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300+ AP Research Topic Ideas

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AP Research is a high school course offered as part of the College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program. It is designed to give students the opportunity to conduct independent research on a topic of their choice and to develop the research and analytical skills needed to succeed in college and beyond.

The course is typically taken by students in their senior year of high school, after they have completed other AP courses. AP Research is a two-semester course, with students typically spending the first semester developing a research question, conducting a literature review, and developing a research proposal. In the second semester, students conduct their research, analyze their findings, and present their results in a written thesis and an oral presentation.

AP Research is intended to be a rigorous course that requires students to think critically, develop research skills, and engage with complex issues in a meaningful way. The course is designed to prepare students for the demands of college-level research and to give them a strong foundation for pursuing advanced degrees or careers in fields that require research skills.

AP Research Topic Ideas

Selecting an AP Research topic can be a daunting task, requiring careful consideration of personal interests, research gaps, feasibility, and academic goals. To help students navigate this process, we have compiled a list of diverse and engaging AP Research topic ideas that cover a wide range of disciplines and research areas. These topic ideas are designed to inspire and guide students as they embark on their own research journey.

AP Research Topic Ideas are as follows:

• The effects of social media on adolescent mental health
• The relationship between physical activity and academic performance
• The impact of gentrification on urban communities
• The effectiveness of mindfulness practices in reducing stress and anxiety
• The relationship between sleep patterns and academic performance
• The role of technology in the future of education
• The impact of the gig economy on the traditional job market
• The effects of climate change on coastal communities
• The use of virtual reality in therapy and mental health treatment
• The impact of immigration policies on undocumented students’ access to higher education
• The relationship between socioeconomic status and health outcomes
• The role of music therapy in treating mental health disorders
• The effects of standardized testing on student learning and teacher effectiveness
• The impact of artificial intelligence on employment opportunities
• The effectiveness of peer tutoring programs in improving academic achievement
• The impact of cultural assimilation on immigrant mental health and well-being
• The relationship between diet and mental health outcomes
• The impact of childhood trauma on adult mental health outcomes
• The effectiveness of alternative education programs for at-risk youth
• The role of mindfulness practices in reducing implicit biases and promoting inclusivity.
• The impact of social media influencers on consumer behavior
• The effects of language barriers on healthcare access and outcomes
• The relationship between access to green spaces and mental health outcomes
• The effectiveness of school-based mental health programs
• The impact of parental involvement on academic achievement
• The effects of income inequality on social mobility
• The role of genetic testing in personalized medicine
• The impact of police body cameras on community trust
• The relationship between food insecurity and obesity rates
• The effectiveness of restorative justice practices in reducing school suspensions and expulsions
• The impact of globalization on cultural identity
• The effects of childhood bilingualism on cognitive development
• The role of art therapy in treating trauma-related mental health disorders
• The impact of corporate social responsibility on consumer behavior
• The relationship between air pollution and respiratory health outcomes
• The effectiveness of online learning platforms in improving student outcomes
• The impact of artificial intelligence on financial markets
• The effects of mindfulness practices on workplace productivity
• The relationship between exposure to violence and mental health outcomes
• The effectiveness of community-based interventions in reducing gang involvement among at-risk youth.
• The impact of social media on political polarization
• The relationship between screen time and attention spans
• The effectiveness of cognitive behavioral therapy in treating anxiety and depression
• The impact of renewable energy on the job market
• The effects of food advertising on childhood obesity rates
• The role of experiential learning in developing leadership skills
• The relationship between gun ownership and rates of gun violence
• The impact of microplastics on marine ecosystems
• The effectiveness of community policing programs in reducing crime rates
• The relationship between racial and ethnic identity development and mental health outcomes
• The effects of childhood trauma on long-term physical health outcomes
• The impact of cultural competency training on healthcare provider-patient relationships
• The effectiveness of mindfulness practices in reducing substance abuse and addiction
• The relationship between access to healthcare and health outcomes in rural communities
• The effects of student loan debt on career choices and financial well-being
• The impact of social support on caregiver mental health outcomes
• The role of alternative therapies in managing chronic pain
• The effects of gaming on cognitive development and decision-making skills
• The impact of restorative justice practices on recidivism rates
• The relationship between religious identity and mental health outcomes.
• The effects of media representation on body image and self-esteem
• The relationship between parental involvement in education and student motivation
• The impact of automation on the future of work
• The effectiveness of school-based mindfulness programs in reducing anxiety and depression
• The effects of social isolation on mental health outcomes
• The role of exercise in managing chronic diseases
• The impact of gentrification on cultural heritage and community identity
• The effectiveness of telemedicine in improving healthcare access and outcomes
• The relationship between nutrition and cognitive function
• The effects of microaggressions on mental health and well-being
• The impact of social entrepreneurship on community development
• The effectiveness of community-based interventions in reducing substance abuse and addiction
• The relationship between race and policing practices
• The effects of early childhood education on long-term academic achievement
• The role of animal-assisted therapy in treating mental health disorders
• The impact of social media on political activism and social change
• The relationship between personality traits and leadership effectiveness
• The effectiveness of mindfulness practices in reducing workplace stress and burnout
• The impact of climate change on food security and nutrition
• The relationship between cultural diversity and organizational performance in the workplace.
• The impact of COVID-19 on mental health outcomes and healthcare access
• The relationship between music and cognitive function
• The effectiveness of restorative justice practices in addressing racial disparities in school discipline
• The effects of mindfulness practices on sleep quality and duration
• The role of public art in promoting community well-being
• The relationship between social support and coping with chronic illnesses
• The impact of globalization on cultural traditions and practices
• The effectiveness of trauma-informed care in addressing mental health disorders
• The effects of parental involvement on social-emotional development in early childhood
• The relationship between personality traits and job satisfaction
• The impact of urbanization on biodiversity and ecosystem services
• The effectiveness of cognitive training in improving memory and attention in older adults
• The effects of trauma on brain development in children and adolescents
• The role of gender in leadership effectiveness and organizational performance
• The impact of gentrification on housing affordability and homelessness rates
• The relationship between social support and academic achievement in low-income students
• The effectiveness of community gardens in promoting food security and nutrition
• The effects of air pollution on cognitive function and academic achievement
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting social justice and equity
• The impact of technology on interpersonal communication and relationship building
• The relationship between sleep disorders and mental health outcomes
• The effects of early childhood education on social-emotional development
• The impact of political polarization on social cohesion and community engagement
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral interventions in reducing substance use disorders
• The relationship between gender identity and mental health outcomes
• The impact of social media on body image and eating disorder rates
• The effects of mindfulness practices on emotional regulation in children and adolescents
• The role of restorative justice in addressing hate crimes and bias-motivated violence
• The relationship between environmental attitudes and pro-environmental behavior
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in managing chronic pain.
• The impact of immigration policies on mental health outcomes among immigrant populations
• The relationship between socioeconomic status and access to healthcare
• The effectiveness of arts-based interventions in promoting mental health and well-being
• The effects of screen time on language development in young children
• The role of restorative justice in addressing gender-based violence
• The impact of climate change on mental health outcomes
• The relationship between social support and recovery from addiction
• The effectiveness of culturally responsive teaching in promoting academic achievement among diverse student populations
• The effects of sleep deprivation on academic performance and mental health outcomes
• The impact of outdoor recreation on physical and mental health outcomes
• The relationship between community engagement and crime rates
• The effectiveness of mindfulness-based interventions in addressing anxiety and depression in college students
• The effects of food insecurity on academic achievement and health outcomes
• The role of race and ethnicity in accessing and utilizing mental health services
• The impact of social media on romantic relationships and dating behaviors
• The relationship between physical activity and cognitive function in older adults
• The effectiveness of harm reduction strategies in addressing substance use disorders
• The effects of environmental toxins on reproductive health outcomes
• The role of cultural competency in promoting patient-provider communication and trust
• The impact of gentrification on community health and well-being
• The relationship between mindfulness and creativity
• The effects of social support on post-traumatic growth
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating eating disorders
• The impact of race and ethnicity on access to affordable housing
• The relationship between environmental attitudes and pro-social behavior
• The effects of trauma on parenting practices and child development
• The role of community policing in promoting trust and safety in diverse communities
• The impact of gender stereotypes on academic and career choices
• The relationship between physical activity and mental health outcomes in adolescents
• The effectiveness of restorative justice practices in addressing school-to-prison pipeline.
• The impact of social media on body image and self-esteem in adolescent girls
• The relationship between mindfulness and resilience in first responders
• The effects of parental incarceration on child development and academic outcomes
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting voter participation and civic engagement
• The impact of cultural assimilation on mental health outcomes among immigrant populations
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating post-traumatic stress disorder in veterans
• The effects of exposure to violence on aggression and delinquency in adolescents
• The role of social support in reducing the stigma associated with mental illness
• The impact of school-based health clinics on academic achievement and health outcomes
• The relationship between social media use and sleep disturbances in adolescents
• The effects of music therapy on pain management and emotional regulation in cancer patients
• The role of gender and race in accessing and utilizing healthcare services
• The impact of urban sprawl on environmental degradation and public health
• The relationship between mindfulness and leadership effectiveness
• The effects of school culture on student academic achievement and well-being
• The role of community gardens in promoting sustainable urban development
• The relationship between social support and job satisfaction
• The effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral interventions in reducing anxiety and depression in LGBTQ+ youth
• The effects of air pollution on respiratory health outcomes in urban areas
• The role of mindfulness in reducing burnout among healthcare professionals
• The impact of income inequality on health outcomes and access to healthcare
• The relationship between social media use and academic performance in college students
• The effects of trauma on memory and cognitive function
• The role of community-based organizations in addressing food deserts and promoting healthy eating habits
• The impact of neighborhood walkability on physical activity and health outcomes
• The relationship between social support and coping with chronic pain
• The effectiveness of family-based interventions in addressing substance use disorders in adolescents
• The impact of environmental regulations on public health and well-being.
• The relationship between job satisfaction and employee retention
• The effects of technology addiction on mental health and social relationships
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting financial literacy and reducing debt
• The impact of early childhood education on academic achievement and cognitive development
• The relationship between cultural identity and mental health outcomes among immigrants
• The effects of social support on recovery from traumatic brain injury
• The role of restorative justice in reducing recidivism rates among formerly incarcerated individuals
• The impact of neighborhood segregation on access to healthcare and health outcomes
• The relationship between mindfulness and emotional intelligence in the workplace
• The effects of sleep hygiene education on sleep quality and academic performance in college students
• The role of community-based interventions in reducing rates of childhood obesity
• The impact of poverty on cognitive development and academic achievement
• The relationship between social support and substance use recovery in adults
• The effects of nature exposure on stress reduction and mental health outcomes
• The role of restorative justice in addressing school discipline disparities
• The impact of racial microaggressions on mental health outcomes among people of color
• The relationship between social support and coping with chronic illness
• The effects of community policing on reducing rates of police brutality and misconduct
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting digital literacy and access to technology
• The impact of animal-assisted therapy on mental health outcomes in individuals with disabilities
• The relationship between mindfulness and athletic performance
• The effects of trauma on romantic relationships and attachment styles
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting environmental sustainability and reducing waste
• The impact of social support on stress and coping mechanisms in caregivers of individuals with chronic illnesses
• The relationship between socioeconomic status and access to mental health services in rural areas
• The effects of mindfulness meditation on pain management and opioid use in chronic pain patients
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting social and economic justice
• The impact of environmental factors on autism spectrum disorder (ASD) development
• The relationship between social support and recovery from traumatic injuries
• The effects of peer mentoring on academic achievement and social-emotional development in adolescents.
• The relationship between childhood experiences and risk-taking behavior in adolescents
• The effects of gratitude interventions on well-being and social relationships
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting financial empowerment and reducing poverty
• The impact of childhood trauma on addiction and substance use in adulthood
• The relationship between cultural values and mental health outcomes in international students
• The effects of social support on academic persistence and retention in college students
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting restorative justice in the criminal justice system
• The impact of culturally responsive teaching on academic achievement and cultural identity development in students of color
• The relationship between mindfulness and sleep quality in older adults
• The effects of peer mentoring on social-emotional development and academic achievement in elementary school students
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting social and emotional learning in schools
• The impact of racial trauma on mental health outcomes among Black individuals
• The relationship between social support and job satisfaction in healthcare workers
• The effects of nature exposure on creativity and innovation in the workplace
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting diversity and inclusion in the workplace
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on addiction and substance use in adulthood
• The relationship between cultural identity and mental health outcomes in Indigenous populations
• The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in college students
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting environmental justice and reducing pollution exposure in low-income communities
• The impact of social support on well-being and mental health outcomes in LGBTQ+ individuals
• The relationship between social media use and body image dissatisfaction in adolescents
• The effects of physical activity on cognitive function and academic achievement in older adults
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting social and economic mobility in low-income families
• The impact of mindfulness-based interventions on reducing burnout and compassion fatigue in healthcare workers
• The relationship between cultural values and healthcare-seeking behavior in immigrant populations
• The effects of trauma on personality development and attachment styles
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting healthy eating and reducing food insecurity in underserved communities
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on cognitive function and academic achievement in early childhood
• The relationship between social support and mental health outcomes in refugee populations
• The effects of nature exposure on reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in older adults.
• The relationship between parental involvement and academic achievement in elementary school students
• The effects of a healthy lifestyle intervention on reducing cardiovascular disease risk factors in adults
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting disaster preparedness and resilience in vulnerable communities
• The impact of mindfulness-based interventions on reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder in military veterans
• The relationship between social support and job satisfaction in non-profit employees
• The effects of music education on cognitive development and academic achievement in elementary school students
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting sustainable agriculture and reducing food waste
• The impact of cultural competence training on improving health outcomes and reducing health disparities in healthcare settings
• The relationship between social media use and sleep quality in college students
• The effects of physical activity on reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults with chronic illnesses
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting youth leadership development and civic engagement
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on social skills development and peer relationships in early childhood
• The relationship between social support and mental health outcomes in individuals with chronic illnesses
• The effects of restorative justice practices on reducing school suspension rates and promoting positive school climate
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting sustainable transportation and reducing carbon emissions
• The impact of cultural values on parenting practices and child development
• The relationship between social media use and body dissatisfaction in young adults
• The effects of technology-based interventions on reducing social isolation and loneliness in older adults
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting mental health awareness and reducing stigma
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on academic achievement and educational attainment in adolescence
• The relationship between social support and resilience in individuals experiencing homelessness
• The effects of mindfulness-based interventions on reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with chronic pain
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting social and economic integration of immigrants
• The impact of cultural values on mental health help-seeking behaviors in Asian American populations
• The relationship between social media use and academic performance in high school students
• The effects of physical activity on reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in adults with intellectual disabilities
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting inclusive recreational opportunities for individuals with disabilities
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on social-emotional development and mental health outcomes in adolescence
• The relationship between social support and coping strategies in individuals with chronic illnesses
• The effects of cognitive training on improving memory and executive function in older adults
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting affordable housing and reducing homelessness
• The impact of cultural values on end-of-life decision-making and hospice utilization in diverse populations
• The relationship between social media use and self-esteem in young adults
• The effects of art therapy on reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults with mental illness
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting social and economic justice for marginalized communities
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on social skills development and peer relationships in adolescence
• The relationship between social support and mental health outcomes in parents of children with disabilities
• The effects of technology-based interventions on promoting healthy eating habits and reducing obesity in children and adolescents
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting access to healthcare for underserved communities
• The impact of cultural values on mental health stigma and help-seeking behaviors in Latinx populations.
• The relationship between sleep quality and academic performance in college students
• The effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on reducing symptoms of burnout in healthcare professionals
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting environmental conservation and sustainability
• The impact of childhood trauma on social skills development and peer relationships in elementary school students
• The relationship between social support and quality of life in individuals with chronic pain
• The effects of a physical activity intervention on reducing symptoms of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) in children
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting financial literacy and reducing debt
• The impact of cultural values on perceptions of mental health and mental illness in African American populations
• The relationship between social media use and body image concerns in adolescent girls
• The effects of animal-assisted therapy on reducing symptoms of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) in military veterans
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting intergenerational relationships and reducing ageism
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on college readiness and academic achievement in high school students
• The relationship between social support and well-being in individuals with chronic illnesses in rural areas
• The effects of a technology-based intervention on promoting healthy sleep habits in adolescents
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting sustainable tourism and reducing negative impacts on local communities and the environment
• The impact of cultural values on perceptions of and access to mental health services in Native American populations
• The relationship between social media use and social anxiety in young adults
• The effects of art therapy on reducing symptoms of trauma in refugee populations
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting civic engagement and activism among youth
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on social-emotional development and mental health outcomes in young children
• The relationship between social support and self-esteem in adolescents with autism spectrum disorder (ASD)
• The effects of a mindfulness-based intervention on reducing symptoms of anxiety and depression in individuals with eating disorders
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting workplace diversity and inclusion
• The impact of cultural values on parenting practices and child outcomes in immigrant populations
• The relationship between social media use and body image concerns in adolescent boys
• The effects of music therapy on reducing symptoms of depression and anxiety in adults with dementia
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting access to affordable childcare and early education programs
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on physical health outcomes in adulthood
• The relationship between social support and substance use behaviors in adolescents
• The effects of a physical activity intervention on reducing symptoms of depression in adults with chronic pain
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting sustainable urban development and reducing pollution
• The impact of cultural values on perceptions of and access to mental health services in Hispanic/Latinx populations
• The relationship between social media use and self-esteem in individuals with visible differences
• The effects of narrative therapy on reducing symptoms of trauma in survivors of intimate partner violence
• The role of community-based organizations in promoting access to affordable legal services for low-income individuals
• The impact of adverse childhood experiences on social and emotional development in adolescence
• The relationship between social support and quality of life in individuals with Parkinson’s disease
• The effects of a technology-based intervention on promoting physical activity and reducing sedentary behavior in adults with spinal cord injuries
• The role of community-based interventions in promoting sustainable energy use and reducing greenhouse gas emissions
• The impact of cultural values on perceptions of and access to mental health services in Middle Eastern populations.

How to Pick an AP Research Topic

Choosing an AP Research topic can be a challenging task, but with the right approach, it can be a fulfilling experience. Here are some steps you can follow to pick an AP Research topic:

• Identify your interests: Think about what you enjoy learning about and what topics you are passionate about. Consider your past experiences, hobbies, and future career goals. This will help you identify areas that you are enthusiastic about exploring.
• Research different topics: Conduct extensive research on topics that interest you. Read articles, books, and research studies related to your areas of interest. This will help you develop a deeper understanding of the topics and identify potential research gaps.
• Narrow down your options: After conducting your research, narrow down your options to a few potential topics. Consider the feasibility of conducting research on each topic, the availability of resources, and the scope of the project.
• Consult with your teacher or mentor: Discuss your potential topics with your teacher or mentor. They can offer valuable insights and guide you in selecting a topic that aligns with your academic and career goals.
• Define your research question: Once you have identified your topic, define your research question. The question should be clear, focused, and specific. It should also be open-ended to allow for further exploration.
• Develop a research plan: Develop a research plan that outlines the steps you will take to conduct your research. This should include the research methods you will use, the data you will collect, and the timeline for completing the project.
• Review and refine: Continuously review and refine your topic and research plan as you conduct your research. This will help you stay on track and make adjustments as needed.

About the author

Muhammad Hassan

Researcher, Academic Writer, Web developer

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The Top 10 Most Interesting AP Research Topics

College Board’s Advanced Placement (AP) program can improve your academic performance and earn you college credits while in high school. If you participate in the AP Capstone program, you’ll have to conduct research in the second course, AP Research. To succeed, you’ll need to use your academic research skills to select your AP research topics.

Selecting a topic can be the most critical part of your research project, and it can also be the most difficult. To make it easier for you, we’ve provided some of the best examples of AP research topics as well as AP research questions.

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What makes a strong ap research topic.

A strong AP research topic is well-defined. Because it will form the basis of your research, it should be clear enough that your target audience will be able to understand your project. It should also address a real-world issue relevant in the 21st century.

Tips for Choosing an AP Research Topic

• Choose what interests you. Don’t just go with what’s popular or what you think will get you the highest score. Make sure the topic you select is one you clearly understand and will be able to continue even when the research process becomes difficult.
• Make sure you understand the course requirements. Repeatedly refer to your assignment as you come up with a project idea. This will ensure that you have a clear grasp of what is expected of you.
• Consider the timeframe of your research process. A lot goes into the research process, so make sure you start looking for a topic as soon as possible. It may not seem this way at the beginning, but the course will go by quickly.
• Consider your research sources. Select a topic with a wide range of sources that you can draw from to build credible and valid evidence-based arguments.
• Consult your AP advisor. Whenever you have any questions about the research process, don’t be afraid to turn to your advisor for clarification. If you find it too difficult to narrow down a topic, you can also ask for help from other students.

What’s the Difference Between a Research Topic and a Research Question?

A research topic is the main idea for a research project. For instance, voting apathy is a general topic from which you can derive various history research paper topics such as “voter apathy among young people.”

A research question, on the other hand, is a question that your research seeks to answer. It is more specific than your research topic. It answers the how, what, and the why of your research. For example, for the research topic above, one research question could be “What are the effects of voter apathy among young people on civic participation?”

How to Create Strong AP Research Questions

A strong AP research question should be clear and precise. In other words, the question you are posing should be focused on a specific area and the language should be simple enough that the reader doesn’t require any further explanation of what you are trying to say. However, it should not be so narrow that it can be answered with a simple yes or no.

Top 10 AP Research Paper Topics

1. 3d-printed prosthetics for amputees.

In recent years, the field of 3D printing has made great strides, especially in the medical field. From prosthetics to 3D-printed skin for burn victims, scientists have figured out ways to help those who have physical challenges. If selected as a research topic, this would be an interesting way to discuss the future of rehabilitation and assistive devices.

2. The Pros and Cons of Subsidized Housing in the US

Subsidized housing is a housing policy aimed at giving low-income families access to affordable housing. This real-world issue has become quite a controversial topic. However, it is a great topic for your school project, especially if it has already been discussed in your AP Seminar course as one of the seminar topics.

3. Impact of Ocean Conservation on Climate Change

Global warming and climate change have become important topics all over the world. From a discussion of renewable energy to a study of the increase in wildfires, there are many approaches that you can take. Ocean conservation has become an important strategy in fighting climate change and would therefore be a perfect topic for an AP research paper.

4. The Role of Art Education in 21st Century Curricula

The importance of art in education has often been taken for granted. In recent decades, however, emphasis on STEM fields has raised questions about the role of art education and other humanities disciplines in modern education. Your research could focus on the benefits of art education for STEM students.

5. Food Waste Solutions in the US

According to the USDA, food waste accounts for 30 to 40 percent of the total food supply. This shows that food waste is a major environmental and economic problem. This is one of many real-world topics that would allow you to take an interdisciplinary approach, combining social sciences and environmental sciences, for instance.

6. Impact of Genetically Modified Organisms on the Environment

A genetically modified organism is a plant, animal, or other organism whose DNA has been artificially altered through bioengineering. There are many interesting albeit complex issues that can arise in research into the potential impact of GMOs on the environment.

7. Factors Contributing to Wealth Inequality in the US

Wealth inequality refers to the dissimilarities in the distribution of assets among people or groups of people. This research topic can be narrowed to focus on whether increasing minimum wages can decrease wealth inequality or on strategies for reducing the number of homeless children.

8. The Future of the Automotive Industry

Global car sales are expected to grow in the coming years. As the automotive industry is changing, this topic would be a great way to discover what these changes look like and how they will affect the industry. Selecting this for your project proposal would be a good way to build on what you learned in your AP Physics C: Mechanics class.

9. The Relationship Between Cyber Security and Ecommerce

Ecommerce is one of the fastest-growing sectors in the economy. However, as more people and businesses move to online transactions, there is growing concern about cyber security threats. A first step if you choose this topic would be to familiarize yourself with cyber security terminology .

10. Youth Voting and Civic Participation Patterns

This is an interesting research topic through which you can discuss the relationship between voting and civic participation in young people, the influence of social media on voting patterns, and whether voting trends are affected by the socioeconomic conditions of a particular youth group. One common research question is whether the voting age should be changed.

Other Examples of AP Research Topics & Questions

Ap research topics.

• Effects of stress on the human body
• The fall of the Roman Empire
• The rise of cryptocurrency and its effect on the banking industry
• The relationship between social media and bullying in schools
• Homeschooling versus traditional schooling

AP Research Questions

• How does emotional stress manifest physically in the human body?
• What political developments led to the fall of Rome?
• How has cryptocurrency affected the banking industry in the 21st century?
• How has social media influenced the rise of cyberbullying?
• What are the effects of texting on grammar skills?

Choosing the Right AP Research Topic

As we have seen above, there are many AP research topics to choose from for your research assignment. The research paper is your primary performance task in the AP Research course, so you should take care to select a strong topic.

Completing the College Board’s AP Capstone is a significant academic achievement that will put your academic writing skills and research abilities to the test. Choosing the right AP research topic is therefore paramount in helping you build your college profile, especially if you want to get into an Ivy League School .

AP Research Topics FAQ

Your AP research paper should be between 4,000 and 5,000 words. Your evaluation will be based on not only the word count but also your introduction, content, structure, conclusion, and use and documentation of sources.

The AP research assignment is graded on a scale of one to five, depending on how well you do on your academic paper and oral defense. You can visit the AP Research student page for further information about grading.

No, there are no AP research topics that are off-limits. The AP Capstone program aims at developing students who are independent critical thinkers, so don’t shy away from a topic just because it’s controversial.

The difference between AP and AP Capstone is that AP Capstone is a two-year diploma program that requires you to take the AP Seminar and AP Research courses, whereas AP is a general term for the Advanced Placement program. College Board offers both programs.

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171+ Good AP Research Topics & Ideas For Students

Welcome to our blog, which is focused on helping students get through the often tough job of picking AP research topics. As you start your AP Research journey, one of the most essential choices you’ll make is finding the right topic to explore.

This choice not only shapes the direction of your research but also affects your overall experience and success in the course. This blog will give helpful ideas, tips, and resources to guide you through the topic-picking process.

We’ve got you covered whether you’re passionate about STEM subjects, humanities, or social sciences. By the end of this blog, you will feel more sure and ready to choose an exciting and research-worthy topic that fits your interests and goals. Let’s dive in and explore the exciting world of AP Research topics together!

What Are AP Research Topics?

Table of Contents

AP Research topics are subjects or issues students study and look into for their AP Research projects. This is a college-level class where students plan, design, and do a year-long research project on a topic they pick.

Some key things about AP Research topics:

• They should be something the student cares about and wants to research. This helps motivate them through the lengthy research process.
• Topics can be related to any subject like STEM (science, tech, engineering, math), social sciences, humanities, arts, etc.
• Students must select a topic they can investigate and analyze using resources and data.
• The topic should be complex enough for a full year of deep study. Narrower-focused topics are best.
• Students should select a topic that fits their skills, interests, and future goals.
• The research topic guides the whole AP Research project and class experience.

Guidelines for Selecting AP Research Topics

Here are some simple guidelines for selecting AP Research topics:

• Pick a topic you find interesting and are excited to research. This will help you stay motivated.
• Select a topic that is narrow and focused enough to research in-depth in a year. Don’t pick topics that are too broad.
• Ensure sources and data are available on the topic so you can analyze and investigate it.
• Consider if the topic aligns with your skills, knowledge, and future goals. Pick something relevant.
• Choose a topic complex enough to be considered an academic research study. Don’t pick something too simple.
• Talk to your teacher and get their input about your topic idea and if it will work for the research project.
• Don’t stress too much. There are many potential topics, and you can adjust your focus along the way.
• Consider exploring a topic related to your primary academic interests like STEM, social sciences, humanities, arts, etc.

AP Research Topics

The AP Research course permits students to study an academic topic, problem, or issue of particular interest in depth. Through this investigation, students design, plan, and conduct a year-long research-based analysis to address a research question. 

Selecting an appropriate, focused, and manageable topic is a critical step in the AP Research process. Here are 170+ potential AP Research topics organized by popular subject categories:

Science and Technology Topics

• Developing more efficient solar cells
• The ethics of genetic engineering and modification
• Methods for earlier detection of pancreatic cancer
• How to improve safety features in self-driving cars
• Green technology innovations to reduce carbon footprints
• The public health impact of e-cigarettes and vaping
• Hacking: methods, prevention, and ethics
• Using CRISPR technology for disease prevention and treatment
• The benefits and risks of nanoparticles in consumer products
• Developing sustainable battery technologies for electric vehicles

Environmental Topics

• The effects of fracking on groundwater contamination
• Reducing food waste through sustainable packaging solutions
• Urban development and sustainable city planning
• The economics and environmental impact of recycling
• The health effects of air pollution in major cities
• Ocean acidification and its impact on maritime ecosystems
• The effect of prescription drug disposal on water systems
• Reducing the use of plastics and microplastics in the ocean
• Strategies to reduce water consumption in agriculture
• The environmental impact of textile manufacturing and fast fashion

Business and Economics Topics

• Strategy for Sustainable Manufacturing Practices
• Developing effective mentorship programs in the workplace
• The gig economy and the future of work
• How automation is transforming jobs and employment
• Cryptocurrency and the future of money and banking
• Media representation of weight and its economic implications
• The economic impact of legalizing marijuana
• Corporate social responsibility trends and economic impacts
• The effect of student debt on the US economy
• Globalization and cross-cultural business communication

Psychology and Sociology Topics

• The correlation between mental health and usage of social media
• Media representation of disability and its societal effects
• The psychology of Conspiracy theories and belief systems
• Cultural trends in young adult literature and their societal influences
• How architecture can promote mental health in urban areas
• The impact of music training on cognitive development
• Gender bias and discrimination in STEM education and careers
• The social factors influencing vaccination rates
• How immigration policy affects migrant families and communities
• The relationship between income inequality and crime

Anthropology

• Cultural relativism: Understanding diverse cultural practices
• Archaeological methods: Techniques for studying past civilizations
• Biological anthropology: Human evolution and diversity
• Indigenous cultures: Preserving traditions in a changing world
• Linguistic anthropology: Language as a cultural phenomenon
• Medical anthropology: Cultural perspectives on health and healing
• Anthropology of food: Cultural significance and dietary practices
• Urban anthropology: Studying cities as cultural ecosystems
• Ethnographic research: Methods and applications in anthropology
• Anthropology of tourism: Impacts on local communities and identities

Healthcare and Public Health Topics

• The effectiveness of school nutrition programs on health outcomes
• How access to healthcare impacts chronic disease management
• The effects of continuous remote patient monitoring systems
• Wearable devices and their ability to encourage healthy habits
• Implementing effective health education programs in developing nations
• The short and long-term health impacts of natural disasters
• The role of mobile clinics in providing care to rural communities
• The effects of medicinal cannabis policies on opioid usage
• Factors contributing to the rising motherly mortality rate in the US
• The public health impact of the gun violence in America

Government, Politics, and Policy Topics

• Media framing of political rhetoric and its influence on voters
• The effects of voter ID laws on election turnout and results
• How congressional term limits could transform US politics
• Diplomacy strategies between competing nations and alliances
• The impact of partisan gerrymandering on democratic representation
• Grassroots activism and passing state or local legislation
• How Election Financing Regulations Shape Campaign Spending
• Causes and solutions for political polarization in America
• The influence of special interest groups on public policy
• Balancing the privacy rights and the national security in the digital age

Education Topics

• The influence of school start times on student health and achievement
• How grade inflation impacts student motivation and learning
• The effects of culturally responsive teaching on diverse students
• Flipped classrooms: benefits and drawbacks for student learning
• The role of emotional intelligence in teacher effectiveness
• Factors influencing teacher shortage in America
• The effects of music and arts education on childhood development
• The school-to-prison pipeline: causes, consequences, solutions
• The benefits and challenges of single-gender classrooms
• Standardized testing: analyzing effectiveness and equity

Language, Literature, and Culture Topics

• Representations of gender in classic and contemporary literature
• The evolution of the antihero in television and film
• The effects of celebrity and social media culture on body image
• Descriptions of mental illness in young adult literature
• The influence of rap and hip-hop on youth culture and activism
• How social and political issues influence contemporary art
• Cultural appropriation in music and fashion: impacts and ethics
• Analyzing diversity and inclusion in children’s media
• The digitization of literature: evaluating effects on reading habits
• How memes spread cultural ideas and shape online communities

Law and Criminal Justice Topics

• Proposals for reforming the juvenile justice system
• The effects of police body cams on law enforcement accountability
• Causes and solutions for wrongful convictions in the US
• Evaluating evidence and forensic science in criminal investigations
• The impact of three-strikes laws on incarceration rates
• Do castle doctrine laws promote or hinder public safety?
• Restorative justice programs: evaluating effectiveness
• Racial disparities in drug-related criminal sentencing
• Lowering recidivism: education and rehabilitation strategies
• First Amendment issues surrounding online hate speech

History Topics

• The role of women in the American civil rights movement
• An analysis of propaganda during wartime or political movements
• The influence of Roman philosophy and Greek on modern democracy
• Tracing LGBTQ+ rights and identities through history
• Evaluating historical accuracy in popular films and media
• How trade and exchange spread ideas in ancient societies
• The influence of European colonization on indigenous cultures
• Analyzing diverse voices and perspectives in recorded history
• The evolution of political revolutions through history
• Preserving endangered historical sites and artifacts

Social Sciences

• Impacts of foster care policies on childhood development
• Social influences on the pursuit of STEM careers across genders
• Effects of media portrayal of body image on youth self-esteem
• Influence of celebrity culture on teen mental health and risky behaviors
• Strategies for reducing implicit bias in classroom settings
• Impact of access to nutrition programs on community health outcomes
• Relationship between income inequality and criminal activity
• How the architecture of urban spaces affects resident mental health
• Changing gender norms in young adult literature over time
• Social effects of partisanship and political polarization

Health and Medicine

• The role of mobile health clinics in rural communities
• Wearable devices’ potential to encourage healthy habits
• Effects of medicinal marijuana policies on opioid usage
• Public health effects of widespread gun violence
• Factors driving rising maternal mortality in America
• Access to healthcare effects on chronic disease management
• Short and long-term health impacts of natural disasters
• Implementing effective health education in developing nations
• The promise and ethics of genetic engineering
• How nutrition programs affect health outcomes in schools

Civics and Governance

• Media framing of political rhetoric and its voter influence
• Grassroots activism strategies for passing legislation
• Diplomacy strategies between competing nations
• Balancing privacy and national security in digital age
• Effects of voter ID laws on election turnout and results
• Understanding causes and solutions for political polarization
• Evaluating election financing regulations and reform
• Influence of special interest groups on public policies
• Pros/cons of congressional term limit proposals
• Impact of gerrymandering on democratic representation

Arts and Humanities

• Portrayals of mental illness in contemporary young adult fiction
• The evolution of antiheroes in television and film
• Cultural trends in modern memes and online communities
• Digitization of literature and impacts on reading habits
• Diversity and inclusion issues in children’s entertainment media
• Cultural appropriation in fashion, music, and the arts
• Spreading ideas through hip-hop, rap, and youth activism
• Tracing LGBTQ+ rights through different eras of history
• Analyzing propaganda use in historical political movements

Philosophy and Ethics

• Ethical considerations in artificial intelligence development
• Utilitarianism vs. deontological ethics: Approaches to moral decision-making
• Bioethics: Balancing medical advancements with ethical concerns
• Environmental ethics: Responsibilities towards future generations
• Virtue ethics: Cultivating character for ethical living
• Animal rights and welfare: Ethical considerations in human-animal relationships
• Ethical implications of emerging biotechnologies
• The ethics of war: Just war theory and international conflicts
• Cultural relativism vs. universal human rights: Debates in ethical philosophy
• Ethical implications of big data analytics: Privacy and autonomy concerns

Engineering and Design

• Sustainable architecture: Designing for environmental efficiency
• Human-centered design: Creating products and systems for user needs
• Transportation infrastructure: Innovations for efficiency and safety
• Biomechanics: Understanding human movement for design applications
• Design thinking in business: Applying creative problem-solving methodologies
• Aerospace engineering: Advances in aircraft and spacecraft design
• Materials science: Innovations in materials for engineering applications
• Ergonomics: Designing for human comfort and efficiency
• Urban planning: Creating livable and sustainable cities
• Robotics: Applications in industry, healthcare, and beyond

Media and Communication

• Media literacy education: Empowering critical thinking skills
• Digital journalism: Challenges and opportunities in the digital age
• Social media influencers: Impact on consumer behavior and trends
• Advertising ethics: Balancing persuasive communication with truthfulness
• Film and television representations of marginalized communities
• Public relations strategies: Managing organizational reputation
• Online communities: Building connections in a digital world
• Gaming culture : Community dynamics and identity formation
• Podcasting: Trends and influences in the podcasting industry
• Crisis communication: Strategies for effective communication during emergencies

Resources for Finding AP Research Topics

Here are some helpful resources for finding AP Research topic ideas:

• Your interests – Consider what subjects fascinate you or issues you care deeply about. Those make great topics.
• AP Research topic lists – There are lists online of ideas organized by subject that can spark ideas.
• Academic journals – Skim through journals in your field of interest for the latest research trends and ideas.
• Newspapers/magazines – Reading current events can inspire socially relevant topics to explore.
• Your teachers – Talk to teachers about their areas of expertise and ideas that intrigue them.
• Family/friends – People you know may have fresh perspectives on what to study.
• Databases – Library and academic databases have millions of studies to browse for ideas.
• Google Scholar – Search here for academic articles on potential research topics.
• Google News – Get updated on the latest discoveries and news that could lead to ideas.
• Your future major/career – Consider aligning your research with your future academic and career goals.

Is AP Research Harder Than AP Seminar?

Here is a simple overview of how AP Research compares to AP Seminar in terms of difficulty:

AP Seminar:

• Focuses on research skills like analyzing sources, developing arguments, and presenting findings.
• Involves shorter research assignments, essays, and presentations.
• Allows collaboration with classmates on projects.
• Teachers provide more structure and guidance.

AP Research:

• Focuses on conducting independent, in-depth academic Research.
• Requires a year-long research project done individually.
• Less scaffolding – students work more independently.
• Involves deeper statistical analysis and methodology.
• Culminates in a 5000-word academic paper.

Overall, AP Research is considered more difficult and demanding than AP Seminar. The projects are more complex, completed individually, and require advanced research skills. However, AP Seminar helps build critical foundations needed for AP Research. Students can successfully step up to the greater rigor of Research with hard work.

Final Remarks

To wrap up, choosing an AP Research topic is essential to doing well on your research project. We discussed important things like understanding the guidelines, looking into different categories, and avoiding common mistakes.

Remember, your topic should match your interests, be possible to research, and have a unique point of view. Use the resources, ask teachers for help, and don’t be afraid to ask questions. Starting early and doing thorough research will set you up for success.

So, take your time, explore different options, and pick a topic you feel excited about. With hard work and a good topic pick, you’ll start a rewarding journey of exploring, learning, and discovering in AP Research. Good luck with your research!

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151+ AP Seminar Research Topics [Updated 2024]

The Advanced Placement (AP) Seminar course is a unique and intellectually stimulating journey that challenges students to explore diverse areas of knowledge and develop critical thinking skills. One of the pivotal aspects of this course is the selection of an appropriate research topic, a decision that shapes the entire research process and presentation. In this blog post, we will delve into the intricacies of choosing AP Seminar research topics, exploring categories, offering examples, and providing guidance on the research process and presentation.

Selecting AP Seminar Research Topics

Table of Contents

Understanding the AP Seminar course is the first step towards choosing a suitable research topic. AP Seminar is designed to foster interdisciplinary thinking, encouraging students to synthesize information from various sources and present their findings coherently. 

To choose a compelling research topic, students should consider their personal interests and passions, as well as current events and issues. It’s essential to explore different areas of study to find a topic that aligns with both the course objectives and the student’s intellectual curiosity.

151+ AP Seminar Research Topics: Category-Wise

• Technology and Society: Analyzing the Influence of Augmented Reality on User Perception.
• Sociology: Examining the Impact of Social Media on Body Positivity Movements.
• Psychology: Investigating the Connection Between Mindfulness Practices and Stress Reduction.
• Political Science: Analyzing the Role of International Aid in Addressing Global Humanitarian Crises.
• Literature: Exploring the Representation of Identity and Belonging in Immigrant Literature.
• History: Investigating the Societal Changes Resulting from a Historical Cultural Renaissance.
• Philosophy: Analyzing the Ethical Implications of Human Cloning for Organ Transplants.
• Biology: Exploring the Interconnectedness of Ecosystems Through Keystone Species.
• Chemistry: Investigating Sustainable Practices in the Synthesis of Green Fuels.
• Physics: Analyzing the Applications of Quantum Computing in Cryptography.
• Environmental Studies: Examining the Impact of E-waste on Global Environmental Health.
• Global Health: Investigating the Cultural Factors Affecting Mental Health Stigma in Different Societies.
• Technology and Society: Analyzing the Ethical Considerations of Biometric Data Usage in Education.
• Sociology: Exploring the Influence of Social Media on Cultural Perceptions of Beauty.
• Psychology: Investigating the Impact of Parental Involvement on Child Academic Success.
• Political Science: Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Shaping Political Campaigns.
• Literature: Examining the Depiction of Social Inequality in Dystopian Fiction.
• History: Investigating the Societal Impact of a Historical Pandemic on Healthcare Systems.
• Philosophy: Analyzing the Ethical Considerations of Genetic Enhancement for Athletic Performance.
• Biology: Exploring the Ecological Effects of Urbanization on Bird Migration Patterns.
• Chemistry: Investigating Sustainable Practices in the Production of Biodegradable Plastics.
• Physics: Analyzing the Applications of Quantum Sensors in Environmental Monitoring.
• Environmental Studies: Examining the Impact of Noise Pollution on Wildlife Behavior.
• Global Health: Investigating Cultural Practices Affecting Healthcare-seeking Behavior Among Elderly Populations.
• Technology and Society: Analyzing the Ethical Implications of Facial Recognition Technology in Law Enforcement.
• Sociology: Examining the Impact of Social Media on Political Participation Among Young Adults.
• Psychology: Investigating the Relationship Between Social Isolation and Mental Health.
• Political Science: Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Perception of Political Leaders.
• Literature: Exploring the Representation of Mental Health Challenges in Contemporary Poetry.
• History: Investigating the Economic Consequences of a Historical Economic Depression.
• Philosophy: Analyzing the Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence in Autonomous Vehicles.
• Biology: Exploring the Ecological Importance of Rainforest Biodiversity.
• Chemistry: Investigating Sustainable Practices in the Production of Solar Cells.
• Physics: Analyzing the Applications of Quantum Cryptography in Ensuring Data Security.
• Environmental Studies: Examining the Impact of Microplastics on Aquatic Ecosystems.
• Global Health: Investigating Cultural Perceptions of Mental Health Medication.
• Technology and Society: Analyzing the Ethical Considerations of Genetic Testing for Intelligence.
• Sociology: Exploring the Influence of Social Media on Youth Activism.
• Psychology: Investigating the Impact of Music on Cognitive Performance.
• Political Science: Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Opinion on Climate Change.
• Literature: Examining the Representation of Cultural Identity in Postcolonial Literature.
• History: Investigating the Social and Cultural Changes During a Historical Industrial Revolution.
• Philosophy: Analyzing the Ethical Considerations of Animal Testing in Scientific Research.
• Biology: Exploring the Ecological Effects of Coral Reef Decline on Marine Ecosystems.
• Chemistry: Investigating Sustainable Practices in the Synthesis of Antibiotics.
• Physics: Analyzing the Applications of Quantum Teleportation in Information Transfer.
• Environmental Studies: Examining the Impact of Air Quality on Human Respiratory Health.
• Global Health: Investigating Cultural Beliefs Affecting Maternal Nutrition and Child Development.
• Technology and Society: Analyzing the Ethical Implications of Social Media Algorithms in Political Discourse.
• Sociology: Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Adolescent Peer Relationships.
• Psychology: Investigating the Relationship Between Video Games and Aggressive Behavior.
• Political Science: Analyzing the Role of Social Media in Shaping Public Opinion on Immigration.
• Literature: Examining the Depiction of Social Justice in Contemporary Fiction.
• History: Investigating the Societal Impact of a Historical Scientific Discovery.
• Philosophy: Analyzing the Ethical Implications of Biotechnology in Agriculture.
• Biology: Exploring the Relationship Between Genetics and Athletic Performance.
• Chemistry: Investigating the Environmental Impact of Pesticide Use in Agriculture.
• Physics: Analyzing the Applications of Quantum Mechanics in Information Technology.
• Environmental Studies: Examining the Effects of Ocean Acidification on Marine Ecosystems.
• Global Health: Investigating the Socioeconomic Factors Affecting Access to Vaccines.
• Technology and Society: Analyzing the Impact of Social Media on Democracy.
• Sociology: Exploring the Influence of Social Media on Youth Culture.
• Psychology: Investigating the Connection Between Nature Exposure and Mental Well-being.
• Political Science: Analyzing the Role of Political Cartoons in Shaping Public Opinion.
• Literature: Examining the Depiction of Social Injustice in Contemporary Fiction.
• History: Investigating the Economic Causes of a Historical Revolution.
• Philosophy: Analyzing the Ethical Implications of Genetic Modification in Agriculture.
• Biology: Exploring the Ecological Impact of Invasive Species in Ecosystems.
• Chemistry: Investigating Sustainable Practices in Alternative Energy Production.
• Physics: Analyzing the Applications of Nanotechnology in Medicine.
• Environmental Studies: Examining the Impact of Waste Management Practices on Ecosystem Health.
• Global Health: Investigating Cultural Beliefs Affecting Health-seeking Behavior.
• Technology and Society: Analyzing the Ethical Considerations of Biometric Surveillance in Public Spaces.
• Sociology: Exploring the Impact of Social Media on Cross-cultural Communication.
• Psychology: Investigating the Relationship Between Technology Use and Stress Levels.
• Political Science: Analyzing the Role of International Treaties in Addressing Climate Change.
• Literature: Examining the Representation of Diversity in Contemporary Young Adult Literature.
• History: Investigating the Cultural and Social Changes Following a Historical War.
• Philosophy: Analyzing the Ethical Implications of Human Genetic Enhancement.
• Biology: Exploring the Ecological Importance of Wetland Ecosystems.
• Chemistry: Investigating Sustainable Practices in the Textile Industry.
• Physics: Analyzing the Applications of Quantum Entanglement in Communication.
• Environmental Studies: Examining the Impact of Industrial Agriculture on Soil Health.
• Global Health: Investigating Cultural Perceptions of Mental Health and Treatment.
• Technology and Society: Analyzing the Ethical Implications of Autonomous Vehicles.
• Sociology: Exploring the Influence of Social Media on Political Participation.
• Psychology: Investigating the Impact of Screen Time on Cognitive Development in Children.
• Political Science: Analyzing the Role of Grassroots Movements in Political Change.
• Literature: Examining the Representation of Gender Roles in Classic Literature.
• History: Investigating the Social and Cultural Changes During a Historical Renaissance.
• Philosophy: Analyzing the Ethical Considerations of Animal Cloning.
• Biology: Exploring the Ecological Effects of Coral Bleaching on Marine Ecosystems.
• Chemistry: Investigating Sustainable Practices in the Production of Organic Solvents.
• Physics: Analyzing the Applications of Superconductivity in Technology.
• Environmental Studies: Examining the Impact of Light Pollution on Nocturnal Ecosystems.
• Global Health: Investigating Cultural Practices Affecting Nutrition and Food Security.

Examples of AP Seminar Research Topics

Analyzing the impact of social media on mental health.

This topic allows students to explore the complex relationship between social media use and mental well-being. It involves examining studies, conducting surveys, and analyzing data to understand the psychological effects of social media on individuals.

Exploring the Ethics of Genetic Engineering

Genetic engineering is a rapidly evolving field with ethical implications. Students can investigate the ethical considerations surrounding gene editing, cloning, and the potential societal impacts of advancements in genetic technology.

Investigating the Influence of Historical Events on Contemporary Society

This topic invites students to explore how past events have shaped current societal norms, values, and structures. It involves a historical analysis combined with an examination of present-day implications.

Research Process in AP Seminar Research Topics

The research process in AP Seminar is a multifaceted journey that involves conducting literature reviews, collecting primary data, and analyzing findings. 

Literature reviews provide a foundation for understanding existing research on the chosen topic, while collecting primary data allows students to contribute original insights to the academic conversation. 

The analysis and interpretation of findings are crucial steps that require critical thinking skills and the ability to draw meaningful conclusions from the gathered information.

Presenting AP Seminar Research

The presentation of AP Seminar research is a significant aspect of the course, requiring students to create a compelling thesis presentation. Visual aids, such as graphs, charts, and images, should be utilized effectively to enhance the audience’s understanding of the research. 

Additionally, strong oral communication skills are essential for delivering a clear and engaging presentation. Practice and feedback from teachers and peers can greatly contribute to refining presentation skills.

Challenges and Tips for Success

While the AP Seminar course offers a rewarding experience, students may encounter challenges along the way. Common challenges include managing time effectively, overcoming writer’s block, and navigating the complexities of research methodologies. 

To address these challenges, students can implement time management strategies , seek guidance from teachers and peers, and break down the research process into manageable tasks. 

Additionally, maintaining open communication with teachers and utilizing available resources can contribute to a successful research experience.

In conclusion, selecting AP Seminar research topics is a crucial aspect of the course that requires thoughtful consideration and exploration. By understanding the course objectives, exploring personal interests, and navigating various categories, students can identify compelling research topics that align with the interdisciplinary nature of AP Seminar. 

The research process, from topic development to presentation, offers valuable opportunities for intellectual growth and the development of critical thinking skills. 

As students embark on this journey, they have the chance to contribute meaningfully to academic discourse and cultivate a passion for lifelong learning.

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170 AP Research Topics For Your Paper

As you may already know, AP Seminar is across multiple disciplines of study. It primarily explores how students can achieve critical thinking abilities through collaboration and thorough academic research. AP Seminar also helps the student understand real-world issues from different lenses.

This way, you get to understand how the world works through multiple perspectives. AP Seminar usually covers team projects, individual papers, oral presentations, and the exam at the end of the course. How do you prepare for your project, paper, or oral presentation without essential AP research paper topics?

It would help if you have AP research topics ideas and perhaps, AP research questions. You need AP seminar topics that help you develop your analytical and creative research and writing skills. You will find them in this content. However, before that, what must be found in a good AP research paper?

Characteristics of a Good AP Research Paper

Writing a good research paper requires analyzing previous academic papers and improving your knowledge about what you want to write. While writing your research paper, take notes of these:

• A Good Papers Must be Relevant in the Long Term This means you should not write on something that will no longer be relevant in two years. In other words, think about Shakespeare. Or better still, think about writing something that many other writers and researchers will reference. Your logic must have no noticeable unclear gap. Your research must also pass through a thorough assessment process to ascertain that everything in your paper is relevant to the present and the future. If you are writing something about history, you should apply logic and thought to the sources you pick and write about them.
• Backup Your Research with Valid Sources Every research paper without an external source is poor. Especially when you quote facts, your good sources make your paper appealing and worthy of application or study by different generations. Your paper must include all the facts it needs to pass each point. This is also important because having solid references means that you consulted excellent sources and adopted their information while writing your paper.
• Have Great Research Questions Research questions sometimes turn your paper around. This is because your AP research questions must be well thought of and dynamic to the issues you’re writing about. When you choose from AP seminar themes available to you or the AP research topic ideas of your choice, asking yourself questions your research will answer makes it easy to focus. Your research questions influence your research, and they make writing easy too.
• Your Research Must be Specific You can only master how to stay relevant by writing on specific issues. For example, if you want to write about coronavirus, you should not make the mistake of treating a general topic. Instead, narrow it down to your environment or a controversial issue. The Atlantic recently published a long-form essay about a hospital overwhelmed with patients. They eventually had to use their ambulances for some operations. That is an example of a research that treats a specific issue, not a generic one.
• Your Research Must be Well Structured and Concise This is perhaps the most critical part of your work. If you have an excellent paper, it will only reflect when you have a great structure. As you know, your paper must have an introduction, the main body, and the conclusion.

The introduction is where you discuss the general concepts and the target of your paper. You can also discuss why it is essential to examine the topic; this could be your problem statement. Your main body is where you disassemble and reassemble your facts, make your arguments, and pass your message. Note that you will answer all your research questions in this section, which is why the section is most important while writing a paper. It will help if you back every fact up with solid references. Your conclusion is where you sum everything you’ve raised and discussed. You may attach a quick call to action to the necessary authorities, depending on what you’ve written. However, if you have just sensitized your readers with your project, your conclusion should end with a perfect sentence or paragraphs that stays with your readers.

Now that you know all these, consider these AP seminar research paper topics for your project, paper, or oral presentation. On the other hand, remember you can buy thesis online from our professional helpers team and never worry about your grades.

AP Seminar Themes

AP Seminar themes are the usual subject of discourse that often appear in any AP Seminar. These themes unite all the courses you study during your one year long course. You can consider these AP research topics:

• The ethics of algorithms on social media
• Controversial supreme court ruling based on public opinion
• Environmental injustice and consequences on real estate
• The challenges of typo errors
• Overview of genetics
• The cause of food waste
• Universal adult suffrage and the fault in the system
• #MeToo movement and the challenges
• The issues on wealth inequality
• Agree or disagree with Francis Fukuyama’s The End of History.”
• Social class exists in communist societies
• Communism is the feasible system of the future
• Art and education
• Music and education
• The significance of entertainment in the workplace.

AP Seminar Topics

These are direct AP seminar research topics that you can use for your paper. The best topics are often intriguing enough to impress your teachers for your dissertation or thesis. You can use these to create the perfect paper:

• Food waste management in Ukraine
• How the naval power of China is not enough over Taiwan and its allies
• Low lying islands and global warming
• The differences in Chinese GDP between 1978 and 2020
• How global warming affects countries that contribute less to it
• The rise in the creation of energy-efficient cars
• Genetically modified plants ruin nature: discuss
• Pesticides cause more harm than good: discuss
• Saving money in college is underrated
• Significance of electric cars to the future
• A study on three robots and the prospects for the future workplace
• Gun control is impossible: discuss
• Intensive farming may not end hunger: discuss
• Examine the output of three countries and their wealth
• How much has the world achieved gender equality?
• Discuss why the demand for tech is a challenging issue
• Compare and contrast the labor market in the US and Germany
• Would you say China is the superpower of sustainable batteries
• Study the rising sectors in the world and their consequences
• Will petroleum, not batteries, be vital in 2030?
• Homework is overrated
• What are the controversies around the statement “I am self-taught.”
• Significance of noise pollution
• Quantum entanglement: discuss
• China and its tech products
• UK and software growth
• Is Africa forgotten?
• Challenges between black Americans and African Americans
• Aside from COVID-19 and omicron, what are globally threatening issues?
• Abortion is unethical: discuss.

AP Research Topic Ideas

As a research student, you may also want to consider good ideas to develop for your paper. Your AP research topic ideas must aid your analytical skills. It should also help you create interesting perspectives about issues. You can consider:

• How the ozone layer protects the planet
• The best way to address global warming
• A study of Elon Musk’s education system
• A study of the Swiss educational system
• Challenges of education in the UK
• Challenges on education in the US
• Study how prison changes people
• Discuss recent aquatic discoveries
• How to answer to Brazil’s deforestation
• The effects of deforestation on global health
• The rise and evolution of taxes
• Is the US the world police?
• Trace world religions: is there a peaceful religion?
• Discuss how Jews weaponized the Holocaust narrative in Palestine
• Discuss why some courses are compulsory
• Examine the problem with obesity
• Discuss what it means to be in denial
• Analyze US’s withdrawal from Afghanistan
• Human right over national security: discuss
• Is the EU sustainable?
• Discuss the activities of CNN’s Jeff Zucker
• Why is history important?
• Is philosophy a foundational discipline for all disciplines?
• Examine measures to prevent a WWIII
• Lessons from the failure of Right 2 Respond in Syria
• Discuss the challenges of mandatory service
• Was the Cold War indeed a cold war?
• What does the world know about Antarctica?
• Debt diplomacy: discuss
• An overview of terrorism.

AP World History Research Paper Topics

World history can be broad yet interesting. World history is interesting when you apply rational thought and philosophy into the aspects of the past that matter and those that don’t. These are some good AP world history research paper topics:

• Effects of the industrial revolution
• The evolution of German industries
• The Crusaders are the same as the Jihads: discuss
• The struggle for democracy
• French revolution and consequences on Europe
• The US independence and consequences on Europe
• The decolonization of Europe led to the colonization of Africa
• British imperialism and challenges
• Mongols and relevance in history
• What are the similarities and differences in the civilizations of Ancient Egypt and Mesopotamia
• Discuss the hegemony of the Ottoman Empire
• Discuss the evolution of contemporary politics
• Examine history and religion
• How Hitler could have won WWII
• How Asia changed post-WWI
• The symbols in Ancient Egypt
• The symbols in Mesopotamia civilization
• How agricultural revolution affect the world
• The rise of industries in Japan
• The growth of armament and present challenges
• Water challenges in the Middle East
• The Middle East is a vital region to the globe: discuss
• Would you say Muammar Gaddafi of Libya was a great leader?
• Examine the disunity in the Arab League
• Mortification in Ancient Egypt
• The Jews and the world
• The cyclical nature of history
• Sexual revolution and trends
• Nudity and its politics
• Child trafficking in India.

AP US History Research Paper Topics

To engage in more direct research, you may want to integrate your thoughts into interesting AP research topics. These are topics about current and past events in US history:

• Differences between presidents Trump and Clinton
• The US and the Great Depression
• US interference in the Suez Canal crisis
• US foreign policy to Libya under Gaddafi
• The US before and after 9/11
• Religions of the Native Americans
• The fiction in Salem Witch Trials
• Women’s role in America’s independence
• Women’s role in the Renaissance Europe
• Sexual revolution as feminism
• Industrial revolution in America
• The causes of slavery in the Americas
• America will always fight wars: discuss
• The reasons why America built up its armies
• The evolution of labor unions in America
• An overview of the Cuban Missile Crisis
• The US and social media policy
• US and gender inequality
• Corruption in the US
• Gangsterism in the US
• George Floyd and the consequences of his death
• The effects of the Mississippi River Flood
• CIA and the murder of Congolese Patrice Lumumba: justifiable?
• Ideological challenges in US history
• Indigenous technology in the American Civil War
• The effect of Hurricane Katrina
• An overview of a mass shooting in any location of your choice
• Environmental crisis in the US
• Was the Cold War necessary?
• Criticize the bombing of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.

AP Capstone Research Topics

AP Capstone involves the assessment and overview of all the courses during your AP Seminar. It examines your knowledge of different theories and how you can apply them. You can choose these topics for your paper:

• The US and its ethnicities
• US and religious duplicity
• Vaccines and their benefits in the US
• How does the US control the UN
• Bullying and its impacts
• How social media affects students
• Food insecurity and challenges of the contemporary world
• The future of the automobile
• The future of automation
• Does Elon Musk do something similar to Mark Zuckerberg?
• Extreme sports: what’s the thrill?
• The history of vaccines
• Is America truly democratic
• Discuss the overaction of lawmakers on the Janet Jackson Superbowl performance saga
• Is the UN a toothless bulldog?

AP Biology Research Topics

Biology is an integral part of the world and a relevant course in your AP Seminar. You can choose to discuss any of the following interesting topics:

• Critically analyze how the human body works.
• Discuss the correlation between the way Ancient Egyptians preserved their dead and the way it is done today
• How has the research and writings of the Romantic Era achieved some changes in the biology of contemporary society?
• What is the most common thing that weakens the human immune system?
• The HIV/AIDS epidemic and the vulnerability of the human society
• The scientists’ struggle in preventing the spread of the virus before, during, and after COVID-19
• Assess the importance of genetics, if any, in the creation of robots with emotional abilities like humans
• Assess how stress affects the immune system and how a strenuous activity as sex helps ease stress
• Speak with any five persons and evaluate why some people have refused to take the COVID-19 vaccine
• Discuss how bacteria affect the body and its consequences
• Evaluate how animals communicate
• Trace the evolution and trends in the discovery that the heart controls human life, not the brain
• A study of how white blood cells work and fight diseases
• Should DNA tests be made accessible for the public?
• Cell division and how to teach how it works to pupils
• Examine the process of photosynthesis on plants
• The trends and discoveries of cancer treatments
• Read five pieces of literature on different perspectives on genetics and appraise them.
• Analyze how the red blood cells convey oxygen
• Appraise the structure of the human body.

Don’t Want To Write Your Paper Yourself?

Now that you have the best AP research topics, you can create an interesting paper. However, if you need help with dissertation or college thesis, we offer thesis writing service that will wow your professors.

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Big Idea 1 Overview: Question and Explore

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Identifying a problem or issue and developing a question about it

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Finding and organizing the information you need to answer the question

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written by Minna Chow

Reading critically for a purpose

Explaining and analyzing the line of reasoning of an argument

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Assessing potential resolutions, conclusions, or solutions raised by an argument

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Identifying, comparing, and interpreting different perspectives on, or arguments about, an issue

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Formulating a well-reasoned argument

17 min read

Using data and information from various sources to develop and support an argument

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Presenting an argument for context, purpose, and/or audience

11 min read

Reflecting on one’s own and others’ writing, thinking, and creative processes

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125 Best Research Paper Topics of 2021

When you get into high school, you are not aware of the number of responsibilities you might have to face over your academics, making you feel clogged and exhausted, especially when writing and submitting research papers on time.

One of the most challenging parts of writing a research paper is to find a perfect topic to write. Luckily, we have done all the hard work for you and have created a list of 125 fascinating research paper topics.

For your further convenience, we have organized the topics into different categories covering a wide range of subjects so you can easily choose the best topic according to your interest and knowledge.

Besides the list of good research topics, I have also talked about selecting a good research topic and how you can use your subject to start writing an excellent paper.

How to Select a Perfect Research Paper Topic?

Before you start writing, you need to make sure you choose a great topic. Below mentioned are the three crucial factors to contemplate before selecting the best research paper topics.

Choosing a field, you are interested in

It is difficult to find a research paper topic because most high-school students are confused about selecting their major. However, you can always select an area of interest.

There are always specific research topics on trending. Many people seem interested in writing about the buzzing topics; never feel tempted or go with the crowd and make it your subject unless you genuinely have some interest in it.

There is enough information to foster your research.

Once you have chosen the best research paper topic and you're happy to write about it, it is still challenging to produce a good paper if there isn't enough information about the subject. 

This is possible for very particular or specialized topics, and sometimes some topics are too new to have enough research conducted on them at the moment. Simple topics will always have more than enough information to write a full-length paper. Writing a research paper on a topic that does not have enough information is extremely hard. Before you take up a topic, do primary research and make sure you have all the essential information to write your research paper.

The research paper fits your teacher guidelines. 

Always note down any specific requirements or restrictions your teacher may have implemented on some research topic ideas. If you are writing a research paper on a political science topic, deciding to write about technology’s impact on sports won’t be allowed. Still, there can be some sort of flexibility.

For example, if you want to write about the “Portrayal of minorities by Media” and your teacher wants you to write about “History,” you can combine both topics and develop something relevant. Like “How the portrayal of minorities by media go a long way back.” You can also use companies, like do my essay , to help you write your research paper.

For your convenience, we have organized the topics into different categories. It will also make it easier to find the type of research paper topics you're looking for.

Simple research paper topics

• How important is diversity within the team, and why?
• What makes one sport more accepted than another?
• How would the world be different without the discoveries of Albert Einstein?
• Rise of anime; what made anime admired worldwide?
• Is the traditional music of a country foremost than the international music that is popular around the world?
• What causes people to change their leisure time activities as they get older?
• What is the best way to deal with procrastination?
• What are hobbies more favored with children and adults in your area?
• Are there hobbies you can easily do in your own country but not so comfortable when you go to another country? Why?
• What are stereotypes of people from your country, and how true are those?

Interesting research paper topics

• How true is it that older people are wiser and correct, always right in their choices?
• Can technology cause a gap between generations?
• How different are friendships between men from friendships between women, and why?
• Can amusement parks have an educational motive aside from an entertaining one? 
• What things make people in your country happy?
• What are the pros and cons of plastic surgery?
• Does beauty, in general, decide how much a person will be happy and successful in life?
• What other common sayings such as “Actions speak louder than words” exist in your language, and what life lessons they teach?
• What makes Nordic regions happier and more prosperous than others?
• Ways to communicate better with family, friends, colleagues, and strangers?

Controversial topics for research paper

These topics might stimulate terrible responses from some people because most of these subjects are controversial and are likely to raise some issues. Be careful before writing about such topics.

• What is the context of all terrorist attacks in the world?
• How to deal with a large number of immigrants?
• How to prevent a rise in the number of homeless children?
• What is the proper punishment for serial killers and rapists?
• Will religion survive the future? Explain

Aggressive research topics

• Are video games the reason for more antisocial people?
• What makes communism the best political system in the world?
• How will a rise in the minimum wage help increase economic mobility?
• Should steroids be allowed in sports?
• What can things be done on an individual level to prevent cyberbullying?

Research topics by different fields of study

In different fields of study, you can tell your brain to perform innovatively. Here, you can carry out extensive research to put forward new opinions.

• What were the devastating impacts of British rule in India ? 
• What events led to the fall of the Roman Empire?
• Was it necessary to bomb Hiroshima and Nagasaki?
• Who was responsible for the Iran-Contra situation ? 
• What caused the Soviet Union to invade Afghanistan ?
• What are the important events in the history of Latin America? 
• How did Greece become a huge philosophical hub in ancient times?
• How did people study foreign languages before the 19th century?
• Who profited the most from wars in the Middle Ages?
• What caused Hitler's rise to power?

Sample History research papers

Environment 

• How deadly is the Earth’s climate change in the past few decades?
• How have previous oil spills changed regulations and cleaning methods?
• Make a detailed analysis of deforestation rates globally over a while.
• Impacts of Paris Climate Agreement on environment
• How to improve access to clean water around the world?
• Should developed countries rely more on nuclear energy?
• What to do to save amphibian species which are presently at risk of extinction?
• What impacts has climate change had on coral reefs?
• How are black holes created?
• Why has the number of natural disasters increased in the past few decades?

Sample Environment research papers 

• What can health issues be caused by emotional stress?
• What are the most effective ways to treat depression ?
• What are the advantages and drawbacks of the Keto diet?
• How do the healthcare plans of different countries vary from each other?
• How to lower blood pressure using natural herbs?
• Is it appropriate for parents to skip vaccination?
• How can you encourage obese people to change their lifestyles?
• What are the cons of genetically modified foods?
• Explain the history and impact of the HIV/AIDS epidemic.
• How much work out/ exercise should the average adult be getting each week?

Sample Health research papers

• How is business etiquette changed in the past decade?
• How can the understanding of culture change the way you do business?
• Who are the exceptional businessmen in the 21st century?
• Who are the exceptional businesswomen in the 21st century?
• What are the traits of team leaders, and how to become one?
• Why is the cause in the rise of the popularity of stock markets?
• What are the pros and cons of an all-female working environment?
• The difference in Islamic banking systems from traditional ones?
• What are the effects of gold and diamonds on the economy?
• How do offshore bank accounts work – the case of Panama papers?
• Analyze the history and future of self-driving vehicles.
• How the invention of drones changed surveillance and warfare methods?
• Why has social media made people less connected to reality?
• Rise of Artificial Intelligence? Explain
• Do smartphones improve or reduce workplace productivity?
• What are the most effective ways to use technology in the classroom?
• How is social media manipulating and causing depression?
• What is the history behind the Internet of Things?
• Can everything be solar-powered?
• What is the distinction between open and closed systems?

Sample Technology research papers

• Why did we stop believing in multiple gods?
• Are religion and spirituality connected?
• What is Karma?
• Why are teenagers less religious than older people?
• How are terrorist attacks affecting religion? 
• What are the new ideologies becoming popular?
• How are Hinduism, Buddhism, and Jainism connected?
• Teachings of Hinduism (you can choose any religion)
• What influence do religions have on the perception of right and wrong?
• Can other religions help to change the view of women in Arabic cultures?

Social Media

• Are social media making us lonely, empty from the inside, and unsociable?
• How to protect children online?
• What are some techniques to identify pedophiles on social media?
• Why do people have the want to post everything online?
• How to prevent cyber-bullying?
• Can LinkedIn help people find jobs or further education?
• How to make a break from social media?
• Why are more adolescent generations obsessed with the number of followers and likes?
• How bad is social media addiction?
• Who are world-famous influencers on social media?
• What is causing the rise in popularity of classical music?
• Why are world-famous musicians more prone to become drug abusers?
• History and the rise of hip-hop culture
• Why do people listen to sad music when they do not feel good?
• What happens to your mind when you listen to 432 HZ frequency music?
• How is the US education system different from the education systems in other countries?
• Impact of college debt on the future life choices of students?
• What benefits do physical education classes have on students' health?
• Do children who attend preschool excel in school in the future?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of the Montessori Method ?
• Do students learn better in same-sex classrooms?
• Do students who get free meals at school get higher grades than those who do not receive any free meal?
• Impact of technology on studies
• What was the impact of the No Child Left Behind act?
• Homeschoolers VS Traditional school; who performs better in the college 

Current Affairs

• How have the motives of feminists changed over the decades?
• What are the impacts of China’s one-child policy?
• What factors gave rise to the current decline in the rate of unemployment?
• Difference between US immigration laws and immigration laws of other countries
• Explain the history of the relationship between the United States and North Korea.
• Explain Brexit
• What factors contributed to China becoming a superpower?
• How has the “Black Lives Matter” movement affected the view about racism in the world?
• How will India become a superpower in 2050?
• History and rise of Bitcoin and another cryptocurrency 

Conclusion 

Make sure to do your research before you start writing. You do not have to make a mistake to start writing your research paper and then learn that there is not enough information to foster your research. 

In some cases, your research can contradict the points you are trying to explain. Get most of your research done before your start writing. Create an outline to understand your flow. This will help keep your paper clear and structured, and you will get clarity to produce a strong report.

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100+ Best AP Seminar Topics

Are you an AP seminar student? It is just one of the most intriguing and exciting training courses because it trains students to identify problems of interest and create the appropriate solutions. Nevertheless, I will certainly need you to prepare the last paper at the end of the year-long course, as well as this is never easy. Let’s go and read more about AP Seminar topics.

The first challenge in preparing an insightful paper that can assist you to stand out in your class is picking an excellent topic. Well, this is never very easy for lots of students.

Besides the problem in choosing the right subject, some trainees find preparing a terrific AP research paper testing because of various other involvements, tight target dates, and inadequate writing abilities. To aid you out, our research nerds have prepared 150 AP seminar topics that you can use to prepare the very best paper. 

What Is AP Workshop?

Before we consider the leading AP seminar research papers, let’s begin by developing the training course.

AP workshop is a 1-year training course that requires learners to undertake thorough examinations of a world issue using various points of view. The course focuses on aiding students to learn exactly how to collect details regarding the problem or issue from several resources and express their point of view in created essays.

Here are the essential things covered in an AP seminar topics course:

Private paper.

Public speaking.

End-of-course test.

An AP workshop certificate can be an incredible addition to your academic certifications collection. Therefore, it is vital to guarantee you obtain the best grades. Allow’s along with essay writers from  CustomWritings.com  begin with the best subjects.

Easy AP Topics

• What is the most effective way to take care of food waste in the UK?
• Go over genetically customized plants.
• Review the impact of using chemicals on the atmosphere.
• Review the growth of GDP in China between 1979 and 2022.
• Reviewing the role played by art in modern education and learning.
• What are the results of global warming in low-lying islands?
• Is the problem of worldwide warming impossible to manage?
• Ten best methods to save money when in university.
• The effect of international warming on water bodies.
• How to leave debts.
• What are the benefits of using electric vehicles in culture?
• Why has the issue of gun control been so challenging to deal with in the United States?
• The partnership in between intensive farming as well as water air pollution?
• Usual reasons for environmental pollution.
• Is solar a lasting choice to a nonrenewable fuel source for commercial manufacturing?

Physics AP Seminar Topics Suggestions

• Evaluating quantum complexity.
• A testimonial of the merged concept.
• Can you evaluate the energy system of your selection and its usage in the EU?
• I am reviewing the practical application of biophysics.
• You are comparing dark issue concepts.
• Comparison of the various kinds of pressures.
• Describe the significant kinds of thermodynamic procedures.
• We are analyzing the connection between items when in constricted motion.
• Magnet fields: Exactly how do they connect to electrical energy?
• Induction stoves: Exactly how do they function?
• How do sound waves take a trip?
• I am reviewing the residential or commercial properties of audio.

Easy AP Study Concepts For Pupils

• What function does the o-zone layer play in protecting the planet?
• Conserving the turtles.
• What are the best methods for resolving international warming?
• A review of the approaches adopted by UNEP to deal with global warming.
• Reviewing the main concerns in the UK education system.
• Conserving the salted crocodile in Australia.
• Is IUCN doing enough to attend to the issue of variety loss around the globe?
• An evaluation of Brazil’s efforts to attend to the issue of deforestation.
• Eco-friendly tourism in Costa Rica.
• What are the modern concerns driving the trouble of weight problems?
• How is the United States attending to the issue of weight problems? Are the initiatives ample?
• United States withdrawal from Afghanistan: Was the move justified?
• Examining the strategies of the UN to stay clear of WWIII: Are they adequate?

Distinct AP Research Study Topics

• Evaluating the effects of texting on college student performance.
• Why is math a critical demand for room expedition?
• Genetically modified food: What troubles do they pose to humans and animals?
• Lessons from WWI and WWI: Just how prepared is the globe in protecting against the danger of WWII?
• Should the army be a necessary solution for all university learners?
• Cold War or WWI: Which had more influences?
• Identifying excellent practices that help enhance the health of individuals in the world.
• Feline or canines: Which is better?
• What are the best strategies for enhancing your qualities as a trainee?
• What are the oldest settlements in Europe?
• Is Facebook an excellent location to market a new business’s products?
• Should advertisements on alcohol be banned?
• Talk about the country location in Antarctica.
• Looking into the historical geography of Hawaii.
• What are your thoughts concerning the existing rapid development of room tourists?

Interesting AP Research Topics

• A review of all faiths in the USA.
• In what circumstances can foreign interventions be justified?
• Examining the histories as well as influences of vaccines on ten significant conditions.
• Should all individuals around the world end up being vegetarian?
• The best approaches you can use to reduce bullying in senior high school and colleges.
• Bullying in institutions: Exactly how can we lower it?
• Assessing the future of the vehicle sector.
• What effects do social networks carry on young adults in the UK?
• Are extreme sports worth the threat?
• Contrasting the US and China food security techniques.
• Enforced democracy in Africa: What are the ramifications?
• How efficiently has the UN played its function in promoting worldwide tranquillity?
• Are global sportspersons paid too much cash?

Top AP Seminar Topics

• Communism: Is it the very best political system?
• Cannabis is prohibited in most nations: Should cigarettes be outlawed as well?
• What is the most effective way to handle student financing after graduating from university?
• The negative implications of diet programs.
• An evaluation of the most significant clinical exploration in the 21st century.
• Quitting the next pandemic on its tracks: What are the best methods?
• The delicate balance between supply and demand of technology products in the US.
• The concept of perfect competition: Is it feasible in between various nations?
• Comparing the United States as well as Chinese labour markets.
• Why do many United States businesses opt to situate their manufacturing centres in China?
• Why research needs to be banned from the institution.
• Is room producing an excellent concept?
• When should sex education begin in a student’s education life?

AP US History Research Paper Topics

• Contrasting Head Of State Expense Clinton to Head Of State Donald Trump: What lessons can we learn?
• What were the causes and effects of the Great Depression in the USA?
• Exactly how effective were the adjustments that the US made after the September 11 attack?
• Comparing the United States battles in Vietnam and also in Afghanistan.
• What was the main reason for the Cold War?
• When and also why did the United States start commemorating Halloween?
• A testimonial of the events that resulted in the US Declaration of Independence.
• A testimonial of the history of mass shootings in the United States.
• Was the United States validated to utilize Nuclear weapons in Hiroshima and Nagasaki in 1945?
• A testimonial of organized crime in American culture between the 1950s and 1860s.
• The influence of the Chicano Motion.

AP Psychology Research Study Topics

• How anxiety impacts individuals.
• The ramifications of xenophobia in a country of your selection.
• Increasing worldwide temperature levels: What are the ramifications on mental wellness?
• Use alternative medicine to treat stress and anxiety disorders.
• Reasons and treatment of trauma amongst the professionals in the United States.
• What function does the media play in advertising violence in society?
• Does taking breakfast to affect children’s academic efficiency?
• Procrastination in university: What are the best methods to manage it?
• Assessing childhood obesity in the UK: Is it linked to parental neglect?
• Fierce music and also its effect on children.
• How do people react to infractions of social standards: A closer check out London.

AP Topics In Human Geography

• A testimonial of the populace decline in Eastern Europe: What are the leading causes?
• Contrasting the population growth in China between 1950 and 2000.
• Has agriculture altered with the transforming weather patterns?
• Preparing for natural catastrophes: Exactly how did the US readiness modification after Hurricane Katrina?
• Contrasting the immigration plans of China and also the UK.
• Environmental changes and their impacts on resources.
• Information mining: Benefits and disadvantages.
• Using technology to close spaces between generations.
• Disputes in the Horn of Africa in the 21st century: The significant causes?

AP Seminar Topics and Study Questions

• What are the best methods for reducing stress and anxiety amongst college students?
• Building confidence amongst the timid students in college: What are the best strategies?
• What education and learning practices do you think need to alter in the UK?
• Are the approaches embraced to deal with learning special needs in the United States adequate?
• Cryptocurrencies versus fiat money: Which is much better?
• Are cryptocurrencies established to help collapse banks?
• Public versus private schools in the United States: Which is better?
• Why has the issue of homelessness been so challenging to resolve in the United States?
• What is the most significant obstacle that makes it challenging for startups to expand?
• What is the most effective strategy for the fast development of a firm in the UK?
• The impact of excessive reliance on smart devices.
• Comparing the advantages and also downsides of betting: Should it be prohibited?

Great AP Topics For College

• Evaluate the nationwide earnings of a European nation of choice.
• Review the unemployment prices in the UK.
• A review of the most effective job path to becoming a doctor.
• An evaluation of the worldwide trade relationships between the United States and China.
• The function of the rising cost of living in a country’s economic climate.
• Evaluating the production as well as usage of beer in the United States.
• Research the GDP growth of Japan.
• Contrast the GDP development prices of the UK and China: Where do you see both nations in the following two decades?
• What is the partnership between overfishing as well as loss of sea biodiversity?
• The very best three ways to get rid of stress in university.
• Carbohydrates versus lipids in mammals.
• Study the first occurrence of the COVID-19.
• Resolving the influence of inflation in the United States.
• What duties do banks play in a healthy economic situation?

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US drug-related infant deaths more than doubled from 2018 to 2022

A new study by Florida Atlantic University's Schmidt College of Medicine has uncovered a disturbing trend in drug-related infant deaths in the United States from 2018 to 2022.

Infant deaths are those that occur between the time a child is born and age 1. Drug-involved deaths are those in which drugs are either the primary cause of death or a contributing factor and may occur due to maternal drug use, inadvertent or accidental intake of specific prescriptions, illicit or non-medical use of drugs and other incidents where drugs were linked to death.

Results of the study, published in the Journal of Perinatal Medicine , show that in the U.S. from 2018 to 2022, drug-involved infant deaths more than doubled (120% increase) from 10.8% in 2018 to 24.4% in 2022. The largest increase was observed between 2019 (16.9%) and 2022 with the greatest proportion of drug-related infant deaths occurring in 2021 (25.8%). Overall, relative to all other causes of infant mortality, drug-involved deaths became more prevalent after 2019.

Findings show that drug-involved infant deaths also were higher in the postnatal period, ages 28 to 364 days (81.4%), relative to deaths due to all other causes during the same period (34.6%). The most prevalent underlying causes of death included assault (homicide) by drugs, medicaments and biological substances (35.6%) followed by poisoning from exposure to narcotics and psychodysleptics (hallucinogens) (15.6%), and accidental poisoning from exposure to antiepileptic, sedative-hypnotic, antiparkinsonism and psychotropic drugs (10.8%). The most common multiple causes of drug-involved infant deaths were psychostimulants with abuse potential of synthetic narcotics.

In addition, a significant proportion of infants who died from drug-involved causes were born to non-Hispanic white (60.4%) and non-Hispanic Black mothers (28.5%). Furthermore, drug-induced mortality was 56.5% in male infants and 43.7% in female infants, a difference which also was statistically significant.

"The differences we observed by race/ethnicity in drug-involved deaths, predominantly among non-Hispanic white and Black infants require a multifaceted approach for clinical and public health interventions," said Panagiota "Yiota" Kitsantas, Ph.D., corresponding author and professor and chair of the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. "Addressing the social determinants of health, enhancing access to addiction treatment and implementing culturally sensitive interventions may be important to prevent infant deaths in vulnerable populations. In addition, the underlying causes, which included drug-related assault and various forms of poisoning, also may be areas for clinical and public health interventions."

From 2018 to 2022, drug-involved infant deaths accounted for 1.18% of all infant deaths, a notable rise from the previously reported 0.64% from 2015 to 2017. This increase was particularly pronounced during COVID-19, raising questions that require further studies. During this period, drug overdose mortality also increased substantially among pregnant and postpartum women.

The researchers note that during COVID-19 there was reduced access to prenatal care, the emergence of health care deserts and hospital closures, especially in rural areas. These may have contributed, at least in part, to the observed increases in drug-related infant deaths, although more research is warranted.

"Given the alarming increase in the number of drug overdose deaths in the general population, especially among pregnant and postpartum women, findings from our study are both important and timely," said Maria C. Mejia, M.D., senior author and a professor of population health and social medicine, FAU Schmidt College of Medicine. "Drug-involved deaths in infants represent a potentially avoidable cause that should be considered in efforts to reduce infant mortality in the United States. Effective strategies will require collaborative efforts among health providers, public health agencies and community partners, and should focus on preventing and treating maternal substance use disorders, enhancing prenatal care access and addressing broader social and behavioral risk factors."

For the study, researchers used data from the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention's Wide-ranging Online Data for Epidemiologic Research (WONDER) and selected the period of 2018 to 2022 because 2018 was pre-COVID-19 and 2022 represents the most recent data available. Infant deaths were described by year of death, underlying cause and multiple cause of death, age of infant at time of death, gender and maternal race/ethnicity (non-Hispanic white, non-Hispanic Black, non-Hispanic, Hispanic and other race).

Study co-authors are Charles H. Hennekens, M.D., Dr.PH, first Sir Richard Doll Professor of Medicine and senior academic advisor; Sebastian Densley and Meera Rao, FAU medical students; Lea Sacca, Ph.D., an assistant professor in the Department of Population Health and Social Medicine; and Robert S. Levine, M.D., affiliate professor of medicine; all within FAU's Schmidt College of Medicine.

• Pharmacology
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• Infant's Health
• Teen Health
• Pharmaceuticals
• HIV and AIDS
• Controlled Substances
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• Drug discovery
• Drug addiction
• Nocebo - Placebo
• Sudden infant death syndrome
• Pharmaceutical company
• Premature birth

Story Source:

Materials provided by Florida Atlantic University . Original written by Gisele Galoustian. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Panagiota Kitsantas, Sebastian Densley, Meera Rao, Lea Sacca, Robert S. Levine, Charles H. Hennekens, Maria C. Mejia. Increases in drug-related infant mortality in the United States . Journal of Perinatal Medicine , 2024; 0 (0) DOI: 10.1515/jpm-2024-0067

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Halsey reveals illness, announces new album and shares new song ‘The End’

FILE - Halsey appears at the Vanity Fair Oscar Party in Beverly Hills, Calif., on March 27, 2022. (Photo by Evan Agostini/Invision/AP, File)

FILE - Halsey appears at the amfAR Cinema Against AIDS benefit during the 76th Cannes international film festival, Cap d’Antibes, southern France on May 25, 2023. (Photo by Vianney Le Caer/Invision/AP, File)

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NEW YORK (AP) — Halsey has been privately battling illness, the singer revealed Tuesday.

She shared the news on Instagram in a series of videos that appear to document the singer receiving infusions.

“Long story short, I’m lucky to be alive,” she wrote in the caption. “Short story long, I wrote an album.”

A diagnosis was not immediately clear. Representatives for Halsey did not immediately respond to The Associated Press’ request for comment.

“I feel like an old lady,” Halsey says aloud in the first video, while rubbing her legs in apparent pain. “I told myself I’m giving myself two more years to be sick. At 30, I’m having a rebirth and I’m not gonna be sick and I’m gonna look super hot and have lots of energy and I’m just gonna get to re-do my 20s in my 30s.”

The singer also released a new song on Tuesday, an acoustic guitar ballad titled “The End.”

The new album on the horizon is a follow-up to her fourth studio album, 2021’s ambitious “If I Can’t Have Love, I Want Power,” produced by Nine Inch Nails’ Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross.

According to a press release, Halsey is making a donation to both The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and the Lupus Research Alliance alongside the release of “The End.”

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• The State of the American Middle Class

Who is in it and key trends from 1970 to 2023

Table of contents.

• Acknowledgments

This report examines key changes in the economic status of the American middle class from 1970 to 2023 and its demographic attributes in 2022. The historical analysis is based on U.S. Census Bureau data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplements (ASEC) of the Current Population Survey (CPS). The demographic analysis is based on data from the American Community Survey (ACS). The data is sourced from IPUMS CPS and IPUMS USA , respectively.  

The CPS, a survey of about 60,000 households, is the U.S. government’s official source for monthly estimates of unemployment . The CPS ASEC, conducted in March each year, is the official source of U.S. government estimates of income and poverty . Our analysis of CPS data starts with the 1971 CPS ASEC, which records the incomes of households in 1970. It is also the first year for which data on race and ethnicity is available. The latest available CPS ASEC file is for 2023, which reports on household incomes in 2022.

The public-use version of the ACS is a 1% sample of the U.S. population, or more than 3 million people. This allows for a detailed study of the demographic characteristics of the middle class, including its status in U.S. metropolitan areas. But ACS data is available only from 2005 onward and is less suitable for long-term historical analyses. The latest available ACS data is for 2022.

Middle-income households are defined as those with an income that is two-thirds to double that of the U.S. median household income, after incomes have been adjusted for household size. Lower-income households have incomes less than two-thirds of the median, and upper-income households have incomes that are more than double the median. When using American Community Survey (ACS) data, incomes are also adjusted for cost of living in the areas in which households are located.

Estimates of household income are scaled to reflect a household size of three and expressed in 2023 dollars. In the Current Population Survey (CPS), household income refers to the calendar year prior to the survey year. Thus, the income data in the report refers to the 1970-2022 period, and the share of Americans in each income tier from the CPS refers to the 1971-2023 period.

The demographic attributes of Americans living in lower-, middle- or upper-income tiers are derived from ACS data. Except as noted, estimates pertain to the U.S. household population, excluding people living in group quarters.

The terms middle class and middle income are used interchangeably in this report.

White, Black, Asian, American Indian or Alaska Native, and Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander include people who identified with a single major racial group and who are not Hispanic. Multiracial includes people who identified with more than one major racial group and are not Hispanic. Hispanics are of any race.

U.S. born refers to individuals who are U.S. citizens at birth, including people born in the 50 U.S. states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico or other U.S. territories, as well as those born elsewhere to at least one parent who is a U.S. citizen. The terms foreign born and immigrant are used interchangeably in this report. They refer to people who are not U.S. citizens at birth.

Occupations describe the broad kinds of work people do on their job. For example, health care occupations include doctors, nurses, pharmacists and others who are directly engaged in the provision of health care. Industries describe the broad type of products companies produce. Each industry encompasses a variety of occupations. For example, the health care and social assistance industry provides services that are produced by a combination of doctors, managers, technology and administrative staff, food preparation workers, and workers in other occupations.

The share of Americans who are in the middle class is smaller than it used to be. In 1971, 61% of Americans lived in middle-class households. By 2023, the share had fallen to 51%, according to a new Pew Research Center analysis of government data.

As a result, Americans are more apart than before financially. From 1971 to 2023, the share of Americans who live in lower-income households increased from 27% to 30%, and the share in upper-income households increased from 11% to 19%.

Notably, the increase in the share who are upper income was greater than the increase in the share who are lower income. In that sense, these changes are also a sign of economic progress overall.

But the middle class has fallen behind on two key counts. The growth in income for the middle class since 1970 has not kept pace with the growth in income for the upper-income tier. And the share of total U.S. household income held by the middle class has plunged.

Moreover, many groups still lag in their presence in the middle- and upper-income tiers. For instance, American Indians or Alaska Natives, Black and Hispanic Americans, and people who are not married are more likely than average to be in the lower-income tier. Several metro areas in the U.S. Southwest also have high shares of residents who are in the lower-income tier, after adjusting for differences in cost of living across areas.

• Change in income
• Share of total U.S. household income
• Race and ethnicity
• Marital status
• Veteran status
• Place of birth
• Employment status
• Metropolitan area of residence

Our report focuses on the current state of the American middle class. First, we examine changes in the financial well-being of the middle class and other income tiers since 1970. This is based on data from the Annual Social and Economic Supplements (ASEC) of the Current Population Survey (CPS), conducted from 1971 to 2023.

Then, we report on the attributes of people who were more or less likely to be middle class in 2022. Our focus is on their race and ethnicity , age , gender, marital and veteran status , place of birth , ancestry , education , occupation , industry , and metropolitan area of residence . These estimates are derived from American Community Survey (ACS) data and differ slightly from the CPS-based estimates. In part, that is because incomes can be adjusted for the local area cost of living only with the ACS data. (Refer to the methodology for details on these two data sources.)

This analysis and an accompanying report on the Asian American middle class are part of a series on the status of America’s racial and ethnic groups in the U.S. middle class and other income tiers. Forthcoming analyses will focus on White, Black, Hispanic, American Indian or Alaska Native, Native Hawaiian or Pacific Islander and multiracial Americans, including subgroups within these populations. These reports are, in part, updates of previous work by the Center . But they offer much greater detail on the demographic attributes of the American middle class.

Following are some key facts about the state of the American middle class:

In our analysis, “middle-income” Americans are those living in households with an annual income that is two-thirds to double the national median household income. The income it takes to be middle income varies by household size, with smaller households requiring less to support the same lifestyle as larger households. It also varies by the local cost of living, with households in a more expensive area, such as Honolulu, needing a higher income than those in a less expensive area, such as Wichita, Kansas.

We don’t always know the area in which a household is located. In our two data sources – the Current Population Survey, Annual Social and Economic Supplement (CPS ASEC) and the American Community Survey (ACS) – only the latter provides that information, specifically the metropolitan area of a household. Thus, we aren’t able to adjust for the local cost of living when using the CPS to track changes in the status of the middle class over time. But we do adjust for the metropolitan area cost of living when using the ACS to determine the demographic attributes of the middle class in 2022.

In the 2023 CPS ASEC data , which reports income for 2022, middle-income households with three people have incomes ranging from about $61,000 to $183,000 annually. “Lower-income” households have incomes less than $61,000, and “upper-income” households have incomes greater than $183,000.

In the 2022 ACS data , middle-income households with three people have incomes ranging from about $62,000 to $187,000 annually, with incomes also adjusted for the local area cost of living. (Incomes are expressed in 2023 dollars.)

The boundaries of the income tiers also vary across years as the national median income changes.

The terms “middle income” and “middle class” are used interchangeably in this report for the sake of exposition. But being middle class can refer to more than just income , be it education level, type of profession, economic security, home ownership or social and political values. Class also could simply be a matter of self-identification .

Households in all income tiers had much higher incomes in 2022 than in 1970, after adjusting for inflation. But the gains for middle- and lower-income households were less than the gains for upper-income households .

The median income of middle-class households increased from about $66,400 in 1970 to $106,100 in 2022, or 60%. Over this period, the median income of upper-income households increased 78%, from about $144,100 to $256,900. (Incomes are scaled to a three-person household and expressed in 2023 dollars.)

The median income of lower-income households grew more slowly than that of other households, increasing from about $22,800 in 1970 to $35,300 in 2022, or 55%.

Consequently, there is now a larger gap between the incomes of upper-income households and other households. In 2022, the median income of upper-income households was 7.3 times that of lower-income households, up from 6.3 in 1970. It was 2.4 times the median income of middle-income households in 2022, up from 2.2 in 1970.

The share of total U.S. household income held by the middle class has fallen almost without fail in each decade since 1970 . In that year, middle-income households accounted for 62% of the aggregate income of all U.S. households, about the same as the share of people who lived in middle-class households.

By 2022, the middle-class share in overall household income had fallen to 43%, less than the share of the population in middle-class households (51%). Not only do a smaller share of people live in the middle class today, the incomes of middle-class households have also not risen as quickly as the incomes of upper-income households.  

Over the same period, the share of total U.S. household income held by upper-income households increased from 29% in 1970 to 48% in 2022. In part, this is because of the increase in the share of people who are in the upper-income tier.

The share of overall income held by lower-income households edged down from 10% in 1970 to 8% in 2022. This happened even though the share of people living in lower-income households increased over this period.

The share of people in the U.S. middle class varied from 46% to 55% across racial and ethnic groups in 2022. Black and Hispanic Americans, Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders, and American Indians or Alaska Natives were more likely than others to be in lower-income households .

In 2022, 39% to 47% of Americans in these four groups lived in lower-income households. In contrast, only 24% of White and Asian Americans and 31% of multiracial Americans were in the lower-income tier.

At the other end of the economic spectrum, 27% of Asian and 21% of White Americans lived in upper-income households in 2022, compared with about 10% or less of Black and Hispanic Americans, Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders, and American Indians or Alaska Natives.

Not surprisingly, lower-income status is correlated with the likelihood of living in poverty. According to the Census Bureau , the poverty rate among Black (17.1%) and Hispanic (16.9%) Americans and American Indians or Alaska Natives (25%) was greater than the rate among White and Asian Americans (8.6% for each). (The Census Bureau did not report the poverty rate for Native Hawaiians or Pacific Islanders.)

Children and adults 65 and older were more likely to live in lower-income households in 2022. Adults in the peak of their working years – ages 30 to 64 – were more likely to be upper income. In 2022, 38% of children (including teens) and 35% of adults 65 and older were lower income, compared with 26% of adults ages 30 to 44 and 23% of adults 45 to 64.

The share of people living in upper-income households ranged from 13% among children and young adults (up to age 29) to 24% among those 45 to 64. In each age group, about half or a little more were middle class in 2022.

Men were slightly more likely than women to live in middle-income households in 2022 , 53% vs. 51%. Their share in upper-income households (18%) was also somewhat greater than the share of women (16%) in upper-income households.

Marriage appears to boost the economic status of Americans. Among those who were married in 2022, eight-in-ten lived either in middle-income households (56%) or upper-income households (24%). In contrast, only about six-in-ten of those who were separated, divorced, widowed or never married were either middle class or upper income, while 37% lived in lower-income households.

Veterans were more likely than nonveterans to be middle income in 2022, 57% vs. 53%. Conversely, a higher share of nonveterans (29%) than veterans (24%) lived in lower-income households.

Immigrants – about 14% of the U.S. population in 2022 – were less likely than the U.S. born to be in the middle class and more likely to live in lower-income households. In 2022, more than a third of immigrants (36%) lived in lower-income households, compared with 29% of the U.S. born. Immigrants also trailed the U.S. born in the shares who were in the middle class, 48% vs. 53%.

There are large gaps in the economic status of American residents by their region of birth. Among people born in Asia, Europe or Oceania, 25% lived in upper-income households in 2022. People from these regions represented 7% of the U.S. population.

By comparison, only 14% of people born in Africa or South America and 6% of those born in Central America and the Caribbean were in the upper-income tier in 2022. Together they accounted for 8% of the U.S. population.

The likelihood of being in the middle class or the upper-income tier varies considerably with the ancestry of Americans. In 2022, Americans reporting South Asian ancestry were about as likely to be upper income (38%) as they were to be middle income (42%). Only 20% of Americans of South Asian origin lived in lower-income households. South Asians accounted for about 2% of the U.S. population of known origin groups in 2022.

At least with respect to the share who were lower income, this was about matched by those with Soviet, Eastern European, other Asian or Western European origins. These groups represented the majority (54%) of the population of Americans whose ancestry was known in 2022.

On the other hand, only 7% of Americans with Central and South American or other Hispanic ancestry were in the upper-income tier, and 44% were lower income. The economic statuses of Americans with Caribbean, sub-Saharan African or North American ancestry were not very different from this.

Education matters for moving into the middle class and beyond, and so do jobs. Among Americans ages 25 and older in 2022, 52% of those with a bachelor’s degree or higher level of education lived in middle-class households and another 35% lived in upper-income households.

In sharp contrast, 42% of Americans who did not graduate from high school were in the middle class, and only 5% were in the upper-income tier. Further, only 12% of college graduates were lower income, compared with 54% of those who did not complete high school.

Not surprisingly, having a job is strongly linked to movement from the lower-income tier to the middle- and upper-income tiers. Among employed American workers ages 16 and older, 58% were in the middle-income tier in 2022 and 23% were in the upper-income tier. Only 19% of employed workers were lower income, compared with 49% of unemployed Americans.

In some occupations, about nine-in-ten U.S. workers are either in the middle class or in the upper-income tier, but in some other occupations almost four-in-ten workers are lower income. More than a third (36% to 39%) of workers in computer, science and engineering, management, and business and finance occupations lived in upper-income households in 2022. About half or more were in the middle class.

But many workers – about one-third or more – in construction, transportation, food preparation and serving, and personal care and other services were in the lower-income tier in 2022.

About six-in-ten workers or more in education; protective and building maintenance services; office and administrative support; the armed forces; and maintenance, repair and production were in the middle class.

Depending on the industrial sector, anywhere from half to two-thirds of U.S. workers were in the middle class, and the share who are upper income or lower income varied greatly.

About a third of workers in the finance, insurance and real estate, information, and professional services sectors were in the upper-income tier in 2022. Nearly nine-in-ten workers (87%) in public administration – largely filling legislative functions and providing federal, state or local government services – were either in the middle class or the upper-income tier.

But nearly four-in-ten workers (38%) in accommodation and food services were lower income in 2022, along with three-in-ten workers in the retail trade and other services sectors.

The share of Americans who are in the middle class or in the upper- or lower-income tier differs across U.S. metropolitan areas. But a pattern emerges when it comes to which metro areas have the highest shares of people living in lower-, middle- or upper-income households. (We first adjust household incomes for differences in the cost of living across areas.)

The 10 metropolitan areas with the greatest shares of middle-income residents are small to midsize in population and are located mostly in the northern half of the U.S. About six-in-ten residents in these metro areas were in the middle class.

Several of these areas are in the so-called Rust Belt , namely, Wausau and Oshkosh-Neenah, both in Wisconsin; Grand Rapids-Wyoming, Michigan; and Lancaster, Pennsylvania. Two others – Dover and Olympia-Tumwater – include state capitals (Delaware and Washington, respectively).

In four of these areas – Bismarck, North Dakota, Ogden-Clearfield, Utah, Lancaster and Wausau – the share of residents in the upper-income tier ranged from 18% to 20%, about on par with the share nationally.

The 10 U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest shares of residents in the upper-income tier are mostly large, coastal communities. Topping the list is San Jose-Sunnyvale-Santa Clara, California, a technology-driven economy, in which 40% of the population lived in upper-income households in 2022. Other tech-focused areas on this list include San Francisco-Oakland-Hayward; Seattle-Tacoma-Bellevue; and Raleigh, North Carolina.

Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk, Connecticut, is a financial hub. Several areas, including Washington, D.C.-Arlington-Alexandria and Boston-Cambridge-Newton, are home to major universities, leading research facilities and the government sector.

Notably, many of these metro areas also have sizable lower-income populations. For instance, about a quarter of the populations in Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk; Trenton, New Jersey; Boston-Cambridge-Newton; and Santa Cruz-Watsonville, California, were in the lower-income tier in 2022.

Most of the 10 U.S. metropolitan areas with the highest shares of residents in the lower-income tier are in the Southwest, either on the southern border of Texas or in California’s Central Valley. The shares of people living in lower-income residents were largely similar across these areas, ranging from about 45% to 50%.

About 40% to 50% of residents in these metro areas were in the middle class, and only about one-in-ten or fewer lived in upper-income households.

Compared with the nation overall, the lower-income metro areas in Texas and California have disproportionately large Hispanic populations. The two metro areas in Louisiana – Monroe and Shreveport-Bossier City – have disproportionately large Black populations.

Note: For details on how this analysis was conducted,  refer to the methodology .

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Home News Highlights Elections AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the final presidential primaries and caucuses of 2024

AP Decision Notes: What to expect in the final presidential primaries and caucuses of 2024

FILE - In this combination of photos, President Joe Biden speaks on Aug. 10, 2023, in Salt Lake City, from left, former President Donald Trump speaks on July 8, 2023, in Las Vegas. (AP Photo, File)

WASHINGTON (AP) — After 146 days, 90 primaries and 17 caucuses in five U.S. territories, the District of Columbia and almost every state (Delaware canceled, remember?), the 2024 presidential primary calendar draws to a close with a handful of primaries on Tuesday and two Democratic caucuses on June 8.

Voters in Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota and Washington, D.C., will head to the polls Tuesday for both presidential and state primaries, while the very last votes of the presidential primary season will be cast four days later in Democratic contests in Guam and the U.S. Virgin Islands. Iowa will hold primaries on Tuesday for just state and local offices, having held its presidential contests in January and in March.

President Joe Biden, a Democrat, and former President Donald Trump, a Republican, have scored lopsided victories in every contest since securing their parties’ nominations on March 12, but both presumptive nominees have also faced persistent protest votes in several contests along the way.

Biden will again face organized campaigns in multiple states to vote for “uncommitted” in protest of the Israel-Hamas war in Gaza. In New Jersey, “uncommitted” will appear on the ballot in most counties above the phrase, “Justice For Palestine, Permanent Ceasefire Now!”

For Trump, Tuesday marks the first primaries since he became the first former American president to be convicted of felony crimes as a New York jury found him guilty of all 34 charges in a scheme to try to illegally influence the 2016 election by falsifying business records to hide a hush money payment to a porn actor. It’s also the first time since his chief rival for the 2024 nomination, former United Nations Ambassador Nikki Haley, announced that she would vote for him in November. Haley received a sizable share of the vote in some recent contests despite having ended her campaign in March. Her final appearance on a primary ballot will be in New Mexico.

Tuesday’s other key races include the Republican primary to challenge Democratic U.S. Sen. Jon Tester in Montana in what may be the most competitive contest to decide control of the chamber, as well as primaries to replace scandal-plagued Democratic U.S. Sen. Robert Menendez in New Jersey, who faces a bribery trial.

Here are the upcoming contests at a glance:

DELEGATES AT STAKE (TUESDAY) DEMOCRATS: 216.

REPUBLICANS: 12 (82 delegates in Montana, New Mexico and South Dakota are unbound per party rules).

DELEGATES AT STAKE (JUNE 8) DEMOCRATS: 14.

TUESDAY’S PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARIES (5) DEMOCRATS (5): D.C., Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota.

REPUBLICANS (4): Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota.

TUESDAY’S STATE & LOCAL PRIMARIES (6) D.C., Iowa, Montana, New Jersey, New Mexico, South Dakota.

TUESDAY’S PRIMARY TIMELINE 8 p.m. ET: All polls close in D.C. and New Jersey. Most polls close in South Dakota.

9 p.m. ET: All polls close in Iowa and New Mexico. Last polls close in South Dakota.

10 p.m. ET: All polls close in Montana.

GUAM AND VIRGIN ISLANDS TIMELINE (JUNE 8) 8 p.m. ET (June 7): Caucus starts in Guam.

12 a.m. ET (June 8): Caucus ends in Guam.

5 a.m. ET (June 8): Guam results expected.

9 a.m. ET (June 8): Caucuses begin in Virgin Islands.

6 p.m. ET (June 8): Caucuses end in Virgin Islands.

8 p.m. ET (June 8): Virgin Islands results expected.

WASHINGTON, D.C. PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden, Marianne Williamson, Armando Perez-Serrato and Write-in. Twenty delegates at stake.

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (R): None. Republicans held a party-run contest in March.

STATE PRIMARY: Contested primaries for U.S. delegate to Congress, City Council, shadow senator and shadow representative.

WHO CAN VOTE: Only voters registered with a party may participate in that party’s primary. Democrats can’t vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independents or unaffiliated voters may not participate in any party’s primary.

FIRST VOTES REPORTED (2022 primaries): 8:30 p.m. ET.

LAST ELECTION NIGHT UPDATE: 11:59 p.m. ET with about 69% of total votes counted.

IOWA STATE PRIMARY: Contested primaries for U.S. House, state Senate, state House. Key races in the 1st, 3rd and 4th Congressional Districts and state House District 34.

WHO CAN VOTE: Only voters registered with a party may participate in that party’s primary, but any voter may register or change their party affiliation on the day of the primary.

FIRST VOTES REPORTED (2022 primaries): 9:12 p.m. ET.

LAST ELECTION NIGHT UPDATE: 2:29 a.m. ET with more than 99% of total votes counted.

MONTANA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden, No Preference, Write-in. 20 delegates at stake.

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (R): Trump, No Preference, Write-in. Montana’s 31 unbound delegates are not tied to primary results.

STATE PRIMARY: Contested primaries for U.S. Senate, U.S. House, governor, attorney general, auditor, education superintendent, public service commission, state Senate, state House and non-partisan races for state Supreme Court, including chief justice.

WHO CAN VOTE: Any registered voter in Montana may participate in any party’s primary.

FIRST VOTES REPORTED (2022 primaries): 10:06 p.m. ET.

LAST ELECTION NIGHT UPDATE: 6:02 a.m. ET with about 93% of total votes counted.

NEW JERSEY PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden, Terrisa Bukovinac, Uncommitted, Write-in. 126 delegates at stake.

(Uncommitted “Justice for Palestine, Permanent Ceasefire Now!”)

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (R): Trump, Write-in. 12 delegates at stake.

STATE PRIMARY: Contested primaries for U.S. Senate and U.S. House. Key races for U.S. Senate and the 3rd and 8th Congressional Districts.

WHO CAN VOTE: Registered party members may vote only in their own party’s primary. In other words, Democrats can’t vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may participate in either primary.

FIRST VOTES REPORTED (2022 primaries): 8:04 p.m. ET

LAST ELECTION NIGHT UPDATE: About 2 a.m. ET with 90% of total votes counted.

NEW MEXICO PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden, Williamson, “Uncommitted Delegate.” 34 delegates at stake.

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (R): Trump, Haley, Chris Christie, Vivek Ramaswamy, “Uncommitted Delegate.” New Mexico’s 22 unbound delegates are not tied to primary results.

STATE PRIMARY: Contested primaries for U.S. House, state Senate, state House.

WHO CAN VOTE: Only voters registered with a party may participate in that party’s primary. Democrats can’t vote in the Republican primary or vice versa. Independent or unaffiliated voters may not participate in either primary.

FIRST VOTES REPORTED (2022 primaries): 9:11 p.m. ET.

LAST ELECTION NIGHT UPDATE: 2:50 a.m. ET with about 99% of total votes counted.

SOUTH DAKOTA PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (D): Biden, Williamson, Dean Phillips, Perez-Serrato. 16 delegates at stake.

PRESIDENTIAL PRIMARY (R): Will not appear on ballot because Trump is uncontested. South Dakota’s 29 unbound delegates are not tied to primary results.

STATE PRIMARY: Contest primaries for state Senate, state House. Key race in state Senate District 27.

WHO CAN VOTE: Only registered Republicans may vote in the Republican primary. Registered Democrats and independent or unaffiliated voters may vote in the Democratic primary.

FIRST VOTES REPORTED (2022 primaries): 9:02 p.m. ET.

LAST ELECTION NIGHT UPDATE: 3:26 a.m. ET with about 92% of total votes counted.

GUAM (June 8) PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS (D): According to the Democratic Party of Guam, voters cast ballots directly for delegate candidates who are each pledged to support a particular presidential candidate. All delegate candidates in the Guam caucus are pledged to Biden.

WHO CAN VOTE: Only voters affiliated with the Democratic Party may participate in the caucuses, but voters may register and affiliate on caucus day.

RESULTS: The AP will update its Delegate Tracker with Guam delegate results when the Democratic Party of Guam makes them available. The AP will not provide raw vote totals from the caucus vote.

VIRGIN ISLANDS (June 8) PRESIDENTIAL CAUCUS (D): Biden, Williamson, “Uncommitted,” Write-in.

RESULTS: The AP will update its Delegate Tracker with Virgin Islands delegate results when the U.S. Virgin Islands Democratic Party makes them available. The AP will not provide raw vote totals from the caucus vote.

UNCOMMITTED OR WRITE-IN ON THE PRESIDENTIAL BALLOT UNCOMMITTED: Montana (as “No preference”), New Jersey (Democrats only), New Mexico, Guam (June 8, Democrats only), Virgin Islands (June 8, Democrats only)

WRITE-IN: D.C. (Democrats only), Montana, New Jersey, Virgin Islands. In Montana, write-in candidates must file with the state before the election.

ARE WE THERE YET? As of Tuesday, there will be 41 days until the Republican National Convention in Milwaukee, 76 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and 154 days until the November general election.

As of June 8, there will be 72 days until the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and 150 days until the November general election.

AP writers Leah Askarinam and Maya Sweedler contributed to this report.

By The Associated Press

MAY 31, 2024

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European talent is ready to walk out the door. How should companies respond?

How do companies keep their current workforces happy while drawing the best people to join them? Talent leaders have been asking that question forever, of course, but the answers have grown much more complex since the COVID-19 pandemic set off an employee exodus that has shaken organizations across the globe.

McKinsey has analyzed this Great Attrition  talent trend in depth, showing why people began quitting in droves and how companies, caught unaware, could respond. 1 Aaron De Smet, Bonnie Dowling, Marino Mugayar-Baldocchi, and Bill Schaninger, “ ‘Great Attrition’ or ‘Great Attraction’? The choice is yours ,” McKinsey Quarterly , September 8, 2021. We updated our research earlier this year, finding that workers were not only still quitting but also switching roles and industries, in what we dubbed the Great Renegotiation . 2 Aaron De Smet, Bonnie Dowling, Bryan Hancock, and Bill Schaninger, “ The Great Attrition is making hiring harder. Are you searching the right talent pools? ,” McKinsey Quarterly , July 13, 2022. We offered ideas for how organizations could look to different employee groups to help fill jobs.

Now, we turn to Europe, where the destabilizing war in Ukraine , rising inflation , and growing fears of hiring freezes and job losses have created a difficult set of conditions for companies. We wanted to know if the talent trends  we’ve followed for the past two years in the United States and other countries are having a similar effect in Europe. The answer is a resounding yes. Companies can’t get the people they need, and they are losing the workers they already have, while falling behind in areas such as technology and innovation that affect the region’s long-term competitiveness . 3 Between 2014 and 2019, large European companies were 20 percent less profitable, grew revenues 40 percent more slowly, invested 8 percent less, and spent 40 percent less on R&D than other companies, according to a sample of more than 2,000 European and US companies with revenue of more than $1 billion. For more, see “Securing Europe’s competitiveness: Addressing its technology gap,” McKinsey Global Institute, September 22, 2022.

About the research

To better understand the current state of the European labor market, we surveyed 16,246 respondents in Austria (n = 1,444), Belgium (n = 1,901), France (n = 1,924), Germany (n = 1,968), Italy (n = 1,944), Poland (n = 2,012), Portugal (n = 1,958), Spain (n = 1,944), and Switzerland (n = 1,151). The survey data, collected in September 2022, included people of working age across 16 industries.

Our new analysis, which includes a survey of more than 16,000 respondents in nine European countries, shows that fully one-third of respondents say that they expect to quit their jobs in the next three to six months (see sidebar, “About the research”). While that slice of the workforce is lower than the 40 percent in our global survey from April, 4 The six countries surveyed were Australia, Canada, India, Singapore, the United Kingdom, and the United States. it is a remarkably high churn rate for Europe, where labor protections and cultural factors—not to mention a likely economic slowdown —tend to favor remaining in a job. Companies that believe attrition is a problem limited to the United States should understand that one in three of their workers may quit over the near term.

Yet high attrition is just one of the challenges facing European employers. The job vacancy rate has almost doubled, to 3 percent in June 2022, from 1.6 percent in June 2020, 5 Although the percentage of people who started a new job in the past three to six months is increasing, the job vacancy rate is still well above normal. For more, see “Job vacancy statistics,” Eurostat, September 2022. making it harder for companies to fill open positions. Organizations also face a skills gap across industries, as well as a high number of retirees who are unlikely to return to the workforce.

At the same time, European employers have an opportunity to sharpen their value proposition. They can use this moment to address chronic, systemic talent issues by offering adequate compensation, career advancement, and caring leaders, while also focusing on more recent employee needs born of the pandemic. In this article, we analyze our new data to show how companies can retain those who are considering leaving, provide support to turn “quiet quitters” into more engaged employees, and recruit top talent more effectively to build a productive workforce that can deliver in times of radical uncertainty.

The European talent landscape: Top reasons for leaving reflect shifting employee values

Our survey revealed a consistent rate of attrition, at about a third of respondents. The outlier was Poland, where half the people say that they are at least somewhat likely to leave their jobs in the next three to six months (Exhibit 1). 6 That higher number for Poland can be attributed in part to the impact of higher inflation and a refugee crisis from the war in Ukraine, along Poland’s eastern border.

That this many workers are considering leaving revealed a dramatic level of attrition for Europe, where labor protections are more extensive than in other countries. Retirement, too, is often a milestone to look forward to because of pensions and a robust social safety net. Our survey showed that 24 percent of Europeans have retired (early or of natural age) in the past seven years. In contrast with the United States, retirees in Europe aren’t as interested in returning to work for the right offer. When they do retire, they’re more likely to be gone for good 7 Only 5 percent of those who retired, early or of natural age, are planning to return to the workplace sometime in the future, our research showed. For more, see Aaron De Smet, Bonnie Dowling, Marino Mugayar-Baldocchi, and Bill Schaninger, “ Gone for now, or gone for good? How to play the new talent game and win back workers ,” McKinsey Quarterly , March 9, 2022. —reducing the pool of potential workers for European employers.

This large number of people eyeing the exits is not much lower than the 40 percent in our earlier sample of six countries. In fact, when comparing vastly different labor markets and staggered time frames—April for the global data and September for Europe—and factoring in worsening economic conditions, we see similar attrition rates. That’s not a favorable environment for European companies looking to keep and attract workers.

Despite the structural and perceived differences in the European labor market, we unexpectedly found that the top three reasons Europeans give for leaving their jobs are similar to those of our global sample: inadequate compensation, lack of career development and advancement, and uncaring and uninspiring leaders (Exhibit 2).

Fair compensation and having a clear career path are perennial top motivators for workers in any job. We consider compensation table stakes because it’s enough to buy you a seat at the table but not enough to give you a winning hand. A lack of caring leaders, also a consistent reason for why people across countries quit their jobs, has grown in importance since the pandemic began. The similarities in top quitting factors across regions and time periods show that the pandemic has normalized these employee attitudes across segments of workers.

People across age groups and experience levels are putting more emphasis on whether these factors in combination are enough to make them want to stay at an organization for the long term. They need tangible and consistent proof that they have a positive future—in other words, the whole package: compensation, caring leaders, advancement. The fact that a large number of Europeans are saying, “I need a job, but I don’t need your job,” is a clear sign of this new emphasis.

Meanwhile, other factors have grown in importance for European respondents since the pandemic began, particularly those related to unreliable and unsupportive people at work, as well as a noninclusive and unwelcoming community.

The emphasis on these relational “people factors” marks a notable mindset shift among European workers. More than ever, employees say that they need to feel engaged and supported in an inclusive and welcoming environment. Unsustainable work expectations and a lack of support for employee well-being in particular align with rates of employee burnout that McKinsey research shows are at all-time highs . 8 “ Addressing employee burnout: Are you solving the right problem? ,” McKinsey, May 27, 2022.

We also found that the reasons employees are considering changing jobs are remarkably consistent across European countries. The top two factors in every country are inadequate compensation and insufficient career advancement. But relational factors also rank highly, including having uncaring and uninspiring leaders and unsupportive coworkers.

Focus on the whole workforce (the happy, the unhappy, and the in-between)

Most Europeans in our sample say that they intend to stay on the job, and their motivations shade differently than those of their exiting counterparts. Compensation is a top reason here as well, but it is more of a hygiene factor than anything else. Motivators include flexibility, meaningful work, and supportive coworkers—once again, an endorsement of factors that have grown in importance for Europeans during the pandemic.

People stay in a job for the opposite reasons than they leave it: because they are rewarded adequately, their needs for advancement and skill building are met, and they see a future for themselves. What sets Europeans apart, though, is the degree to which they prize a safe workplace environment; that factor is in the top three for Europeans, while it is eighth overall for the global group (Exhibit 3). Reasons for that include the fact that many COVID-19 restrictions ended over the summer, leading employees to worry about how safe they would be back in the office and whether they wanted to be back at all.

Companies must continue to deliver on flexibility if they want to retain people who have not yet indicated a willingness to leave. Throughout the pandemic, employees—ranging from working parents  to younger folks just starting out to workers nearing retirement age—all say that they want more control over their working hours so that they can better balance life and career . 9 “ To slow down attrition, pay closer attention to what workers really need ,” McKinsey, September 22, 2022.

This raises a crucial point: in crafting an alluring employee experience, European organizations have to avoid falling into the trap of focusing solely on the workers who are unhappy enough to quit over the short term. Of course, it’s essential to retain them, but companies also need to be sure that the majority who aren’t indicating that they are leaving don’t move into that category.

In other words, leaders have to care about retaining talent before they can start to think about those who are walking out the door. Making the organization sticky, which we discuss below, is part of that active investment in the entire workforce.

The sound of ‘quiet quitting’

To help assess all their workers, companies can group their employees in four broad categories—those who are happy with their job but are considering better options, those leaving because they dislike their job, those staying because they’re happy, and those who are passively staying but who don’t really want to be there. This last group consists of “quiet quitters,” or members of the employed-yet-disengaged workforce. 10 This group does not include individuals who continue to be engaged in their roles but who have sought to reduce their workloads to a more manageable level to prevent burnout.

European employers, like organizations everywhere now, face the problem of workers who leave—and workers who stay but who might act like they have already left. Our research shows that in Europe, the majority (79 percent) of those reporting low levels of engagement or support factors are likely to leave. However, a small but significant portion (21 percent) of those reporting low levels of engagement or support factors are planning to stay at their jobs. Although these employees aren’t quitting, they are likely to become disengaged from their work, which could manifest as withdrawal from or neglect of their duties.

If we do the math, with one-third leaving and one-fifth of those who remain falling into the ranks of those not necessarily working to pace, that adds up to about 44 percent of the workforce. Clearly, that number of dissatisfied employees is not sustainable in a healthy organization.

Some employers believe that quiet quitting is just a phase, but there are two reasons to discount that. One is that despite the trendy name, quiet quitters have been around forever—as people whose level of engagement is below what managers might want. The other is that in a predicted economic downturn, when companies are often forced to turn to hiring freezes or job cuts, they will need the workforce that remains to be that much more productive.

Quiet quitting is not just an individual problem, it’s a mutual responsibility between the employee who is disengaged and the organization that isn’t offering enough support. Both higher engagement and higher support are needed to solve this problem.

An overwhelming majority of employees who report high levels of engagement factors (such as finding meaning in their work) and support factors (such as reliable and supportive people at work) are likely to stay at their jobs and be productive in them (Exhibit 4).

The (new) value system: Emphasize personal development and recognition to reward workers

Europe’s labor market is unique, with stronger worker protections, more extensive pension offerings, and longer parental leaves, to name but a few examples that benefit employees—and society writ large. Culturally, workers in this region don’t leave their jobs as often as those in the United States and other countries do.

However, with an aging population and a darkening economic picture, European employers face a complex environment in which to operate. This calls for more creative solutions. Companies can draw inspiration from the way other organizations, even those in other regions, are attempting to solve the problem that attrition brings. They can find novel ways to attract younger people to jobs and keep the workers they have feeling more engaged and productive.

Here are five ways that European companies can be proactive about retention, reinforce a healthy working environment, and look beyond traditional recruitment pools.

Address the attrition

The first step is to turn inward. Companies should take stock of the attrition they have already experienced and move to reduce further quitting by addressing what is motivating their employees. Our European data shows that the reasons people have left a job and why they plan to leave are the same, so companies can get ahead of the next wave of attrition by understanding why others have already left. Employers should consider doubling down on providing adequate total compensation packages, investing in employees’ development, and providing meaningful advancement opportunities, while showing more caring and inspiring day-to-day and strategic leadership .

Don’t overlook ‘the others’

When companies focus mostly on attrition and attraction, they tend to overlook the need to actively support workers who are staying. Sticky companies anticipate and address employees’ concerns . They ask people what they need to be successful in their roles—and they listen to the answers. They push people to grow in their jobs and encourage a growth mindset throughout the organization. Based on feedback, these companies might innovate jobs, teams, or hiring practices. They are not afraid to provide the flexibility that employees need to create a work–life balance that helps keep workers engaged and productive. These cultural factors help make a company more attractive to join and, ideally, provide more incentives for employees to stay and remain engaged. They can also reengage those who are quietly quitting.

Reward loyalty by building capabilities

Career advancement is a top priority for European workers. A company that rewards its employees by investing in their development reduces their incentive to look elsewhere while also increasing overall engagement. With that in mind, leaders can start by rewarding those who are already inside the company with career development and advancement opportunities. This investment in the workforce is based on gratitude and trust, highlighting that past work is valued and that the company believes in their employees’ ability to deliver the future work that builds value. Then, leaders can look outside the company to deliberately find the talent that they still need. In the broader context, Europe is experiencing a widening gap in technology, innovation, and corporate performance  compared with other regions. With recent headlines of job losses in the technology sector, companies that need to expand their tech expertise could look to those who are newly available. However, companies should also focus on using the right levers to prevent those potential hires from going to a nontraditional job, or worse, to the competition.

Rethink the corporate culture

Since the start of the pandemic, organizations have been striving to help employees who are burned out. However, it’s crucial to focus on affirmative behaviors so that burnout  doesn’t become a problem to begin with. Once it takes hold, even the most well-intentioned remediation efforts (or yoga classes) won’t fix the problem. As our survey data shows, European workers now emphasize other factors when it comes to a satisfying employee experience. They want more workplace flexibility and a physically and psychologically safe workplace . 11 “ Psychological safety, emotional intelligence, and leadership in a time of flux ,” McKinsey Quarterly , July 2, 2020. McKinsey research shows that caring managers can also make a huge difference in engagement by reaching out more frequently and honing in on what excites employees and gives them a sense of purpose.

Think outside the (recruitment) box

The existing talent pools of traditional workers in an aging market are not sufficient to replenish those who have retired. European organizations will need to go after those who have left the traditional workforce, including people who are self-employed, those in the gig economy or not currently in full-time corporate jobs, younger people just entering the workforce, and those who are considering retirement. Because these groups emphasize different factors (with older workers wanting more caring leaders and younger people valuing strong support networks), companies must target these groups differently. And while these pools of workers may be smaller in Europe than they are in the United States, for example, they’re out there, and companies can go get them.

The European workforce is not immune to the attrition trend we’ve seen sweep across countries over the past several years. The mindsets of European employees have changed since the pandemic began, and many are no longer willing to stay at organizations that don’t value their contributions or offer a future that excites them. Now more than ever, companies should demonstrate a commitment that is both widespread and targeted to individuals—a commitment that is core to their health and future growth.

Vincent Bérubé is a senior partner in McKinsey’s Montréal office, Dana Maor is a senior partner in the Tel Aviv office, Marino Mugayar-Baldocchi is a research science expert in the New York office, and Angelika Reich is a partner in the Vienna office.

The authors wish to thank Nancy Busellato, Pawel Poplawski, Mukhunth Raghavan, and Bill Schaninger for their contributions to this article.

This article was edited by Barbara Tierney, a senior editor in the New York office.

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