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113 Great Research Paper Topics

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

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

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

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

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

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

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

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

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

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

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

113 Good Research Paper Topics

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

Arts/Culture

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

Current Events

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

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

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

Science/Environment

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

How to Write a Great Research Paper

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

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

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

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

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

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

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

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

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

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

What's Next?

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55 Research Paper Topics to Jump-Start Your Paper

Coming up with research paper topics is the first step in writing most papers. While it may seem easy compared to the actual writing, choosing the right research paper topic is nonetheless one of the most important steps. Your topic determines the entire writing process: your core arguments, which sources you use, the structure of your outline, and ultimately how well the paper is received.

Unfortunately, how to select a research topic isn’t always obvious. So here, we explain how to come up with research paper topics that will work for you. We even share a list of research topics to help inspire you.

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What are research paper topics?

A research paper topic is the main focus of a piece of academic writing , encompassing the author’s main argument, thesis, or hypothesis that they plan to research and investigate.

Usually, the assignment stipulates what kind of research paper topics you can use, but even so you should choose topics that you feel passionately about and that have ample resources to fully develop your ideas.

How to come up with research paper topic examples

The ideal approach is to create a list of research topics that fulfill the criteria, and then choose the best one. Because research paper topics can be pretty broad, creating a list helps you narrow down ideas and consider fresh alternatives.

Of course, creating a list of research topics takes some effort. To save you time, here are some tried-and-true methods for how to come up with research paper topic examples:

• Personal interest: Which topics are you interested in or particularly curious about?
• Topics in class discussions: Was anything mentioned in class that you’d like to examine more deeply?
• Current events: Are there any topics in the news that fit the requirements for the assignment?
• Research gaps: For dissertations , are there any topics that haven’t been sufficiently researched before that you could contribute original data to?
• Advice from teacher, colleagues, or friends: Can you ask someone knowledgeable to help you brainstorm research paper topics?
• Search online: What kinds of relevant topics do people discuss online?

Once you have a short list of research topics, it’s time to move on to the next step: deciding how to select a research topic from the list.

How to select a research topic

As we explain in our guide on how to write a research paper , you should choose a topic with enough content to fill the length of your paper. On top of that, it’s best to pick a topic that you’re personally interested in, since you’re going to be spending long hours researching it and discussing it.

To keep your paper focused, choose a specific topic instead of a broad one . For example, instead of a general topic like “the eating habits of cats,” try to narrow it down a little, like “the eating habits of tigers.” With broad topics, you won’t be able to cover everything . Limit the scope of your topic so you can fully discuss it within the paper.

However, if you get too specific, you won’t have enough data, sources, or knowledge to write a substantial report. For example, if your topic was “the eating habits of my cat Charlie,” most likely you wouldn’t have enough information to fill more than a page or two.

So try to pick a topic that’s not only precise but manageable enough to describe completely within the limitations of the assignment.

Research paper topic vs. thesis vs. hypothesis

What’s the difference between a research paper topic, a thesis, and a hypothesis?

A research paper thesis is the main argument your paper tries to prove or explain. As such, the thesis is a core part of your entire research paper topic. A thesis is typically summed up in a thesis statement , a single sentence at the beginning of the paper to introduce your argument to the reader.

For example, if your topic was analyzing wind power in Mexico, your thesis might be:

Wind power effectively enabled Mexico to meet the requirements of the Paris Agreement, thanks to natural winds in the south.

With this thesis, your paper would then discuss the availability of wind, what factors of the south make it ideal, and how Mexico went about enacting it with regard to the Paris Agreement.

Specific to scientific works, a research paper hypothesis is a statement that describes what the author hopes to prove or disprove with their paper. A hypothesis is similar to a thesis in that it sums up the research paper topic, but a hypothesis requires original data and often testing to prove whether it’s true, whereas a thesis can draw on other people’s research.

55 examples of research topics

• The evolution of antibiotic-resistant bacteria
• Comparing the impacts of pollution on freshwater and saltwater ecosystems
• How the Human Genome Project changed the field of biology
• How modern-day urbanization affects wildlife and natural habitats
• The ethical considerations of CRISPR technology
• Leveraging sustainable business practices for marketing purposes
• How attitudes about financial risk management have changed over time
• Different leadership styles and their impact on organizational performance
• The challenges of cross-cultural business negotiations
• The practicality of big data analytics for small businesses

Communication

• How the internet changed in-person social interactions
• The most effective strategies for interpersonal conflict resolution
• The relationship between media literacy and voting habits
• The evolution of communication in family dynamics
• How advertising affects decision-making outside of sales

Computer science

• The application of blockchain technology outside of finance
• The future of quantum computing
• The greatest threats to cybersecurity at present
• The ramifications of humanizing AI
• An in-depth comparison between cloud computing and fog computing

Criminal justice

• Rehabilitation versus punishment in the juvenile justice system
• The merits of decriminalizing certain drugs
• Comparing the apprehension of white-collar and blue-collar criminals
• The evolution of profiling and behavioral analysis
• The effects of a private prison system on lawmaking
• Cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation
• Comparing the historic traditions of younger and older countries
• Effective strategies to preserve indigenous cultures
• The merits of multiculturalism in big cities
• The influence of public school systems on cultural understanding
• The relationship between socioeconomic factors and educational achievements
• The challenges of early childhood education compared to that of older students
• Effective strategies for promoting interest in STEM fields
• Predicting the future of education based on current trends
• Pros and cons of multilingual classrooms
• The evolution of mental health treatment over time
• Analyzing the most successful public health campaigns throughout history
• Misinformation and diet-related illnesses
• Comparing the health effects of natural drugs and synthetic drugs
• The future of telehealth and telemedicine
• Comparing feminist literature of the first, second, third, and fourth waves
• How colonization historically affected literature
• Comparing the genres of high fantasy and magic realism
• The decline of literary journals in the modern era
• The history of metafiction and self-referential literature
• Effective strategies for combating political corruption
• Leading causes of political extremism and terrorism
• Comparing the efficiency of different electoral systems around the world
• Comparing populism in North America and Europe
• The connection between specific governments and the happiness index of their people

Research paper topics FAQs

A research paper topic is the main focus of a piece of academic writing, encompassing the author’s main argument, thesis, or hypothesis, as well as the evidence to support it and the ultimate conclusion.

How do you come up with research paper topic examples?

You can brainstorm some research paper topics by asking people or searching online. Sometimes current events or topics discussed in the classroom can fit the type of topic you need. Try to think of topics you have a personal connection to, or perhaps topics that have not yet been sufficiently researched.

What’s the difference between a research paper topic, thesis, and hypothesis?

A research paper topic describes the general subject matter of the entire paper. A thesis is the specific argument that the author is trying to prove or explain. A hypothesis is particular to scientific papers; it is what the author attempts to prove or disprove through original testing.

111+ Best Research Methodology Project Topics for Students

Research methodology is the process of how we do research in academic studies, like how we ask questions and gather information. 

It’s like a roadmap that guides us through the research journey. A strong research methodology is essential because it helps students conduct their studies effectively, ensuring that their findings are reliable and valuable. 

This blog aims to help students, researchers, and teachers find interesting project ideas across different subjects by providing a curated list of research topics and guiding them on how to approach their research effectively. We want to make the process of choosing and conducting research projects easier and more enjoyable for everyone involved. 

Let’s dive into the world of research methodology project topics and explore the possibilities together!

What is the Research Methodology?

Table of Contents

Research methodology refers to the systematic process of planning, conducting, and analyzing research studies. 

It involves the techniques, procedures, and approaches used to gather, interpret, and evaluate data in order to answer research questions or test hypotheses. 

Research methodology encompasses various methods, such as experiments, surveys, interviews, observations, and literature reviews, among others. 

It provides a structured framework for researchers to ensure the reliability, validity, and ethical integrity of their studies, ultimately leading to credible and meaningful research outcomes. 

In essence, research methodology is the roadmap that guides researchers through the entire research process, from formulating research questions to drawing conclusions based on empirical evidence.

Importance of Research Methodology Project Topics in Academia

Here are the key points highlighting the importance of research methodology project topics in academia:

1. Hands-on Learning Experience

Engaging in research projects allows students to apply theoretical concepts learned in the classroom to real-world scenarios, enhancing their understanding and retention of course material.

2. Development of Critical Skills

Research methodology projects help students develop critical thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills as they design studies, collect and analyze data, and draw conclusions based on evidence.

3. Contribution to Knowledge

By conducting research, students contribute to the advancement of knowledge within their respective fields, uncovering new insights, perspectives, and solutions to existing problems.

4. Promotion of Innovation

Research projects often lead to the discovery of new ideas or approaches, fostering innovation and creativity within academia and beyond.

5. Exploration of Interests

Research methodology project topics allow students to explore topics of personal interest, fostering a sense of curiosity and passion for learning.

6. Preparation for Future Careers

Engaging in research projects prepares students for future academic or professional endeavors by providing them with valuable research experience and skills highly sought after in various industries.

7. Enhancement of Academic Profile

Research projects can enhance students’ academic profiles by providing evidence of their research capabilities, potentially leading to opportunities for scholarships, internships, or graduate studies.

Interesting Research Methodology Project Topics for Students

Here are some interesting research methodology project topics for students across various disciplines:

Social Sciences

• Impact of social media on mental health among adolescents
• Gender inequality in the workplace: A comparative analysis
• Effects of globalization on cultural diversity
• The role of family structure in child development outcomes
• Political polarization and its implications for democracy
• Factors influencing voter turnout in elections
• Social determinants of health disparities among minority populations
• Impact of immigration policies on host countries’ economies
• Social stigma associated with mental illness: A cross-cultural perspective
• Community policing and its effectiveness in reducing crime rates
• Social media activism and its impact on social movements
• Cultural perceptions of beauty and body image across different societies
• The effectiveness of online learning platforms in higher education
• Factors influencing student engagement in STEM education
• Impact of parental involvement on children’s academic achievement
• Strategies for promoting inclusive education for students with disabilities
• The role of technology in transforming classroom learning experiences
• Cross-cultural differences in teaching methodologies and learning outcomes
• Assessment methods for measuring student learning outcomes
• School bullying prevention strategies: A comparative analysis
• Effects of standardized testing on curriculum design and instruction
• Teacher professional development and its impact on student achievement
• Multilingual education and its benefits for language acquisition
• Education policies and their influence on educational equity and access
• The relationship between personality traits and academic performance
• Effects of early childhood trauma on adult mental health outcomes
• Cognitive biases and decision-making processes in individuals
• Psychological factors influencing consumer behavior and marketing strategies
• The impact of social support on coping mechanisms for stress
• Cross-cultural differences in emotional expression and regulation
• Psychological effects of social isolation and loneliness
• Mental health stigma and its impact on help-seeking behaviors
• The role of mindfulness practices in promoting well-being
• Psychological effects of social media use on self-esteem and body image
• Attachment styles and their influence on romantic relationships
• Psychological interventions for managing anxiety and depression

Health Sciences

• Factors influencing healthcare disparities among marginalized communities
• The effectiveness of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services
• Impact of lifestyle interventions on chronic disease prevention
• Barriers to healthcare access for undocumented immigrants
• The role of genetics in personalized medicine approaches
• Mental health implications of the COVID-19 pandemic
• Healthcare provider-patient communication and its impact on treatment adherence
• Strategies for promoting healthy aging and longevity
• Environmental factors influencing public health outcomes
• Access to reproductive healthcare services: A global perspective
• Healthcare workforce diversity and its implications for patient care
• The intersection of mental health and chronic illness management

Environmental Sciences

• Impact of climate change on biodiversity conservation efforts
• Sustainable agriculture practices for food security in developing countries
• Effects of pollution on aquatic ecosystems and biodiversity
• Renewable energy sources and their potential for mitigating climate change
• Urbanization and its effects on air quality and public health
• The role of ecosystem services in human well-being
• Environmental justice and its implications for marginalized communities
• Conservation strategies for endangered species preservation
• Waste management solutions for reducing environmental pollution
• Effects of deforestation on local and global climate patterns
• Environmental impacts of industrialization and urban development
• The importance of environmental education in promoting sustainability

Business and Economics

• Impact of corporate social responsibility on consumer behavior
• Factors influencing entrepreneurial success in emerging markets
• Effects of globalization on small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs)
• Economic implications of automation and artificial intelligence
• The role of government policies in promoting economic development
• Financial literacy and its impact on personal financial management
• International trade agreements and their effects on global economies
• Strategies for reducing income inequality and poverty
• The gig economy: Challenges and opportunities for workers
• Corporate governance practices and their impact on firm performance
• Economic impacts of natural disasters and pandemics
• The role of central banks in managing inflation and monetary policy

Technology and Computing

• Ethical considerations in artificial intelligence and machine learning
• Cybersecurity threats and countermeasures in the digital age
• The impact of social media algorithms on information dissemination
• Trends in wearable technology and their implications for healthcare
• Big data analytics and its applications in business decision-making
• The future of autonomous vehicles: Challenges and opportunities
• Internet of Things (IoT) applications for smart cities
• Accessibility considerations in software design and development
• Green computing: Strategies for reducing energy consumption in IT
• Digital divide: Addressing disparities in internet access
• Blockchain technology and its potential for revolutionizing industries
• Human-computer interaction design principles for user-friendly interfaces

Arts and Humanities

• Cultural representations of gender and sexuality in literature and media
• The evolution of artistic movements and their socio-cultural impacts
• Preservation of cultural heritage sites in the face of urbanization
• The role of music therapy in mental health treatment
• Ethical considerations in documentary filmmaking
• Digital humanities: Exploring new avenues for scholarly research
• Cultural appropriation versus cultural appreciation in the arts
• The influence of religion on artistic expression throughout history
• Intersectionality in feminist literature and activism
• Indigenous knowledge systems and their contributions to sustainable development
• Cultural diplomacy and its role in international relations
• Representations of race and ethnicity in contemporary art forms

Science and Engineering

• Advancements in renewable energy technologies for sustainable development
• The role of nanotechnology in biomedical applications
• Artificial intelligence in drug discovery and development
• Biologically inspired engineering solutions for environmental challenges
• Space exploration: Challenges and opportunities for scientific discovery
• Innovations in materials science and their impact on industry
• The future of 3D printing: Implications for manufacturing and design
• Engineering solutions for mitigating natural disasters
• Sustainable transportation systems
• Biomedical engineering advancements in prosthetics and medical devices
• Green chemistry approaches for sustainable manufacturing processes
• Robotics and automation in enhancing workplace productivity and safety

Communication and Media Studies

• Effects of media portrayals on body image and self-esteem
• The role of social media influencers in shaping consumer behavior
• Media literacy education: Empowering critical thinking skills in the digital age
• Representation of marginalized communities in mainstream media
• The impact of fake news and misinformation on public discourse
• Cross-cultural communication challenges in a globalized world
• The evolution of advertising strategies in response to technological advancements
• Media censorship and freedom of expression: Balancing competing interests
• Journalism ethics in the era of citizen journalism and social media
• The influence of celebrity endorsements on brand perception and consumer behavior
• Media coverage of political events and its impact on public opinion
• The future of media consumption: Trends in streaming services and digital platforms

These research methodology project topics cover a wide range of disciplines and provide ample opportunities for students to explore, research, and contribute to their respective fields of study.

Factors to Consider When Selecting a Research Methodology Project Topic

When selecting a research methodology project topic, several factors should be taken into consideration to ensure a successful and meaningful research endeavor. Here are some key factors to consider:

• Interest and Passion: Choose a topic that genuinely interests you and aligns with your passions. Research projects require dedication and perseverance, so selecting a topic that you are enthusiastic about will keep you motivated throughout the process.
• Relevance: Ensure that your chosen topic is relevant to your field of study, academic program, or career goals. Consider current trends, pressing issues, or gaps in the existing literature that your research can address.
• Feasibility: Assess the feasibility of your research topic in terms of available resources, time constraints, and access to data or participants. Ensure that your chosen topic is realistic and manageable within the scope of your research project.
• Originality: Aim for originality in your research topic by exploring new perspectives, innovative methodologies, or unexplored areas within your field. Avoid topics that have been extensively researched unless you can offer a unique angle or contribution.
• Scope: Define the scope of your research topic to ensure that it is neither too broad nor too narrow. A well-defined scope will help you focus your research efforts and produce more meaningful results within the constraints of your project.
• Research Question: Formulate a clear and concise research question that guides your investigation and provides a framework for your research methodology. Your research question should be specific, measurable, achievable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART).
• Methodological Approach: Consider the most appropriate research methodology or approach for investigating your research question. Depending on your topic, qualitative, quantitative, or mixed-methods approaches may be suitable. Choose a methodology that aligns with your research objectives and data collection needs.
• Ethical Considerations: Take into account ethical considerations relevant to your research topic, including informed consent, confidentiality, privacy, and potential risks to participants. Ensure that your research adheres to ethical guidelines and regulations set forth by your institution or professional associations.
• Practical Significance: Assess the practical significance of your research topic by considering its potential impact on theory, practice, policy, or society. Aim to produce research findings that have relevance and applicability beyond academic circles.
• Support and Guidance: Seek support and guidance from mentors, advisors, or peers when selecting your research topic. Consult with experts in your field for feedback, suggestions, and advice to help refine your topic and ensure its suitability for your research project.

Research methodology project topics are pivotal in academia, offering students avenues for exploration, learning, and contribution to knowledge. Through careful selection and consideration of factors such as relevance, feasibility, and originality, students can embark on research endeavors that not only deepen their understanding of their chosen field but also foster critical thinking and problem-solving skills. 

By addressing pressing issues, exploring new perspectives, and adhering to ethical guidelines, research projects become catalysts for intellectual growth and innovation. 

Ultimately, research methodology project topics serve as vehicles for academic inquiry, shaping the future of scholarship and empowering students to make meaningful contributions to their disciplines.

1. What are some tips for narrowing down my topic?

Aim for specificity and feasibility. Consider the scope of your project and the resources available to you. Choose a topic that is both manageable and significant within your discipline.

2. What are some common ethical considerations in research methodology projects?

Ethical considerations include obtaining informed consent from participants, ensuring participant confidentiality, and obtaining approval from institutional review boards (IRBs).

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170 AP Research Topics For Your Paper

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

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

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

Characteristics of a Good AP Research Paper

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

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

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

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

AP Seminar Themes

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

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

AP Seminar Topics

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

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

AP Research Topic Ideas

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

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

AP World History Research Paper Topics

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

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

AP US History Research Paper Topics

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

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

AP Capstone Research Topics

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

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

AP Biology Research Topics

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

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

Don’t Want To Write Your Paper Yourself?

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

We are a team of professional writers and researchers with years of academic writing experience. We are based online for accessibility sake. We have teachers and professors amongst us, most of whom will create your custom paper.

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77 interesting medical research topics for 2024

Last updated

25 November 2023

Reviewed by

Brittany Ferri, PhD, OTR/L

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

Medical research is the gateway to improved patient care and expanding our available treatment options. However, finding a relevant and compelling research topic can be challenging.

Use this article as a jumping-off point to select an interesting medical research topic for your next paper or clinical study.

• How to choose a medical research topic

When choosing a research topic , it’s essential to consider a couple of things. What topics interest you? What unanswered questions do you want to address? 

During the decision-making and brainstorming process, here are a few helpful tips to help you pick the right medical research topic:

Focus on a particular field of study

The best medical research is specific to a particular area. Generalized studies are often too broad to produce meaningful results, so we advise picking a specific niche early in the process. 

Maybe a certain topic interests you, or your industry knowledge reveals areas of need.

Look into commonly researched topics

Once you’ve chosen your research field, do some preliminary research. What have other academics done in their papers and projects? 

From this list, you can focus on specific topics that interest you without accidentally creating a copycat project. This groundwork will also help you uncover any literature gaps—those may be beneficial areas for research.

Get curious and ask questions

Now you can get curious. Ask questions that start with why, how, or what. These questions are the starting point of your project design and will act as your guiding light throughout the process. 

For example: 

What impact does pollution have on children’s lung function in inner-city neighborhoods? 

Why is pollution-based asthma on the rise? 

How can we address pollution-induced asthma in young children? 

• 77 medical research topics worth exploring in 2023

Need some research inspiration for your upcoming paper or clinical study? We’ve compiled a list of 77 topical and in-demand medical research ideas. Let’s take a look. 

• Exciting new medical research topics

If you want to study cutting-edge topics, here are some exciting options:

COVID-19 and long COVID symptoms

Since 2020, COVID-19 has been a hot-button topic in medicine, along with the long-term symptoms in those with a history of COVID-19. 

Examples of COVID-19-related research topics worth exploring include:

The long-term impact of COVID-19 on cardiac and respiratory health

COVID-19 vaccination rates

The evolution of COVID-19 symptoms over time

New variants and strains of the COVID-19 virus

Changes in social behavior and public health regulations amid COVID-19

Vaccinations

Finding ways to cure or reduce the disease burden of chronic infectious diseases is a crucial research area. Vaccination is a powerful option and a great topic to research. 

Examples of vaccination-related research topics include:

mRNA vaccines for viral infections

Biomaterial vaccination capabilities

Vaccination rates based on location, ethnicity, or age

Public opinion about vaccination safety 

Artificial tissues fabrication

With the need for donor organs increasing, finding ways to fabricate artificial bioactive tissues (and possibly organs) is a popular research area. 

Examples of artificial tissue-related research topics you can study include:

The viability of artificially printed tissues

Tissue substrate and building block material studies

The ethics and efficacy of artificial tissue creation

• Medical research topics for medical students

For many medical students, research is a big driver for entering healthcare. If you’re a medical student looking for a research topic, here are some great ideas to work from:

Sleep disorders

Poor sleep quality is a growing problem, and it can significantly impact a person’s overall health. 

Examples of sleep disorder-related research topics include:

How stress affects sleep quality

The prevalence and impact of insomnia on patients with mental health conditions

Possible triggers for sleep disorder development

The impact of poor sleep quality on psychological and physical health

How melatonin supplements impact sleep quality

Alzheimer’s and dementia 

Cognitive conditions like dementia and Alzheimer’s disease are on the rise worldwide. They currently have no cure. As a result, research about these topics is in high demand. 

Examples of dementia-related research topics you could explore include:

The prevalence of Alzheimer’s disease in a chosen population

Early onset symptoms of dementia

Possible triggers or causes of cognitive decline with age

Treatment options for dementia-like conditions

The mental and physical burden of caregiving for patients with dementia

• Lifestyle habits and public health

Modern lifestyles have profoundly impacted the average person’s daily habits, and plenty of interesting topics explore its effects. 

Examples of lifestyle and public health-related research topics include:

The nutritional intake of college students

The impact of chronic work stress on overall health

The rise of upper back and neck pain from laptop use

Prevalence and cause of repetitive strain injuries (RSI)

• Controversial medical research paper topics

Medical research is a hotbed of controversial topics, content, and areas of study. 

If you want to explore a more niche (and attention-grabbing) concept, here are some controversial medical research topics worth looking into:

The benefits and risks of medical cannabis

Depending on where you live, the legalization and use of cannabis for medical conditions is controversial for the general public and healthcare providers.

Examples of medical cannabis-related research topics that might grab your attention include:

The legalization process of medical cannabis

The impact of cannabis use on developmental milestones in youth users

Cannabis and mental health diagnoses

CBD’s impact on chronic pain

Prevalence of cannabis use in young people

The impact of maternal cannabis use on fetal development 

Understanding how THC impacts cognitive function

Human genetics

The Human Genome Project identified, mapped, and sequenced all human DNA genes. Its completion in 2003 opened up a world of exciting and controversial studies in human genetics.

Examples of human genetics-related research topics worth delving into include:

Medical genetics and the incidence of genetic-based health disorders

Behavioral genetics differences between identical twins

Genetic risk factors for neurodegenerative disorders

Machine learning technologies for genetic research

Sexual health studies

Human sexuality and sexual health are important (yet often stigmatized) medical topics that need new research and analysis.

As a diverse field ranging from sexual orientation studies to sexual pathophysiology, examples of sexual health-related research topics include:

The incidence of sexually transmitted infections within a chosen population

Mental health conditions within the LGBTQIA+ community

The impact of untreated sexually transmitted infections

Access to safe sex resources (condoms, dental dams, etc.) in rural areas

• Health and wellness research topics

Human wellness and health are trendy topics in modern medicine as more people are interested in finding natural ways to live healthier lifestyles. 

If this field of study interests you, here are some big topics in the wellness space:

Gluten sensitivity

Gluten allergies and intolerances have risen over the past few decades. If you’re interested in exploring this topic, your options range in severity from mild gastrointestinal symptoms to full-blown anaphylaxis. 

Some examples of gluten sensitivity-related research topics include:

The pathophysiology and incidence of Celiac disease

Early onset symptoms of gluten intolerance

The prevalence of gluten allergies within a set population

Gluten allergies and the incidence of other gastrointestinal health conditions

Pollution and lung health

Living in large urban cities means regular exposure to high levels of pollutants. 

As more people become interested in protecting their lung health, examples of impactful lung health and pollution-related research topics include:

The extent of pollution in densely packed urban areas

The prevalence of pollution-based asthma in a set population

Lung capacity and function in young people

The benefits and risks of steroid therapy for asthma

Pollution risks based on geographical location

Plant-based diets

Plant-based diets like vegan and paleo diets are emerging trends in healthcare due to their limited supporting research. 

If you’re interested in learning more about the potential benefits or risks of holistic, diet-based medicine, examples of plant-based diet research topics to explore include:

Vegan and plant-based diets as part of disease management

Potential risks and benefits of specific plant-based diets

Plant-based diets and their impact on body mass index

The effect of diet and lifestyle on chronic disease management

Health supplements

Supplements are a multi-billion dollar industry. Many health-conscious people take supplements, including vitamins, minerals, herbal medicine, and more. 

Examples of health supplement-related research topics worth investigating include:

Omega-3 fish oil safety and efficacy for cardiac patients

The benefits and risks of regular vitamin D supplementation

Health supplementation regulation and product quality

The impact of social influencer marketing on consumer supplement practices

Analyzing added ingredients in protein powders

• Healthcare research topics

Working within the healthcare industry means you have insider knowledge and opportunity. Maybe you’d like to research the overall system, administration, and inherent biases that disrupt access to quality care. 

While these topics are essential to explore, it is important to note that these studies usually require approval and oversight from an Institutional Review Board (IRB). This ensures the study is ethical and does not harm any subjects. 

For this reason, the IRB sets protocols that require additional planning, so consider this when mapping out your study’s timeline. 

Here are some examples of trending healthcare research areas worth pursuing:

The pros and cons of electronic health records

The rise of electronic healthcare charting and records has forever changed how medical professionals and patients interact with their health data. 

Examples of electronic health record-related research topics include:

The number of medication errors reported during a software switch

Nurse sentiment analysis of electronic charting practices

Ethical and legal studies into encrypting and storing personal health data

Inequities within healthcare access

Many barriers inhibit people from accessing the quality medical care they need. These issues result in health disparities and injustices. 

Examples of research topics about health inequities include:

The impact of social determinants of health in a set population

Early and late-stage cancer stage diagnosis in urban vs. rural populations

Affordability of life-saving medications

Health insurance limitations and their impact on overall health

Diagnostic and treatment rates across ethnicities

People who belong to an ethnic minority are more likely to experience barriers and restrictions when trying to receive quality medical care. This is due to systemic healthcare racism and bias. 

As a result, diagnostic and treatment rates in minority populations are a hot-button field of research. Examples of ethnicity-based research topics include:

Cancer biopsy rates in BIPOC women

The prevalence of diabetes in Indigenous communities

Access inequalities in women’s health preventative screenings

The prevalence of undiagnosed hypertension in Black populations

• Pharmaceutical research topics

Large pharmaceutical companies are incredibly interested in investing in research to learn more about potential cures and treatments for diseases. 

If you’re interested in building a career in pharmaceutical research, here are a few examples of in-demand research topics:

Cancer treatment options

Clinical research is in high demand as pharmaceutical companies explore novel cancer treatment options outside of chemotherapy and radiation. 

Examples of cancer treatment-related research topics include:

Stem cell therapy for cancer

Oncogenic gene dysregulation and its impact on disease

Cancer-causing viral agents and their risks

Treatment efficacy based on early vs. late-stage cancer diagnosis

Cancer vaccines and targeted therapies

Immunotherapy for cancer

Pain medication alternatives

Historically, opioid medications were the primary treatment for short- and long-term pain. But, with the opioid epidemic getting worse, the need for alternative pain medications has never been more urgent. 

Examples of pain medication-related research topics include:

Opioid withdrawal symptoms and risks

Early signs of pain medication misuse

Anti-inflammatory medications for pain control

• Identify trends in your medical research with Dovetail

Are you interested in contributing life-changing research? Today’s medical research is part of the future of clinical patient care. 

As your go-to resource for speedy and accurate data analysis , we are proud to partner with healthcare researchers to innovate and improve the future of healthcare.

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301+ Research Topic Examples For Students [Updated 2024]

Embarking on a research journey is a crucial aspect of academic growth for students. Selecting the right research topic is like choosing the key that unlocks the door to a world of academic exploration and discovery. In this blog, we will delve into the importance of choosing a relevant research topic for students, explore various considerations for topic selection, and provide research topic examples for students across different academic domains.

General Considerations for Selecting Research Topics

Table of Contents

Personal Interest

Identifying and pursuing personal interests is a fundamental aspect of selecting a research topic. When students choose a subject they are passionate about, the research process becomes an exciting journey rather than a mundane task. This can involve reflecting on hobbies, current events, or personal experiences that spark curiosity.

For example, a student interested in technology might explore the impact of artificial intelligence on society, delving into its implications for employment, ethics, and social dynamics.

Academic Relevance

Aligning the research topic with academic goals is essential for maximizing the learning experience. Students should consider how their chosen topic relates to their coursework and future career aspirations.

For instance, a psychology student might explore the effects of social media on mental health, connecting the research to their academic background and potential career path.

301+ Research Topic Examples for Students

Science and technology.

• Quantum computing and its potential applications
• Cybersecurity threats in the age of digital transformation
• The role of nanotechnology in medicine
• Impacts of 5G technology on communication networks
• Sustainable practices in IT: Green computing
• Robotics in healthcare: Current trends and future prospects
• Ethical considerations in genetic engineering
• Augmented reality and its applications in education
• The future of space exploration: Mars colonization
• Big data analytics for predicting disease outbreaks

Social Sciences

• Impact of social media on political activism
• Cultural appropriation in the fashion industry
• Influence of family structure on child development
• The psychology of decision-making in consumer behavior
• Social implications of virtual reality experiences
• Intersectionality and its role in social justice
• Effects of climate change on migration patterns
• Social perceptions of mental health disorders
• Online communities and their impact on social isolation
• Gender roles in contemporary society: Breaking stereotypes

Health and Medicine

• The microbiome and its role in human health
• Investigating alternative therapies for chronic pain management
• Impact of sleep deprivation on cognitive function
• Precision medicine: Tailoring treatments based on genetics
• The role of gut health in immune system function
• Telemedicine: Accessibility and effectiveness
• Public health interventions for reducing obesity rates
• Challenges in mental health care for marginalized communities
• Exploring the link between diet and mental health
• Vaccine hesitancy and its implications for public health
• The effectiveness of project-based learning in STEM education
• Assessing the impact of standardized testing on student stress
• Inclusive education for children with learning disabilities
• The role of teacher-student relationships in academic success
• Gamification in education: Engaging students through games
• Evaluating the effectiveness of online education platforms
• School policies and their impact on LGBTQ+ students
• Benefits and challenges of bilingual education
• The role of arts education in fostering creativity
• Technology integration in the classroom: Enhancing learning experiences

Business and Economics

• The gig economy: Implications for workers and businesses
• Corporate social responsibility and consumer behavior
• Impact of e-commerce on traditional retail businesses
• Cryptocurrency: Risks and opportunities in the financial market
• Strategies for sustainable business practices
• Workplace diversity and its impact on organizational performance
• The role of emotional intelligence in leadership
• Global economic disparities and their consequences
• Challenges and opportunities for small businesses in a digital era
• Consumer trust in online reviews and its influence on purchasing decisions

Environmental Science

• The role of forests in carbon sequestration
• Impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems
• Sustainable agriculture practices for food security
• Biodiversity conservation in urban environments
• The effects of climate change on migratory patterns of animals
• Renewable energy policies and their effectiveness
• Pollution in urban areas: Assessing air and water quality
• The role of wetlands in flood control and water purification
• Conservation strategies for endangered species
• Environmental education and its impact on eco-friendly behaviors

Political Science

• The role of social media in shaping political opinions
• Electoral systems and their impact on representation
• International relations: Diplomacy and conflict resolution
• Political polarization and its consequences for democracy
• Human rights violations in conflict zones
• The influence of lobbying on public policy decisions
• Immigration policies and their societal implications
• The role of women in politics: Breaking the glass ceiling
• Cyber warfare and its impact on national security
• Political ideologies and their evolution over time
• The impact of childhood trauma on adult mental health
• Cross-cultural differences in perception and cognition
• Exploring the link between personality traits and career choices
• Cognitive biases and decision-making errors
• Psychosocial factors influencing addiction recovery
• The role of positive psychology in promoting well-being
• Effects of social media on body image and self-esteem
• Sleep disorders and their impact on mental health
• Stereotype threat in academic settings
• The psychology of forgiveness and its therapeutic benefits
• Social mobility and its relation to economic inequality
• Social networks and their influence on career opportunities
• The impact of incarceration on families and communities
• Youth subcultures and their role in identity formation
• The digital divide: Access to technology and social inequality
• Social movements: Causes, dynamics, and outcomes
• The role of religion in shaping social attitudes
• Aging populations: Challenges and opportunities
• Urbanization and its effects on community dynamics
• Social stratification and its consequences for societal cohesion
• Reevaluating historical events from multiple perspectives
• The impact of colonialism on indigenous cultures
• Women’s suffrage movements around the world
• Historical analysis of economic recessions and recoveries
• Revolutionary movements and their effects on society
• The role of propaganda in shaping historical narratives
• Cultural exchange and influence in ancient civilizations
• Historical roots of current geopolitical conflicts
• Technological advancements and their impact on historical eras
• The legacy of historical figures in shaping modern ideologies

Literature and Language

• The portrayal of gender roles in classic literature
• The influence of folklore on contemporary literature
• Linguistic diversity in multicultural societies
• The evolution of language: Impact of technology and globalization
• Analysis of dystopian literature and its reflection on society
• Comparative study of literary movements across cultures
• The role of literature in fostering empathy and understanding
• The representation of mental health in literature
• Translation challenges in preserving cultural nuances
• Language acquisition in multilingual environments

Anthropology

• Cultural practices surrounding death and mourning rituals
• Studying indigenous communities and cultural preservation
• Human adaptation to environmental changes throughout history
• Impact of globalization on traditional cultural practices
• Evolutionary perspectives on human behavior
• Cultural relativism and its role in anthropological research
• Ethnographic study of modern subcultures
• Rituals and ceremonies in different world cultures
• Social organization and kinship systems in tribal societies
• Ethical considerations in anthropological fieldwork

Art and Design

• The role of art therapy in mental health treatment
• Influences of cultural movements on contemporary art
• Exploring the intersection of technology and visual arts
• Impact of public art installations on urban environments
• Analysis of symbolism in Renaissance art
• The evolution of graphic design in the digital age
• Environmental art: Conveying messages about sustainability
• Fashion trends and their cultural implications
• The psychology of color in design and marketing
• The relationship between art and political activism
• Ethical implications of emerging technologies
• Existentialist perspectives on human freedom and responsibility
• Metaethics: Exploring the nature of ethical statements
• Epistemological analysis of artificial intelligence
• Philosophical perspectives on the concept of time
• The relationship between mind and body: Dualism vs. monism
• The philosophy of education: Examining different approaches
• Environmental ethics and responsibilities
• Political philosophy: The concept of justice
• Comparative analysis of Eastern and Western philosophical traditions

Music and Performing Arts

• Impact of technology on the music industry
• Cultural influences on musical genres
• The role of music in film: Emotional impact and storytelling
• The evolution of dance as a cultural expression
• Representation of social issues in theater productions
• Music therapy for mental health and well-being
• The intersection of music and activism
• Cultural appropriation in the performing arts
• Influences of globalization on traditional music styles
• Experimental approaches in contemporary performing arts

Communications and Media Studies

• The impact of fake news on public opinion
• Representation of diversity in the media
• Social media influencers and their influence on consumer behavior
• The role of media in shaping political narratives
• Online privacy concerns in the era of digital communication
• The evolution of advertising in the age of streaming services
• Investigating media bias in news reporting
• Ethical considerations in photojournalism
• Media literacy education: Promoting critical thinking skills
• The future of journalism in the digital age

Criminal Justice and Law

• The effectiveness of restorative justice programs
• Police-community relations: Building trust and accountability
• Cybercrime and the challenges of law enforcement
• Juvenile justice reform: Balancing punishment and rehabilitation
• Police Brutality and Accountability
• Cybercrime and Digital Forensics
• Bail Reform and Pretrial Detention
• Human rights violations in prisons: Challenges and solutions
• Legal implications of emerging surveillance technologies
• The impact of criminalization on marginalized communities

Linguistics

• The evolution of language: From ancient to modern times
• Sociolinguistics: Language variation in different social contexts
• Bilingualism and its cognitive effects on language processing
• Analyzing language change through historical linguistics
• Phonetics and phonology: Exploring sound patterns in languages
• Syntax and sentence structure across diverse languages
• The role of language in shaping cultural identities
• Linguistic relativity: The influence of language on thought
• Computational linguistics: Applications in natural language processing

Geography and Urban Studies

• Urbanization and its impact on local ecosystems
• Geopolitical implications of natural resource distribution
• Sustainable urban planning for future cities
• Environmental justice in urban areas
• Exploring the dynamics of rural-urban migration
• Geographic Information Systems (GIS) applications in urban studies
• Impact of climate change on coastal communities
• Urban transportation systems: Challenges and innovations
• Cultural geography: Understanding the relationship between people and place
• Historical analysis of urban development in different regions
• The economic impact of global pandemics
• Income inequality and its effects on economic growth
• The role of central banks in monetary policy
• Economic consequences of automation and artificial intelligence
• Behavioral economics: Understanding decision-making processes
• The economics of healthcare systems around the world
• The gig economy and its implications for labor markets
• Trade policies and their impact on international relations
• Economic development in emerging markets
• The role of entrepreneurship in economic growth
• Impact of social media on political engagement
• Effects of social isolation on mental health
• Cultural influences on parenting styles
• Social consequences of income inequality
• Social dynamics in online communities
• Gender roles in contemporary society
• Impact of technology on interpersonal relationships
• Immigration and its effects on social integration
• Social movements: Causes and outcomes
• The psychology of resilience in the face of adversity
• Cross-cultural perspectives on emotional intelligence
• The impact of childhood experiences on adult relationships
• The impact of social media on political polarization
• Electoral systems and their influence on representation
• International relations: Power dynamics and conflict resolution
• Global governance: Challenges and opportunities
• The role of diplomacy in international relations
• The portrayal of gender roles in contemporary literature
• The influence of folklore on modern storytelling
• The evolution of language in the digital age
• Analysis of post-colonial literature and its impact
• The role of literature in fostering empathy
• The impact of art therapy on mental health
• Cultural influences on contemporary art
• Analysis of symbolism in contemporary art movements
• Existentialist perspectives on human freedom
• Metaethics: Examining the nature of ethical statements
• The philosophy of education: Different approaches

Media Studies

• Fake News and its Impact on Public Perception
• The Evolution of Journalism in the Digital Age
• Media Representation of Minorities: Challenges and Solutions
• The Role of Satire in Political Commentary
• Influencer Marketing: Consumer Trust and Ethical Considerations
• Podcasting as a Medium for Alternative Narratives
• Media Literacy Education: Navigating Information in the Digital Era
• Virtual Reality and Immersive Storytelling in Media
• The Relationship Between Media Consumption and Political Beliefs
• Media Censorship: Balancing Freedom of Speech and Social Responsibility

Sociology of Religion

• Interfaith Dialogue and Social Harmony
• Religion and Environmental Stewardship
• The Role of Religion in Shaping Gender Norms
• Religious Pluralism in Diverse Societies
• Faith-Based Initiatives in Social Welfare
• Religious Fundamentalism and Its Impact on Society
• Sacred Spaces: Architecture and Symbolism in Religious Buildings
• Spirituality and Mental Health: Exploring Connections
• The Influence of Religion on Political Movements
• Secularism in Modern Societies: Trends and Debates

Computer Science

• Explainable Artificial Intelligence: Bridging the Gap between Technology and Understanding
• Quantum Computing Algorithms: Potential Applications and Limitations
• Cybersecurity Threats in Internet of Things (IoT) Devices
• Natural Language Processing for Multilingual Information Retrieval
• Machine Learning for Predictive Maintenance in Manufacturing
• Blockchain Technology in Supply Chain Management
• Human-Computer Interaction: Enhancing User Experience
• Edge Computing: Distributing Processing Power for Efficiency
• Ethical Considerations in Autonomous Systems and Robotics
• Augmented Reality Applications in Education and Training

Public Policy

• Immigration Policies and Social Integration
• Universal Basic Income: Economic and Social Implications
• Public Health Policies for Disease Prevention
• Education Policies: Assessing Impact on Student Outcomes
• Climate Change Policy: International Cooperation and Challenges
• Criminal Justice Reforms and Recidivism Rates
• Social Welfare Programs: Effectiveness and Challenges
• Affordable Housing Policies and Urban Development
• The Role of Government in Addressing Income Inequality
• Policy Responses to Global Health Crises

Tips for Narrowing Down Research Topics

• Define Specific Research Questions

Once a general topic is identified, students should narrow down their focus by defining specific research questions. This helps clarify the scope of the research and ensures a more targeted and manageable investigation.

• Consider Feasibility and Resources

Practical considerations, such as available resources and feasibility, play a crucial role in topic selection. Students should assess whether they have access to the necessary data, tools, and support to carry out their research effectively.

• Evaluate Available Literature

Conducting a literature review is an essential step in refining research topics. By reviewing existing literature, students can identify gaps in knowledge, refine their research questions, and build on the work of previous scholars.

• Seek Guidance from Mentors and Instructors

Engaging with mentors and instructors can provide valuable insights and guidance. They can offer feedback on proposed topics, suggest relevant literature, and provide support throughout the research process.

In conclusion, choosing a research topic (from research topic examples for students) is a pivotal step in a student’s academic journey. By considering personal interests, aligning with academic goals, and exploring examples across different domains, students can unlock the potential for meaningful and impactful research.

The outlined tips for narrowing down research topics serve as practical guidance, ensuring that students embark on a research journey that is both enriching and rewarding.

As students embrace the challenge of research, they contribute not only to their academic growth but also to the broader body of knowledge that shapes our understanding of the world. So, let the exploration begin!

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150 Research Paper Topics

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

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

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

How to Choose a Topic for a Research Paper

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

Health Topics

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

Science Topics

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

Psychology Topics

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

Ethics Topics

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

Social Media Topics

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

Legal Issues Topics

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

Technology Topics

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

Government Topics

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

Education Topics

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

Business Topics

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

Sports Topics

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

Entertainment Topics

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

Current Events Topics

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

History Topics

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

Physics and Astronomy Topics

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

Animals Topics

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

Medical Topics

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

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• Knowledge Base
• Starting the research process

A Beginner's Guide to Starting the Research Process

When you have to write a thesis or dissertation , it can be hard to know where to begin, but there are some clear steps you can follow.

The research process often begins with a very broad idea for a topic you’d like to know more about. You do some preliminary research to identify a  problem . After refining your research questions , you can lay out the foundations of your research design , leading to a proposal that outlines your ideas and plans.

This article takes you through the first steps of the research process, helping you narrow down your ideas and build up a strong foundation for your research project.

Table of contents

Step 1: choose your topic, step 2: identify a problem, step 3: formulate research questions, step 4: create a research design, step 5: write a research proposal, other interesting articles.

First you have to come up with some ideas. Your thesis or dissertation topic can start out very broad. Think about the general area or field you’re interested in—maybe you already have specific research interests based on classes you’ve taken, or maybe you had to consider your topic when applying to graduate school and writing a statement of purpose .

Even if you already have a good sense of your topic, you’ll need to read widely to build background knowledge and begin narrowing down your ideas. Conduct an initial literature review to begin gathering relevant sources. As you read, take notes and try to identify problems, questions, debates, contradictions and gaps. Your aim is to narrow down from a broad area of interest to a specific niche.

Make sure to consider the practicalities: the requirements of your programme, the amount of time you have to complete the research, and how difficult it will be to access sources and data on the topic. Before moving onto the next stage, it’s a good idea to discuss the topic with your thesis supervisor.

>>Read more about narrowing down a research topic

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So you’ve settled on a topic and found a niche—but what exactly will your research investigate, and why does it matter? To give your project focus and purpose, you have to define a research problem .

The problem might be a practical issue—for example, a process or practice that isn’t working well, an area of concern in an organization’s performance, or a difficulty faced by a specific group of people in society.

Alternatively, you might choose to investigate a theoretical problem—for example, an underexplored phenomenon or relationship, a contradiction between different models or theories, or an unresolved debate among scholars.

To put the problem in context and set your objectives, you can write a problem statement . This describes who the problem affects, why research is needed, and how your research project will contribute to solving it.

>>Read more about defining a research problem

Next, based on the problem statement, you need to write one or more research questions . These target exactly what you want to find out. They might focus on describing, comparing, evaluating, or explaining the research problem.

A strong research question should be specific enough that you can answer it thoroughly using appropriate qualitative or quantitative research methods. It should also be complex enough to require in-depth investigation, analysis, and argument. Questions that can be answered with “yes/no” or with easily available facts are not complex enough for a thesis or dissertation.

In some types of research, at this stage you might also have to develop a conceptual framework and testable hypotheses .

>>See research question examples

The research design is a practical framework for answering your research questions. It involves making decisions about the type of data you need, the methods you’ll use to collect and analyze it, and the location and timescale of your research.

There are often many possible paths you can take to answering your questions. The decisions you make will partly be based on your priorities. For example, do you want to determine causes and effects, draw generalizable conclusions, or understand the details of a specific context?

You need to decide whether you will use primary or secondary data and qualitative or quantitative methods . You also need to determine the specific tools, procedures, and materials you’ll use to collect and analyze your data, as well as your criteria for selecting participants or sources.

>>Read more about creating a research design

Finally, after completing these steps, you are ready to complete a research proposal . The proposal outlines the context, relevance, purpose, and plan of your research.

As well as outlining the background, problem statement, and research questions, the proposal should also include a literature review that shows how your project will fit into existing work on the topic. The research design section describes your approach and explains exactly what you will do.

You might have to get the proposal approved by your supervisor before you get started, and it will guide the process of writing your thesis or dissertation.

>>Read more about writing a research proposal

If you want to know more about the research process , methodology , research bias , or statistics , make sure to check out some of our other articles with explanations and examples.

Methodology

• Sampling methods
• Simple random sampling
• Stratified sampling
• Cluster sampling
• Likert scales
• Reproducibility

 Statistics

• Null hypothesis
• Statistical power
• Probability distribution
• Effect size
• Poisson distribution

Research bias

• Optimism bias
• Cognitive bias
• Implicit bias
• Hawthorne effect
• Anchoring bias
• Explicit bias

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• Copy URL https://www.pbs.org/newshour/politics/fact-checking-warnings-from-democrats-about-project-2025-and-donald-trump

Fact-checking warnings from Democrats about Project 2025 and Donald Trump

This fact check originally appeared on PolitiFact .

Project 2025 has a starring role in this week’s Democratic National Convention.

And it was front and center on Night 1.

WATCH: Hauling large copy of Project 2025, Michigan state Sen. McMorrow speaks at 2024 DNC

“This is Project 2025,” Michigan state Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Royal Oak, said as she laid a hardbound copy of the 900-page document on the lectern. “Over the next four nights, you are going to hear a lot about what is in this 900-page document. Why? Because this is the Republican blueprint for a second Trump term.”

Vice President Kamala Harris, the Democratic presidential nominee, has warned Americans about “Trump’s Project 2025” agenda — even though former President Donald Trump doesn’t claim the conservative presidential transition document.

“Donald Trump wants to take our country backward,” Harris said July 23 in Milwaukee. “He and his extreme Project 2025 agenda will weaken the middle class. Like, we know we got to take this seriously, and can you believe they put that thing in writing?”

Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz, Harris’ running mate, has joined in on the talking point.

“Don’t believe (Trump) when he’s playing dumb about this Project 2025. He knows exactly what it’ll do,” Walz said Aug. 9 in Glendale, Arizona.

Trump’s campaign has worked to build distance from the project, which the Heritage Foundation, a conservative think tank, led with contributions from dozens of conservative groups.

Much of the plan calls for extensive executive-branch overhauls and draws on both long-standing conservative principles, such as tax cuts, and more recent culture war issues. It lays out recommendations for disbanding the Commerce and Education departments, eliminating certain climate protections and consolidating more power to the president.

Project 2025 offers a sweeping vision for a Republican-led executive branch, and some of its policies mirror Trump’s 2024 agenda, But Harris and her presidential campaign have at times gone too far in describing what the project calls for and how closely the plans overlap with Trump’s campaign.

PolitiFact researched Harris’ warnings about how the plan would affect reproductive rights, federal entitlement programs and education, just as we did for President Joe Biden’s Project 2025 rhetoric. Here’s what the project does and doesn’t call for, and how it squares with Trump’s positions.

Are Trump and Project 2025 connected?

To distance himself from Project 2025 amid the Democratic attacks, Trump wrote on Truth Social that he “knows nothing” about it and has “no idea” who is in charge of it. (CNN identified at least 140 former advisers from the Trump administration who have been involved.)

The Heritage Foundation sought contributions from more than 100 conservative organizations for its policy vision for the next Republican presidency, which was published in 2023.

Project 2025 is now winding down some of its policy operations, and director Paul Dans, a former Trump administration official, is stepping down, The Washington Post reported July 30. Trump campaign managers Susie Wiles and Chris LaCivita denounced the document.

WATCH: A look at the Project 2025 plan to reshape government and Trump’s links to its authors

However, Project 2025 contributors include a number of high-ranking officials from Trump’s first administration, including former White House adviser Peter Navarro and former Housing and Urban Development Secretary Ben Carson.

A recently released recording of Russell Vought, a Project 2025 author and the former director of Trump’s Office of Management and Budget, showed Vought saying Trump’s “very supportive of what we do.” He said Trump was only distancing himself because Democrats were making a bogeyman out of the document.

Project 2025 wouldn’t ban abortion outright, but would curtail access

The Harris campaign shared a graphic on X that claimed “Trump’s Project 2025 plan for workers” would “go after birth control and ban abortion nationwide.”

The plan doesn’t call to ban abortion nationwide, though its recommendations could curtail some contraceptives and limit abortion access.

What’s known about Trump’s abortion agenda neither lines up with Harris’ description nor Project 2025’s wish list.

Project 2025 says the Department of Health and Human Services Department should “return to being known as the Department of Life by explicitly rejecting the notion that abortion is health care.”

It recommends that the Food and Drug Administration reverse its 2000 approval of mifepristone, the first pill taken in a two-drug regimen for a medication abortion. Medication is the most common form of abortion in the U.S. — accounting for around 63 percent in 2023.

If mifepristone were to remain approved, Project 2025 recommends new rules, such as cutting its use from 10 weeks into pregnancy to seven. It would have to be provided to patients in person — part of the group’s efforts to limit access to the drug by mail. In June, the U.S. Supreme Court rejected a legal challenge to mifepristone’s FDA approval over procedural grounds.

WATCH: Trump’s plans for health care and reproductive rights if he returns to White House The manual also calls for the Justice Department to enforce the 1873 Comstock Act on mifepristone, which bans the mailing of “obscene” materials. Abortion access supporters fear that a strict interpretation of the law could go further to ban mailing the materials used in procedural abortions, such as surgical instruments and equipment.

The plan proposes withholding federal money from states that don’t report to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention how many abortions take place within their borders. The plan also would prohibit abortion providers, such as Planned Parenthood, from receiving Medicaid funds. It also calls for the Department of Health and Human Services to ensure that the training of medical professionals, including doctors and nurses, omits abortion training.

The document says some forms of emergency contraception — particularly Ella, a pill that can be taken within five days of unprotected sex to prevent pregnancy — should be excluded from no-cost coverage. The Affordable Care Act requires most private health insurers to cover recommended preventive services, which involves a range of birth control methods, including emergency contraception.

Trump has recently said states should decide abortion regulations and that he wouldn’t block access to contraceptives. Trump said during his June 27 debate with Biden that he wouldn’t ban mifepristone after the Supreme Court “approved” it. But the court rejected the lawsuit based on standing, not the case’s merits. He has not weighed in on the Comstock Act or said whether he supports it being used to block abortion medication, or other kinds of abortions.

Project 2025 doesn’t call for cutting Social Security, but proposes some changes to Medicare

“When you read (Project 2025),” Harris told a crowd July 23 in Wisconsin, “you will see, Donald Trump intends to cut Social Security and Medicare.”

The Project 2025 document does not call for Social Security cuts. None of its 10 references to Social Security addresses plans for cutting the program.

Harris also misleads about Trump’s Social Security views.

In his earlier campaigns and before he was a politician, Trump said about a half-dozen times that he’s open to major overhauls of Social Security, including cuts and privatization. More recently, in a March 2024 CNBC interview, Trump said of entitlement programs such as Social Security, “There’s a lot you can do in terms of entitlements, in terms of cutting.” However, he quickly walked that statement back, and his CNBC comment stands at odds with essentially everything else Trump has said during the 2024 presidential campaign.

Trump’s campaign website says that not “a single penny” should be cut from Social Security. We rated Harris’ claim that Trump intends to cut Social Security Mostly False.

Project 2025 does propose changes to Medicare, including making Medicare Advantage, the private insurance offering in Medicare, the “default” enrollment option. Unlike Original Medicare, Medicare Advantage plans have provider networks and can also require prior authorization, meaning that the plan can approve or deny certain services. Original Medicare plans don’t have prior authorization requirements.

The manual also calls for repealing health policies enacted under Biden, such as the Inflation Reduction Act. The law enabled Medicare to negotiate with drugmakers for the first time in history, and recently resulted in an agreement with drug companies to lower the prices of 10 expensive prescriptions for Medicare enrollees.

Trump, however, has said repeatedly during the 2024 presidential campaign that he will not cut Medicare.

Project 2025 would eliminate the Education Department, which Trump supports

The Harris campaign said Project 2025 would “eliminate the U.S. Department of Education” — and that’s accurate. Project 2025 says federal education policy “should be limited and, ultimately, the federal Department of Education should be eliminated.” The plan scales back the federal government’s role in education policy and devolves the functions that remain to other agencies.

Aside from eliminating the department, the project also proposes scrapping the Biden administration’s Title IX revision, which prohibits discrimination based on sexual orientation and gender identity. It also would let states opt out of federal education programs and calls for passing a federal parents’ bill of rights similar to ones passed in some Republican-led state legislatures.

Republicans, including Trump, have pledged to close the department, which gained its status in 1979 within Democratic President Jimmy Carter’s presidential Cabinet.

In one of his Agenda 47 policy videos, Trump promised to close the department and “to send all education work and needs back to the states.” Eliminating the department would have to go through Congress.

What Project 2025, Trump would do on overtime pay

In the graphic, the Harris campaign says Project 2025 allows “employers to stop paying workers for overtime work.”

The plan doesn’t call for banning overtime wages. It recommends changes to some Occupational Safety and Health Administration, or OSHA, regulations and to overtime rules. Some changes, if enacted, could result in some people losing overtime protections, experts told us.

The document proposes that the Labor Department maintain an overtime threshold “that does not punish businesses in lower-cost regions (e.g., the southeast United States).” This threshold is the amount of money executive, administrative or professional employees need to make for an employer to exempt them from overtime pay under the Fair Labor Standards Act.

In 2019, the Trump’s administration finalized a rule that expanded overtime pay eligibility to most salaried workers earning less than about $35,568, which it said made about 1.3 million more workers eligible for overtime pay. The Trump-era threshold is high enough to cover most line workers in lower-cost regions, Project 2025 said.

The Biden administration raised that threshold to $43,888 beginning July 1, and that will rise to $58,656 on Jan. 1, 2025. That would grant overtime eligibility to about 4 million workers, the Labor Department said.

It’s unclear how many workers Project 2025’s proposal to return to the Trump-era overtime threshold in some parts of the country would affect, but experts said some would presumably lose the right to overtime wages.

Other overtime proposals in Project 2025’s plan include allowing some workers to choose to accumulate paid time off instead of overtime pay, or to work more hours in one week and fewer in the next, rather than receive overtime.

Trump’s past with overtime pay is complicated. In 2016, the Obama administration said it would raise the overtime to salaried workers earning less than $47,476 a year, about double the exemption level set in 2004 of $23,660 a year.

But when a judge blocked the Obama rule, the Trump administration didn’t challenge the court ruling. Instead it set its own overtime threshold, which raised the amount, but by less than Obama.

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Project 2025 Explained: Democrats Assail Controversial Right-Wing Policy Map For Trump At DNC

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Democrats blasted Project 2025 on Monday at the start of the Democratic National Convention—marking the latest round of criticism against the wide-ranging blueprint for a potential second Trump term that even Trump has tried to distance himself from, despite his ex-staffers helping assemble it.

Then-President Donald Trump gives a speech at the Heritage Foundation's President's Club Meeting on ... [+] October 17, 2017, in Washington D.C.

Project 2025, spearheaded by conservative think tank the Heritage Foundation with help from more than 100 other conservative groups , is a multi-part plan for the next conservative administration—namely a Trump presidency—which includes a LinkedIn-style database for presidential personnel hopefuls, training programs for executive branch positions and an as-yet-unreleased “playbook” laying out what Trump should do in his first 180 days.

Though the project is led by the Heritage Foundation and other private third-party groups and is not formally tied to Trump, who has tried to distance himself from the operation, its proposals were developed in part by former members of his administration and other Trump allies, and the ex-president has previously praised Heritage for its policy work.

The project has drawn the most attention for its “Mandate for Leadership,” a 900-page proposed policy agenda that describes itself as a “plan to unite the conservative movement and the American people against elite rule and woke culture warriors,” laying out plans for all aspects of the executive branch.

Personnel: Project 2025 broadly proposes to insert far more political appointees who are ideologically aligned with the president into the executive branch—replacing many of the nonpartisan career civil servants who serve in it now—proposing an executive order that would put political appointees into any “confidential, policy-determining, policymaking, or policy-advocating positions” (which Trump previously did at the end of his presidency, but President Joe Biden then overturned it).

Federal Agencies: It proposes a scaled-down federal government, including the abolishment of multiple agencies—including the Department of Education, Department of Homeland Security, National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration and Consumer Financial Protection Bureau—whose remaining departments would be folded into other agencies or privatized, including the Transportation Security Administration.

Transgender Rights: Transgender rights and gender identity beyond biological sex are roundly rejected, with such steps as reinstating the ban on transgender Americans serving in the military, prohibiting public school educators from referring to students by anything other than their birth name and pronouns without parental permission, and ensuring no federal funds are used to provide gender-affirming care.

DEI and LGBTQ Rights: Project 2025 seeks to eliminate diversity, equity and inclusion programs from throughout the federal government and in universities, and while it doesn’t outlaw same-sex marriage, it supports “nuclear families” that include a “married mother, father, and their children,” and calls for restricting laws that bar discrimination on the basis of sex to exclude sexual orientation and gender identity.

Climate Change: The proposal would undo much of the federal government’s climate work, including by leaving the Paris Climate Agreement, overhauling the Department of Energy to promote oil and natural gas and deemphasize green energy sources, removing the Department of Agriculture’s focus on sustainability and curtailing climate research.

Abortion: While Project 2025 doesn’t explicitly call for an abortion ban, it would take many steps to restrict the procedure, including directing the Food and Drug Administration to revoke its approval of abortion drug mifepristone, using the Comstock Act to block any abortion equipment or medication from being mailed—which abortion rights advocates have said would be a “backdoor” way to ban abortion—barring federal funds being used to provide healthcare coverage for abortion and requiring states to report all abortions that take place there to the federal government.

Education: Project 2025 emphasizes a “school choice” policy that directs public funds to be used for students to attend private or religious schools, bars “critical race theory” from being taught in federally funded schools and advocates for legislation that would allow parents to sue schools they feel have acted improperly—such as by teaching controversial subjects or requiring students to disclose information about their religious beliefs.

Student Loans: Student loan relief efforts would come to an end—including the public service loan forgiveness program and income-driven repayment plans—as the proposal states “borrowers should be expected to repay their loans.”

Big Tech: TikTok would be banned, and the proposal calls for reforming Section 230 —which shields tech companies and social media networks from being sued over content on their platforms—and allowing laws like those passed in Florida and Texas that seek to punish social media companies who ban or suspend users based on their “viewpoints.”

Justice Department: Project 2025 calls for a “top-to-bottom overhaul” of the DOJ and FBI that gets rid of what it calls an “unaccountable bureaucratic managerial class and radical Left ideologues,” proposing an agency that would be more focused on violent crime and filing litigation that’s “consistent with the President’s agenda” and filled with far more political appointees; it also proposes prohibiting the FBI from investigating misinformation or making “politically motivated” moves against U.S. citizens.

Taxes: Project 2025 would seek to get rid of current tax rates and most deductions and credits, instead proposing a 15% rate for anyone under the Social Security wage base ( $168,000 in 2024) and 30% for taxpayers earning more than that—which means the lowest-income taxpayers will now pay more and some higher earners will pay less, and it would also lower the corporate income tax rate to 18%.

Federal Reserve: The project seeks to reform the Federal Reserve by “tak[ing] the monetary steering wheel out of [its] hands and return[ing] it to the people,” which the authors propose could be done by getting rid of the government’s control over the nation’s money entirely—instead leaving it up to banks—or returning to the gold standard, in which the dollar’s value would be tied to a specific weight of gold.

Foreign Relations: Project 2025 emphasizes opposing China, which it describes as “a totalitarian enemy of the United States,” and directs the U.S. to pull out of international organizations when they don’t serve the administration’s interests, including the World Health Organization and various United Nations agencies.

Healthcare: Project 2025 does not seek to overturn the Affordable Care Act, but would make significant cuts to Medicaid and impose work requirements to receive coverage, as well as reform Medicare—including by making Medicare Advantage, a paid supplement to Medicare, the default option for patients.

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The proposal was a common point of attack for Democrats against Trump during Monday’s opening night of the Democratic National Convention. State Sen. Mallory McMorrow, D-Mich., called it “a plan to turn Donald Trump into a dictator,” while highlighting the portion of the plan that calls for replacing many of the nonpartisan career civil servants in the executive branch with political appointees. The DNC also aired an ad that featured undercover footage of one of the Project 2025 authors and former Trump administration official Russell Vought, saying Trump has “blessed” the organization.

Is Trump Involved With Project 2025?

Trump has denied any connection to Project 2025, claiming on Truth Social last week that he has “nothing to do with them,” has “no idea” who’s behind the plan and finds some of its ideas “absolutely ridiculous and abysmal.” His campaign advisor Chris LaCivita has also denounced it, calling the effort a “pain in the ass.” But many aren’t buying the ex-president’s claims: The team behind Project 2025 includes 140 people who worked for Trump in his administration, according to CNN , including six former Cabinet secretaries and four people he nominated as ambassadors. Trump has also seemingly endorsed Heritage’s policy work in the past, saying at a 2022 dinner for the Heritage Foundation that the group was “going to lay the groundwork and detail plans for exactly what our movement will do … when the American people give us a colossal mandate.”

What Impact Could Project 2025’s Policies Have?

Experts have warned Project 2025’s proposals could have seismic impacts on how the federal government operates if carried out. In an article for Justia , criminal defense attorney and former prosecutor John May suggested Project 2025’s language endorsing the executive branch being able to “restrain the excesses” of the judicial branch and Congress means “if the President wants to, the President can defy any decision of the Supreme Court, any legislation by Congress, maybe even the act of impeachment and removal from office.”

Who’s Behind Project 2025?

The main team behind Project 2025 includes Heritage Foundation director Paul Gans and former Trump White House personnel leaders Spencer Chretien (who also served as Trump’s special assistant) and Troup Hemenway, according to the project’s website. Other groups listed as participating in the project include ex-Trump adviser Stephen Miller’s America First Legal, legal group Alliance Defending Freedom, Liberty University, Susan B. Anthony Pro-Life America and Turning Point USA. The 900-page policy agenda was co-authored by a series of conservative figures, with chapters penned by such Trump allies as former Housing Secretary Dr. Ben Carson, former Deputy Homeland Security Secretary Ken Cuccinelli, former HHS Civil Rights Director Roger Severino and former Trump advisor Peter Navarro, who went to prison in March for contempt of Congress. The Heritage Foundation confirmed July 30 that Dans is stepping down and leaving the organization, saying in a statement he was “moving up to the front where the fight remains.” The Daily Beast reports Dans resigned amid pressure from the Trump campaign, though the Heritage Foundation said only that it had always intended its “policy drafting” work to only last through the party conventions, “and we are sticking to that timeline.” The Heritage Foundation denied reports Project 2025 is shutting down, and said its personnel efforts would continue.

Will Trump Have To Follow Project 2025’s Plans?

Trump will not be under any obligation to follow Project 2025’s proposals if he wins the presidency, though history suggests he’ll listen to at least some of them. The Heritage Foundation made a similar policy proposal for Trump ahead of his presidency in 2016, and boasted two years into his tenure that Trump had already followed 64% of its recommendations, CBS News notes .

Would Project 2025 Change Social Security?

One area that Project 2025 doesn’t touch on is Social Security benefits and any potential cuts to the program, even as proposals outline changes to numerous other government “entitlements.” Changing Social Security and making cuts to its spending has been a priority for the GOP for decades, though the American public has long opposed slashing benefits. Republicans’ efforts have waned under Trump, however, and the ex-president publicly claimed in March he “will never do anything that will jeopardize or hurt Social Security or Medicare,” after he came under fire for suggesting otherwise in an interview with CNBC.

Surprising Fact

While much of Project 2025’s policy agenda concerns federal agencies, the proposal has also gotten attention for its call to outlaw all pornography, which it claims is tied to “the omnipresent propagation of transgender ideology and sexualization of children” and is not protected under the First Amendment. Project 2025 calls not only for pornography to be made illegal, but also for anyone involved with its production and distribution to be imprisoned, for any librarians or educators who “purvey it” to be registered as sex offenders and for telecommunications and technology firms that facilitate its distribution to be shut down.

Key Background

The Heritage Foundation’s practice of laying out a policy roadmap for a future Republican administration actually dates back to the Reagan era, founder Edwin J. Feulner noted in the afterword of the 2025 edition. The organization first laid out a blueprint in 1981 that President Ronald Reagan ultimately adopted, fulfilling half of its recommendations by the end of his first year in office. The Heritage Foundation has continued to come out with blueprints for potential conservative presidents each election since, it notes, and its 2025 Mandate for Leadership was published in 2023. While it came out last year, Project 2025 gained new attention in the past week since Trump disavowed it—sparking a wave of reports highlighting his ties to the figures behind the project that debunk his claims. Democrats have also used the controversial proposal as a key talking point and argument for why the left should unite behind President Joe Biden and focus on defeating Trump, particularly as Biden’s candidacy has come under widespread scrutiny in the wake of the president’s poor debate performance in June.

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Project 2025: A wish list for a Trump presidency, explained

It is billed as a policy "wish list" for the next Republican president that would vastly expand presidential powers and impose an ultra-conservative social vision on the US.

Donald Trump has disavowed the Heritage Foundation's Project 2025 document, though many of its authors worked for his previous administration.

Links between the Trump campaign and Project 2025 have been highlighted by the former president's critics, and this attack line will likely continue at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this month.

Here's your guide to what the document contains.

Who wrote Project 2025?

It is common for Washington think tanks of all political stripes to propose policy wish lists for potential governments-in-waiting.

The conservative Heritage Foundation first produced policy plans for future Republican administrations in 1981, when Ronald Reagan was about to take office.

It has produced similar documents in connection with subsequent presidential elections, including in 2016, when Trump won the presidency.

A year into his term, the think tank boasted that the Trump White House had adopted nearly two-thirds of its proposals.

The Project 2025 report was unveiled in April 2023, but liberal opposition to the document has ramped up now that Trump has extended his polling lead.

The Republican nominee himself has distanced himself from the proposal.

"I know nothing about Project 2025," he posted on his social media website, Truth Social. "I have no idea who is behind it.

"I disagree with some of the things they're saying and some of the things they’re saying are absolutely ridiculous and abysmal."

But the team that created the project is chock-full of former Trump advisers, including director Paul Dans, who was chief of staff at the Office of Personnel Management while Trump was president.

Mr Dans left the project in late July, clearing the way for Heritage Foundation President Kevin Roberts to take over. He said he was leaving during the presidential election season in order to "direct all my efforts to winning, bigly".

Russell Vought, another former Trump administration official, wrote a key chapter in the document and also serves as the Republican National Committee’s 2024 platform policy director.

More than 100 conservative organisations contributed to the document, Heritage says, including many that would be hugely influential in Washington if Republicans took back the White House.

The Project 2025 document sets out four main policy aims: restore the family as the centrepiece of American life; dismantle the administrative state; defend the nation's sovereignty and borders; and secure God-given individual rights to live freely.

Here's an outline of several of its key proposals.

Project 2025 proposes that the entire federal bureaucracy, including independent agencies such as the Department of Justice, be placed under direct presidential control - a controversial idea known as "unitary executive theory".

In practice, that would streamline decision-making, allowing the president to directly implement policies in a number of areas.

The proposals also call for eliminating job protections for thousands of government employees, who could then be replaced by political appointees.

The document labels the FBI a "bloated, arrogant, increasingly lawless organization". It calls for drastic overhauls of this and several other federal agencies, as well as the complete elimination of the Department of Education.

What does the Republican party platform say?

The party platform includes a proposal to "declassify government records, root out wrongdoers, and fire corrupt employees", pledges to slash regulation and government spending. But it stops short of proposing a sweeping overhaul of federal agencies as outlined in Project 2025.

Immigration

Increased funding for a wall on the US-Mexico border - one of Trump's signature proposals in 2016 - is proposed in the document.

Project 2025 also proposes dismantling the Department of Homeland Security and combining it with other immigration enforcement units in other agencies, creating a much larger and more powerful border policing operation.

Other proposals include eliminating visa categories for crime and human trafficking victims, increasing fees on immigrants and allowing fast-tracked applications for migrants who pay a premium.

Not all of those details are repeated in the party platform, but the overall headlines are similar - the party is promising to implement the "largest deportation programme in American history".

What a Trump second term would look like

Climate and economy.

The document proposes slashing federal money for research and investment in renewable energy, and calls for the next president to "stop the war on oil and natural gas".

Carbon-reduction goals would be replaced by efforts to increase energy production and energy security.

The paper sets out two competing visions on tariffs, and is divided on whether the next president should try to boost free trade or raise barriers to imports.

But the economic advisers suggest that a second Trump administration should slash corporate and income taxes, abolish the Federal Reserve and even consider a return to gold-backed currency.

The party platform does not go as far as Project 2025 in these policy areas. The platform instead talks of bringing down inflation and drilling for oil to reduce energy costs, but is thin on specific policy proposals.

Abortion and family

Project 2025 does not call outright for a nationwide abortion ban.

However, it proposes withdrawing the abortion pill mifepristone from the market, and using existing but little-enforced laws to stop the drug being sent through the post.

The document suggests that the department of Health and Human Services should "maintain a biblically based, social science-reinforced definition of marriage and family".

On this issue at least, the document differs fairly substantially from the Republican platform, which only mentions the word "abortion" once. The platform says abortion laws should be left to individual states and that late-term abortions (which it does not define) should be banned.

It adds that that access to prenatal care, birth control and in-vitro fertilisation should be protected. The party platform makes no mention of cracking down on the distribution of mifepristone.

Tech and education

Under the proposals, pornography would be banned, and tech and telecoms companies that allow access would be shut down.

The document calls for school choice and parental control over schools, and takes aim at what it calls "woke propaganda".

It proposes to eliminate a long list of terms from all laws and federal regulations, including "sexual orientation", "gender equality", "abortion" and "reproductive rights".

Project 2025 aims to end diversity, equity and inclusion programs in schools and government departments as part of what it describes as a wider crackdown on "woke" ideology.

Project 2025's proposals in this policy area are broadly reflected in the Republican platform, which in addition to calling for the abolishing the Department of Education, aims to boost school choice and parental control over education and criticises what the party calls the "inappropriate political indoctrination of our children".

Social Security

Although Heritage has long supported reforming the country's public pension plan, Project 2025 barely touches this third rail of American politics.

The platform says Social Security is a "lifeline" for millions of retired Americans and Republicans will "restore Economic Stability to ensure the long-term sustainability" of the programme.

The plan's future

Project 2025 is backed by a $22m (£17m) budget and includes strategies for implementing policies immediately after the presidential inauguration in January 2025.

Heritage is also creating a database of conservative loyalists to fill government positions, and a programme to train those new workers.

Democrats led by Jared Huffman, a congressman from California, have launched a Stop Project 2025 Task Force.

And many of the proposals would likely face immediate legal challenges from Trump's opponents if implemented.

Four surprises that could upend the 2024 US election

Where biden and trump stand on key issues, four things that could decide who wins us election.

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ARPA-H launches Exploration Topic to improve access to life-changing cellular therapies

Published August 22, 2024

ARPA-H launches new Exploration Topic with the aim of improving access to life-changing cellular therapies, including Autologous Cell Therapy (ACT)  

Today, the Advanced Research Projects Agency for Health (ARPA-H) launched its Decentralized Engineering of Cells Informed by Dynamic Evidence (DECIDE) Exploration Topic (ET). DECIDE-ET aims to advance new quality assurance technologies and accelerate the collection of evidence necessary to establish reimbursement pathways for rare disease therapies. If successful, ARPA-H believes the work in this arena would increase patients’ access to life-changing therapies from Academic Medical Centers (AMCs). 

AMCs have developed many life-changing therapies for adults and children with rare diseases, including those using autologous cell therapy, or ACT. ACT begins with harvesting the patient’s own cells or tissues, then processing them into a treatment specifically for that patient.  

However, before ACT can be more widely adopted, non-clinical barriers must be overcome to allow for decentralized and tunable-scale manufacturing.  Conventional large-batch production pathways are not cost-effective, and technological innovation and investment have not yet focused on tools and methods to robustly validate a therapy’s quality and consistency for small-batch production. As a result, the costs of manufacturing and securing regulatory approval for small-batch ACT production are high compared to anticipated revenues, making for an unsustainable business model.  

“Patients, especially children with rare diseases, urgently need greater access to ACT,” said ARPA-H Program Manager Darshak Sanghavi, MD , who leads DECIDE-ET. “Many academic institutions are not in a position to change the dynamics around these therapies. DECIDE-ET aims to help develop a more cost-effective manufacturing and quality assurance automation for smaller-scale ACT production.”  

ARPA-H will make the technologies and methods it develops through DECIDE-ET accessible to industry stakeholders. It will also work with federal agencies on relevant regulatory and reimbursement issues, that may also present formidable challenges to downstream development and adoption. 

DECIDE is a 24-month, three-stage Exploration Topic with a single Technical Area. The three stages include: (1) method development, (2) testing and prototyping, and (3) deployment and validation. For more information, view the draft DECIDE-ET on SAM.gov.  

ETs are fast-paced efforts that pursue topics strategically aligned with ARPA-H Mission Offices. They provide foundational proofs-of-concept to be used in future research. They also allow for a streamlined solicitation and acquisition approach.  

For questions, view DECIDE ET Questions and Answers .  

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During this summer’s Bowers Undergraduate Research Experience, Joyce Yang ’27, a computer science major, worked with Cornell’s EmPRISE Lab to develop a robotic system to transfer a patient from a bed to a wheelchair.

Summer program gives undergraduates a taste of research life

By louis dipietro cornell ann s. bowers college of computing and information science..

Research takes time.

“On top of classes and extracurricular commitments, I often struggle to find enough time for research during the semester,” said James Kim ’25, a computer science and math major.

But this summer, thanks to the  Bowers Undergraduate Research Experience (BURE) , Kim, along with 60 of his undergraduate peers from the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science, can give research the time it requires. In the process, Kim is discovering a career path. Working alongside  Amy Kuceyeski , adjunct associate professor of statistics and data science and professor of mathematics in radiology and of mathematics in neuroscience in the Feil Family Brain and Mind Research Institute at Weill Cornell Medicine, Kim uses machine learning models to analyze brain scans and predict the onset of various neurological disorders. He plans to pursue a doctoral degree in computer science, with a focus on artificial intelligence, neuroscience and health care.

Kabir Samsi ’26, a computer science major and music minor, spent his summer working in a Cornell lab as part of the Bowers Undergraduate Research Experience.

“What I was able to get done over two months during the semester, I got done in maybe a week or two here during the summer,” Kim said. “BURE has been extremely worthwhile. The mentorship and the support have been priceless.”

Hosted by the Cornell Bowers CIS and encompassing Cornell’s Ithaca campus and Cornell Tech in New York City, BURE is a 10-week summer program where Cornell undergraduates are paired with one of nearly 40 faculty mentors and their doctoral students to tackle a specific research project. BURE students work full time for an hourly wage or a research stipend. Open to all Cornell Bowers CIS undergraduates, the program is meant to give undergraduate students a preview of the open, free-form nature of research so that they can decide whether pursuing a doctoral degree is the right choice, said  Adrian Sampson , associate professor of computer science and a BURE mentor. 

“If students are at all considering a career in research, it does not make sense to immediately apply to a Ph.D. program without doing any,” said Sampson, who is mentoring six undergraduate students in his  Computer Architecture and Programming Abstractions (CAPRA) lab this summer. “By the end of the summer, I hope students get a sense of whether this is something they want to do long term. Maybe they like research, or they don’t. There’s no shame in either direction.” 

BURE student Joyce Yang ’27 is working with the  EmPRISE Lab , directed by  Tapomayukh Bhattacharjee , assistant professor of computer science, to develop a robotic system that can safely transfer a care recipient from a bed to a wheelchair. While there has been limited research on this topic, human transferring is one of caregivers’ most challenging daily tasks, making her work all the more meaningful, Yang said. 

“With research, I think it’s fun that you never really know when you’re going to be done with a project, and that it can go as far as you’d like it to go,” said Yang, a computer science major. “There’s a possibility of discovering or inventing something that’s novel, and, especially with robotics, something that could truly have a positive impact in people’s lives.”

Along with research opportunities, BURE offers a series of weekly talks from mentors about life as a researcher, and regular social events throughout the summer. At BURE’s conclusion, participating students showcase their work during a research symposium.

BURE has given Kabir Samsi ’26 the time and experience to decide what he’d like to do after his undergraduate studies, he said.

“The experience has been fantastic,” said Samsi, a computer science major and music minor who is working in Sampson’s CAPRA Lab on a project related to packet scheduling, a model for improving the way computer systems handle flows of data. “I think it's hugely inspired me to want to continue a path of research.”

New this summer is  BURE Next , run by the Cornell Bowers CIS’s Office of Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging. It was created to encourage research opportunities for undergraduate students from underrepresented groups everywhere – not just at Cornell; anyone can apply. Four students are participating in BURE Next this summer.

BURE is offered every summer, and Cornell Bowers CIS students can apply via the  college’s website .

Louis DiPietro is a writer for the Cornell Ann S. Bowers College of Computing and Information Science.

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