. The system fails to correct the user's mistaken premise—in reality, Justice Ginsburg joined the Court's landmark decision legalizing same-sex marriage—and instead provides additional false information about the case. Right: Example of a hallucinated response by LexisNexis’s Lexis+ AI. Casey and its undue burden standard were overruled by the Supreme Court in Dobbs v. Jackson Women's Health Organization , 597 U.S. 215 (2022); the correct answer is rational basis review.

RAG Is Not a Panacea

a chart showing an overview of the retrieval-augmentation generation (RAG) process.

Figure 3: An overview of the retrieval-augmentation generation (RAG) process. Given a user query (left), the typical process consists of two steps: (1) retrieval (middle), where the query is embedded with natural language processing and a retrieval system takes embeddings and retrieves the relevant documents (e.g., Supreme Court cases); and (2) generation (right), where the retrieved texts are fed to the language model to generate the response to the user query. Any of the subsidiary steps may introduce error and hallucinations into the generated response. (Icons are courtesy of FlatIcon.)

Under the hood, these new legal AI tools use retrieval-augmented generation (RAG) to produce their results, a method that many tout as a potential solution to the hallucination problem. In theory, RAG allows a system to first retrieve the relevant source material and then use it to generate the correct response. In practice, however, we show that even RAG systems are not hallucination-free.

We identify several challenges that are particularly unique to RAG-based legal AI systems, causing hallucinations.

First, legal retrieval is hard. As any lawyer knows, finding the appropriate (or best) authority can be no easy task. Unlike other domains, the law is not entirely composed of verifiable facts —instead, law is built up over time by judges writing opinions . This makes identifying the set of documents that definitively answer a query difficult, and sometimes hallucinations occur for the simple reason that the system’s retrieval mechanism fails.

Second, even when retrieval occurs, the document that is retrieved can be an inapplicable authority. In the American legal system, rules and precedents differ across jurisdictions and time periods; documents that might be relevant on their face due to semantic similarity to a query may actually be inapposite for idiosyncratic reasons that are unique to the law. Thus, we also observe hallucinations occurring when these RAG systems fail to identify the truly binding authority. This is particularly problematic as areas where the law is in flux is precisely where legal research matters the most. One system, for instance, incorrectly recited the “undue burden” standard for abortion restrictions as good law, which was overturned in Dobbs (see Figure 2).

Third, sycophancy—the tendency of AI to agree with the user's incorrect assumptions—also poses unique risks in legal settings. One system, for instance, naively agreed with the question’s premise that Justice Ginsburg dissented in Obergefell , the case establishing a right to same-sex marriage, and answered that she did so based on her views on international copyright. (Justice Ginsburg did not dissent in Obergefell and, no, the case had nothing to do with copyright.) Notwithstanding that answer, here there are optimistic results. Our tests showed that both systems generally navigated queries based on false premises effectively. But when these systems do agree with erroneous user assertions, the implications can be severe—particularly for those hoping to use these tools to increase access to justice among pro se and under-resourced litigants.

Responsible Integration of AI Into Law Requires Transparency

Ultimately, our results highlight the need for rigorous and transparent benchmarking of legal AI tools. Unlike other domains, the use of AI in law remains alarmingly opaque: the tools we study provide no systematic access, publish few details about their models, and report no evaluation results at all.

This opacity makes it exceedingly challenging for lawyers to procure and acquire AI products. The big law firm Paul Weiss spent nearly a year and a half testing a product, and did not develop “hard metrics” because checking the AI system was so involved that it “makes any efficiency gains difficult to measure.” The absence of rigorous evaluation metrics makes responsible adoption difficult, especially for practitioners that are less resourced than Paul Weiss.

The lack of transparency also threatens lawyers’ ability to comply with ethical and professional responsibility requirements. The bar associations of California , New York , and Florida have all recently released guidance on lawyers’ duty of supervision over work products created with AI tools. And as of May 2024, more than 25 federal judges have issued standing orders instructing attorneys to disclose or monitor the use of AI in their courtrooms.

Without access to evaluations of the specific tools and transparency around their design, lawyers may find it impossible to comply with these responsibilities. Alternatively, given the high rate of hallucinations, lawyers may find themselves having to verify each and every proposition and citation provided by these tools, undercutting the stated efficiency gains that legal AI tools are supposed to provide.

Our study is meant in no way to single out LexisNexis and Thomson Reuters. Their products are far from the only legal AI tools that stand in need of transparency—a slew of startups offer similar products and have made similar claims , but they are available on even more restricted bases, making it even more difficult to assess how they function.

Based on what we know, legal hallucinations have not been solved and the legal profession should turn to public benchmarking and rigorous evaluations of AI tools.

The authors of this study chose to evaluate “Ask Practical Law AI” because, despite several requests, they were not given access to Thomson Reuters’ other products at the time of the study. The authors look forward to evaluating more tools, but underscore that it should not be incumbent on academic researchers alone to provide transparency and empirical evidence on the reliability of marketed products.

Paper authors: Varun Magesh is a research fellow at Stanford RegLab. Faiz Surani is a research fellow at Stanford RegLab. Matthew Dahl is a joint JD/PhD student in political science at Yale University and graduate student affiliate of Stanford RegLab. Mirac Suzgun is a joint JD/PhD student in computer science at Stanford University and a graduate student fellow at Stanford RegLab. Christopher D. Manning is Thomas M. Siebel Professor of Machine Learning, Professor of Linguistics and Computer Science, and Senior Fellow at HAI. Daniel E. Ho is the William Benjamin Scott and Luna M. Scott Professor of Law, Professor of Political Science, Professor of Computer Science (by courtesy), Senior Fellow at HAI, Senior Fellow at SIEPR, and Director of the RegLab at Stanford University.

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