example of a research question in psychology

61 intriguing psychology research topics to explore

Last updated

11 January 2024

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Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

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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

• Collect data and identify trends with Dovetail

Psychology research is an exciting and competitive study area, making it the perfect choice for projects or papers.

Take the headache out of analyzing your data and instantly access the insights you need to complete your next psychology research project by teaming up with Dovetail today.

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Research Question Examples 🧑🏻‍🏫

Research Question Examples

• Psychology research questions
• Business research questions
• Education research questions
• Healthcare research questions
• Computer science research questions

Examples: Psychology

Let’s start by looking at some examples of research questions that you might encounter within the discipline of psychology.

How does sleep quality affect academic performance in university students?

This question is specific to a population (university students) and looks at a direct relationship between sleep and academic performance, both of which are quantifiable and measurable variables.

What factors contribute to the onset of anxiety disorders in adolescents?

The question narrows down the age group and focuses on identifying multiple contributing factors. There are various ways in which it could be approached from a methodological standpoint, including both qualitatively and quantitatively.

Do mindfulness techniques improve emotional well-being?

This is a focused research question aiming to evaluate the effectiveness of a specific intervention.

How does early childhood trauma impact adult relationships?

This research question targets a clear cause-and-effect relationship over a long timescale, making it focused but comprehensive.

Is there a correlation between screen time and depression in teenagers?

This research question focuses on an in-demand current issue and a specific demographic, allowing for a focused investigation. The key variables are clearly stated within the question and can be measured and analysed (i.e., high feasibility).

Examples: Business/Management

Next, let’s look at some examples of well-articulated research questions within the business and management realm.

How do leadership styles impact employee retention?

This is an example of a strong research question because it directly looks at the effect of one variable (leadership styles) on another (employee retention), allowing from a strongly aligned methodological approach.

What role does corporate social responsibility play in consumer choice?

Current and precise, this research question can reveal how social concerns are influencing buying behaviour by way of a qualitative exploration.

Does remote work increase or decrease productivity in tech companies?

Focused on a particular industry and a hot topic, this research question could yield timely, actionable insights that would have high practical value in the real world.

How do economic downturns affect small businesses in the homebuilding industry?

Vital for policy-making, this highly specific research question aims to uncover the challenges faced by small businesses within a certain industry.

Which employee benefits have the greatest impact on job satisfaction?

By being straightforward and specific, answering this research question could provide tangible insights to employers.

Examples: Education

Next, let’s look at some potential research questions within the education, training and development domain.

How does class size affect students’ academic performance in primary schools?

This example research question targets two clearly defined variables, which can be measured and analysed relatively easily.

Do online courses result in better retention of material than traditional courses?

Timely, specific and focused, answering this research question can help inform educational policy and personal choices about learning formats.

What impact do US public school lunches have on student health?

Targeting a specific, well-defined context, the research could lead to direct changes in public health policies.

To what degree does parental involvement improve academic outcomes in secondary education in the Midwest?

This research question focuses on a specific context (secondary education in the Midwest) and has clearly defined constructs.

What are the negative effects of standardised tests on student learning within Oklahoma primary schools?

This research question has a clear focus (negative outcomes) and is narrowed into a very specific context.

Need a helping hand?

Examples: Healthcare

Shifting to a different field, let’s look at some examples of research questions within the healthcare space.

What are the most effective treatments for chronic back pain amongst UK senior males?

Specific and solution-oriented, this research question focuses on clear variables and a well-defined context (senior males within the UK).

How do different healthcare policies affect patient satisfaction in public hospitals in South Africa?

This question is has clearly defined variables and is narrowly focused in terms of context.

Which factors contribute to obesity rates in urban areas within California?

This question is focused yet broad, aiming to reveal several contributing factors for targeted interventions.

Does telemedicine provide the same perceived quality of care as in-person visits for diabetes patients?

Ideal for a qualitative study, this research question explores a single construct (perceived quality of care) within a well-defined sample (diabetes patients).

Which lifestyle factors have the greatest affect on the risk of heart disease?

This research question aims to uncover modifiable factors, offering preventive health recommendations.

Examples: Computer Science

Last but certainly not least, let’s look at a few examples of research questions within the computer science world.

What are the perceived risks of cloud-based storage systems?

Highly relevant in our digital age, this research question would align well with a qualitative interview approach to better understand what users feel the key risks of cloud storage are.

Which factors affect the energy efficiency of data centres in Ohio?

With a clear focus, this research question lays a firm foundation for a quantitative study.

How do TikTok algorithms impact user behaviour amongst new graduates?

While this research question is more open-ended, it could form the basis for a qualitative investigation.

What are the perceived risk and benefits of open-source software software within the web design industry?

Practical and straightforward, the results could guide both developers and end-users in their choices.

Remember, these are just examples…

In this post, we’ve tried to provide a wide range of research question examples to help you get a feel for what research questions look like in practice. That said, it’s important to remember that these are just examples and don’t necessarily equate to good research topics . If you’re still trying to find a topic, check out our topic megalist for inspiration.

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A research question is a statement that defines what is to be studied. It is the core of the research project, study, or literature review. Your research question  focuses the study, determines the methodology, and guides all stages of inquiry, analysis, and reporting.

Your research question should...

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• Identify the problem you're writing about
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Psychology Research Questions: Crafting Effective Inquiries for Impactful Studies

A well-crafted research question is the cornerstone of any impactful psychology study, serving as a guiding light that illuminates the path to discovery. In the vast realm of psychological inquiry, where the human mind and behavior intertwine in complex patterns, the art of formulating effective research questions becomes paramount. These questions are not mere curiosities; they are the seeds from which groundbreaking insights and transformative theories grow.

Imagine, for a moment, the great psychologists of history pondering their pivotal questions. Freud asking himself about the nature of the unconscious, or Skinner contemplating the intricacies of operant conditioning. These weren’t just random musings, but carefully crafted inquiries that shaped the landscape of psychology as we know it today.

But what exactly is a research question in psychology? At its core, it’s a precise, focused query that seeks to explore a specific aspect of human cognition, emotion, or behavior. It’s the compass that guides researchers through the labyrinth of data collection, analysis, and interpretation. A well-formulated question doesn’t just ask; it probes, challenges, and sometimes even dares to overturn established paradigms.

The role of research questions in guiding psychological studies cannot be overstated. They serve as the backbone of the scientific method in psychology, providing structure and direction to the investigative process. A robust question acts as a filter, helping researchers sift through the noise of countless variables and zero in on the most pertinent factors. It’s the difference between aimlessly wandering in a forest of data and cutting a clear path towards meaningful conclusions.

But what makes a psychology research question truly effective? First and foremost, it must be specific and unambiguous. Vague inquiries lead to murky results, while precise questions pave the way for clear, actionable insights. An effective question should also be feasible – grounded in reality and capable of being investigated with available resources and ethical constraints. It should be novel, pushing the boundaries of current knowledge rather than rehashing well-trodden ground. Perhaps most importantly, it should be relevant, addressing issues that matter to the field of psychology and society at large.

Types of Psychology Research Questions

As diverse as the field of psychology itself, research questions come in various flavors, each suited to different investigative approaches. Let’s dive into the smorgasbord of inquiry types that psychologists employ to unravel the mysteries of the mind.

Descriptive research questions are the bread and butter of exploratory psychology. They seek to paint a picture of what is, rather than why it is. For instance, “What are the most common coping mechanisms used by college students during exam periods?” This type of question lays the groundwork for further investigation, providing a snapshot of psychological phenomena in their natural habitat.

Correlational research questions, on the other hand, aim to uncover relationships between variables. They’re the matchmakers of the research world, asking, “Is there a connection between X and Y?” A classic example might be, “Is there a relationship between social media usage and reported levels of anxiety in teenagers?” These questions don’t imply causation, but they can reveal intriguing patterns and associations.

Experimental research questions are the heavy hitters, designed to test causal relationships. They typically involve manipulating one variable to observe its effect on another. For example, “Does a mindfulness meditation intervention reduce symptoms of depression in adults?” These questions form the basis of controlled experiments, the gold standard of psychological research.

Qualitative research in psychology takes a different tack, focusing on in-depth exploration of subjective experiences. These questions might ask, “How do individuals with chronic pain describe their daily lived experiences?” Qualitative inquiries delve into the richness of human narratives, seeking to understand phenomena from the perspective of those who experience them.

Mixed-methods research questions combine quantitative and qualitative approaches, offering a more comprehensive view of complex psychological issues. For instance, “How do quantitative measures of stress correlate with qualitative descriptions of work-life balance among healthcare professionals?” This approach allows researchers to capture both the breadth and depth of psychological phenomena.

Developing Good Psychology Research Questions

Crafting a stellar research question is both an art and a science. It requires creativity, critical thinking, and a deep understanding of the field. So, how do we go about developing these golden tickets to psychological insight?

The journey often begins with identifying research gaps and areas of interest. This involves diving deep into existing literature, attending conferences, and engaging in discussions with colleagues. It’s about finding those tantalizing loose threads in the fabric of psychological knowledge and giving them a gentle tug.

Once you’ve identified a broad area of interest, the next step is to narrow it down to a specific, manageable question. This is where the real craftsmanship comes in. It’s like sculpting – you start with a large block of marble (your general topic) and chip away until you reveal the precise form of your research question.

A crucial aspect of this process is ensuring that your questions are measurable and testable. There’s no point in asking a question that can’t be answered through empirical investigation. This is where crafting a psychology research proposal comes in handy, as it forces you to think through the practicalities of your inquiry.

Aligning your questions with current psychological theories is also essential. Your research should contribute to ongoing conversations in the field, either by supporting existing theories, challenging them, or proposing new ones. It’s like joining a centuries-long debate – you need to know what’s already been said to make a meaningful contribution.

Lastly, but crucially, consider the ethical implications of your research questions. Psychology deals with human subjects, often exploring sensitive areas of human experience. It’s vital to ask yourself: Could this question, if pursued, potentially harm participants or lead to misuse of information? Ethical considerations should be at the forefront of your mind throughout the question development process.

Examples of Effective Psychology Research Questions

To truly grasp the art of crafting effective research questions, let’s examine some examples across different branches of psychology. These questions aren’t just academic exercises – they’re potential keys to unlocking new understanding about the human mind and behavior.

In cognitive psychology, a researcher might ask, “How does multitasking affect working memory capacity in adults aged 25-35?” This question is specific, measurable, and addresses a relevant issue in our increasingly distraction-filled world.

Social psychology offers fertile ground for intriguing questions. For instance, “To what extent does social media influence formation in adolescents aged 13-17?” This question taps into contemporary concerns about technology’s impact on social development.

Developmental psychologists might ponder, “How do parenting styles in single-parent households affect emotional regulation in preschool-aged children?” This question combines multiple variables in a way that could yield valuable insights for both theory and practice.

In clinical psychology, a researcher could ask, “What is the comparative effectiveness of cognitive-behavioral therapy versus mindfulness-based stress reduction for treating generalized anxiety disorder in adults?” This question not only compares two treatment approaches but also specifies the condition and population being studied.

Neuropsychology questions often bridge the gap between brain and behavior. For example, “How do structural changes in the hippocampus correlate with memory decline in early-stage Alzheimer’s patients?” This question integrates biological and psychological factors, showcasing the interdisciplinary nature of modern psychology research.

Common Pitfalls in Formulating Psychology Research Questions

Even seasoned researchers can stumble when crafting research questions. Being aware of common pitfalls can help you avoid these traps and formulate more effective inquiries.

One of the most frequent mistakes is creating overly broad or vague questions. “How does childhood affect adulthood?” might seem like an interesting question, but it’s far too broad to be effectively researched. It’s like trying to boil the ocean – you’ll exhaust yourself before you make any meaningful progress.

Leading questions in psychology are another pitfall to watch out for. These are questions that subtly (or not so subtly) push respondents towards a particular answer. For example, “Don’t you agree that social media is harmful to teenagers?” This type of question can bias your results and undermine the validity of your research.

Some researchers fall into the trap of formulating questions that cannot be empirically tested. “What is the meaning of life?” might be a fascinating philosophical question, but it’s not something that can be objectively measured or analyzed within the framework of psychological research.

Neglecting to consider practical constraints is another common issue. A question might be theoretically interesting, but if it requires resources or access that are beyond reach, it’s not a viable research question. Always consider the feasibility of your inquiry within the constraints of your research context.

Lastly, failing to address the “so what?” factor can lead to research that, while technically sound, lacks real-world relevance or impact. Every research question should have a clear answer to why it matters – to the field of psychology, to practitioners, or to society at large.

Evaluating and Refining Psychology Research Questions

The process of crafting effective research questions doesn’t end with the initial formulation. Evaluation and refinement are crucial steps in ensuring your questions are as sharp and impactful as possible.

Peer review and feedback processes play a vital role in this refinement. Sharing your questions with colleagues, mentors, or even at conferences can provide valuable perspectives and help identify potential weaknesses or areas for improvement. It’s like having multiple pairs of eyes proofread your work – they’re likely to catch things you might have missed.

Pilot studies can be invaluable in testing the validity and feasibility of your research questions. These small-scale preliminary studies can help you identify potential problems with your methodology, refine your measures, and even reveal unexpected aspects of your research topic that might lead to more nuanced questions.

The refinement of research questions is often an iterative process. Don’t be afraid to revise and rephrase your questions multiple times. Each iteration should bring you closer to a more precise, meaningful, and impactful inquiry.

Aligning your questions with appropriate research methodologies is crucial. A beautifully crafted question is of little use if it can’t be effectively investigated. Consider whether your question is best suited to quantitative, qualitative, or mixed methods approaches. This alignment ensures that your research design is capable of answering the questions you’re asking.

Finally, always keep in mind the broader context of your research. Ensure that your questions contribute meaningfully to the field of psychology. Ask yourself: How does this question advance our understanding? What gaps in knowledge does it address? How might the answers to this question inform theory or practice?

In conclusion, the art of crafting effective psychology research questions is a skill that develops over time, with practice and reflection. It requires a delicate balance of creativity and scientific rigor, of specificity and broader relevance. Well-formulated questions have the power to drive psychological research forward, unveiling new insights into the complexities of human mind and behavior.

As we’ve explored, from understanding the different types of research questions to navigating common pitfalls and refining our inquiries, the process is both challenging and rewarding. It’s a journey that demands curiosity, critical thinking, and a commitment to advancing psychological knowledge.

For aspiring researchers and seasoned psychologists alike, honing the skill of question formulation is an ongoing process. It’s about staying curious, remaining open to new perspectives, and continually refining our ability to ask meaningful questions. After all, in the world of psychology research, sometimes asking the right question is just as important as finding the answer.

So, as you embark on your own research endeavors, remember: a well-crafted question is more than just a starting point – it’s the key that can unlock doors to new understanding, challenge existing paradigms, and ultimately, contribute to the ever-evolving tapestry of psychological knowledge. Keep questioning, keep refining, and who knows? Your next research question might just be the one that changes the field forever.

References:

1. Creswell, J. W., & Creswell, J. D. (2017). Research design: Qualitative, quantitative, and mixed methods approaches. Sage publications.

2. Kazdin, A. E. (2017). Research design in clinical psychology. Pearson.

3. Leedy, P. D., & Ormrod, J. E. (2015). Practical research: Planning and design. Pearson.

4. Maxwell, J. A. (2012). Qualitative research design: An interactive approach. Sage publications.

5. Mertens, D. M. (2014). Research and evaluation in education and psychology: Integrating diversity with quantitative, qualitative, and mixed methods. Sage publications.

6. Punch, K. F. (2013). Introduction to social research: Quantitative and qualitative approaches. Sage.

7. Salkind, N. J. (2017). Exploring research. Pearson.

8. Stanovich, K. E. (2013). How to think straight about psychology. Pearson.

9. Willig, C., & Rogers, W. S. (Eds.). (2017). The SAGE handbook of qualitative research in psychology. Sage.

10. Yin, R. K. (2017). Case study research and applications: Design and methods. Sage publications.

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Subject Guide: Psychology: Developing a Research Question

• Background Information & Reference Books
• Developing a Research Question
• Defining Scholarly Sources
• Using OneSearch
• Research Strategies: How to "Speak" Database
• Finding Empirical Sources
• Evaluating Sources
• Citing Sources

Why make it a question?

Once you've successfully narrowed your research topic so that it fits the scope of your research assignment, it's important to turn your topic into a question. This helps make your research much more targeted, as it means you are looking for answers to a question you are asking, rather than any random sources that are related to your topic.

Unless your professor requires you to use a research question with a yes or no answer, the best words to turn your topic into a question are "how" and "why".

For example, if your narrow research topic is  The ethics of creating genetically  modified organisms ,  you can turn this into a question like the following:  How ethical is it to produce genetically modified organisms?

• Creating a Research Question For more help, please see this page!

Developing a Thesis Statement

How does your research question connect to your thesis statement for your project? Once you have decided on your research question, you research for sources to answer that question. After you have found sources that answer your question, your thesis is your own answer to your research question , supported by the sources you've found in your research.  

A well-written thesis statement has two parts:

1.The answer to your research question (your position). 2.Your reasons (supported by the sources you've found).

Developing Search Terms

Before you can search for your new research question, you should pick out search terms (also called keywords) that you can use to search for your topic in our library databases. Search terms are words or short phrases that describe your topic--you can think of them as the most important words in your research question. Below is a sample research question.

"How does the availability of childcare affect student parents' success in college?"

Some potential search terms might be: "childcare, "student parents," "success," and "college.

However, it's also important to have backup search terms if you don't have any luck with your first attempt. Sometimes sources aren't using the words you typed in and you need to think of alternatives or synonyms. Here are some examples of back-ups for each of the above example search terms.

• Childcare >> Daycare
• Student parents >> Student caregivers
• Success >> Graduation rates, GPA
• College >> Community college, higher education

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• Last Updated: Sep 25, 2024 3:07 PM
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2.2 Generating Good Research Questions

Learning objectives.

• Describe some common sources of research ideas and generate research ideas using those sources.
• Describe some techniques for turning research ideas into empirical research questions and use those techniques to generate questions.
• Explain what makes a research question interesting and evaluate research questions in terms of their interestingness.

Good research must begin with a good research question. Yet coming up with good research questions is something that novice researchers often find difficult and stressful. One reason is that this is a creative process that can appear mysterious—even magical—with experienced researchers seeming to pull interesting research questions out of thin air. However, psychological research on creativity has shown that it is neither as mysterious nor as magical as it appears. It is largely the product of ordinary thinking strategies and persistence (Weisberg, 1993). This section covers some fairly simple strategies for finding general research ideas, turning those ideas into empirically testable research questions, and finally evaluating those questions in terms of how interesting they are and how feasible they would be to answer.

Finding Inspiration

Research questions often begin as more general research ideas—usually focusing on some behavior or psychological characteristic: talkativeness, memory for touches, depression, bungee jumping, and so on. Before looking at how to turn such ideas into empirically testable research questions, it is worth looking at where such ideas come from in the first place. Three of the most common sources of inspiration are informal observations, practical problems, and previous research.

Informal observations include direct observations of our own and others’ behavior as well as secondhand observations from nonscientific sources such as newspapers, books, and so on. For example, you might notice that you always seem to be in the slowest moving line at the grocery store. Could it be that most people think the same thing? Or you might read in the local newspaper about people donating money and food to a local family whose house has burned down and begin to wonder about who makes such donations and why. Some of the most famous research in psychology has been inspired by informal observations. Stanley Milgram’s famous research on obedience, for example, was inspired in part by journalistic reports of the trials of accused Nazi war criminals—many of whom claimed that they were only obeying orders. This led him to wonder about the extent to which ordinary people will commit immoral acts simply because they are ordered to do so by an authority figure (Milgram, 1963).

Practical problems can also inspire research ideas, leading directly to applied research in such domains as law, health, education, and sports. Can human figure drawings help children remember details about being physically or sexually abused? How effective is psychotherapy for depression compared to drug therapy? To what extent do cell phones impair people’s driving ability? How can we teach children to read more efficiently? What is the best mental preparation for running a marathon?

Probably the most common inspiration for new research ideas, however, is previous research. Recall that science is a kind of large-scale collaboration in which many different researchers read and evaluate each other’s work and conduct new studies to build on it. Of course, experienced researchers are familiar with previous research in their area of expertise and probably have a long list of ideas. This suggests that novice researchers can find inspiration by consulting with a more experienced researcher (e.g., students can consult a faculty member). But they can also find inspiration by picking up a copy of almost any professional journal and reading the titles and abstracts. In one typical issue of Psychological Science , for example, you can find articles on the perception of shapes, anti-Semitism, police lineups, the meaning of death, second-language learning, people who seek negative emotional experiences, and many other topics. If you can narrow your interests down to a particular topic (e.g., memory) or domain (e.g., health care), you can also look through more specific journals, such as Memory & Cognition or Health Psychology .

Generating Empirically Testable Research Questions

Once you have a research idea, you need to use it to generate one or more empirically testable research questions, that is, questions expressed in terms of a single variable or relationship between variables. One way to do this is to look closely at the discussion section in a recent research article on the topic. This is the last major section of the article, in which the researchers summarize their results, interpret them in the context of past research, and suggest directions for future research. These suggestions often take the form of specific research questions, which you can then try to answer with additional research. This can be a good strategy because it is likely that the suggested questions have already been identified as interesting and important by experienced researchers.

But you may also want to generate your own research questions. How can you do this? First, if you have a particular behavior or psychological characteristic in mind, you can simply conceptualize it as a variable and ask how frequent or intense it is. How many words on average do people speak per day? How accurate are children’s memories of being touched? What percentage of people have sought professional help for depression? If the question has never been studied scientifically—which is something that you will learn in your literature review—then it might be interesting and worth pursuing.

If scientific research has already answered the question of how frequent or intense the behavior or characteristic is, then you should consider turning it into a question about a statistical relationship between that behavior or characteristic and some other variable. One way to do this is to ask yourself the following series of more general questions and write down all the answers you can think of.

• What are some possible causes of the behavior or characteristic?
• What are some possible effects of the behavior or characteristic?
• What types of people might exhibit more or less of the behavior or characteristic?
• What types of situations might elicit more or less of the behavior or characteristic?

In general, each answer you write down can be conceptualized as a second variable, suggesting a question about a statistical relationship. If you were interested in talkativeness, for example, it might occur to you that a possible cause of this psychological characteristic is family size. Is there a statistical relationship between family size and talkativeness? Or it might occur to you that people seem to be more talkative in same-sex groups than mixed-sex groups. Is there a difference in the average level of talkativeness of people in same-sex groups and people in mixed-sex groups? This approach should allow you to generate many different empirically testable questions about almost any behavior or psychological characteristic.

If through this process you generate a question that has never been studied scientifically—which again is something that you will learn in your literature review—then it might be interesting and worth pursuing. But what if you find that it has been studied scientifically? Although novice researchers often want to give up and move on to a new question at this point, this is not necessarily a good strategy. For one thing, the fact that the question has been studied scientifically and the research published suggests that it is of interest to the scientific community. For another, the question can almost certainly be refined so that its answer will still contribute something new to the research literature. Again, asking yourself a series of more general questions about the statistical relationship is a good strategy.

• Are there other ways to operationally define the variables?
• Are there types of people for whom the statistical relationship might be stronger or weaker?
• Are there situations in which the statistical relationship might be stronger or weaker—including situations with practical importance?

For example, research has shown that women and men speak about the same number of words per day—but this was when talkativeness was measured in terms of the number of words spoken per day among college students in the United States and Mexico. We can still ask whether other ways of measuring talkativeness—perhaps the number of different people spoken to each day—produce the same result. Or we can ask whether studying elderly people or people from other cultures produces the same result. Again, this approach should help you generate many different research questions about almost any statistical relationship.

Evaluating Research Questions

Researchers usually generate many more research questions than they ever attempt to answer. This means they must have some way of evaluating the research questions they generate so that they can choose which ones to pursue. In this section, we consider two criteria for evaluating research questions: the interestingness of the question and the feasibility of answering it.

Interestingness

How often do people tie their shoes? Do people feel pain when you punch them in the jaw? Are women more likely to wear makeup than men? Do people prefer vanilla or chocolate ice cream? Although it would be a fairly simple matter to design a study and collect data to answer these questions, you probably would not want to because they are not interesting. We are not talking here about whether a research question is interesting to us personally but whether it is interesting to people more generally and, especially, to the scientific community. But what makes a research question interesting in this sense? Here we look at three factors that affect the interestingness of a research question: the answer is in doubt, the answer fills a gap in the research literature, and the answer has important practical implications.

First, a research question is interesting to the extent that its answer is in doubt. Obviously, questions that have been answered by scientific research are no longer interesting as the subject of new empirical research. But the fact that a question has not been answered by scientific research does not necessarily make it interesting. There has to be some reasonable chance that the answer to the question will be something that we did not already know. But how can you assess this before actually collecting data? One approach is to try to think of reasons to expect different answers to the question—especially ones that seem to conflict with common sense. If you can think of reasons to expect at least two different answers, then the question might be interesting. If you can think of reasons to expect only one answer, then it probably is not. The question of whether women are more talkative than men is interesting because there are reasons to expect both answers. The existence of the stereotype itself suggests the answer could be yes, but the fact that women’s and men’s verbal abilities are fairly similar suggests the answer could be no. The question of whether people feel pain when you punch them in the jaw is not interesting because there is absolutely no reason to think that the answer could be anything other than a resounding yes.

A second important factor to consider when deciding if a research question is interesting is whether answering it will fill a gap in the research literature. Again, this means in part that the question has not already been answered by scientific research. But it also means that the question is in some sense a natural one for people who are familiar with the research literature. For example, the question of whether human figure drawings can help children recall touch information would be likely to occur to anyone who was familiar with research on the unreliability of eyewitness memory (especially in children) and the ineffectiveness of some alternative interviewing techniques.

A final factor to consider when deciding whether a research question is interesting is whether its answer has important practical implications. Again, the question of whether human figure drawings help children recall information about being touched has important implications for how children are interviewed in physical and sexual abuse cases. The question of whether cell phone use impairs driving is interesting because it is relevant to the personal safety of everyone who travels by car and to the debate over whether cell phone use should be restricted by law.

Feasibility

A second important criterion for evaluating research questions is the feasibility of successfully answering them. There are many factors that affect feasibility, including time, money, equipment and materials, technical knowledge and skill, and access to research participants. Clearly, researchers need to take these factors into account so that they do not waste time and effort pursuing research that they cannot complete successfully.

Looking through a sample of professional journals in psychology will reveal many studies that are complicated and difficult to carry out. These include longitudinal designs in which participants are tracked over many years, neuroimaging studies in which participants’ brain activity is measured while they carry out various mental tasks, and complex nonexperimental studies involving several variables and complicated statistical analyses. Keep in mind, though, that such research tends to be carried out by teams of highly trained researchers whose work is often supported in part by government and private grants. Keep in mind also that research does not have to be complicated or difficult to produce interesting and important results. Looking through a sample of professional journals will also reveal studies that are relatively simple and easy to carry out—perhaps involving a convenience sample of college students and a paper-and-pencil task.

A final point here is that it is generally good practice to use methods that have already been used successfully by other researchers. For example, if you want to manipulate people’s moods to make some of them happy, it would be a good idea to use one of the many approaches that have been used successfully by other researchers (e.g., paying them a compliment). This is good not only for the sake of feasibility—the approach is “tried and true”—but also because it provides greater continuity with previous research. This makes it easier to compare your results with those of other researchers and to understand the implications of their research for yours, and vice versa.

Key Takeaways

• Research ideas can come from a variety of sources, including informal observations, practical problems, and previous research.
• Research questions expressed in terms of variables and relationships between variables can be suggested by other researchers or generated by asking a series of more general questions about the behavior or psychological characteristic of interest.
• It is important to evaluate how interesting a research question is before designing a study and collecting data to answer it. Factors that affect interestingness are the extent to which the answer is in doubt, whether it fills a gap in the research literature, and whether it has important practical implications.
• It is also important to evaluate how feasible a research question will be to answer. Factors that affect feasibility include time, money, technical knowledge and skill, and access to special equipment and research participants.
• Practice: Generate five research ideas based on each of the following: informal observations, practical problems, and topics discussed in recent issues of professional journals.
• Practice: Generate five empirical research questions about each of the following behaviors or psychological characteristics: long-distance running, getting tattooed, social anxiety, bullying, and memory for early childhood events.
• Practice: Evaluate each of the research questions you generated in Exercise 2 in terms of its interestingness based on the criteria discussed in this section.
• Practice: Find an issue of a journal that publishes short empirical research reports (e.g., Psychological Science , Psychonomic Bulletin and Review , Personality and Social Psychology Bulletin ). Pick three studies, and rate each one in terms of how feasible it would be for you to replicate it with the resources available to you right now. Use the following rating scale: (1) You could replicate it essentially as reported. (2) You could replicate it with some simplifications. (3) You could not replicate it. Explain each rating.

Milgram, S. (1963). Behavioral study of obedience. Journal of Abnormal and Social Psychology, 67 , 371–378.

Weisberg, R. W. (1993). Creativity: Beyond the myth of genius . New York, NY: Freeman.

Research Methods in Psychology Copyright © 2016 by University of Minnesota is licensed under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-ShareAlike 4.0 International License , except where otherwise noted.