experimental social psychology research topics

Experimental Psychology Research Paper Topics

This page provides a comprehensive list of experimental psychology research paper topics , tailored specifically for students aiming to explore and understand the intricacies of human psychological processes through empirical research. Experimental psychology serves as a cornerstone of psychological science, employing rigorous scientific methods to investigate and interpret the vast complexities of human behavior and mental functions. Through carefully designed experiments, researchers can isolate variables and establish causal relationships, paving the way for advancements in our understanding of perception, cognition, emotion, and other psychological phenomena. By delving into these topics, students will gain valuable insights into the experimental designs, methodologies, and ethical considerations that define this vibrant field. This resource is designed to inspire and facilitate impactful research endeavors, equipping students with the knowledge to contribute significantly to the expansion and refinement of psychological science.

100 Experimental Psychology Research Paper Topics

Experimental psychology stands as a pivotal branch of psychology that applies scientific methods to investigate and unravel the mechanisms behind human thought and behavior. This field allows researchers to design experiments that precisely manipulate variables to observe their effects on subjects, thereby providing clear, causal links between psychological phenomena. The selection of the right experimental psychology research paper topics is not merely academic—it is foundational to advancing our understanding of human psychology. By choosing insightful and challenging topics, students can push the boundaries of what is known and contribute valuable new insights to the scientific community.

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• The effects of color on mood and perception.
• Sensory deprivation and its impact on cognitive functions.
• The role of attention in perceptual processing.
• Multisensory integration and its effects on human perception.
• Perceptual illusions and what they reveal about the human brain.
• The influence of aging on sensory acuity.
• Cross-cultural differences in sensory perceptions.
• The impact of technology on visual and auditory perception.
• Neuropsychological insights into taste and smell.
• The perception of pain: mechanisms and modifiers.
• The impact of sleep on memory consolidation.
• Neuroplasticity and memory: how experiences rewire the brain.
• The effects of stress on memory retrieval.
• Comparative analysis of short-term and long-term memory.
• The role of repetition and spacing in learning effectiveness.
• Memory enhancement techniques: cognitive and pharmacological approaches.
• The reliability of eyewitness memory in different environments.
• Age-related differences in learning capacity and memory retention.
• The use of virtual reality in memory recall experiments.
• False memories: their creation and implications.
• Cognitive biases that influence decision making.
• The role of emotion in rational decision-making processes.
• The impact of cognitive overload on decision quality.
• Differences in decision making between genders.
• The effect of social influence on decision-making accuracy.
• Decision fatigue: causes and consequences.
• The use of heuristics in complex decision-making.
• Neurological underpinnings of spontaneous versus planned decisions.
• The role of intuition in cognitive processing.
• The impact of aging on decision-making abilities.
• The physiological basis of emotional responses.
• Emotional regulation and its effects on mental health.
• The impact of culture on emotional expression and recognition.
• The role of emotions in moral judgment.
• Emotional contagion in groups and crowds.
• The effects of music and art on emotional states.
• Gender differences in emotional processing.
• The relationship between emotional responses and psychopathologies.
• The development of emotional intelligence over the lifespan.
• Measuring emotions: methodologies and technologies.
• The influence of group dynamics on individual behavior.
• Conformity and obedience: experiments and explanations.
• The effects of social exclusion on psychological health.
• The role of social media in shaping public opinions.
• Stereotypes and prejudice: their formation and impacts.
• Altruism and prosocial behavior in controlled experiments.
• The psychology of persuasion and its mechanisms.
• Social loafing vs. social facilitation in work and sports.
• The impact of first impressions on subsequent interactions.
• Leadership styles and their psychological effects on group performance.
• The stages of cognitive development in children.
• The impact of parental styles on child behavior.
• Adolescence: risk factors and psychological resilience.
• Developmental disorders: early detection and intervention strategies.
• The role of play in social and cognitive development.
• Aging and cognitive decline: preventive strategies.
• Lifespan psychology: changes in aspirations and motivations.
• The effects of early educational interventions on developmental outcomes.
• The influence of genetics vs. environment in developmental trajectories.
• Social development and peer influences during childhood and adolescence.
• Brain injuries and their impact on personality and behavior.
• Neurological bases of addiction and substance abuse.
• The effects of neurological diseases on family dynamics.
• Cognitive rehabilitation techniques for stroke survivors.
• The relationship between brain structure and cognitive functions.
• Neuroethics: the implications of brain research.
• The use of neuroimaging to study thought processes.
• The impact of diet and physical health on neurological health.
• Sleep disorders and their psychological effects.
• The role of mirror neurons in empathy and learning.
• Conditioning and learning: classical and operant approaches.
• The effects of reinforcement schedules on behavior modification.
• Behavioral theories in marketing and consumer behavior.
• Animal models in behavioral research: ethics and insights.
• The use of behavior therapy techniques for psychological disorders.
• The psychology of habits: formation, maintenance, and change.
• The role of behavioral factors in obesity and other health issues.
• Behavioral genetics: separating nature from nurture.
• The impact of environmental factors on behavior.
• Behavioral adaptations to climate change and environmental stresses.
• Language acquisition in children and adults.
• The cognitive processes involved in reading and writing.
• The relationship between language and thought.
• Language disorders: dyslexia, aphasia, and others.
• The impact of bilingualism on cognitive development.
• Speech perception and processing mechanisms.
• The neuroanatomy of language production and comprehension.
• Social interactions and language use.
• The evolution of language: theories and evidence.
• Artificial intelligence and natural language processing.
• The psychological impact of chronic illness on individuals and families.
• The effectiveness of psychological interventions in physical health care.
• Stress and its effects on physical health.
• The role of psychology in pain management.
• Behavioral risk factors for heart disease and other illnesses.
• The impact of patient-practitioner communication on health outcomes.
• Psychological aspects of reproductive health.
• The role of motivation in health behavior change.
• Health disparities: the impact of socioeconomic status and race.
• Psychoneuroimmunology: the link between mental states and immune response.

The breadth and depth of experimental psychology research paper topics provide a robust platform for students to explore and contribute to various facets of psychological science. These topics not only allow students to apply scientific methodologies to real-world psychological issues but also offer opportunities to innovate and enhance the understanding of human behavior. Students are encouraged to delve deeply into these experimental psychology research paper topics, as doing so will enable them to produce significant scholarly work that has the potential to influence theoretical frameworks and practical applications in psychology.

The Range of Experimental Psychology Research Paper Topics

Research Methods in Experimental Psychology

One of the core components of experimental psychology is its focus on methodological rigor and precision. The common research methodologies used in experimental psychology include controlled experiments, observational studies, and case studies, each serving different but complementary purposes. In controlled experiments, variables are manipulated in a controlled environment to observe causation and effect, making it possible to draw conclusions about how different factors influence psychological outcomes.

The importance of experimental design, controls, and variables cannot be overstated in this context. Good experimental design ensures that the results are attributable solely to the manipulated variables, not to external factors. Controls help isolate the effects of interest by holding constant other potential influences, thereby increasing the validity of the experiment. A discussion of these elements highlights their role in minimizing biases and errors, thus enhancing the reliability and applicability of the research findings.

Analyzing case studies of successful experimental setups further illustrates these points. For instance, classic experiments in social psychology, such as the Stanford prison experiment or Milgram’s obedience study, though controversial, have provided deep insights into human social behavior and conformity. These case studies not only show effective experimental design but also underscore the ethical considerations and psychological impacts associated with experimental psychology.

Innovative Areas in Experimental Research

Experimental psychology continually evolves as new technologies and theoretical approaches emerge. Cutting-edge research areas within this field include neuropsychology, cognitive robotics, and virtual reality applications, each pushing the boundaries of traditional experimental methods. These innovations allow for more precise measurements and the simulation of complex psychological processes in controlled environments.

Emerging technologies like eye-tracking devices, EEG, and fMRI have revolutionized the way experiments are conducted in experimental psychology. These tools offer unprecedented views into the neural underpinnings of cognition and behavior, allowing for more detailed and accurate predictions about how these processes operate under various conditions. Additionally, the integration of experimental psychology with fields like genetics, neuroscience, and information technology facilitates interdisciplinary research that enriches our understanding of cognitive and behavioral sciences.

Ethical Considerations in Experimental Research

Ethical considerations form a significant pillar of research in experimental psychology. Because experimental methods often involve manipulating variables to observe effects on real participants, ethical guidelines are crucial to ensure the safety and well-being of subjects. Discussions on ethical issues in experimental psychology include considerations about informed consent, deception, and the potential psychological harm that could arise from participation in studies.

Exploring the guidelines and regulations that govern experimental research helps safeguard the interests of participants and maintain public trust in psychological research. For example, the APA’s ethical guidelines mandate that experiments involving humans or animals must adhere to strict ethical standards to minimize harm and discomfort. Case studies highlighting ethical dilemmas in past research, such as the ethical controversies surrounding the aforementioned Stanford prison experiment, serve as important learning tools for current and future psychologists to understand and navigate the complex ethical landscape of experimental research.

Reflecting on the breadth of experimental psychology research paper topics offers a window into the discipline’s vast potential to influence myriad aspects of modern life, from education and health to technology and beyond. The insights gained from rigorous experimental research provide a foundation for practical applications that improve psychological interventions, educational programs, and therapeutic practices, enhancing the quality of life across various settings. As experimental psychology continues to evolve, the fusion of innovative research methods, ethical consideration, and interdisciplinary collaboration holds the promise to further advance psychological science and its applications, ensuring its relevance and impact well into the future.

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Current Research in Social Psychology

Editors: michael lovaglia, university of iowa; shane soboroff, st. ambrose university.

Current Research in Social Psychology  ( CRISP ) is a peer reviewed, electronic journal publishing theoretically driven, empirical research in major areas of social psychology. Publication is sponsored by the  Center for the Study of Group Processes  at the  University of Iowa,  which provides free access to its contents. Authors retain copyright for their work. CRISP is permanently archived at the Library of the University of Iowa and at the Library of Congress. Beginning in April, 2000,  Sociological Abstracts  publishes the abstracts of CRISP articles.

Citation Format:  Lastname ,  Firstname . 1996. "Title of Article."  Current Research in Social Psychology  2:15-22 https://crisp.org.uiowa.edu

RECENT ISSUES

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In-group Attachment and Glorification, Perceptions of Cognition-Based Ambivalence as Contributing to the Group, and Positive Affect.

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Blame Attributions about Disloyalty

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61 intriguing psychology research topics to explore

Last updated

11 January 2024

Reviewed by

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

Short on time? Get an AI generated summary of this article instead

Psychology is an incredibly diverse, critical, and ever-changing area of study in the medical and health industries. Because of this, it’s a common area of study for students and healthcare professionals.

We’re walking you through picking the perfect topic for your upcoming paper or study. Keep reading for plenty of example topics to pique your interest and curiosity.

• How to choose a psychology research topic

Exploring a psychology-based topic for your research project? You need to pick a specific area of interest to collect compelling data. 

Use these tips to help you narrow down which psychology topics to research:

Focus on a particular area of psychology

The most effective psychological research focuses on a smaller, niche concept or disorder within the scope of a study. 

Psychology is a broad and fascinating area of science, including everything from diagnosed mental health disorders to sports performance mindset assessments. 

This gives you plenty of different avenues to explore. Having a hard time choosing? Check out our list of 61 ideas further down in this article to get started.

Read the latest clinical studies

Once you’ve picked a more niche topic to explore, you need to do your due diligence and explore other research projects on the same topic. 

This practice will help you learn more about your chosen topic, ask more specific questions, and avoid covering existing projects. 

For the best results, we recommend creating a research folder of associated published papers to reference throughout your project. This makes it much easier to cite direct references and find inspiration down the line.

Find a topic you enjoy and ask questions

Once you’ve spent time researching and collecting references for your study, you finally get to explore. 

Whether this research project is for work, school, or just for fun, having a passion for your research will make the project much more enjoyable. (Trust us, there will be times when that is the only thing that keeps you going.) 

Now you’ve decided on the topic, ask more nuanced questions you might want to explore. 

If you can, pick the direction that interests you the most to make the research process much more enjoyable.

• 61 psychology topics to research in 2024

Need some extra help starting your psychology research project on the right foot? Explore our list of 61 cutting-edge, in-demand psychology research topics to use as a starting point for your research journey.

• Psychology research topics for university students

As a university student, it can be hard to pick a research topic that fits the scope of your classes and is still compelling and unique. 

Here are a few exciting topics we recommend exploring for your next assigned research project:

Mental health in post-secondary students

Seeking post-secondary education is a stressful and overwhelming experience for most students, making this topic a great choice to explore for your in-class research paper. 

Examples of post-secondary mental health research topics include:

Student mental health status during exam season

Mental health disorder prevalence based on study major

The impact of chronic school stress on overall quality of life

The impacts of cyberbullying

Cyberbullying can occur at all ages, starting as early as elementary school and carrying through into professional workplaces. 

Examples of cyberbullying-based research topics you can study include:

The impact of cyberbullying on self-esteem

Common reasons people engage in cyberbullying 

Cyberbullying themes and commonly used terms

Cyberbullying habits in children vs. adults

The long-term effects of cyberbullying

• Clinical psychology research topics

If you’re looking to take a more clinical approach to your next project, here are a few topics that involve direct patient assessment for you to consider:

Chronic pain and mental health

Living with chronic pain dramatically impacts every aspect of a person’s life, including their mental and emotional health. 

Here are a few examples of in-demand pain-related psychology research topics:

The connection between diabetic neuropathy and depression

Neurological pain and its connection to mental health disorders

Efficacy of meditation and mindfulness for pain management

The long-term effects of insomnia

Insomnia is where you have difficulty falling or staying asleep. It’s a common health concern that impacts millions of people worldwide. 

This is an excellent topic because insomnia can have a variety of causes, offering many research possibilities. 

Here are a few compelling psychology research topics about insomnia you could investigate:

The prevalence of insomnia based on age, gender, and ethnicity

Insomnia and its impact on workplace productivity

The connection between insomnia and mental health disorders

Efficacy and use of melatonin supplements for insomnia

The risks and benefits of prescription insomnia medications

Lifestyle options for managing insomnia symptoms

The efficacy of mental health treatment options

Management and treatment of mental health conditions is an ever-changing area of study. If you can witness or participate in mental health therapies, this can make a great research project. 

Examples of mental health treatment-related psychology research topics include:

The efficacy of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) for patients with severe anxiety

The benefits and drawbacks of group vs. individual therapy sessions

Music therapy for mental health disorders

Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) for patients with depression 

• Controversial psychology research paper topics

If you are looking to explore a more cutting-edge or modern psychology topic, you can delve into a variety of controversial and topical options:

The impact of social media and digital platforms

Ever since access to internet forums and video games became more commonplace, there’s been growing concern about the impact these digital platforms have on mental health. 

Examples of social media and video game-related psychology research topics include:

The effect of edited images on self-confidence

How social media platforms impact social behavior

Video games and their impact on teenage anger and violence

Digital communication and the rapid spread of misinformation

The development of digital friendships

Psychotropic medications for mental health

In recent years, the interest in using psychoactive medications to treat and manage health conditions has increased despite their inherently controversial nature. 

Examples of psychotropic medication-related research topics include:

The risks and benefits of using psilocybin mushrooms for managing anxiety

The impact of marijuana on early-onset psychosis

Childhood marijuana use and related prevalence of mental health conditions

Ketamine and its use for complex PTSD (C-PTSD) symptom management

The effect of long-term psychedelic use and mental health conditions

• Mental health disorder research topics

As one of the most popular subsections of psychology, studying mental health disorders and how they impact quality of life is an essential and impactful area of research. 

While studies in these areas are common, there’s always room for additional exploration, including the following hot-button topics:

Anxiety and depression disorders

Anxiety and depression are well-known and heavily researched mental health disorders. 

Despite this, we still don’t know many things about these conditions, making them great candidates for psychology research projects:

Social anxiety and its connection to chronic loneliness

C-PTSD symptoms and causes

The development of phobias

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) behaviors and symptoms

Depression triggers and causes

Self-care tools and resources for depression

The prevalence of anxiety and depression in particular age groups or geographic areas

Bipolar disorder

Bipolar disorder is a complex and multi-faceted area of psychology research. 

Use your research skills to learn more about this condition and its impact by choosing any of the following topics:

Early signs of bipolar disorder

The incidence of bipolar disorder in young adults

The efficacy of existing bipolar treatment options

Bipolar medication side effects

Cognitive behavioral therapy for people with bipolar 

Schizoaffective disorder

Schizoaffective disorder is often stigmatized, and less common mental health disorders are a hotbed for new and exciting research. 

Here are a few examples of interesting research topics related to this mental health disorder:

The prevalence of schizoaffective disorder by certain age groups or geographic locations

Risk factors for developing schizoaffective disorder

The prevalence and content of auditory and visual hallucinations

Alternative therapies for schizoaffective disorder

• Societal and systematic psychology research topics

Modern society’s impact is deeply enmeshed in our mental and emotional health on a personal and community level. 

Here are a few examples of societal and systemic psychology research topics to explore in more detail:

Access to mental health services

While mental health awareness has risen over the past few decades, access to quality mental health treatment and resources is still not equitable. 

This can significantly impact the severity of a person’s mental health symptoms, which can result in worse health outcomes if left untreated. 

Explore this crucial issue and provide information about the need for improved mental health resource access by studying any of the following topics:

Rural vs. urban access to mental health resources

Access to crisis lines by location

Wait times for emergency mental health services

Inequities in mental health access based on income and location

Insurance coverage for mental health services

Systemic racism and mental health

Societal systems and the prevalence of systemic racism heavily impact every aspect of a person’s overall health.

Researching these topics draws attention to existing problems and contributes valuable insights into ways to improve access to care moving forward.

Examples of systemic racism-related psychology research topics include: 

Access to mental health resources based on race

The prevalence of BIPOC mental health therapists in a chosen area

The impact of systemic racism on mental health and self-worth

Racism training for mental health workers

The prevalence of mental health disorders in discriminated groups

LGBTQIA+ mental health concerns

Research about LGBTQIA+ people and their mental health needs is a unique area of study to explore for your next research project. It’s a commonly overlooked and underserved community.

Examples of LGBTQIA+ psychology research topics to consider include:

Mental health supports for queer teens and children

The impact of queer safe spaces on mental health

The prevalence of mental health disorders in the LGBTQIA+ community

The benefits of queer mentorship and found family

Substance misuse in LQBTQIA+ youth and adults

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Publications about Social Psychology

Climate and conflict.

Burke, M., S.M. Hsiang, E. Miguel. 2015. "Climate and Conflict."  Annual Review of Economics,  7:1, 577-617.

We review the emerging literature on climate and conflict. We consider multiple types of human conflict, including both interpersonal conflict, such as assault and murder, and intergroup conflict, including riots and civil war. We discuss key methodological issues in estimating causal relationships and largely focus on natural experiments that exploit variation in climate over time. Using a hierarchical meta-analysis that allows us to both estimate the mean effect and quantify the degree of variability across 55 studies, we find that deviations from moderate temperatures and precipitation patterns systematically increase conflict risk. Contemporaneous temperature has the largest average impact, with each 1σ increase in temperature increasing interpersonal conflict by 2.4% and intergroup conflict by 11.3%. We conclude by highlighting research priorities, including a better understanding of the mechanisms linking climate to conflict, societies’ ability to adapt to climatic changes, and the likely impacts of future global warming.

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The Benefits of Knowing What You Know (And What You Don’t): Fact-Finders Rely on Others Who Are Well

Tenney, E. R., Spellman, B. A., & MacCoun, R. J. (2008). The benefits of knowing what you know (and what you don’t): Fact-finders rely on others who are well calibrated. Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

People tend to believe, and take advice from, informants who are highly confident. However, people use more than a mere ‘‘confidence heuristic.” We believe that confidence is influential because—in the absence of other information—people assume it is a valid cue to an informant’s likelihood of being correct. However, when people get evidence about an informant’s calibration (i.e., her confidence–accuracy relationship) they override reliance on confidence or accuracy alone. Two experiments in which participants choose between two opposing witnesses to a car accident show that neither confidence nor accuracy alone explains judgments of credibility; rather, whether a person is seen as credible ultimately depends on whether the person demonstrates good calibration. Credibility depends on whether sources were justified in believing what they believed.

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Calibration Trumps Confidence as a Basis for Witness Credibility

Tenney, E. R., MacCoun, R. J. , Spellman, B. A., & Hastie, R. (2007). Calibration trumps confidence as a basis for witness credibility.  Psychological Science , 18, 46-50.

Confident witnesses are deemed more credible than unconfident ones, and accurate witnesses are deemed more credible than inaccurate ones. But are those effects independent? Two experiments show that errors in testimony damage the overall credibility of witnesses who were confident about the erroneous testimony more than that of witnesses who were not confident about it. Furthermore, after making an error, less confident witnesses may appear more credible than more confident ones. Our interpretation of these results is that people make inferences about source calibration when evaluating testimony and other social communication.

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Psychological Constraints on Transparency in Legal and Government Decision Making

MacCoun, R. J. (2006). Psychological constraints on transparency in legal and government decision making. In A. Gosseries (ed.), Symposium on publicity and accountability in governance, Swiss Political Science Review ,12, 112-123.

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Does Social Cohesion Determine Motivation in Combat? An Old Question with an Old Answer

MacCoun, R. , Kier, E., & Belkin, A. (2006). Does social cohesion determine motivation in combat? An old question with an old answer, Armed Forces and Society, 32, 646-654.

Based on a new Army War College study of unit cohesion in the Iraq War, Wong et al. argue that successful unit performance is determined by social cohesion (the strength of interpersonal bonds among members) rather than task cohesion (a sense of shared commitment to the unit’s mission). If correct, these conclusions have important implications for scholarship as well as for numerous U.S. military policies such as the Unit Manning System. However, this article disputes their contentions. Wong et al. ignore a large body of empirical research on military and nonmilitary groups showing that social cohesion has no independent impact on performance. They provide no evidence for the representativeness of the interview quotes they cite as evidence for the reliability or validity of their measures. Their methodology fails to meet social science standards for causal inference (e.g., ruling out causal rival factors).

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Some Well-Aged Wines for the “New Norms” Bottles: Implications of Social Psychology for Law and Econ

Feldman, Y., & MacCoun, R. J. (2005). Some well-aged wines for the “new norms” bottles: Implications of social psychology for law and economics. In Francesco Parisi and Vernon Smith (eds.), The law and economics of irrational behavior (pp.358-394). University of Chicago Press.

In the last decade, the study of social norms has become a major focus of theory and research in law and economics. Surprisingly, this "new norms" literature has almost completely ignored decades of systematic theory, experimentation, and field research on normative processes by social psychologists. We demonstrate that there are multiple mechanisms by which normative influence operates, each with its own principles and consequences. We also identify a host of situational and dispositional (individual-difference) moderators that either attenuate or amplify the effects of normative influence sources. Finally, we show that the internalization process is much less mysterious than some have suggested; it can occur through any of several well-studied processes. By taking these theoretical distinctions and moderators into account, the new norms literature will necessarily become more complex, but not necessarily chaotic or incoherent. Because these complexities are facts of social life, acknowledging them will allow the new norms theorist to improve their predictions and hence their norm-management implications.

Comparing Micro and Macro Rationality

MacCoun, R. (2002). Comparing micro and macro rationality. In M. V. Rajeev Gowda and Jeffrey Fox (Eds.), Judgments, decisions, and public policy. New York: Cambridge University Press.

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11.4: Research Methods in Social Psychology

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• https://nobaproject.com/ via The Noba Project

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Kwantlen Polytechnic University

Social psychologists are interested in the ways that other people affect thought, emotion, and behavior. To explore these concepts requires special research methods. Following a brief overview of traditional research designs, this module introduces how complex experimental designs, field experiments, naturalistic observation, experience sampling techniques, survey research, subtle and nonconscious techniques such as priming, and archival research and the use of big data may each be adapted to address social psychological questions. This module also discusses the importance of obtaining a representative sample along with some ethical considerations that social psychologists face.

learning objectives

• Describe the key features of basic and complex experimental designs.
• Describe the key features of field experiments, naturalistic observation, and experience sampling techniques.
• Describe survey research and explain the importance of obtaining a representative sample.
• Describe the implicit association test and the use of priming.
• Describe use of archival research techniques.
• Explain five principles of ethical research that most concern social psychologists.

Introduction

Are you passionate about cycling? Norman Triplett certainly was. At the turn of last century he studied the lap times of cycling races and noticed a striking fact: riding in competitive races appeared to improve riders’ times by about 20-30 seconds every mile compared to when they rode the same courses alone. Triplett suspected that the riders’ enhanced performance could not be explained simply by the slipstream caused by other cyclists blocking the wind. To test his hunch, he designed what is widely described as the first experimental study in social psychology (published in 1898!)—in this case, having children reel in a length of fishing line as fast as they could. The children were tested alone, then again when paired with another child. The results? The children who performed the task in the presence of others out-reeled those that did so alone.

Although Triplett’s research fell short of contemporary standards of scientific rigor (e.g., he eyeballed the data instead of measuring performance precisely; Stroebe, 2012), we now know that this effect, referred to as “ social facilitation ,” is reliable—performance on simple or well-rehearsed tasks tends to be enhanced when we are in the presence of others (even when we are not competing against them). To put it another way, the next time you think about showing off your pool-playing skills on a date, the odds are you’ll play better than when you practice by yourself. (If you haven’t practiced, maybe you should watch a movie instead!)

Research Methods in Social Psychology

One of the things Triplett’s early experiment illustrated is scientists’ reliance on systematic observation over opinion, or anecdotal evidence . The scientific method usually begins with observing the world around us (e.g., results of cycling competitions) and thinking of an interesting question (e.g., Why do cyclists perform better in groups?). The next step involves generating a specific testable prediction, or hypothesis (e.g., performance on simple tasks is enhanced in the presence of others). Next, scientists must operationalize the variables they are studying. This means they must figure out a way to define and measure abstract concepts. For example, the phrase “perform better” could mean different things in different situations; in Triplett’s experiment it referred to the amount of time (measured with a stopwatch) it took to wind a fishing reel. Similarly, “in the presence of others” in this case was operationalized as another child winding a fishing reel at the same time in the same room. Creating specific operational definitions like this allows scientists to precisely manipulate the independent variable , or “cause” (the presence of others), and to measure the dependent variable , or “effect” (performance)—in other words, to collect data. Clearly described operational definitions also help reveal possible limitations to studies (e.g., Triplett’s study did not investigate the impact of another child in the room who was not also winding a fishing reel) and help later researchers replicate them precisely.

Laboratory Research

As you can see, social psychologists have always relied on carefully designed laboratory environments to run experiments where they can closely control situations and manipulate variables (see the NOBA module on Research Designs for an overview of traditional methods). However, in the decades since Triplett discovered social facilitation, a wide range of methods and techniques have been devised, uniquely suited to demystifying the mechanics of how we relate to and influence one another. This module provides an introduction to the use of complex laboratory experiments, field experiments, naturalistic observation, survey research, nonconscious techniques, and archival research, as well as more recent methods that harness the power of technology and large data sets, to study the broad range of topics that fall within the domain of social psychology. At the end of this module we will also consider some of the key ethical principles that govern research in this diverse field.

The use of complex experimental designs , with multiple independent and/or dependent variables, has grown increasingly popular because they permit researchers to study both the individual and joint effects of several factors on a range of related situations. Moreover, thanks to technological advancements and the growth of social neuroscience , an increasing number of researchers now integrate biological markers (e.g., hormones) or use neuroimaging techniques (e.g., fMRI) in their research designs to better understand the biological mechanisms that underlie social processes.

We can dissect the fascinating research of Dov Cohen and his colleagues (1996) on “culture of honor” to provide insights into complex lab studies. A culture of honor is one that emphasizes personal or family reputation. In a series of lab studies, the Cohen research team invited dozens of university students into the lab to see how they responded to aggression. Half were from the Southern United States (a culture of honor) and half were from the Northern United States (not a culture of honor; this type of setup constitutes a participant variable of two levels). Region of origin was independent variable #1. Participants also provided a saliva sample immediately upon arriving at the lab; (they were given a cover story about how their blood sugar levels would be monitored over a series of tasks).

The participants completed a brief questionnaire and were then sent down a narrow corridor to drop it off on a table. En route, they encountered a confederate at an open file cabinet who pushed the drawer in to let them pass. When the participant returned a few seconds later, the confederate, who had re-opened the file drawer, slammed it shut and bumped into the participant with his shoulder, muttering “asshole” before walking away. In a manipulation of an independent variable—in this case, the insult—some of the participants were insulted publicly (in view of two other confederates pretending to be doing homework) while others were insulted privately (no one else was around). In a third condition—the control group—participants experienced a modified procedure in which they were not insulted at all.

Although this is a fairly elaborate procedure on its face, what is particularly impressive is the number of dependent variables the researchers were able to measure. First, in the public insult condition, the two additional confederates (who observed the interaction, pretending to do homework) rated the participants’ emotional reaction (e.g., anger, amusement, etc.) to being bumped into and insulted. Second, upon returning to the lab, participants in all three conditions were told they would later undergo electric shocks as part of a stress test, and were asked how much of a shock they would be willing to receive (between 10 volts and 250 volts). This decision was made in front of two confederates who had already chosen shock levels of 75 and 25 volts, presumably providing an opportunity for participants to publicly demonstrate their toughness. Third, across all conditions, the participants rated the likelihood of a variety of ambiguously provocative scenarios (e.g., one driver cutting another driver off) escalating into a fight or verbal argument. And fourth, in one of the studies, participants provided saliva samples, one right after returning to the lab, and a final one after completing the questionnaire with the ambiguous scenarios. Later, all three saliva samples were tested for levels of cortisol (a hormone associated with stress) and testosterone (a hormone associated with aggression).

The results showed that people from the Northern United States were far more likely to laugh off the incident (only 35% having anger ratings as high as or higher than amusement ratings), whereas the opposite was true for people from the South (85% of whom had anger ratings as high as or higher than amusement ratings). Also, only those from the South experienced significant increases in cortisol and testosterone following the insult (with no difference between the public and private insult conditions). Finally, no regional differences emerged in the interpretation of the ambiguous scenarios; however, the participants from the South were more likely to choose to receive a greater shock in the presence of the two confederates.

Field Research

Because social psychology is primarily focused on the social context—groups, families, cultures—researchers commonly leave the laboratory to collect data on life as it is actually lived. To do so, they use a variation of the laboratory experiment, called a field experiment . A field experiment is similar to a lab experiment except it uses real-world situations, such as people shopping at a grocery store. One of the major differences between field experiments and laboratory experiments is that the people in field experiments do not know they are participating in research, so—in theory—they will act more naturally. In a classic example from 1972, Alice Isen and Paula Levin wanted to explore the ways emotions affect helping behavior. To investigate this they observed the behavior of people at pay phones (I know! Pay phones! ). Half of the unsuspecting participants (determined by random assignment ) found a dime planted by researchers (I know! A dime! ) in the coin slot, while the other half did not. Presumably, finding a dime felt surprising and lucky and gave people a small jolt of happiness. Immediately after the unsuspecting participant left the phone booth, a confederate walked by and dropped a stack of papers. Almost 100% of those who found a dime helped to pick up the papers. And what about those who didn’t find a dime? Only 1 out 25 of them bothered to help.

In cases where it’s not practical or ethical to randomly assign participants to different experimental conditions, we can use naturalistic observation —unobtrusively watching people as they go about their lives. Consider, for example, a classic demonstration of the “ basking in reflected glory ” phenomenon: Robert Cialdini and his colleagues used naturalistic observation at seven universities to confirm that students are significantly more likely to wear clothing bearing the school name or logo on days following wins (vs. draws or losses) by the school’s varsity football team (Cialdini et al., 1976). In another study, by Jenny Radesky and her colleagues (2014), 40 out of 55 observations of caregivers eating at fast food restaurants with children involved a caregiver using a mobile device. The researchers also noted that caregivers who were most absorbed in their device tended to ignore the children’s behavior, followed by scolding, issuing repeated instructions, or using physical responses, such as kicking the children’s feet or pushing away their hands.

A group of techniques collectively referred to as experience sampling methods represent yet another way of conducting naturalistic observation, often by harnessing the power of technology. In some cases, participants are notified several times during the day by a pager, wristwatch, or a smartphone app to record data (e.g., by responding to a brief survey or scale on their smartphone, or in a diary). For example, in a study by Reed Larson and his colleagues (1994), mothers and fathers carried pagers for one week and reported their emotional states when beeped at random times during their daily activities at work or at home. The results showed that mothers reported experiencing more positive emotional states when away from home (including at work), whereas fathers showed the reverse pattern. A more recently developed technique, known as the electronically activated recorder , or EAR, does not even require participants to stop what they are doing to record their thoughts or feelings; instead, a small portable audio recorder or smartphone app is used to automatically record brief snippets of participants’ conversations throughout the day for later coding and analysis. For a more in-depth description of the EAR technique and other experience-sampling methods, see the NOBA module on Conducting Psychology Research in the Real World.

Survey Research

In this diverse world, survey research offers itself as an invaluable tool for social psychologists to study individual and group differences in people’s feelings, attitudes, or behaviors. For example, the World Values Survey II was based on large representative samples of 19 countries and allowed researchers to determine that the relationship between income and subjective well-being was stronger in poorer countries (Diener & Oishi, 2000). In other words, an increase in income has a much larger impact on your life satisfaction if you live in Nigeria than if you live in Canada. In another example, a nationally-representative survey in Germany with 16,000 respondents revealed that holding cynical beliefs is related to lower income (e.g., between 2003-2012 the income of the least cynical individuals increased by $300 per month, whereas the income of the most cynical individuals did not increase at all). Furthermore, survey data collected from 41 countries revealed that this negative correlation between cynicism and income is especially strong in countries where people in general engage in more altruistic behavior and tend not to be very cynical (Stavrova & Ehlebracht, 2016).

Of course, obtaining large, cross-cultural, and representative samples has become far easier since the advent of the internet and the proliferation of web-based survey platforms—such as Qualtrics—and participant recruitment platforms—such as Amazon’s Mechanical Turk. And although some researchers harbor doubts about the representativeness of online samples, studies have shown that internet samples are in many ways more diverse and representative than samples recruited from human subject pools (e.g., with respect to gender; Gosling et al., 2004). Online samples also compare favorably with traditional samples on attentiveness while completing the survey, reliability of data, and proportion of non-respondents (Paolacci et al., 2010).

Subtle/Nonconscious Research Methods

The methods we have considered thus far—field experiments, naturalistic observation, and surveys—work well when the thoughts, feelings, or behaviors being investigated are conscious and directly or indirectly observable. However, social psychologists often wish to measure or manipulate elements that are involuntary or nonconscious, such as when studying prejudicial attitudes people may be unaware of or embarrassed by. A good example of a technique that was developed to measure people’s nonconscious (and often ugly) attitudes is known as the implicit association test (IAT) (Greenwald et al., 1998). This computer-based task requires participants to sort a series of stimuli (as rapidly and accurately as possible) into simple and combined categories while their reaction time is measured (in milliseconds). For example, an IAT might begin with participants sorting the names of relatives (such as “Niece” or “Grandfather”) into the categories “Male” and “Female,” followed by a round of sorting the names of disciplines (such as “Chemistry” or “English”) into the categories “Arts” and “Science.” A third round might combine the earlier two by requiring participants to sort stimuli into either “Male or Science” or “Female and Arts” before the fourth round switches the combinations to “Female or Science” and “Male and Arts.” If across all of the trials a person is quicker at accurately sorting incoming stimuli into the compound category “Male or Science” than into “Female or Science,” the authors of the IAT suggest that the participant likely has a stronger association between males and science than between females and science. Incredibly, this specific gender-science IAT has been completed by more than half a million participants across 34 countries, about 70% of whom show an implicit stereotype associating science with males more than with females (Nosek et al., 2009). What’s more, when the data are grouped by country, national differences in implicit stereotypes predict national differences in the achievement gap between boys and girls in science and math. Our automatic associations, apparently, carry serious societal consequences.

Another nonconscious technique, known as priming , is often used to subtly manipulate behavior by activating or making more accessible certain concepts or beliefs. Consider the fascinating example of terror management theory (TMT) , whose authors believe that human beings are (unconsciously) terrified of their mortality (i.e., the fact that, some day, we will all die; Pyszczynski et al., 2003). According to TMT, in order to cope with this unpleasant reality (and the possibility that our lives are ultimately essentially meaningless), we cling firmly to systems of cultural and religious beliefs that give our lives meaning and purpose. If this hypothesis is correct, one straightforward prediction would be that people should cling even more firmly to their cultural beliefs when they are subtly reminded of their own mortality.

In one of the earliest tests of this hypothesis, actual municipal court judges in Arizona were asked to set a bond for an alleged prostitute immediately after completing a brief questionnaire. For half of the judges the questionnaire ended with questions about their thoughts and feelings regarding the prospect of their own death. Incredibly, judges in the experimental group that were primed with thoughts about their mortality set a significantly higher bond than those in the control group ($455 vs. $50!)—presumably because they were especially motivated to defend their belief system in the face of a violation of the law (Rosenblatt et al., 1989). Although the judges consciously completed the survey, what makes this a study of priming is that the second task (sentencing) was unrelated, so any influence of the survey on their later judgments would have been nonconscious. Similar results have been found in TMT studies in which participants were primed to think about death even more subtly, such as by having them complete questionnaires just before or after they passed a funeral home (Pyszczynski et al., 1996).

To verify that the subtle manipulation (e.g., questions about one’s death) has the intended effect (activating death-related thoughts), priming studies like these often include a manipulation check following the introduction of a prime. For example, right after being primed, participants in a TMT study might be given a word fragment task in which they have to complete words such as COFF_ _ or SK _ _ L. As you might imagine, participants in the mortality-primed experimental group typically complete these fragments as COFFIN and SKULL, whereas participants in the control group complete them as COFFEE and SKILL.

The use of priming to unwittingly influence behavior, known as social or behavioral priming (Ferguson & Mann, 2014), has been at the center of the recent “replication crisis” in Psychology (see the NOBA module on replication). Whereas earlier studies showed, for example, that priming people to think about old age makes them walk slower (Bargh, Chen, & Burrows, 1996), that priming them to think about a university professor boosts performance on a trivia game (Dijksterhuis & van Knippenberg, 1998), and that reminding them of mating motives (e.g., sex) makes them more willing to engage in risky behavior (Greitemeyer, Kastenmüller, & Fischer, 2013), several recent efforts to replicate these findings have failed (e.g., Harris et al., 2013; Shanks et al., 2013). Such failures to replicate findings highlight the need to ensure that both the original studies and replications are carefully designed, have adequate sample sizes, and that researchers pre-register their hypotheses and openly share their results—whether these support the initial hypothesis or not.

Archival Research

Imagine that a researcher wants to investigate how the presence of passengers in a car affects drivers’ performance. She could ask research participants to respond to questions about their own driving habits. Alternately, she might be able to access police records of the number of speeding tickets issued by automatic camera devices, then count the number of solo drivers versus those with passengers. This would be an example of archival research . The examination of archives, statistics, and other records such as speeches, letters, or even tweets, provides yet another window into social psychology. Although this method is typically used as a type of correlational research design—due to the lack of control over the relevant variables—archival research shares the higher ecological validity of naturalistic observation. That is, the observations are conducted outside the laboratory and represent real world behaviors. Moreover, because the archives being examined can be collected at any time and from many sources, this technique is especially flexible and often involves less expenditure of time and other resources during data collection.

Social psychologists have used archival research to test a wide variety of hypotheses using real-world data. For example, analyses of major league baseball games played during the 1986, 1987, and 1988 seasons showed that baseball pitchers were more likely to hit batters with a pitch on hot days (Reifman et al., 1991). Another study compared records of race-based lynching in the United States between 1882-1930 to the inflation-adjusted price of cotton during that time (a key indicator of the Deep South’s economic health), demonstrating a significant negative correlation between these variables. Simply put, there were significantly more lynchings when the price of cotton stayed flat, and fewer lynchings when the price of cotton rose (Beck & Tolnay, 1990; Hovland & Sears, 1940). This suggests that race-based violence is associated with the health of the economy.

More recently, analyses of social media posts have provided social psychologists with extremely large sets of data (“ big data ”) to test creative hypotheses. In an example of research on attitudes about vaccinations, Mitra and her colleagues (2016) collected over 3 million tweets sent by more than 32 thousand users over four years. Interestingly, they found that those who held (and tweeted) anti-vaccination attitudes were also more likely to tweet about their mistrust of government and beliefs in government conspiracies. Similarly, Eichstaedt and his colleagues (2015) used the language of 826 million tweets to predict community-level mortality rates from heart disease. That’s right: more anger-related words and fewer positive-emotion words in tweets predicted higher rates of heart disease.

In a more controversial example, researchers at Facebook attempted to test whether emotional contagion—the transfer of emotional states from one person to another—would occur if Facebook manipulated the content that showed up in its users’ News Feed (Kramer et al., 2014). And it did. When friends’ posts with positive expressions were concealed, users wrote slightly fewer positive posts (e.g., “Loving my new phone!”). Conversely, when posts with negative expressions were hidden, users wrote slightly fewer negative posts (e.g., “Got to go to work. Ugh.”). This suggests that people’s positivity or negativity can impact their social circles.

The controversial part of this study—which included 689,003 Facebook users and involved the analysis of over 3 million posts made over just one week—was the fact that Facebook did not explicitly request permission from users to participate. Instead, Facebook relied on the fine print in their data-use policy. And, although academic researchers who collaborated with Facebook on this study applied for ethical approval from their institutional review board (IRB), they apparently only did so after data collection was complete, raising further questions about the ethicality of the study and highlighting concerns about the ability of large, profit-driven corporations to subtly manipulate people’s social lives and choices.

Research Issues in Social Psychology

The question of representativeness.

Along with our counterparts in the other areas of psychology, social psychologists have been guilty of largely recruiting samples of convenience from the thin slice of humanity—students—found at universities and colleges (Sears, 1986). This presents a problem when trying to assess the social mechanics of the public at large. Aside from being an overrepresentation of young, middle-class Caucasians, college students may also be more compliant and more susceptible to attitude change, have less stable personality traits and interpersonal relationships, and possess stronger cognitive skills than samples reflecting a wider range of age and experience (Peterson & Merunka, 2014; Visser, Krosnick, & Lavrakas, 2000). Put simply, these traditional samples (college students) may not be sufficiently representative of the broader population. Furthermore, considering that 96% of participants in psychology studies come from western, educated, industrialized, rich, and democratic countries (so-called WEIRD cultures ; Henrich, Heine, & Norenzayan, 2010), and that the majority of these are also psychology students , the question of non-representativeness becomes even more serious.

Of course, when studying a basic cognitive process (like working memory capacity) or an aspect of social behavior that appears to be fairly universal (e.g., even cockroaches exhibit social facilitation!), a non-representative sample may not be a big deal. However, over time research has repeatedly demonstrated the important role that individual differences (e.g., personality traits, cognitive abilities, etc.) and culture (e.g., individualism vs. collectivism) play in shaping social behavior. For instance, even if we only consider a tiny sample of research on aggression, we know that narcissists are more likely to respond to criticism with aggression (Bushman & Baumeister, 1998); conservatives, who have a low tolerance for uncertainty, are more likely to prefer aggressive actions against those considered to be “outsiders” (de Zavala et al., 2010); countries where men hold the bulk of power in society have higher rates of physical aggression directed against female partners (Archer, 2006); and males from the southern part of the United States are more likely to react with aggression following an insult (Cohen et al., 1996).

Ethics in Social Psychological Research

For better or worse (but probably for worse), when we think about the most unethical studies in psychology, we think about social psychology. Imagine, for example, encouraging people to deliver what they believe to be a dangerous electric shock to a stranger (with bloodcurdling screams for added effect!). This is considered a “classic” study in social psychology. Or, how about having students play the role of prison guards, deliberately and sadistically abusing other students in the role of prison inmates. Yep, social psychology too. Of course, both Stanley Milgram’s (1963) experiments on obedience to authority and the Stanford prison study (Haney et al., 1973) would be considered unethical by today’s standards, which have progressed with our understanding of the field. Today, we follow a series of guidelines and receive prior approval from our institutional research boards before beginning such experiments. Among the most important principles are the following:

• Informed consent: In general, people should know when they are involved in research, and understand what will happen to them during the study (at least in general terms that do not give away the hypothesis). They are then given the choice to participate, along with the freedom to withdraw from the study at any time. This is precisely why the Facebook emotional contagion study discussed earlier is considered ethically questionable. Still, it’s important to note that certain kinds of methods—such as naturalistic observation in public spaces, or archival research based on public records—do not require obtaining informed consent.
• Privacy: Although it is permissible to observe people’s actions in public—even without them knowing—researchers cannot violate their privacy by observing them in restrooms or other private spaces without their knowledge and consent. Researchers also may not identify individual participants in their research reports (we typically report only group means and other statistics). With online data collection becoming increasingly popular, researchers also have to be mindful that they follow local data privacy laws, collect only the data that they really need (e.g., avoiding including unnecessary questions in surveys), strictly restrict access to the raw data, and have a plan in place to securely destroy the data after it is no longer needed.
• Risks and Benefits: People who participate in psychological studies should be exposed to risk only if they fully understand the risks and only if the likely benefits clearly outweigh those risks. The Stanford prison study is a notorious example of a failure to meet this obligation. It was planned to run for two weeks but had to be shut down after only six days because of the abuse suffered by the “prison inmates.” But even less extreme cases, such as researchers wishing to investigate implicit prejudice using the IAT, need to be considerate of the consequences of providing feedback to participants about their nonconscious biases. Similarly, any manipulations that could potentially provoke serious emotional reactions (e.g., the culture of honor study described above) or relatively permanent changes in people’s beliefs or behaviors (e.g., attitudes towards recycling) need to be carefully reviewed by the IRB.
• Deception: Social psychologists sometimes need to deceive participants (e.g., using a cover story) to avoid demand characteristics by hiding the true nature of the study. This is typically done to prevent participants from modifying their behavior in unnatural ways, especially in laboratory or field experiments. For example, when Milgram recruited participants for his experiments on obedience to authority, he described it as being a study of the effects of punishment on memory! Deception is typically only permitted (a) when the benefits of the study outweigh the risks, (b) participants are not reasonably expected to be harmed, (c) the research question cannot be answered without the use of deception, and (d) participants are informed about the deception as soon as possible, usually through debriefing.
• Debriefing: This is the process of informing research participants as soon as possible of the purpose of the study, revealing any deceptions, and correcting any misconceptions they might have as a result of participating. Debriefing also involves minimizing harm that might have occurred. For example, an experiment examining the effects of sad moods on charitable behavior might involve inducing a sad mood in participants by having them think sad thoughts, watch a sad video, or listen to sad music. Debriefing would therefore be the time to return participants’ moods to normal by having them think happy thoughts, watch a happy video, or listen to happy music.

As an immensely social species, we affect and influence each other in many ways, particularly through our interactions and cultural expectations, both conscious and nonconscious. The study of social psychology examines much of the business of our everyday lives, including our thoughts, feelings, and behaviors we are unaware or ashamed of. The desire to carefully and precisely study these topics, together with advances in technology, has led to the development of many creative techniques that allow researchers to explore the mechanics of how we relate to one another. Consider this your invitation to join the investigation.

Outside Resources

Discussion questions.

• What are some pros and cons of experimental research, field research, and archival research?
• How would you feel if you learned that you had been a participant in a naturalistic observation study (without explicitly providing your consent)? How would you feel if you learned during a debriefing procedure that you have a stronger association between the concept of violence and members of visible minorities? Can you think of other examples of when following principles of ethical research create challenging situations?
• Can you think of an attitude (other than those related to prejudice) that would be difficult or impossible to measure by asking people directly?
• What do you think is the difference between a manipulation check and a dependent variable?
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• Haney, C., Banks, C., & Zimbardo, P. (1973). Interpersonal dynamics in a simulated prison. International Journal of Criminology and Penology, 1, 69-97.
• Harris, C. R., Coburn, N., Rohrer, D., & Pashler, H. (2013). Two failures to replicate high-performance-goal priming effects. PLoS ONE , 8(8): e72467. doi:10.1371/journal.pone.0072467
• Henrich, J., Heine, S., & Norenzayan, A. (2010). The weirdest people in the world? Behavioral and Brain Sciences , 33(2-3), 61-83. http://dx.doi.org/10.1017/S0140525X0999152X
• Hovland, C. I., & Sears, R. R. (1940). Minor studies of aggression: VI. Correlation of lynchings with economic indices. The Journal of Psychology , 9(2), 301-310. doi: 10.1080/00223980.1940.9917696
• Isen, A. M., & Levin, P. F. (1972). Effect of feeling good on helping: Cookies and kindness. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 21(3), 384-388. http://dx.doi.org/10.1037/h0032317
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• Larson, R. W., Richards, M. H., & Perry-Jenkins, M. (1994). Divergent worlds: the daily emotional experience of mothers and fathers in the domestic and public spheres. Journal of Personality and Social Psychology , 67(6), 1034-1046.
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Social Psychology Experiments: 10 Of The Most Famous Studies

Ten of the most influential social psychology experiments explain why we sometimes do dumb or irrational things. 

Ten of the most influential social psychology experiments explain why we sometimes do dumb or irrational things.

“I have been primarily interested in how and why ordinary people do unusual things, things that seem alien to their natures. Why do good people sometimes act evil? Why do smart people sometimes do dumb or irrational things?” –Philip Zimbardo

Like famous social psychologist Professor Philip Zimbardo (author of The Lucifer Effect: Understanding How Good People Turn Evil ), I’m also obsessed with why we do dumb or irrational things.

The answer quite often is because of other people — something social psychologists have comprehensively shown.

Each of the 10 brilliant social psychology experiments below tells a unique, insightful story relevant to all our lives, every day.

Click the link in each social psychology experiment to get the full description and explanation of each phenomenon.

1. Social Psychology Experiments: The Halo Effect

The halo effect is a finding from a famous social psychology experiment.

It is the idea that global evaluations about a person (e.g. she is likeable) bleed over into judgements about their specific traits (e.g. she is intelligent).

It is sometimes called the “what is beautiful is good” principle, or the “physical attractiveness stereotype”.

It is called the halo effect because a halo was often used in religious art to show that a person is good.

2. Cognitive Dissonance

Cognitive dissonance is the mental discomfort people feel when trying to hold two conflicting beliefs in their mind.

People resolve this discomfort by changing their thoughts to align with one of conflicting beliefs and rejecting the other.

The study provides a central insight into the stories we tell ourselves about why we think and behave the way we do.

3. Robbers Cave Experiment: How Group Conflicts Develop

The Robbers Cave experiment was a famous social psychology experiment on how prejudice and conflict emerged between two group of boys.

It shows how groups naturally develop their own cultures, status structures and boundaries — and then come into conflict with each other.

For example, each country has its own culture, its government, legal system and it draws boundaries to differentiate itself from neighbouring countries.

One of the reasons the became so famous is that it appeared to show how groups could be reconciled, how peace could flourish.

The key was the focus on superordinate goals, those stretching beyond the boundaries of the group itself.

4. Social Psychology Experiments: The Stanford Prison Experiment

The Stanford prison experiment was run to find out how people would react to being made a prisoner or prison guard.

The psychologist Philip Zimbardo, who led the Stanford prison experiment, thought ordinary, healthy people would come to behave cruelly, like prison guards, if they were put in that situation, even if it was against their personality.

It has since become a classic social psychology experiment, studied by generations of students and recently coming under a lot of criticism.

5. The Milgram Social Psychology Experiment

The Milgram experiment , led by the well-known psychologist Stanley Milgram in the 1960s, aimed to test people’s obedience to authority.

The results of Milgram’s social psychology experiment, sometimes known as the Milgram obedience study, continue to be both thought-provoking and controversial.

The Milgram experiment discovered people are much more obedient than you might imagine.

Fully 63 percent of the participants continued administering what appeared like electric shocks to another person while they screamed in agony, begged to stop and eventually fell silent — just because they were told to.

6. The False Consensus Effect

The false consensus effect is a famous social psychological finding that people tend to assume that others agree with them.

It could apply to opinions, values, beliefs or behaviours, but people assume others think and act in the same way as they do.

It is hard for many people to believe the false consensus effect exists because they quite naturally believe they are good ‘intuitive psychologists’, thinking it is relatively easy to predict other people’s attitudes and behaviours.

In reality, people show a number of predictable biases, such as the false consensus effect, when estimating other people’s behaviour and its causes.

7. Social Psychology Experiments: Social Identity Theory

Social identity theory helps to explain why people’s behaviour in groups is fascinating and sometimes disturbing.

People gain part of their self from the groups they belong to and that is at the heart of social identity theory.

The famous theory explains why as soon as humans are bunched together in groups we start to do odd things: copy other members of our group, favour members of own group over others, look for a leader to worship and fight other groups.

8. Negotiation: 2 Psychological Strategies That Matter Most

Negotiation is one of those activities we often engage in without quite realising it.

Negotiation doesn’t just happen in the boardroom, or when we ask our boss for a raise or down at the market, it happens every time we want to reach an agreement with someone.

In a classic, award-winning series of social psychology experiments, Morgan Deutsch and Robert Krauss investigated two central factors in negotiation: how we communicate with each other and how we use threats.

9. Bystander Effect And The Diffusion Of Responsibility

The bystander effect in social psychology is the surprising finding that the mere presence of other people inhibits our own helping behaviours in an emergency.

The bystander effect social psychology experiments are mentioned in every psychology textbook and often dubbed ‘seminal’.

This famous social psychology experiment on the bystander effect was inspired by the highly publicised murder of Kitty Genovese in 1964.

It found that in some circumstances, the presence of others inhibits people’s helping behaviours — partly because of a phenomenon called diffusion of responsibility.

10. Asch Conformity Experiment: The Power Of Social Pressure

The Asch conformity experiments — some of the most famous every done — were a series of social psychology experiments carried out by noted psychologist Solomon Asch.

The Asch conformity experiment reveals how strongly a person’s opinions are affected by people around them.

In fact, the Asch conformity experiment shows that many of us will deny our own senses just to conform with others.

Author: Dr Jeremy Dean

Psychologist, Jeremy Dean, PhD is the founder and author of PsyBlog. He holds a doctorate in psychology from University College London and two other advanced degrees in psychology. He has been writing about scientific research on PsyBlog since 2004. View all posts by Dr Jeremy Dean

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TOPIC Research Group

• [email protected]

The TOPIC Research Group is focused on optimising psychological interventions for the prevention and treatment of common mental health problems in children and adolescents. Contact us:  [email protected]  | Connect with us:  https://twitter.com/topic_group

Improving outcomes from psychological interventions for children and adolescents:

Identifying key psychological mechanisms

Increasing engagement and acceptability

Reducing inadvertent harms from interventions.

Improving access to effective psychological interventions:

Developing and testing screening approaches

Increasing efficiency of interventions.

Our Approach

To maximise the impact and effectiveness of our research, we work closely with a diverse range of partners including:

• Children, adolescents, and their parents/carers
• Health and social care providers
• Voluntary and community sector organisations
• Industry partners
• Policy makers.

We share our protocols, data, and code where possible, using sits including Prospero, OSF, and the UK Data Service.

Our Methods

We use a broad range of methods including:

• Co-design approaches
• Qualitative research
• Experimental studies
• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses
• Cross-sectional and longitudinal studies
• Clinical studies, including case series, feasibility, and pilot trials
• Randomised controlled trials.

Check out our video introducing who we are and what we do

Research Studies within the TOPIC group:

1.  Theme name : Adolescent anxiety disorders  

Research Lead: Polly Waite

We are conducting research on the development, maintenance and psychological treatment of anxiety disorders in adolescents. The majority of treatment trials for anxiety disorders in children and young people have either not included adolescents or include them in relatively small numbers and therefore our research focuses on identifying key maintenance factors within this age group in order to ultimately develop targeted, developmentally appropriate treatments with optimal outcomes. The research uses a broad range of methods (including experimental and qualitative methods, clinical trials and systematic reviews), with adolescents from both clinical and community settings (such as schools).

2.  Project name:   Emerging Minds

Chief Investigator:  Cathy Creswell Network Manager:  Emily Lloyd Communications and Administrative Assistant: Heather Dyer

Emerging Minds is a research network that aims to reduce the prevalence of mental health problems experienced by children and young people. Our members are particularly focused on mental health promotion, prevention and early treatment of mental health problems.  We offer funding for research along with cross-sector placements for researchers, training and networking events. 

We are working across sectors and disciplines to tackle 4 research challenges. Our research challenges have been developed in partnership with young people, their families, practitioners and policy makers. 

3.  Project name: Co-SPACE - COVID-19: Supporting Parents, Adolescents and Children during Epidemics

Chief Investigators:  Polly Waite , Cathy Creswell   and Simona Skripkauskaite Postdoctoral researchers: Ning Ding Research Assistant:  Lowrie Burgess

The Co-SPACE study tracked children and young people’s mental health throughout the COVID-19 crisis, with parents and young people completing monthly follow-up surveys between March 2020 and July 2021. Individual interviews were also conducted with parents, young people, and stakeholders to gain greater insight into their experiences. The Co-SPACE study will examine the longer-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on parent and child mental health through follow-up surveys administered to parents in March 2022, November 2022 and March 2023. The Co-SPACE study will tell us how families coped during the COVID-19 pandemic, what parents can do to help support their children’s mental health, and what support families might need going forward.

 4. Project name: SPARKLE  - Supporting Parents and Kids through Lockdown Experiences

Chief Investigator:  Edmund Sonuga-Barke Research Assistants:  Olly Robertson

5. Project name:   Co-Ray - Evidence based mental health and wellbeing  R esources made for  A nd by   Y oung people in the  CO VID-19 context

Chief Investigator:  Cathy Creswell Research Lead:  Emily Lloyd Postdoctoral researcher:  Rebecca Watson Research Assistant: Lowrie Burgess

The COVID-19 pandemic has caused extensive disruption and challenges within the lives of young people. The Co-RAY project, funded by the UKRI Medical Research Council and the Westminster Foundation, aims to support young people’s mental health during the COVID-19 pandemic, particularly those aged 11 – 16 years. We will be making sense of what research says young people are finding difficult during this time and working closely with young people throughout the project to hear what they would find most helpful to support their mental health. Based on what research says and what young people aged 11 – 16 years think are the priorities, we will develop and share helpful resources. We will make sure young people can easily access useful resources that are already available, as well as working closely with partner organisations (i.e. Headliners UK, Fully Focused Productions) to enable young people to produce new resources (such as films, illustrations, blogs) to support other young people’s mental health.

6. Project name: iCATS-i2i - identifying Child Anxiety Through Schools-identification to intervention

Investigator: Cathy Creswell Research Lead: Tessa Reardon Trial Manager: Lucy Taylor Postdoctoral researcher:   Victoria Williamson   Well-being practitioner: Iheoma Green , Ciara Hennigan Research Assistants: Jeni Fisk,  Emily Day ,  Olly Robertson

iCATS-i2i is a research project, funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR). Anxiety problems are common in children, but many children with anxiety problems don't receive support.  It can be hard to identify anxiety problems in children, and make judgements about whether a child may benefit from support or not. Families also face difficulties accessing support. Our aim is to develop and evaluate a new way of identifying children with anxiety problems and providing these children with effective support, through primary schools. We are currently looking for primary schools in England with at least 2 classes in Years 4-6 to work with us on the first part of this groundbreaking project. ​Want to find out more?  Please get in touch with the iCATS-i2i Team.

7.  Project name:   MY-CATS – Minimising Young Children’s Anxiety Through Schools

Chief Investigator:  Cathy Creswell Research Lead: Tessa Reardon Trial Manager: Anna Placzek Clinical Psychologist: Gemma Halliday Postdoctoral researcher:    Samantha Pearcey Well-being practitioners: Ruth Potts, Lindsey Martineau,  Tamatha Weisser , Joshua Wright Research Assistants:   Chloe Hooper,   Beth Hindhaugh ,  Laura Hankey Research Administrator:  Amy McCall

MY-CATS is a research project which aims to evaluate the effectiveness and cost effectiveness of systematic screening for children (aged 4-7) at risk for anxiety disorders, on the basis of one or more risks, and provision of an online intervention to parents. 

We are adapting our existing online intervention for parents of children aged 4-7 who are at risk of developing anxiety problems, and we will then test it out in a large cluster randomised controlled trial involving 60 primary schools. The project involves parents completing questionnaires to help identify which children may be most likely to benefit from support. Where responses suggest the child is at risk of developing anxiety problems and may be most likely to benefit from support, parents in 30 ‘intervention’ schools will be offered an online intervention with telephone support from a wellbeing practitioner, and parents in 30 ‘control’ schools will not be offered the intervention. The intervention is designed to help parents encourage their child to build confidence and minimise problems with anxiety by providing them with skills and strategies for now and in the future.  We will compare outcomes for families who are and are not offered the intervention and assess whether it is good value for money. We will also look at characteristics of families who do and do not benefit, and what helps the intervention to work.

8.  Project name:   Co-CAT - Child Anxiety Treatment in the context of COVID-19 

Chief Investigator:  Cathy Creswell Research Lead:  Lucy Taylor Research Assistants: Emma Brooks , Lucy Radley , Emily Whitaker

Child Anxiety Treatment in the context of COVID-19 (Co-CAT) is a randomised controlled trial exploring the efficacy and cost-effectiveness of a novel online parent-led intervention for child anxiety disorders, funded by UKRI/NIHR. The trial involves working with child and adolescent mental health service teams across the country to recruit 560 children (aged 5-12 years) and their parents/carers where the child has a primary anxiety problem. After completed online baseline assessments, families are randomised to receive either an online parent led psychological intervention with therapist support throughout (OSI+therapist support) or treatment as usual (in the COVID-19 context). Families will also complete online assessments 16 and 24 weeks later. A subsample of parents and clinicians will be invited to take part in qualitative interviews.

9. Project name:   Incubator for Mental Health Research

Chief Investigator:  Cathy Creswell Communications and Administrative Manager:  Beatrice Shelley

The incubator for mental health research is one of a series of incubators established by the National Institute of Health and Care Research (NIHR) to build research capacity in priority areas. It is led by Professor Cathy Creswell and has been created to increase capacity in mental health research. This website offers advice to aspiring researchers in mental health through case studies, training and funding opportunities, and offers tips.

10. Project name: Learning from the trajectories of mental health challenges for children, young people and parents across Japan and the UK over the course of COVID-19

Chief Investigators: Simona Skripkauskaite and Naho Morasaki

This collaboration between the University of Oxford and the National Center for Child Health and Development (NCCHD) in Japan aims to compare the mental health of parents, adolescents and children across the two countries during and after the COVID-19 pandemic. The Co-SPACE study will examine the longer-term effects of the COVID-19 pandemic on parent and child mental health through follow-up surveys administered to parents in March 2022, November 2022 and March 2023. The Co-SPACE study will tell us how families coped during the COVID-19 pandemic, what parents can do to help support their children’s mental health, and what support families might need going forward.

Research Administrator for the TOPIC group: Katie Fletcher

DPhil Students

Helen Manley  -  2nd year DPhil student researching the role of primary school teachers in supporting and managing anxiety in children. Helen is investigating whether the way in which teachers manage their classrooms day-to-day can have positive effects on anxiety. Her project aims to develop and assess the feasibility of a classroom management training intervention designed to help teachers respond to, and ultimately reduce, anxiety in primary school-aged children. Helen's DPhil is funded by the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR) Applied Research Collaboration Oxford and Thames Valley at Oxford Health NHS Foundation Trust. 

En-Nien Tu  -  2nd year DPhil student focusing on developing early intervention strategies for genetically high-risk offspring of bipolar disorder to improve their developmental trajectories and clinical outcomes. His project aims to develop a parent-led intervention to help parents with bipolar disorder help their children cope with their anxiety disorder, which is an important prodrome before the onset of bipolar disorder.

Layla Rashid  -  is an MSc student in the Department of Experimental Psychology at the University of Oxford. Layla’s work is funded by the 1+3 ESRC Grand Union Doctoral Training Programme. Her work in the  TOPIC Research Group and  oRANGE lab focuses on exploring the relationship between child adversity and the impact this has on later psychopathology.   Her research integrates methods from social epidemiology, clinical and developmental psychology to guide and adapt treatment interventions by identifying protective factors that promote positive psychopathology among vulnerable and at-risk populations.   

Carolina Guzman Holst

Jenifer Wild

Cathy Creswell

Professor of Developmental Clinical Psychology

Polly Waite

Associate Professor of Clinical Psychology

Tessa Reardon

Research Fellow

Emily Lloyd

Research Support - Emerging Minds Network Manager

Victoria Williamson

Qualitative Research Fellow

Chloe Chessell

Postdoctoral Researcher

Gemma Halliday

Research Clinical Psychologist

Researcher Programme Administrator

DPhil Candidate

Beatrice Shelley

Communications and Network Coordinator

Heather Dyer

Research Support

Wellbeing Practitioner

Lucy Taylor

Clinical Trial Manager

Lucy Radley

Research Assistant

Chloe Hooper

Emily Whitaker

Marinos Bomikazi Lupindo

Helen Manley

Layla Rashid

Jennifer Wild

Visiting Professor of Experimental Psychology

Research Administrator and PA to Cathy Creswell

Postdoctoral Research Associate

Clare Stothart

Simona Skripkauskaite

Senior Postdoctoral Researcher

Eleanor Leigh

Associate Professor

Charlotte Mason

Naomi Tromans

Hjordis Lorenz

Lucy Foulkes

Prudence Trust Research Fellow

Jasmine Laing

Gino Hipolito

Sophie Grant

Lottie Shipp

Maxwell Klapow

Kiera Adams

Sasha Johnston

Selected publications.

Journal article

CRESWELL C. et al, (2024), Cognitive Behaviour Therapy

CRESWELL C. et al, (2024), BMJ Open

CRESWELL C. et al, (2024), Psychology Assessment

Williamson V. et al, (2024), BMJ Open, 14

adams K. et al, (2024), Neuroscience and Biobehavioral Reviews

Foulkes L., (2024), BJPsych

Ryan ZJ. et al, (2024), Q J Exp Psychol (Hove)

Guzman Holst C. et al, (2024)

Chiu K. et al, (2024), JCPP Advances

Foulkes L. and Andrews JL., (2024), Eur Child Adolesc Psychiatry

CRESWELL C. et al, (2024), Journal of Child Psychology and Psychiatry

Tu E-N. et al, (2024), J Am Acad Child Adolesc Psychiatry, 63, 407 - 421

Delaney PG. et al, (2024), Injury

WAITE P., (2024), Behavioural and Cognitive Psychotherapy

Foulkes L. et al, (2024), Nature Mental Health

Related research themes

260 Best Experimental Psychology Research Topics for College Students

Let’s dive into the world of experimental psychology research topics for college students! This field is all about understanding why we behave the way we do and how our minds tick. From famous experiments that changed our views to fresh studies pushing boundaries, there’s so much to explore.

Imagine digging into why we make decisions influenced by others, unlocking how our memory really works, or testing out new ways to help people feel better mentally. It’s like peeking behind the curtain of our minds—super fascinating and full of discoveries!

Experimental Psychology Research Topics

Table of Contents

How do I choose a psychology research topic for College Students?

Here are some simple steps to guide you:

Ignite Your Curiosity

Personal Interest: What fascinates you in psychology? Social interactions, the mind, or mental health? Coursework: Look at your class notes and discussions. What caught your attention?

Explore and Refine

Brainstorm: Write down specific questions or themes in your area of interest. Research Feasibility: Check with your professor for any restrictions. Search databases like PsycINFO or Google Scholar to see if there’s enough research on your topic.

Consider These Factors

Manageability: Can you research this topic within your timeframe and resources? Originality: Is there a unique angle you can explore within a known topic?

Additional Tips

Talk to Your Professor: Get guidance on narrowing down or refining your topic. Browse Psychology Websites or Journals: Stay updated on current research and trends.

A Good Research Topic Should Be

Interesting to You: Your enthusiasm will drive your research and writing. Specific Enough: Avoid broad topics that can be overwhelming. Feasible: Ensure you have enough resources for research.

Follow these steps to find a compelling psychology research topic!

Experimental Psychology Research Topics PDF

Check out some of the popular experimental psychology research topics:-

Social Psychology

Impact of social media on self-esteem.

• Key Points: Explore how social media usage affects self-esteem in college students.
• Factors: Consider types of social media interactions, comparison behaviors, and self-perception.
• Method: Conduct surveys, interviews, and self-esteem assessments before and after social media exposure.

Group Dynamics and Decision-Making

• Key Points: Investigate how group dynamics influence decision-making processes.
• Factors: Consider group size, cohesion, leadership styles, and conformity pressures.
• Method: Use experimental scenarios or simulations to observe group decision-making behaviors.

Peer Pressure and Risk-Taking

• Key Points: Examine the effects of peer pressure on risky behaviors among college students.
• Factors: Explore peer influence, social norms, and individual risk perceptions.
• Method: Conduct controlled experiments or longitudinal studies to track behavior changes.

Perception of Authority Figures

• Key Points: Study how individuals perceive and respond to authority figures.
• Factors: Consider power dynamics, obedience levels, and ethical considerations.
• Method: Use role-playing scenarios or observational studies to analyze behavior in authority contexts.

Bystander Effect in Emergencies

• Key Points: Investigate bystander behavior during emergencies or crisis situations.
• Factors: Explore diffusion of responsibility, social influence, and intervention tendencies.
• Method: Use simulated emergencies or real-life case studies to analyze bystander responses.

Cognitive Psychology

Effects of music on memory recall.

• Key Points: Explore how background music influences memory recall in academic settings.
• Factors: Consider music genres, volume levels, and cognitive load.
• Method: Conduct controlled experiments with memory tasks and varied music conditions.

Attention and Multitasking

• Key Points: Study the impact of multitasking on attention and task performance.
• Factors: Analyze attentional resources, task-switching abilities, and distractions.
• Method: Use cognitive tests, reaction time measurements, and task-switching experiments.

Language and Thought Processes

• Key Points: Examine the relationship between language use and cognitive processes.
• Factors: Explore linguistic relativity, language development, and cognitive biases.
• Method: Conduct language-based experiments, semantic priming tasks, and cognitive assessments.

Sleep Deprivation and Cognitive Functions

• Key Points: Investigate the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance.
• Factors: Analyze sleep quality, duration, and cognitive fatigue.
• Method: Use sleep deprivation protocols, cognitive tests, and subjective assessments.

Problem-Solving Skills

• Key Points: Assess factors that influence problem-solving abilities in college students.
• Factors: Consider cognitive flexibility, strategy use, and domain-specific knowledge.
• Method: Design problem-solving tasks, puzzles, and case studies to measure skill levels.

Developmental Psychology

Parenting styles and child development.

• Key Points: Examine the effects of different parenting styles on child behavior and emotional development.
• Factors: Consider authoritative, authoritarian, permissive parenting styles, and their impact on children’s self-esteem and resilience.
• Method: Use longitudinal studies, behavioral observations, and parent-child interaction tasks.

Birth Order and Personality Traits

• Key Points: Investigate how birth order influences personality traits and behavior.
• Factors: Analyze sibling dynamics, parental expectations, and family roles.
• Method: Conduct surveys, personality assessments, and birth order comparisons within families.

Early Childhood Education Programs

• Key Points: Assess the long-term effects of early education programs on academic achievement and social skills.
• Factors: Consider quality of preschool programs, educational approaches, and school readiness outcomes.
• Method: Use longitudinal studies, standardized testing, and teacher evaluations.

Impact of Divorce on Children’s Emotional Development

• Key Points: Study the psychological effects of parental divorce on children’s emotional well-being.
• Factors: Explore coping mechanisms, resilience factors, and adjustment difficulties.
• Method: Conduct interviews, psychological assessments, and behavioral observations.

Cognitive and Emotional Changes in Adolescence

• Key Points: Examine cognitive development and emotional regulation during adolescence.
• Factors: Analyze brain maturation, peer influences, and identity formation.
• Method: Use neuropsychological tests, emotion regulation tasks, and longitudinal studies.

Personality Psychology

Personality traits and academic performance.

• Key Points: Investigate the relationship between personality traits (e.g., conscientiousness, openness) and academic success.
• Factors: Consider study habits, motivation levels, and learning styles.
• Method: Conduct personality assessments, academic achievement tests, and correlation analyses.

Culture and Personality Development

• Key Points: Examine how cultural values and norms shape personality traits and behaviors.
• Factors: Analyze collectivism vs. individualism, cultural dimensions, and acculturation processes.
• Method: Use cross-cultural surveys, cultural identity measures, and qualitative interviews.

Personality and Career Choice

• Key Points: Study how personality traits influence career preferences and vocational outcomes.
• Factors: Consider career interests, job satisfaction, and occupational success.
• Method: Conduct career assessments, vocational interest inventories, and longitudinal career studies.

Traumatic Experiences and Personality Development

• Key Points: Investigate the impact of trauma on personality development and coping mechanisms.
• Factors: Analyze post-traumatic growth, resilience factors, and PTSD symptoms.
• Method: Use trauma assessments, psychological interviews, and trauma-focused interventions.

Stability of Personality Traits Over Time

• Key Points: Examine the stability and change of personality traits across different life stages.
• Factors: Consider life events, environmental influences, and genetic predispositions.
• Method: Conduct longitudinal studies, personality inventories at multiple time points, and trait stability analyses.

Health Psychology

Effects of stress on physical health.

• Key Points: Examine the relationship between stress and physical health outcomes.
• Factors: Consider physiological responses to stress, such as inflammation and immune system functioning.
• Method: Use surveys, biological markers, and longitudinal studies to assess stress-related health effects.

Influence of Social Support on Mental Health

• Key Points: Study how social support networks impact mental well-being.
• Factors: Consider types of support (emotional, instrumental) and their effects on coping mechanisms.
• Method: Use surveys, social network analysis, and psychological assessments to measure social support and mental health outcomes.

Study on the Placebo Effect in Pain Management

• Key Points: Investigate the psychological mechanisms behind the placebo effect in pain relief.
• Factors: Consider placebo response rates, expectations, and neurobiological mechanisms.
• Method: Use experimental pain studies, placebo interventions, and neuroimaging techniques to study the placebo effect.

Relationship Between Exercise and Mood

• Key Points: Examine the effects of exercise on mood regulation and mental health.
• Factors: Consider types of exercise, frequency, and duration in relation to mood improvement.
• Method: Use exercise interventions, mood assessments, and physiological measures to study the exercise-mood relationship.

Effects of Mindfulness Meditation on Stress Reduction

• Key Points: Explore how mindfulness meditation practices impact stress levels.
• Factors: Consider mindfulness techniques, meditation duration, and frequency.
• Method: Use mindfulness interventions, stress assessments, and psychological measures to study the effects of meditation on stress.

Abnormal Psychology

Study on the causes of phobias.

• Key Points: Investigate the origins and development of specific phobias.
• Factors: Consider genetic predisposition, environmental influences, and conditioning processes.
• Method: Use fear conditioning experiments, case studies, and cognitive-behavioral assessments to study phobia development.

Effects of Therapy on Treating Depression

• Key Points: Examine the effectiveness of different therapeutic approaches for depression.
• Factors: Consider psychotherapy, medication, and combination treatments.
• Method: Use randomized controlled trials, meta-analyses, and longitudinal studies to assess treatment outcomes.

Influence of Genetics and Environment on Schizophrenia

• Key Points: Study the interplay between genetic and environmental factors in schizophrenia.
• Factors: Consider genetic markers, prenatal influences, and psychosocial stressors.
• Method: Use twin studies, genetic analyses, and environmental assessments to study schizophrenia etiology.

Impact of Stigma on Individuals with Mental Illness

• Key Points: Examine how societal stigma affects individuals with mental health disorders.
• Factors: Consider stereotypes, discrimination, and self-stigma.
• Method: Use surveys, qualitative interviews, and stigma assessments to study the impact of stigma on mental health.

Study on the Efficacy of Different Treatments for Anxiety Disorders

• Key Points: Investigate the effectiveness of various treatments for anxiety disorders.
• Factors: Consider cognitive-behavioral therapy, medication, and alternative therapies.
• Method: Use clinical trials, treatment outcome studies, and systematic reviews to assess anxiety treatment efficacy.

Environmental Psychology

Effects of natural environments on well-being.

• Key Points: Explore how exposure to natural environments influences psychological well-being.
• Factors: Consider nature settings, green spaces, and access to natural light.
• Method: Conduct field studies, psychological assessments, and mood evaluations in natural and urban environments.

Influence of Urban Design on Social Interactions

• Key Points: Investigate how urban design elements impact social behaviors and interactions.
• Factors: Consider urban density, street layouts, and public spaces.
• Method: Use observational studies, social interaction analyses, and urban planning assessments to study urban design effects.

Impact of Noise Pollution on Cognitive Performance

• Key Points: Examine the effects of noise pollution on cognitive functions and task performance.
• Factors: Consider noise levels, types of noise (ambient, intermittent), and cognitive tasks.
• Method: Conduct controlled experiments, cognitive assessments, and noise exposure studies to evaluate noise effects.

Study on the Psychology of Sustainable Behaviors

• Key Points: Explore psychological factors influencing sustainable behaviors and environmental conservation.
• Factors: Consider attitudes, beliefs, and motivations related to sustainability.
• Method: Use surveys, behavioral experiments, and intervention studies to promote sustainable behaviors.

Relationship Between Indoor Plants and Mental Health

• Key Points: Investigate the psychological effects of indoor plants on mental well-being.
• Factors: Consider plant presence, aesthetics, and perceived stress reduction.
• Method: Conduct indoor plant interventions, mental health assessments, and environmental psychology surveys to study plant effects.

Educational Psychology

Effects of classroom design on student learning.

• Key Points: Examine how classroom environments impact student learning outcomes.
• Factors: Consider classroom layout, seating arrangements, and environmental stimuli.
• Method: Conduct classroom observations, learning assessments, and student surveys to evaluate classroom design effects.

Influence of Motivation on Academic Achievement

• Key Points: Investigate the role of motivation in student academic performance.
• Factors: Consider intrinsic and extrinsic motivation, goal setting, and self-regulation.
• Method: Use motivation assessments, academic records, and self-report surveys to study motivation effects.

Impact of Teacher Expectations on Student Performance

• Key Points: Explore how teacher expectations influence student academic achievement.
• Factors: Consider teacher-student interactions, feedback, and stereotype threat.
• Method: Conduct teacher expectation experiments, academic assessments, and student evaluations to assess teacher impact.

Study on the Effectiveness of Technology in Education

• Key Points: Examine the effectiveness of technology integration in enhancing student learning.
• Factors: Consider educational apps, online platforms, and digital resources.
• Method: Conduct technology intervention studies, educational assessments, and learning outcome evaluations to evaluate technology effects.

Relationship Between Learning Styles and Academic Success

• Key Points: Investigate how individual learning styles impact student academic achievement.
• Factors: Consider visual, auditory, and kinesthetic learning styles, and learning preferences.
• Method: Use learning style assessments, academic performance analyses, and student feedback to study learning style effects.

Effects of Social Support on Health Outcomes

• Key Points: Investigate how social support networks influence physical and mental health.
• Factors: Consider types of support (emotional, instrumental), social network size, and coping mechanisms.
• Method: Use health assessments, social network analyses, and longitudinal studies to study social support effects.

Impact of Health Beliefs on Health Behavior

• Key Points: Examine how individual beliefs about health and illness influence health behaviors.
• Factors: Consider health belief model constructs (perceived susceptibility, severity, benefits, barriers) and behavior change theories.
• Method: Conduct surveys, health behavior assessments, and intervention studies to study belief-behavior relationships.

Study on the Psychological Effects of Chronic Illness

• Key Points: Explore the psychological impact of living with a chronic illness on mental health and well-being.
• Factors: Consider coping strategies, adjustment to illness, and quality of life outcomes.
• Method: Use longitudinal studies, psychological assessments, and patient interviews to study chronic illness effects.

Influence of Personality Traits on Health Choices

• Key Points: Investigate how personality traits influence health-related decision-making and behaviors.
• Factors: Consider traits such as conscientiousness, neuroticism, and openness to experience.
• Method: Conduct personality assessments, health behavior surveys, and decision-making experiments to study trait-behavior relationships.

Effects of Stress Management Techniques on Health

• Key Points: Examine the efficacy of different stress management interventions in improving physical health outcomes.
• Factors: Consider stress reduction techniques (e.g., mindfulness, relaxation), stress biomarkers, and health indicators.
• Method: Use stress intervention studies, health assessments, and biomarker analyses to study stress management effects on health.

Forensic Psychology

Study on eyewitness testimony accuracy.

• Key Points: Investigate factors influencing the accuracy of eyewitness testimony in criminal investigations.
• Factors: Consider memory processes, eyewitness lineup procedures, and misinformation effects.
• Method: Conduct eyewitness experiments, lineup identifications, and memory recall tests to study testimony accuracy.

Impact of Interrogation Techniques on False Confessions

• Key Points: Examine how interrogation tactics influence the likelihood of false confessions.
• Factors: Consider coercive techniques, psychological manipulation, and suspect vulnerabilities.
• Method: Use interrogation simulations, confession analyses, and psychological assessments to study false confession rates.

Psychological Profiling in Criminal Investigations

• Key Points: Explore the use of psychological profiling techniques in criminal investigations.
• Factors: Consider offender typologies, behavior analysis, and crime scene characteristics.
• Method: Conduct case studies, profiling analyses, and offender interviews to study profiling effectiveness.

Study on the Psychology of Jury Decision-Making

• Key Points: Investigate psychological factors influencing jury deliberations and verdicts.
• Factors: Consider juror biases, group dynamics, and decision-making processes.
• Method: Use mock jury experiments, juror surveys, and case analyses to study jury decision-making psychology.

Effects of Media Portrayals on Perceptions of Crime

• Key Points: Examine how media representations of crime influence public perceptions and attitudes.
• Factors: Consider media framing, crime narratives, and fear of crime effects.
• Method: Conduct media content analyses, public opinion surveys, and attitude assessments to study media effects on crime perceptions.

Industrial-Organizational (I/O) Psychology

Effects of leadership styles on employee motivation.

• Key Points: Investigate how different leadership styles influence employee motivation and performance.
• Factors: Consider leadership styles (transformational, transactional), employee motivation factors, and performance outcomes.
• Method: Conduct surveys, leadership assessments, and performance evaluations to study leadership effects.

Impact of Workplace Diversity on Organizational Performance

• Key Points: Examine how diversity in the workplace affects organizational performance and innovation.
• Factors: Consider diversity dimensions (ethnicity, gender, age), inclusion practices, and team dynamics.
• Method: Use organizational performance metrics, diversity assessments, and innovation analyses to study diversity effects.

Relationship Between Job Satisfaction and Employee Retention

• Key Points: Explore the link between job satisfaction levels and employee turnover rates.
• Factors: Consider job satisfaction factors (pay, benefits, work environment), turnover intentions, and retention strategies.
• Method: Conduct employee surveys, turnover analyses, and job satisfaction assessments to study satisfaction-retention relationships.

Effects of Work-Life Balance Programs on Employee Well-being

• Key Points: Investigate how work-life balance programs impact employee stress levels and well-being.
• Factors: Consider program effectiveness, employee engagement, and stress reduction outcomes.
• Method: Use program evaluations, employee surveys, and well-being assessments to study work-life balance effects.

Influence of Organizational Culture on Employee Engagement

• Key Points: Examine how organizational culture influences employee engagement and job satisfaction.
• Factors: Consider cultural values, norms, and employee commitment.
• Method: Conduct culture assessments, employee engagement surveys, and job satisfaction analyses to study culture effects.

Effects of Indoor Lighting on Productivity

• Key Points: Investigate how different indoor lighting conditions impact workplace productivity.
• Factors: Consider lighting intensity, color temperature, and natural light exposure.
• Method: Conduct lighting interventions, productivity assessments, and mood evaluations to study lighting effects.

Impact of Office Layout on Employee Collaboration

• Key Points: Explore how office layout design influences employee collaboration and communication.
• Factors: Consider open office layouts, cubicles, and collaborative spaces.
• Method: Use observational studies, collaboration metrics, and office design evaluations to study layout effects.

Relationship Between Noise Levels and Workplace Stress

• Key Points: Examine the relationship between workplace noise levels and employee stress levels.
• Factors: Consider noise sources (office equipment, coworkers), noise reduction strategies, and stress outcomes.
• Method: Conduct noise level measurements, stress assessments, and noise reduction interventions to study noise-stress relationships.

Influence of Green Spaces on Mental Health in Urban Environments

• Key Points: Investigate how access to green spaces in urban areas impacts mental health and well-being.
• Factors: Consider green space accessibility, park design, and mental health outcomes.
• Method: Use mental health assessments, urban green space analyses, and community surveys to study green space effects.

Effects of Workplace Temperature on Employee Comfort and Productivity

• Key Points: Examine how workplace temperature affects employee comfort, focus, and productivity.
• Factors: Consider temperature levels, thermal comfort, and productivity outcomes.
• Method: Conduct temperature experiments, comfort assessments, and productivity analyses to study temperature effects.

Experimental Psychology Research Topics for College Students

Have a close look at experimental research psychology research topics for college students:-

• Impact of sleep on memory
• Multitasking effects on focus
• Attention’s role in memory
• Decision-making biases
• Technology’s cognitive impacts
• Memory consolidation during sleep
• Child cognitive development
• Emotions’ cognitive influence
• Learning and memory strategies
• Aging and cognitive decline
• Social media and self-esteem
• Group dynamics in decisions
• Stereotyping effects
• Social influence on behavior
• Cultural behavior variations
• Psychology of prejudice
• Social identity’s impact
• Relationships and attachment
• Leadership styles’ effects
• Social cognition and understanding others
• Early experiences’ lifelong impact
• Parenting styles’ effects
• Moral reasoning development
• Attachment theory’s impact
• Adolescent cognitive development
• Identity formation in teens
• Divorce effects on children
• Gender identity development
• Play’s role in development
• Cultural developmental differences
• Big Five personality traits
• Lifespan personality development
• Personality disorders’ effects
• Self-concept and self-esteem
• Genetics vs. environment on personality
• Cultural personality variations
• Personality assessment methods
• Personality and career choices
• Personality and mental health
• Personality and relationship satisfaction

Clinical Psychology

• Therapy for depression
• Trauma’s mental health impact
• Stigma on mental health help-seeking
• Psychosocial factors in chronic illness
• Anxiety disorder treatments
• Mindfulness for stress reduction
• Addiction interventions
• Chronic pain psychological factors
• Psychotherapy outcomes
• Resilience in adversity
• Stress on physical health
• Health behaviors’ impacts
• Psychological factors in chronic disease
• Social support’s health effects
• Health promotion interventions
• Behavior change techniques
• Psychosomatic disorders’ roots
• Body image and health behaviors
• Health disparities and determinants
• Coping with medical diagnoses

Neuropsychology

• Brain plasticity post-injury
• Neural basis of decision-making
• Brain development in infancy
• Brain injury cognitive rehab
• Neurological disorders’ effects
• Neurotransmitters and behavior
• Brain imaging techniques
• Genetics and neuroscience connections
• Exercise’s brain health impact
• Neuropsychological assessments

Industrial-Organizational Psychology

• Leadership styles’ impact
• Employee motivation and satisfaction
• Work-life balance effects
• Organizational culture’s influence
• Diversity and inclusion
• Employee engagement strategies
• Performance appraisal methods
• Job stress and burnout prevention
• Team dynamics and collaboration
• Talent management and succession planning
• Learning styles and achievement
• Motivation in education
• Classroom management
• Technology’s learning impacts
• Assessment methods and performance
• Developmental milestones in education
• Special education support
• Teacher-student relationships
• At-risk student interventions
• Parental involvement in education
• Natural environments’ well-being effects
• Environmental attitudes and behavior
• Urban design and mental health
• Noise pollution’s cognition impact
• Sustainable behavior change
• Coping with environmental stressors
• Green spaces and mental health
• Environmental education impact
• Climate change perception
• Human-nature interactions
• Eyewitness testimony reliability
• Psychological profiling in investigations
• Media’s crime perception
• Juvenile delinquency prevention
• Psychopathy and crime
• Interrogation techniques
• False memories in criminal cases
• Offender rehabilitation programs
• Jury decision-making
• Mental health assessments in legal contexts

Sports Psychology

• Peak performance psychology
• Athlete motivation and goals
• Team cohesion effects
• Psychology of injury recovery
• Coaching styles and development
• Mental toughness in sports
• Athlete burnout prevention
• Psychological skills training
• Youth athlete psychology
• Mindfulness in sports

Positive Psychology

• Science of happiness
• Gratitude’s effects
• Positive workplaces
• Character strengths development
• Resilience training
• Life’s meaning and purpose
• Positive relationships
• Self-compassion’s effects
• Flourishing in life
• Positive education interventions

Evolutionary Psychology

• Mate selection preferences
• Parental investment theory
• Evolution of social behaviors
• Sex differences in mating
• Mate competition
• Altruism’s evolutionary roots
• Aggression from an evolutionary lens
• Parent-offspring conflict
• Cultural evolution and adaptations
• Emotions’ evolutionary roles

Cross-Cultural Psychology

• Cultural emotion expressions
• Culture’s perception impacts
• Acculturation and identity
• Cross-cultural parenting
• Cultural dimensions’ effects
• Intercultural communication
• Cultural competence in therapy
• Cultural decision-making styles
• Cultural values and well-being
• Cross-cultural research methods

Experimental Methods and Techniques

• Psychology experimental designs
• Quantitative data analysis
• Qualitative research methods
• Psychophysiological measures
• Eye-tracking in attention studies
• Virtual reality in research
• Neuroimaging in brain studies
• Behavioral genetics
• Longitudinal studies
• Research design comparisons

Ethics and Professional Issues

• Informed consent
• Ethical vulnerable population studies
• Confidentiality in assessments
• Ethical deception guidelines
• Professional boundaries in therapy
• Cultural competence
• Animal research ethics
• Reporting standards
• Peer review process
• Forensic psychology ethics

Emerging Trends in Psychology

• AI impacts on research
• Telepsychology
• Neurodiversity in practice
• Ecopsychology interventions
• Positive technology trends
• Global mental health initiatives
• Intersectionality in research
• Behavioral economics
• Transpersonal psychology
• Psychedelic therapy research

Miscellaneous Topics

• Placebo effect mechanisms
• Psychology of superstitions
• Psychology of humor
• Creativity’s psychological aspects
• Color perception psychology
• Music’s emotional effects
• Psychology of gambling
• Social media influencers’ impacts
• Psychology of space travel
• Psychology of conspiracy theories

Methodology and Statistics

• Bayesian statistics in psychology
• Power analysis in experiments
• Factor analysis applications
• Structural equation modeling
• Meta-analysis
• Item response theory
• Non-parametric statistics
• Qualitative data analysis
• Sampling methods
• Psychometric assessment validation

These topics are simplified for easier understanding and can serve as inspiration for various research projects in experimental psychology.

Emerging Areas of Study in Experimental Psychology Research

Experimental psychology is evolving. Key areas include:

• Gut-Brain : Gut bacteria’s impact on mood.
• VR/AR : Using tech to study behavior.
• Neuromodulation : Brain stimulation for mental health.
• Psychedelics : Studying drugs for depression.
• AI : Analyzing data for mental health tools.

These developments highlight an exciting future.

What is an example of experimental psychology research?

Research Topic : How social media affects college students’ body image.

Hypothesis : Seeing idealized images on social media makes college students feel worse about their bodies.

• Recruit college students.
• One sees idealized social media posts.
• The other sees neutral content.
• Have both groups complete body image surveys before and after.
• Compare how each group’s body image feelings change.
• If the group seeing idealized images feels worse, the hypothesis is supported.
• Look at factors like time spent on social media for deeper insights.

This kind of research helps us understand and address important issues.

What are examples of possible research topics in psychology?

Check out the examples of possible research topics in psychology:-

• How social media algorithms affect political views.
• Training effectiveness in preventing violence.
• Cultural norms’ impact on emotions.
• Conformity’s role in group decisions.
• Stereotypes and teacher expectations.
• Memory strategies in kids.
• Multitasking’s effect on attention.
• Emotions in uncertain decisions.
• Memory improvement techniques’ efficacy.
• Sleep’s impact on learning.
• Effects of early education programs.
• Parental involvement and teen behavior.
• Digital media and social skills in kids.
• Aging’s cognitive changes.
• Socioeconomic status and academics.
• Personality traits and career success.
• Factors shaping personality development.
• Cultural differences in personality.
• Predicting behavior with assessments.
• Personality’s link to mental health.
• Stress management for physical health.
• Social support and chronic illness.
• Media’s role in body image and health.
• Mindfulness for anxiety reduction.
• Exercise and mental well-being.

Tips for Successful Experimental Psychology Research Topics

Here are simplified tips for choosing experimental psychology research topics:

• Define and measure variables clearly.
• Avoid causing stress, get informed consent.
• Ensure you have access to needed participants and equipment.
• Build on existing research, bring a fresh angle.
• Study how background music affects memory.
• Investigate how power poses impact negotiation.

Remember, your topic should be interesting, ethical, feasible, and contribute to psychology. Discuss with your professor for guidance!

In summary, experimental psychology is a fascinating field full of diverse research topics. From investigating how our gut affects our mood to exploring the intelligence of animals, researchers are always discovering new things about the human mind and behavior.

Exciting technologies like virtual reality are also helping us understand perception and social interactions better. Studying how our brains can change and using psychedelics for mental health are other areas that show how psychology is always evolving.

Through these studies, psychologists are uncovering insights that help us understand ourselves and our world in fresh, meaningful ways.

Tom Latham is having 5 years of teaching experience. He loves to share different project ideas to the students to help them in their academics.

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Psychology Experiment Ideas

Categories Psychology Education

Quick Ideas | Experiment Ideas | Designing Your Experiment | Types of Research

If you are taking a psychology class, you might at some point be asked to design an imaginary experiment or perform an experiment or study. The idea you ultimately choose to use for your psychology experiment may depend upon the number of participants you can find, the time constraints of your project, and limitations in the materials available to you.

Consider these factors before deciding which psychology experiment idea might work for your project.

This article discusses some ideas you might try if you need to perform a psychology experiment or study.

Table of Contents

A Quick List of Experiment Ideas

If you are looking for a quick experiment idea that would be easy to tackle, the following might be some research questions you want to explore:

• How many items can people hold in short-term memory ?
• Are people with a Type A personality more stressed than those with a Type B personality?
• Does listening to upbeat music increase heart rate?
• Are men or women better at detecting emotions ?
• Are women or men more likely to experience imposter syndrome ?
• Will students conform if others in the group all share an opinion that is different from their own?
• Do people’s heartbeat or breathing rates change in response to certain colors?
• How much do people rely on nonverbal communication to convey information in a conversation?
• Do people who score higher on measures of emotional intelligence also score higher on measures of overall well-being?
• Do more successful people share certain personality traits ?

Most of the following ideas are easily conducted with a small group of participants, who may likely be your classmates. Some of the psychology experiment or study ideas you might want to explore:

Sleep and Short-Term Memory

Does sleep deprivation have an impact on short-term memory ?

Ask participants how much sleep they got the night before and then conduct a task to test short-term memory for items on a list.

Social Media and Mental Health

Is social media usage linked to anxiety or depression?

Ask participants about how many hours a week they use social media sites and then have them complete a depression and anxiety assessment.

Procrastination and Stress

How does procrastination impact student stress levels?

Ask participants about how frequently they procrastinate on their homework and then have them complete an assessment looking at their current stress levels.

Caffeine and Cognition

How does caffeine impact performance on a Stroop test?

In the Stroop test , participants are asked to tell the color of a word, rather than just reading the word. Have a control group consume no caffeine and then complete a Stroop test, and then have an experimental group consume caffeine before completing the same test. Compare results.

Color and Memory

Does the color of text have any impact on memory?

Randomly assign participants to two groups. Have one group memorize words written in black ink for two minutes. Have the second group memorize the same words for the same amount of time, but instead written in red ink. Compare the results.

Weight Bias

How does weight bias influence how people are judged by others?

Find pictures of models in a magazine who look similar, including similar hair and clothing, but who differ in terms of weight. Have participants look at the two models and then ask them to identify which one they think is smarter, wealthier, kinder, and healthier.

Assess how each model was rated and how weight bias may have influenced how they were described by participants.

Music and Exercise

Does music have an effect on how hard people work out?

Have people listen to different styles of music while jogging on a treadmill and measure their walking speed, heart rate, and workout length.

The Halo Effect

How does the Halo Effect influence how people see others?

Show participants pictures of people and ask them to rate the photos in terms of how attractive, kind, intelligent, helpful, and successful the people in the images are.

How does the attractiveness of the person in the photo correlate to how participants rate other qualities? Are attractive people more likely to be perceived as kind, funny, and intelligent?

Eyewitness Testimony

How reliable is eyewitness testimony?

Have participants view video footage of a car crash. Ask some participants to describe how fast the cars were going when they “hit into” each other. Ask other participants to describe how fast the cars were going when they “smashed into” each other.

Give the participants a memory test a few days later and ask them to recall if they saw any broken glass at the accident scene. Compare to see if those in the “smashed into” condition were more likely to report seeing broken glass than those in the “hit into” group.

The experiment is a good illustration of how easily false memories can be triggered.

Simple Psychology Experiment Ideas

If you are looking for a relatively simple psychology experiment idea, here are a few options you might consider.

The Stroop Effect

This classic experiment involves presenting participants with words printed in different colors and asking them to name the color of the ink rather than read the word. Students can manipulate the congruency of the word and the color to test the Stroop effect.

Memory Recall

Students can design a simple experiment to test memory recall by presenting participants with a list of items to remember and then asking them to recall the items after a delay. Students can manipulate the length of the delay or the type of encoding strategy used to see the effect on recall.

Social Conformity

Students can test social conformity by presenting participants with a simple task and manipulating the responses of confederates to see if the participant conforms to the group response.

Selective Attention

Students can design an experiment to test selective attention by presenting participants with a video or audio stimulus and manipulating the presence or absence of a distracting stimulus to see the effect on attention.

Implicit Bias

Students can test implicit bias by presenting participants with a series of words or images and measuring their response time to categorize the stimuli into different categories.

The Primacy/Recency Effect

Students can test the primacy /recency effect by presenting participants with a list of items to remember and manipulating the order of the items to see the effect on recall.

Sleep Deprivation

Students can test the effect of sleep deprivation on cognitive performance by comparing the performance of participants who have had a full night’s sleep to those who have been deprived of sleep.

These are just a few examples of simple psychology experiment ideas for students. The specific experiment will depend on the research question and resources available.

Elements of a Good Psychology Experiment

Finding psychology experiment ideas is not necessarily difficult, but finding a good experimental or study topic that is right for your needs can be a little tough. You need to find something that meets the guidelines and, perhaps most importantly, is approved by your instructor.

Requirements may vary, but you need to ensure that your experiment, study, or survey is:

• Easy to set up and carry out
• Easy to find participants willing to take part
• Free of any ethical concerns

In some cases, you may need to present your idea to your school’s institutional review board before you begin to obtain permission to work with human participants.

Consider Your Own Interests

At some point in your life, you have likely pondered why people behave in certain ways. Or wondered why certain things seem to always happen. Your own interests can be a rich source of ideas for your psychology experiments.

As you are trying to come up with a topic or hypothesis, try focusing on the subjects that fascinate you the most. If you have a particular interest in a topic, look for ideas that answer questions about the topic that you and others may have. Examples of topics you might choose to explore include:

• Development
• Personality
• Social behavior

This can be a fun opportunity to investigate something that appeals to your interests.

Read About Classic Experiments

Sometimes reviewing classic psychological experiments that have been done in the past can give you great ideas for your own psychology experiments. For example, the false memory experiment above is inspired by the classic memory study conducted by Elizabeth Loftus.

Textbooks can be a great place to start looking for topics, but you might want to expand your search to research journals. When you find a study that sparks your interest, read through the discussion section. Researchers will often indicate ideas for future directions that research could take.

Ask Your Instructor

Your professor or instructor is often the best person to consult for advice right from the start.

In most cases, you will probably receive fairly detailed instructions about your assignment. This may include information about the sort of topic you can choose or perhaps the type of experiment or study on which you should focus.

If your instructor does not assign a specific subject area to explore, it is still a great idea to talk about your ideas and get feedback before you get too invested in your topic idea. You will need your teacher’s permission to proceed with your experiment anyway, so now is a great time to open a dialogue and get some good critical feedback.

Experiments vs. Other Types of Research

One thing to note, many of the ideas found here are actually examples of surveys or correlational studies .

For something to qualify as a tru e experiment, there must be manipulation of an independent variable .

For many students, conducting an actual experiment may be outside the scope of their project or may not be permitted by their instructor, school, or institutional review board.

If your assignment or project requires you to conduct a true experiment that involves controlling and manipulating an independent variable, you will need to take care to choose a topic that will work within the guidelines of your assignment.

Types of Psychology Experiments

There are many different types of psychology experiments that students could perform. Examples of psychological research methods you might use include:

Correlational Study

This type of study examines the relationship between two variables. Students could collect data on two variables of interest, such as stress and academic performance, and see if there is a correlation between the two.

Experimental Study

In an experimental study, students manipulate one variable and observe the effect on another variable. For example, students could manipulate the type of music participants listen to and observe its effect on their mood.

Observational Study

Observational studies involve observing behavior in a natural setting . Students could observe how people interact in a public space and analyze the patterns they see.

Survey Study

Students could design a survey to collect data on a specific topic, such as attitudes toward social media, and analyze the results.

A case study involves in-depth analysis of a single individual or group. Students could conduct a case study of a person with a particular disorder, such as anxiety or depression, and examine their experiences and treatment options.

Quasi-Experimental Study

Quasi-experimental studies are similar to experimental studies, but participants are not randomly assigned to groups. Students could investigate the effects of a treatment or intervention on a particular group, such as a classroom of students who receive a new teaching method.

Longitudinal Study

Longitudinal studies involve following participants over an extended period of time. Students could conduct a longitudinal study on the development of language skills in children or the effects of aging on cognitive abilities.

These are just a few examples of the many different types of psychology experiments that students could perform. The specific type of experiment will depend on the research question and the resources available.

Steps for Doing a Psychology Experiment

When conducting a psychology experiment, students should follow several important steps. Here is a general outline of the process:

Define the Research Question

Before conducting an experiment, students should define the research question they are trying to answer. This will help them to focus their study and determine the variables they need to manipulate and measure.

Develop a Hypothesis

Based on the research question, students should develop a hypothesis that predicts the experiment’s outcome. The hypothesis should be testable and measurable.

Select Participants

Students should select participants who meet the criteria for the study. Participants should be informed about the study and give informed consent to participate.

Design the Experiment

Students should design the experiment to test their hypothesis. This includes selecting the appropriate variables, creating a plan for manipulating and measuring them, and determining the appropriate control conditions.

Collect Data

Once the experiment is designed, students should collect data by following the procedures they have developed. They should record all data accurately and completely.

Analyze the Data

After collecting the data, students should analyze it to determine if their hypothesis was supported or not. They can use statistical analyses to determine if there are significant differences between groups or if there are correlations between variables.

Interpret the Results

Based on the analysis, students should interpret the results and draw conclusions about their hypothesis. They should consider the study’s limitations and their findings’ implications.

Report the Results

Finally, students should report the results of their study. This may include writing a research paper or presenting their findings in a poster or oral presentation.

Britt MA. Psych Experiments . Avon, MA: Adams Media; 2007.

Martin DW. Doing Psychology Experiments. Belmont, CA: Cengage Learning; 2008.

11+ Psychology Experiment Ideas (Goals + Methods)

Have you ever wondered why some days you remember things easily, while on others you keep forgetting? Or why certain songs make you super happy and others just…meh?

Our minds are like big, mysterious puzzles, and every day we're finding new pieces to fit. One of the coolest ways to explore our brains and the way they work is through psychology experiments.

A psychology experiment is a special kind of test or activity researchers use to learn more about how our minds work and why we behave the way we do.

It's like a detective game where scientists ask questions and try out different clues to find answers about our feelings, thoughts, and actions. These experiments aren't just for scientists in white coats but can be fun activities we all try to discover more about ourselves and others.

Some of these experiments have become so famous, they’re like the celebrities of the science world! Like the Marshmallow Test, where kids had to wait to eat a yummy marshmallow, or Pavlov's Dogs, where dogs learned to drool just hearing a bell.

Let's look at a few examples of psychology experiments you can do at home.

What Are Some Classic Experiments?

Imagine a time when the mysteries of the mind were being uncovered in groundbreaking ways. During these moments, a few experiments became legendary, capturing the world's attention with their intriguing results.

The Marshmallow Test

One of the most talked-about experiments of the 20th century was the Marshmallow Test , conducted by Walter Mischel in the late 1960s at Stanford University.

The goal was simple but profound: to understand a child's ability to delay gratification and exercise self-control.

Children were placed in a room with a marshmallow and given a choice: eat the marshmallow now or wait 15 minutes and receive two as a reward. Many kids struggled with the wait, some devouring the treat immediately, while others demonstrated remarkable patience.

But the experiment didn’t end there. Years later, Mischel discovered something astonishing. The children who had waited for the second marshmallow were generally more successful in several areas of life, from school achievements to job satisfaction!

While this experiment highlighted the importance of teaching patience and self-control from a young age, it wasn't without its criticisms. Some argued that a child's background, upbringing, or immediate surroundings might play a significant role in their choices.

Moreover, there were concerns about the ethics of judging a child's potential success based on a brief interaction with a marshmallow.

Pavlov's Dogs

Traveling further back in time and over to Russia, another classic experiment took the world by storm. Ivan Pavlov , in the early 1900s, wasn't initially studying learning or behavior. He was exploring the digestive systems of dogs.

But during his research, Pavlov stumbled upon a fascinating discovery. He noticed that by ringing a bell every time he fed his dogs, they eventually began to associate the bell's sound with mealtime. So much so, that merely ringing the bell, even without presenting food, made the dogs drool in anticipation!

This reaction demonstrated the concept of "conditioning" - where behaviors can be learned by linking two unrelated stimuli. Pavlov's work revolutionized the world's understanding of learning and had ripple effects in various areas like animal training and therapy techniques.

Pavlov came up with the term classical conditioning , which is still used today. Other psychologists have developed more nuanced types of conditioning that help us understand how people learn to perform different behaviours.

Classical conditioning is the process by which a neutral stimulus becomes associated with a meaningful stimulus , leading to the same response. In Pavlov's case, the neutral stimulus (bell) became associated with the meaningful stimulus (food), leading the dogs to salivate just by hearing the bell.

Modern thinkers often critique Pavlov's methods from an ethical standpoint. The dogs, crucial to his discovery, may not have been treated with today's standards of care and respect in research.

Both these experiments, while enlightening, also underline the importance of conducting research with empathy and consideration, especially when it involves living beings.

What is Ethical Experimentation?

The tales of Pavlov's bells and Mischel's marshmallows offer us not just insights into the human mind and behavior but also raise a significant question: At what cost do these discoveries come?

Ethical experimentation isn't just a fancy term; it's the backbone of good science. When we talk about ethics, we're referring to the moral principles that guide a researcher's decisions and actions. But why does it matter so much in the realm of psychological experimentation?

An example of an experiment that had major ethical issues is an experiment called the Monster Study . This study was conducted in 1936 and was interested in why children develop a stutter.

The major issue with it is that the psychologists treated some of the children poorly over a period of five months, telling them things like “You must try to stop yourself immediately. Don’t ever speak unless you can do it right.”

You can imagine how that made the children feel!

This study helped create guidelines for ethical treatment in experiments. The guidelines include:

Respect for Individuals: Whether it's a dog in Pavlov's lab or a child in Mischel's study room, every participant—human or animal—deserves respect. They should never be subjected to harm or undue stress. For humans, informed consent (knowing what they're signing up for) is a must. This means that if a child is participating, they, along with their guardians, should understand what the experiment entails and agree to it without being pressured.

Honesty is the Best Policy: Researchers have a responsibility to be truthful. This means not only being honest with participants about the study but also reporting findings truthfully, even if the results aren't what they hoped for. There can be exceptions if an experiment will only succeed if the participants aren't fully aware, but it has to be approved by an ethics committee .

Safety First: No discovery, no matter how groundbreaking, is worth harming a participant. The well-being and mental, emotional, and physical safety of participants is paramount. Experiments should be designed to minimize risks and discomfort.

Considering the Long-Term: Some experiments might have effects that aren't immediately obvious. For example, while a child might seem fine after participating in an experiment, they could feel stressed or anxious later on. Ethical researchers consider and plan for these possibilities, offering support and follow-up if needed.

The Rights of Animals: Just because animals can't voice their rights doesn't mean they don't have any. They should be treated with care, dignity, and respect. This means providing them with appropriate living conditions, not subjecting them to undue harm, and considering alternatives to animal testing when possible.

While the world of psychological experiments offers fascinating insights into behavior and the mind, it's essential to tread with care and compassion. The golden rule? Treat every participant, human or animal, as you'd wish to be treated. After all, the true mark of a groundbreaking experiment isn't just its findings but the ethical integrity with which it's conducted.

So, even if you're experimenting at home, please keep in mind the impact your experiments could have on the people and beings around you!

Let's get into some ideas for experiments.

1) Testing Conformity

Our primary aim with this experiment is to explore the intriguing world of social influences, specifically focusing on how much sway a group has over an individual's decisions. This social influence is called groupthink .

Humans, as social creatures, often find solace in numbers, seeking the approval and acceptance of those around them. But how deep does this need run? Does the desire to "fit in" overpower our trust in our own judgments?

This experiment not only provides insights into these questions but also touches upon the broader themes of peer pressure, societal norms, and individuality. Understanding this could shed light on various real-world situations, from why fashion trends catch on to more critical scenarios like how misinformation can spread.

Method: This idea is inspired by the classic Asch Conformity Experiments . Here's a simple way to try it:

• Assemble a group of people (about 7-8). Only one person will be the real participant; the others will be in on the experiment.
• Show the group a picture of three lines of different lengths and another line labeled "Test Line."
• Ask each person to say out loud which of the three lines matches the length of the "Test Line."
• Unknown to the real participant, the other members will intentionally choose the wrong line. This is to see if the participant goes along with the group's incorrect choice, even if they can see it's wrong.

Real-World Impacts of Groupthink

Groupthink is more than just a science term; we see it in our daily lives:

Decisions at Work or School: Imagine being in a group where everyone wants to do one thing, even if it's not the best idea. People might not speak up because they're worried about standing out or being the only one with a different opinion.

Wrong Information: Ever heard a rumor that turned out to be untrue? Sometimes, if many people believe and share something, others might believe it too, even if it's not correct. This happens a lot on the internet.

Peer Pressure: Sometimes, friends might all want to do something that's not safe or right. People might join in just because they don't want to feel left out.

Missing Out on New Ideas: When everyone thinks the same way and agrees all the time, cool new ideas might never get heard. It's like always coloring with the same crayon and missing out on all the other bright colors!

2) Testing Color and Mood

We all have favorite colors, right? But did you ever wonder if colors can make you feel a certain way? Color psychology is the study of how colors can influence our feelings and actions.

For instance, does blue always calm us down? Does red make us feel excited or even a bit angry? By exploring this, we can learn how colors play a role in our daily lives, from the clothes we wear to the color of our bedroom walls.

• Find a quiet room and set up different colored lights or large sheets of colored paper: blue, red, yellow, and green.
• Invite some friends over and let each person spend a few minutes under each colored light or in front of each colored paper.
• After each color, ask your friends to write down or talk about how they feel. Are they relaxed? Energized? Happy? Sad?

Researchers have always been curious about this. Some studies have shown that colors like blue and green can make people feel calm, while colors like red might make them feel more alert or even hungry!

Real-World Impacts of Color Psychology

Ever noticed how different places use colors?

Hospitals and doctors' clinics often use soft blues and greens. This might be to help patients feel more relaxed and calm.

Many fast food restaurants use bright reds and yellows. These colors might make us feel hungry or want to eat quickly and leave.

Classrooms might use a mix of colors to help students feel both calm and energized.

3) Testing Music and Brainpower

Think about your favorite song. Do you feel smarter or more focused when you listen to it? This experiment seeks to understand the relationship between music and our brain's ability to remember things. Some people believe that certain types of music, like classical tunes, can help us study or work better. Let's find out if it's true!

• Prepare a list of 10-15 things to remember, like a grocery list or names of places.
• Invite some friends over. First, let them try to memorize the list in a quiet room.
• After a short break, play some music (try different types like pop, classical, or even nature sounds) and ask them to memorize the list again.
• Compare the results. Was there a difference in how much they remembered with and without music?

The " Mozart Effect " is a popular idea. Some studies in the past suggested that listening to Mozart's music might make people smarter, at least for a little while. But other researchers think the effect might not be specific to Mozart; it could be that any music we enjoy boosts our mood and helps our brain work better.

Real-World Impacts of Music and Memory

Think about how we use music:

• Study Sessions: Many students listen to music while studying, believing it helps them concentrate better.
• Workout Playlists: Gyms play energetic music to keep people motivated and help them push through tough workouts.
• Meditation and Relaxation: Calm, soothing sounds are often used to help people relax or meditate.

4) Testing Dreams and Food

Ever had a really wild dream and wondered where it came from? Some say that eating certain foods before bedtime can make our dreams more vivid or even a bit strange.

This experiment is all about diving into the dreamy world of sleep to see if what we eat can really change our nighttime adventures. Can a piece of chocolate or a slice of cheese transport us to a land of wacky dreams? Let's find out!

• Ask a group of friends to keep a "dream diary" for a week. Every morning, they should write down what they remember about their dreams.
• For the next week, ask them to eat a small snack before bed, like cheese, chocolate, or even spicy foods.
• They should continue writing in their "dream diary" every morning.
• At the end of the two weeks, compare the dream notes. Do the dreams seem different during the snack week?

The link between food and dreams isn't super clear, but some people have shared personal stories. For example, some say that spicy food can lead to bizarre dreams. Scientists aren't completely sure why, but it could be related to how food affects our body temperature or brain activity during sleep.

A cool idea related to this experiment is that of vivid dreams , which are very clear, detailed, and easy to remember dreams. Some people are even able to control their vivid dreams, or say that they feel as real as daily, waking life !

Real-World Impacts of Food and Dreams

Our discoveries might shed light on:

• Bedtime Routines: Knowing which foods might affect our dreams can help us choose better snacks before bedtime, especially if we want calmer sleep.
• Understanding Our Brain: Dreams can be mysterious, but studying them can give us clues about how our brains work at night.
• Cultural Beliefs: Many cultures have myths or stories about foods and dreams. Our findings might add a fun twist to these age-old tales!

5) Testing Mirrors and Self-image

Stand in front of a mirror. How do you feel? Proud? Shy? Curious? Mirrors reflect more than just our appearance; they might influence how we think about ourselves.

This experiment delves into the mystery of self-perception. Do we feel more confident when we see our reflection? Or do we become more self-conscious? Let's take a closer look.

• Set up two rooms: one with mirrors on all walls and another with no mirrors at all.
• Invite friends over and ask them to spend some time in each room doing normal activities, like reading or talking.
• After their time in both rooms, ask them questions like: "Did you think about how you looked more in one room? Did you feel more confident or shy?"
• Compare the responses to see if the presence of mirrors changes how they feel about themselves.

Studies have shown that when people are in rooms with mirrors, they can become more aware of themselves. Some might stand straighter, fix their hair, or even change how they behave. The mirror acts like an audience, making us more conscious of our actions.

Real-World Impacts of Mirrors and Self-perception

Mirrors aren't just for checking our hair. Ever wonder why clothing stores have so many mirrors? They might help shoppers visualize themselves in new outfits, encouraging them to buy.

Mirrors in gyms can motivate people to work out with correct form and posture. They also help us see progress in real-time!

And sometimes, looking in a mirror can be a reminder to take care of ourselves, both inside and out.

But remember, what we look like isn't as important as how we act in the world or how healthy we are. Some people claim that having too many mirrors around can actually make us more self conscious and distract us from the good parts of ourselves.

Some studies are showing that mirrors can actually increase self-compassion , amongst other things. As any tool, it seems like mirrors can be both good and bad, depending on how we use them!

6) Testing Plants and Talking

Have you ever seen someone talking to their plants? It might sound silly, but some people believe that plants can "feel" our vibes and that talking to them might even help them grow better.

In this experiment, we'll explore whether plants can indeed react to our voices and if they might grow taller, faster, or healthier when we chat with them.

• Get three similar plants, placing each one in a separate room.
• Talk to the first plant, saying positive things like "You're doing great!" or singing to it.
• Say negative things to the second plant, like "You're not growing fast enough!"
• Don't talk to the third plant at all; let it be your "silent" control group .
• Water all plants equally and make sure they all get the same amount of light.
• At the end of the month, measure the growth of each plant and note any differences in their health or size.

The idea isn't brand new. Some experiments from the past suggest plants might respond to sounds or vibrations. Some growers play music for their crops, thinking it helps them flourish.

Even if talking to our plants doesn't have an impact on their growth, it can make us feel better! Sometimes, if we are lonely, talking to our plants can help us feel less alone. Remember, they are living too!

Real-World Impacts of Talking to Plants

If plants do react to our voices, gardeners and farmers might adopt new techniques, like playing music in greenhouses or regularly talking to plants.

Taking care of plants and talking to them could become a recommended activity for reducing stress and boosting mood.

And if plants react to sound, it gives us a whole new perspective on how connected all living things might be .

7) Testing Virtual Reality and Senses

Virtual reality (VR) seems like magic, doesn't it? You put on a headset and suddenly, you're in a different world! But how does this "new world" affect our senses? This experiment wants to find out how our brains react to VR compared to the real world. Do we feel, see, or hear things differently? Let's get to the bottom of this digital mystery!

• You'll need a VR headset and a game or experience that can be replicated in real life (like walking through a forest). If you don't have a headset yourself, there are virtual reality arcades now!
• Invite friends to first experience the scenario in VR.
• Afterwards, replicate the experience in the real world, like taking a walk in an actual forest.
• Ask them questions about both experiences: Did one seem more real than the other? Which sounds were more clear? Which colors were brighter? Did they feel different emotions?

As VR becomes more popular, scientists have been curious about its effects. Some studies show that our brains can sometimes struggle to tell the difference between VR and reality. That's why some people might feel like they're really "falling" in a VR game even though they're standing still.

Real-World Impacts of VR on Our Senses

Schools might use VR to teach lessons, like taking students on a virtual trip to ancient Egypt. Understanding how our senses react in VR can also help game designers create even more exciting and realistic games.

Doctors could use VR to help patients overcome fears or to provide relaxation exercises. This is actually already a method therapists can use for helping patients who have serious phobias. This is called exposure therapy , which basically means slowly exposing someone (or yourself) to the thing you fear, starting from very far away to becoming closer.

For instance, if someone is afraid of snakes. You might show them images of snakes first. Once they are comfortable with the picture, they can know there is one in the next room. Once they are okay with that, they might use a VR headset to see the snake in the same room with them, though of course there is not an actual snake there.

8) Testing Sleep and Learning

We all know that feeling of trying to study or work when we're super tired. Our brains feel foggy, and it's hard to remember stuff. But how exactly does sleep (or lack of it) influence our ability to learn and remember things?

With this experiment, we'll uncover the mysteries of sleep and see how it can be our secret weapon for better learning.

• Split participants into two groups.
• Ask both groups to study the same material in the evening.
• One group goes to bed early, while the other stays up late.
• The next morning, give both groups a quiz on what they studied.
• Compare the results to see which group remembered more.

Sleep and its relation to learning have been explored a lot. Scientists believe that during sleep, especially deep sleep, our brains sort and store new information. This is why sometimes, after a good night's rest, we might understand something better or remember more.

Real-World Impacts of Sleep and Learning

Understanding the power of sleep can help:

• Students: If they know the importance of sleep, students might plan better, mixing study sessions with rest, especially before big exams.
• Workplaces: Employers might consider more flexible hours, understanding that well-rested employees learn faster and make fewer mistakes.
• Health: Regularly missing out on sleep can have other bad effects on our health. So, promoting good sleep is about more than just better learning.

9) Testing Social Media and Mood

Have you ever felt different after spending time on social media? Maybe happy after seeing a friend's fun photos, or a bit sad after reading someone's tough news.

Social media is a big part of our lives, but how does it really affect our mood? This experiment aims to shine a light on the emotional roller-coaster of likes, shares, and comments.

• Ask participants to note down how they're feeling - are they happy, sad, excited, or bored?
• Have them spend a set amount of time (like 30 minutes) on their favorite social media platforms.
• After the session, ask them again about their mood. Did it change? Why?
• Discuss what they saw or read that made them feel that way.

Previous research has shown mixed results. Some studies suggest that seeing positive posts can make us feel good, while others say that too much time on social media can make us feel lonely or left out.

Real-World Impacts of Social Media on Mood

Understanding the emotional impact of social media can help users understand their feelings and take breaks if needed. Knowing is half the battle! Additionally, teachers and parents can guide young users on healthy social media habits, like limiting time or following positive accounts.

And if it's shown that social media does impact mood, social media companies can design friendlier, less stressful user experiences.

But even if the social media companies don't change things, we can still change our social media habits to make ourselves feel better.

10) Testing Handwriting or Typing

Think about the last time you took notes. Did you grab a pen and paper or did you type them out on a computer or tablet?

Both ways are popular, but there's a big question: which method helps us remember and understand better? In this experiment, we'll find out if the classic art of handwriting has an edge over speedy typing.

• Divide participants into two groups.
• Present a short lesson or story to both groups.
• One group will take notes by hand, while the other will type them out.
• After some time, quiz both groups on the content of the lesson or story.
• Compare the results to see which note-taking method led to better recall and understanding.

Studies have shown some interesting results. While typing can be faster and allows for more notes, handwriting might boost memory and comprehension because it engages the brain differently, making us process the information as we write.

Importantly, each person might find one or the other works better for them. This could be useful in understanding our learning habits and what instructional style would be best for us.

Real-World Impacts of Handwriting vs. Typing

Knowing the pros and cons of each method can:

• Boost Study Habits: Students can pick the method that helps them learn best, especially during important study sessions or lectures.
• Work Efficiency: In jobs where information retention is crucial, understanding the best method can increase efficiency and accuracy.
• Tech Design: If we find out more about how handwriting benefits us, tech companies might design gadgets that mimic the feel of writing while combining the advantages of digital tools.

11) Testing Money and Happiness

We often hear the saying, "Money can't buy happiness," but is that really true? Many dream of winning the lottery or getting a big raise, believing it would solve all problems.

In this experiment, we dig deep to see if there's a real connection between wealth and well-being.

• Survey a range of participants, from those who earn a little to those who earn a lot, about their overall happiness. You can keep it to your friends and family, but that might not be as accurate as surveying a wider group of people.
• Ask them to rank things that bring them joy and note if they believe more money would boost their happiness. You could try different methods, one where you include some things that they have to rank, such as gardening, spending time with friends, reading books, learning, etc. Or you could just leave a blank list that they can fill in with their own ideas.
• Study the data to find patterns or trends about income and happiness.

Some studies have found money can boost happiness, especially when it helps people out of tough financial spots. But after reaching a certain income, extra dollars usually do not add much extra joy.

In fact, psychologists just realized that once people have an income that can comfortably support their needs (and some of their wants), they stop getting happier with more . That number is roughly $75,000, but of course that depends on the cost of living and how many members are in the family.

Real-World Impacts of Money and Happiness

If we can understand the link between money and joy, it might help folks choose jobs they love over jobs that just pay well. And instead of buying things, people might spend on experiences, like trips or classes, that make lasting memories.

Most importantly, we all might spend more time on hobbies, friends, and family, knowing they're big parts of what makes life great.

Some people are hoping that with Artificial Intelligence being able to do a lot of the less well-paying jobs, people might be able to do work they enjoy more, all while making more money and having more time to do the things that make them happy.

12) Testing Temperature and Productivity

Have you ever noticed how a cold classroom or office makes it harder to focus? Or how on hot days, all you want to do is relax? In this experiment, we're going to find out if the temperature around us really does change how well we work.

• Find a group of participants and a room where you can change the temperature.
• Set the room to a chilly temperature and give the participants a set of tasks to do.
• Measure how well and quickly they do these tasks.
• The next day, make the room comfortably warm and have them do similar tasks.
• Compare the results to see if the warmer or cooler temperature made them work better.

Some studies have shown that people can work better when they're in a room that feels just right, not too cold or hot. Being too chilly can make fingers slow, and being too warm can make minds wander.

What temperature is "just right"? It won't be the same for everyone, but most people find it's between 70-73 degrees Fahrenheit (21-23 Celsius).

Real-World Implications of Temperature and Productivity

If we can learn more about how temperature affects our work, teachers might set classroom temperatures to help students focus and learn better, offices might adjust temperatures to get the best work out of their teams, and at home, we might find the best temperature for doing homework or chores quickly and well.

Interestingly, temperature also has an impact on our sleep quality. Most people find slightly cooler rooms to be better for good sleep. While the daytime temperature between 70-73F is good for productivity, a nighttime temperature around 65F (18C) is ideal for most people's sleep.

Psychology is like a treasure hunt, where the prize is understanding ourselves better. With every experiment, we learn a little more about why we think, feel, and act the way we do. Some of these experiments might seem simple, like seeing if colors change our mood or if being warm helps us work better. But even the simple questions can have big answers that help us in everyday life.

Remember, while doing experiments is fun, it's also important to always be kind and think about how others feel. We should never make someone uncomfortable just for a test. Instead, let's use these experiments to learn and grow, helping to make the world a brighter, more understanding place for everyone.

Related posts:

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• Dream Interpreter & Dictionary (270+ Meanings)
• Sleep Stages (Light, Deep, REM)
• What Part of the Brain Regulates Body Temperature?
• Why Do We Dream? (6 Theories and Psychological Reasons)

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10 Clinical Psychology Research Topics to Explore

Whether you’re working toward a PsyD or a PhD in Clinical Psychology , landing on a research paper that will sustain your interest throughout your doctoral program can be both thrilling and challenging.

Should you go with a niche you know well or branch out to another psychology specialization ? Should you choose a research topic you’re passionate about or opt for something more topical and needed in the broader realm of behavioral and mental health?

Only you can answer these questions—however, this blog may provide you with some inspiration and direction. Let’s walk through 10 of the most fascinating clinical psychology research topics and how they might bring you closer to your educational and professional objectives.

Explore Clinical Psychology Programs

10 Emerging Research Topics in Clinical Psychology

One of the benefits of clinical psychology is that it’s far from a static field.

With each passing year, we gain more and more insight into the brain and how it affects behavior. In the last few years alone, for example, we’ve obtained a clearer picture of the negative effects of digital media on mental health and behavior. But we’ve also seen how digital media (specifically, mobile apps) can enhance mental health when used correctly. 1

Put simply, clinical psychology is a dynamic, exhilarating realm with seemingly boundless possibilities for further research.

Nonetheless, it’s easy to feel overwhelmed when settling on a clinical psychology research paper topic, especially when it’s one that you may be intimate with for years. To that end, consider these top 10 psychology topics to get you started in your research area:

#1. Mental Health Technology and Digital Interventions

The pandemic dramatically altered how healthcare practitioners interact with their patients and clients. Whereas psychotherapy and other forms of counseling were once performed almost exclusively in person, COVID-19 turned mental telehealth into our new reality.

But what might the long-term effects of this be? And will it persist as we march into the future?

Exploring the impact of digital mental health interventions (such as apps, other digital tools, and teleconferences) on well-being may open up a world of possible clinical psychology research topics and questions. 2 For instance, it may compel you to ask and research thoughts like:

• How will AI alter mental health treatments, if at all?
• Will digital mental health interventions ultimately cause or worsen isolation?
• What are the downsides and perks of turning to social media for mental health information?
• What is the relevance and value of in-person counseling sessions, post-pandemic?
• Do clients feel safer in online sessions?
• How can technology be employed to monitor patients outside of sessions?
• How does mental telehealth affect the elderly?

Technology is rapidly and constantly changing. In other words, psychology and technology may be exciting subjects to explore as you work towards starting or completing your doctorate.

#2. Cross-Cultural and Global Mental Health 

Globalization has its pros and cons. Studies indicate that while it may have its advantages, it can also heighten: 4

• Discrimination

Each of these may have lasting effects, including increasing the risk of mental disorders like addiction, depression, and anxiety. In other words, it needs to be examined by experts from multiple standpoints.

As a doctoral student, you’re in an ideal spot to investigate this complex issue. It also emphasizes the need to gain cultural competency and a global mindset as a mental health practitioner, which is another possible research topic in and of itself.

#3. Neuropsychology and Cognitive Processes

The field of neuropsychology and cognitive processes continues to grow, particularly with the advent of digital tools and their ability to monitor cognition. 5 Exploring our advancing knowledge of how the brain affects behavior may allow you to look at a wide range of mental health disorders and the newest clinical interventions that are being made available, such as treating:

• Alcohol use disorder (AUD)
• Eating disorders
• Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)

#4. Trauma and Resilience Studies

Psychologists and psychiatrists ranging from Bessel Van der Kolk to Peter Levine forever altered our understanding of trauma. What was once thought of as a purely psychological issue is now understood as a bodily ailment. 6

But how might this look as we move forward in time and gain an enhanced understanding of neuroplasticity? Will somatics continue to play a role in treating trauma, or will technological advances send practitioners and their clients in a completely different direction?

You may be in a position to dig deeper and find out.

#5. Behavioral Health and Chronic Conditions

The unique relationship between chronic conditions and behavioral health is also up for exploration. Growing research indicates that chronic conditions (such as diabetes) can trigger mental health complications like depression, which can then perpetuate the cycle of the chronic condition.

This topic may be especially timely and relevant as it emphasizes the need to bridge the gap between a patient’s full healthcare team and points out flaws in treating chronic conditions solely from a pharmaceutical stance.

#6. Psychotherapy Process and Outcome Research

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT), and other forms of traditional “talk therapy” have been mainstays in the field of clinical psychology for decades. But this, too, isn’t static, especially as clients continue to look more toward body-based therapies and technology-fueled solutions, like: 8

• Transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS)
• Neurofeedback therapy 
• Brainspotting
• Somatic Experiencing (SE)

Is it too soon to know if these and other fresh forms of mental health treatments have the same staying power as, say, cognitive behavioral therapy? This might be optimal for exploration.

#7. Social Determinants of Mental Health 

Social determinants of mental health (SDOMH) refer to the external circumstances that may impact an individual’s mental well-being and make them more vulnerable to conditions ranging from depression to addiction. SDOMH includes: 9

• Unemployment 
• Social isolation
• Urban crowding

How will SDOMH change as we move forward? Will it? Additionally, what is a clinical psychologist’s role in addressing these issues? What are the most effective strategies for working with those who have been disadvantaged?

This is an important topic as we, as a society, continue to address long-buried issues of race and class.

#8. Addiction and Substance Use Disorders

Addiction remains a prevalent topic: Alcohol use disorder (AUD) affects roughly 10.5% of the population, while 46.8 million Americans wrestled with a substance abuse disorder in 2022 alone. 10

Analyzing the most recent treatments and the future of treatments might not only pave the way for your own work after completion of your PsyD or PhD but also do a tremendous service for those who suffer from addiction (and their loved ones and families).

#9. Child and Adolescent Mental Health

Numerous studies indicate that kids and teens now have unusually high rates of: 11

• Substance use

What plays into this? Is social media entirely to blame, or can social sites also be a resource for youngsters? And how can clinical psychologists tweak their methods to resonate with kids and teens?

These are just three of the many questions you might ask if you decide to adopt this topic for your clinical research.

#10. Ethics and Professional Issues in Clinical Psychology

Last but not least, consider the value of examining both the main and more subtle ethics and professional issues in clinical psychology at work today, such as:

• Privacy 
• Informed consent
• Cultural sensitivity 
• Termination of counseling

Shape the Future of Mental Health with Alliant International University 

From making a substantial difference in the lives of others to eradicating the stigmas that surround certain mental health conditions, clinical psychologists are in a prime position to fuel lasting change. Selecting a clinical research topic that ignites your spirit and works toward solving larger social issues takes this notion to the next level.

Alliant International University may get you closer to becoming the type of clinical psychologist who can make an impact. Whether you’re exploring our PsyD in Clinical Psychology or have just started college, we’re proud to offer doctoral programs for psychology that can help you excel in your future profession. And with online and in-person classes and training, you might find the flexibility your life requires.

Learn more about our clinical psychology programs today.

Sources: 

• “Exploring the Latest Frontiers in Clinical Psychology Research.” The Clinic, March 25, 2024. https://theclinicca.org/exploring-the-latest-frontiers-in-clinical-psyc… .
•  Park, Susanna Y, Chloe Nicksic Sigmon, and Debra Boeldt. “A Framework for the Implementation of Digital Mental Health Interventions: The Importance of Feasibility and Acceptability Research.” Cureus, September 19, 2022. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC9580609/.  
• Bond, Raymond R., Maurice D. Mulvenna, Courtney Potts, Siobhan O’Neill, Edel Ennis, and John Torous. “Digital Transformation of Mental Health Services.” Nature News, August 22, 2023. https://www.nature.com/articles/s44184-023-00033-y.  
• “Cross-Cultural Mental Health.” CMHA British Columbia, July 14, 2016. https://bc.cmha.ca/documents/cross-cultural-mental-health-and-substance-use-2/.  
• “New Research Looks at the Promise of ‘Digital Neuropsychology.’” McLean News | New Research Looks at the Promise of “Digital Neuropsychology,” January 7, 2019. https://www.mcleanhospital.org/news/new-research-looks-promise-digital-neuropsychology.  
• Kuhfuß, Marie, Tobias Maldei, Andreas Hetmanek, and Nicola Baumann. “Somatic Experiencing - Effectiveness and Key Factors of a Body-Oriented Trauma Therapy: A Scoping Literature Review.” European journal of psychotraumatology, July 12, 2021. https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC8276649/.  
• “The Intersection of Mental Health and Chronic Disease.” Johns Hopkins Bloomberg School of Public Health. Accessed April 17, 2024. https://publichealth.jhu.edu/2021/the-intersection-of-mental-health-and-chronic-disease.  
• Theodora Blanchfield, AMFT. “What to Know about Brainspotting Therapy.” Verywell Mind, January 16, 2024. https://www.verywellmind.com/brainspotting-therapy-definition-techniques-and-efficacy-5213947.  
• Social Determinants of Health and Mental Health. Accessed April 17, 2024. https://www.ncsc.org/__data/assets/pdf_file/0025/70864/Social-Determinants-of-Health.pdf.  
• “Alcohol and Drug Abuse Statistics (Facts about Addiction).” American Addiction Centers, April 4, 2024. https://americanaddictioncenters.org/addiction-statistics#.  
• “Data and Statistics on Children’s Mental Health.” Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, March 8, 2023. https://www.cdc.gov/childrensmentalhealth/data.html.  

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50+ Research Topics for Psychology Papers

How to Find Psychology Research Topics for Your Student Paper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Research Topics Within Specific Branches of Psychology

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

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

Other social psychology topics you might consider include:

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

Psychology Research Topics Involving a Disorder or Type of Therapy

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Cognition

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

• False memories
• Speech disorders
• Problem-solving

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Development

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

Some other topics you might consider include:

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

Do a Critique of Publications Involving Psychology Research Topics

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Famous Experiments

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research About Historical Figures

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

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

Psychology Research Topics About a Specific Career

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research Involving Case Studies

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

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

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

Psychology Research Topics Involving Literature Reviews

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research Based on Your Own Study or Experiment

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

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

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

What This Means For You

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

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

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

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