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How Scientific Is Educational Psychology Research? The Increasing Trend of Squeezing Causality and Recommendations from Non-intervention Studies

• REFLECTION ON THE FIELD
• Published: 15 March 2023
• Volume 35 , article number  37 , ( 2023 )

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• Anna C. Brady   ORCID: orcid.org/0000-0003-1361-2412 1 ,
• Marlynn M. Griffin 1 ,
• Ariah R. Lewis 2 ,
• Carlton J. Fong 3 &
• Daniel H. Robinson 4  

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The field of educational psychology has been moving away from intervention and experimental methods and toward observational and correlational methods (Hsieh et al., Journal of Educational Psychology, 97(4), 523–529, 2005 ; Reinhart et al., Journal of Educational Psychology, 105(1), 241–247, 2013 ; Robinson et al., American Educational Research Journal, 44(2), 400–413, 2007 ). Additionally, there has been an increase in the percentage of observational and correlational articles that include recommendations for practice. The present study updated previous data to 2020 by examining methodologies and recommendations for practice in articles published in five empirical educational psychology journals ( Journal of Educational Psychology , American Educational Research Journal , Cognition and Instruction , Journal of Experimental Education , and Contemporary Educational Psychology ). The percentage of articles employing experimental methods has continued to decrease (20%), whereas qualitative methods have increased (22%). Across correlational, qualitative, and mixed method articles, two-thirds included recommendations for practice—up from 46% in 2010. Implications are discussed.

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Should researchers make causal inferences and recommendations for practice on the basis of nonexperimental studies?

Final Remarks

The Design(s) of Educational Research: Description and Interpretation

Alexander, P. A. (2013). In praise of (reasoned and reasonable) speculation: A response to Robinson et al.’s moratorium on recommendations for practice. Educational Psychology Review, 25 (3), 303–308. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-013-9234-2

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Grosz, M. P., Rohrer, J. M., & Thoemmes, F. (2020). The taboo against explicit causal inference in nonexperimental psychology. Perspectives on Psychological Science, 15 (5), 1243–1255. https://doi.org/10.1177/1745691620921521

Harris, K. R. (2013). Disallowing recommendations for practice and policy: A proposal that is both too much and too little. Educational Psychology Review, 25 , 309–316. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-013-9235-1

Hsieh, P. (P.-H.), Acee, T., Chung, W.-H., Hsieh, Y.-P., Kim, H., Thomas, G. D., You, J.-I., Levin, J. R., & Robinson, D. H. (2005). Is educational intervention research on the decline? Journal of Educational Psychology, 97 (4), 523–529. https://doi.org/10.1037/0022-0663.97.4.523

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Reinhart, A. L., Haring, S. H., Levin, J. R., Patall, E. A., & Robinson, D. H. (2013). Models of not-so-good behavior: Yet another way to squeeze causality and recommendations for practice out of correlational data. Journal of Educational Psychology, 105 (1), 241–247. https://doi.org/10.1037/a0030368

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Robinson, D. H., Levin, J. R., Schraw, G., Patall, E. A., & Hunt, E. B. (2013). On going (way) beyond one’s data: A proposal to restrict recommendations for practice in primary educational research journals. Educational Psychoogy Review, 25 , 291–302. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-013-9223-5

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Brady, A.C., Griffin, M.M., Lewis, A.R. et al. How Scientific Is Educational Psychology Research? The Increasing Trend of Squeezing Causality and Recommendations from Non-intervention Studies. Educ Psychol Rev 35 , 37 (2023). https://doi.org/10.1007/s10648-023-09759-9

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Educational Psychology Dissertation Topics

Published by Owen Ingram at January 3rd, 2023 , Revised On August 11, 2023

Finding engaging educational psychology dissertation ideas can be really time-consuming particularly if you haven’t been through this process previously. -. Every student is not particularly adept at creating a unique dissertation topic .  Educational psychology is one of the most challenging subject areas, and finding the right topic for writing a dissertation can be challenging.

Here is a list of the best educational psychology dissertation topics for you to choose from. These top educational psychology dissertation topic ideas will help you complete your dissertation on a unique and intriguing topic that would help you advance your academic career.

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List of Educational Psychology Dissertation Topics

• A comparison of the effects of college and school counselling on students’ mental health in the UK.
• University of Bedfordshire analysis of cultural differences in how people view learning.
• Study the relationship between studying time and academic performance in college students compared to university students.
• A thorough investigation of social and emotional learning in UK primary education.
• A case study compared the performance of school-age kids and teenagers in the UK according to their ethnicity, race, and religion.
• An analysis of how technology is used in classrooms and how that affects students’ learning in the UK.
• The relationship between toddlers’ social abilities and a norm-referenced theory of mind measure.
• A mixed-methods study of the UK’s university students’ subjective well-being and classroom support.
• Examine the coping mechanisms and treatment hurdles of a middle school teenager with a severe anxiety problem in the United Kingdom.
• An analysis of how teaching children arithmetic concepts early on can improve their performance in higher-level courses.
• The association between self-motivation and academic achievement at the university level in the United Kingdom.
• The investigation of the links between parental traits and the detrimental effects of classroom peer pressure on children in playgroups in the United Kingdom.
• Nonverbal communication and neurolinguistics programming in the educational process.
• The pros and cons of learning a language through immersion and communication.
• The contribution of smartphones and computers to children’s motor skill development.
• There is a connection between academic performance and the quantity of time spent studying.
• The impact of parents’ language abilities on their deaf children’s development.
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of encouraging support and acknowledgement in special education?
• What function does technology play in a classroom, and how does that impact students’ learning?
• It may affect secondary-level student achievement when parents are strict, and there is little school discipline.
• The distinction between bullying and peer aggression in practice trends may change or develop.
• Self-motivation and academic accomplishment levels are related.
• Memorization and concept building in education are two different things.
• You can research every aspect of schooling, including disparities in pupils and motivation for studying.
• Collaborative Learning with a Geometry Video Game: The Importance of Game Design and Elaboration for Learning and Motivation.

It takes a lot of time and effort to develop a dissertation topic in educational psychology. The more thoroughly you research your ideas, the easier it will be to succeed. The topic you choose must also be engaging. Your educational psychology dissertation topic should address all development difficulties, such as self-concept, self-regulation, environmental factors, motivation, knowledge, and cognitive development.

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How to find educational psychology dissertation topics.

To find educational psychology dissertation topics:

• Review current research and theories.
• Identify educational challenges.
• Explore learning methods and technologies.
• Consider socio-cultural factors.
• Investigate student motivation and behavior.
• Select a topic aligning with your passion and research goals.

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A child’s behavior is affected by his or her experiences and behaviors. Language, IQ, and motor abilities are just some of the domains in which change is studied. Theories of development give different weights to experience.

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50+ Research Topics for Psychology Papers

How to Find Psychology Research Topics for Your Student Paper

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

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

Research Topics Within Specific Branches of Psychology

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

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

Other social psychology topics you might consider include:

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

Psychology Research Topics Involving a Disorder or Type of Therapy

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Cognition

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

• False memories
• Speech disorders
• Problem-solving

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Human Development

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

Some other topics you might consider include:

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

Do a Critique of Publications Involving Psychology Research Topics

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research Related to Famous Experiments

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research About Historical Figures

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

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

Psychology Research Topics About a Specific Career

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research Involving Case Studies

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

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

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

Psychology Research Topics Involving Literature Reviews

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

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

Topics of Psychology Research Based on Your Own Study or Experiment

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

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

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

What This Means For You

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

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

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

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

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Educational Psychology and Research

Our program focuses on the psychological factors that impact learning and human development and how best to measure and assess those factors.

The University of South Carolina is South Carolina’s flagship university and the first university in the state to be classified as a Research University with Very High Research Activity (RU/VHU, formally known as Research I institutions) by the Carnegie Classification of Institutions of Higher Education. 

Thus, as a program, we are charged with undertaking high quality research that generates new knowledge and trains the next generation of researchers how to do that as well. We also ensure that our students are engaged in and very well trained to produce cutting edge and impactful research. We are also a student-centered program that is focused on having thriving graduate programs, providing high quality mentoring, and making sure you as a student get the research, teaching, and professional experiences you need to become an independent scholar and that will make you highly competitive for pursuing positions in research-intensive institutions or other types of educational agencies and settings. At USC you will have unparalleled opportunity to participate as a student in the generation of new knowledge.

Our program offers both an M.Ed. and a Ph.D. The Ph.D. program offers degrees in two concentrations: Educational Psychology and Educational Research.

Educational Psychology

The focus of the Educational Psychology concentration is for you to develop a sound knowledge base and ability to undertake high-quality research on the psychological (e.g., self-regulation, conceptual understanding), social-emotional (e.g., bullying, self-regulation, motivation and emotion), contextual (e.g., student-teacher relationships, peer relations), and biological factors that influence human learning and development within both formal (e.g., pre-K-12 classrooms, postsecondary institutions) and informal (e.g., science centers, museums, zoos) educational settings.

This concentration in the Ph.D. program is appropriate for anyone who wishes to assume a university faculty position and/or conduct research, as well as those who are responsible for classroom learning in other areas of education and industry.

As a student in the Educational Psychology concentration, you will take several courses on foundational topics in our field such as development (child, adolescent, and/or adult), learning and instruction, cognition, and motivation as well as topical seminars. You can focus on quantitative or mixed methods research;  between your research courses and the other research experiences you will have in the program outstanding research training. Please consult the academic bulletin for specific courses and requirements for the  doctoral program.

Educational Research

The focus of the Educational Research concentration in the Ph.D. program is to build your core competencies in educational research including using, developing, and studying educational research methods and tools such as measurement and statistics, evaluating programs, designing research, constructing tests, and using computer statistical packages to analyze data.

This concentration will teach you how to be a research methodologist and/or program evaluator that develops, studies, and applies cutting-edge research tools. Specific research tools include structural equation modeling, latent class analysis, hierarchical linear modeling, power analysis, survey and research design, assessment, and categorical data analysis.

As a student in the Educational Research concentration, you will take courses including technical aspects of tests and measurement, nonparametric statistics, structural equation modeling, hierarchical linear modeling, design and analysis of experiments, multivariate methods, and item response theory. You also will take courses in educational psychology that will provide topics on which to utilize your statistical and methodological skills.  Please consult the academic bulletin for specific courses and requirements for the doctoral program .

Program Faculty

Program faculty have a broad range of interests and have been published in top-tier journals in education psychology, developmental psychology, research and measurement. Faculty in the program have received grant funding from numerous federal and state agencies including the Institute of Education Sciences (IES), the National Science Foundation (NSF), the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the National Institute of Justice (NIJ) and the SC Department of Education and Commission on Higher Education (CHE).

 Read more about our faculty and their research interests .

Research Topics and Opportunities

Our faculty and students typically engage in research in the following areas:

Whether you choose the Educational Psychology or the Educational Research  concentration, our faculty members will strive to ensure that you have the opportunity to gain valuable research experience that is aligned with your skills and professional goals throughout the program.

Our faculty actively involve students in all aspects of research in school and community settings. This can include working with the Research, Evaluation, and Measurement Center , the Child Development Research Center , and the South Carolina Educational Policy Center among others.  

As a result, you will gain valuable hands-on experience in undertaking high-quality research in school and community settings. This can include designing studies, collecting and analyzing data, publishing articles, presenting results at conferences, and writing proposals for and securing grant funding. 

Job Placement

Graduates of our program typically seek careers in university teaching and research positions, in research or evaluation centers, in state departments of education, in school district offices, or as consultants. Others seek employment opportunities in applied educational research settings in both the public and private sector. Some recent graduates of this program are employed at these locations:

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Research Topics & Ideas: Psychology

100+ Psychology Topic Ideas To Fast-Track Your Research

If you’re starting out on the dissertation or thesis journey for your psychology degree, the very first challenge you’ll face is finding a solid research topic . In this post, we’ll help get the topic ideation process started by providing a meaty list of research ideas, spanning a range of psychology sub-disciplines. We’ll also look at some examples from actual theses and dissertations to give you an idea of what these look like in the real world.

NB – This is just the start…

The topic ideation and evaluation process has multiple steps (which we’ll explain a little later). Therefore, it’s important to recognise that this post is only the first step in finding a high-quality psychology-centred research topic. To develop a research topic, you’ll need to identify a clear and convincing research gap , and a viable plan of action to fill that gap.

If this all sounds a bit intimidating, be sure to check out our free dissertation mini-course , which covers the process of writing a dissertation or thesis from A-Z. You can also sign up for our free webinar that explores how to find a high-quality research topic. Alternatively, if you’d like hands-on help, have a look at our 1-on-1 coaching service .

Overview: Psychology-Related Topics

• How to find a research topic (video)
• Behavioural psychology
• Clinical psychology
• Cognitive psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Educational psychology
• Forensic psychology
• Social psychology
• Sports psychology
• Examples of actual dissertation topics
• Free Webinar : Topic Ideation 101
• Where to get extra help

How To Find A Research Topic

In the video below, we explain how to find suitable research ideas (in psychology or any field), and how to then refine those into well-articulated potential topics for your dissertation or thesis. We also discuss a few important evaluation criteria to help you make the right choice for your project.

Below you’ll find a list of research ideas to get your thinking started. Please note that these research topic ideas are intentionally broad and generic, so you will need to refine them a fair deal using the techniques we discussed in the video above.

We’ve grouped the topic ideas based on a few popular areas of psychology to make it a little easier for you to find something in your particular field of interest. That said, there is naturally some overlap between topics, so keep this in mind.

Research Ideas: Behavioural Psychology

• Cultural variation in behaviour and mental health of adolescents during a disaster: a case study
• The impact of parental drug use and risky behaviour on early child development
• The effects of video game violence on aggressive behaviour among teenage boys in school
• The relationship between adverse childhood experiences and adult risk-seeking behaviour
• The impact of physical exercise on anxiety and health-harming behaviour
• The relationship between personality traits and addiction behaviour
• The effects of reinforcement schedules on decision-making and associative learning
• The effects of daily mindfulness practice on stress and anxiety in middle-aged women
• The use of behavioural interventions in the treatment of eating disorders in poorer communities
• Understanding implicit cognitive processes involved in the over-consumption of fast food
• The use of cognitive behavioural therapy for alcohol addiction treatment
• The impact of extensive technology use in children on long-term attention and focus
• The impact of social media on self-destructive behaviour and poor mental health outcomes
• Exploring the role of sleep and sleep deprivation on healthy behaviours

Research Ideas: Clinical Psychology

• The use of mindfulness-based approaches in the treatment of anxiety disorders among college students
• The use of technology in the delivery of psychological services in war-torn countries
• The effectiveness of dialectical behaviour therapy for borderline personality disorder
• The use of virtual reality technology in the treatment of phobias and PTSD among war veterans
• The role of childhood adversity on adult mental health in immigrant populations in the USA
• The role of genetics and epigenetics in the development of bipolar disorder in Pakistani women: an integrative review
• The effectiveness of pharmacotherapy in the treatment of social anxiety among hikikomori in Japan
• The perception of healthcare workers and patients on the use of teletherapy for the delivery of psychological services
• The impact of social support on mental health outcomes among single parents.
• The effectiveness of integrative therapeutic approaches in the treatment of schizophrenia
• The effectiveness of trauma-focused therapies on post-traumatic growth in domestic abuse survivors
• The role and use of cognitive-behavioural therapy for depression among first-generation students
• The effectiveness of family therapy in addressing childhood trauma and depression
• The impact of cultural mistrust on the diagnosis and treatment of mental health issues in culturally-diverse populations
• The effectiveness of group therapy on post-traumatic stress symptoms among survivors of sexual assault

Research Ideas: Cognitive Psychology

• The impact of lifelong aerobic exercise on cognitive function in old age
• The effects of evening screen use on cognitive development in preschool children
• The impact of sleep deprivation on decision-making among graduate students
• The use of neuroimaging to understand the neural basis of memory retrieval
• The effect of conservative religious homes on social functioning in LGBT+ adolescents
• The role of positive emotions in working memory among high school learners
• The neural basis of decision-making and problem-solving during undergraduate statistic assessments
• The neural basis of language processing among adults learning English as a second language
• The role of technological tools in improving working memory in older adults
• The role of attention in emotional face processing among adult males
• The impact of depression on cognitive function during ageing The impact of daily meditation and mindfulness practice on cognitive function
• The relationship between increased protein intake and improved cognitive function
• The effects of stress on cognitive function among final-year learners

Research Ideas: Developmental Psychology

• The impact of maternal affection on cognitive, social, and emotional development
• The effects of parenting styles on children’s executive function
• The impact of late-night screen use on child development
• The role of digital play on child development outcomes
• Exploring the impact of poverty on early child development in Brazil
• The trauma-informed care as moderating the impact of trauma on child development
• Evaluating the relationship between peer relationship quality and child social development
• The impact of child-targeted media and advertising on child behavioural development
• The role of parental attachment in child resilience
• The moderating impact of culture on bullying and child social development
• The impact of single-parenting on child development in India
• The impact of early educational interventions on child socio-emotional development
• The impact of digital technology use on adolescent development and mental health
• The impact of socioeconomic status on child executive function
• The role of genetics and epigenetics on child neurodevelopmental outcomes linked to depression

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Research Ideas: Educational Psychology

• The relationship between self-regulated learning and academic performance in asynchronous versus synchronous learning environments
• Exploring effective parental involvement strategies and their impact on student achievement
• The role of intrinsic motivation in formative assessment in the classroom
• The impact of classroom management and practice on student learning and behaviour
• University students’ preference regarding online learning environments
• The effects of gentrification on student achievement in traditionally poor neighbourhoods
• The impact of teacher expectations and academic self-concept on K12 student mathematics performance
• The use and effectiveness of game-based learning in a high school biology classroom
• The impact of prejudice on the relationship between student motivation and academic performance among Black university students
• The impact of culture on second language English student learning preferences
• The effects of student self-efficacy and engagement on academic performance in secondary school mathematics
• The role of metacognition in learning musicality in hip hop
• The role of small group instruction on teacher efficacy and stress in early childhood education
• The perception and use of multimedia among high school biology teachers in France
• The use of augmented reality applications and its impact on student learning, motivation and attitude

Research Ideas: Forensic Psychology

• The impact of trauma on the psychological functioning of police officers and first responders
• Understanding cultural considerations during forensic psychological assessment and treatment of trauma
• Ethical considerations of the use of AI in forensic psychology in the legal system
• The psychological factors related to recidivism among white collar female offenders in the USA
• The psychological factors related to false confessions among juveniles
• Understanding the use of psychological assessment in the evaluation of eyewitness testimony in criminal courts in England
• The impact of trauma on the reflective functioning of adult female sexual assault victims
• The use and effectiveness of psychological interventions in reducing recidivism among non-violent criminals
• The impact of domestic violence on the mental health and forensic evaluation of men
• Exploring the ethical considerations and use of behavioural analysis in the study of criminal behaviour
• The use and limitations of neuropsychological assessment in forensic evaluations
• The use of social media forensics in evaluating criminal behaviour in violent crimes
• The racialised use of psychological assessment in the evaluation of competency to stand trial in Canada
• Exploring the use and availability of virtual reality technologies in forensic psychology in Spain
• The impact of motivational interviewing-based interventions among criminalized drug users

Research Ideas: Social Psychology

• The impact of prejudice and discrimination on social behaviour among African immigrants in South Africa
• The impact of social networks on behaviour and well-being among young adult females
• The effects of social identity on non-conformity in University students
• The effects of group dynamics on risk-seeking behaviour in adult men
• The impact of social media on the quality of interpersonal relationships among high school learners
• The impact of parental emotional intelligence on pro-social behaviour in children and adolescents
• The effects of conformity and deviance on social attitudes and behaviour during a global recession
• The effects of Tik Tok on social comparison and self-esteem among teenage girls
• Understanding gendered differences in social influence and algorithms on impulsive decision-making
• The effects of social support on mental health among healthcare workers in the UK
• The effects of gender roles on social behaviour among trans teens
• The impact of perceived power and social status on the behaviour of social media influencers
• The impact of social norms on prosocial behaviour among women
• The effects of community participation on aggression and violence in middle-aged men
• The impact of culture and gender on social behaviour during the COVID-19 pandemic

Research Ideas: Sports Psychology

• The moderating role of cultural factors on the relationship between mental health and sports performance in team sports
• The role of mindfulness practice in addressing stress and anxiety in young national athletes
• The relationship between team cohesion and performance in cricket teams
• The effect of transformational leadership on female sports teams in Canada
• The effect of positive self-talk on athletic performance and motivation among Olympic athletes
• The use and perception of hypnosis in New Zealand team sports Understanding stress and burnout in University team athletes
• The efficacy of personalised nutrition and diet on athletic performance among sprinters
• Exploring mental preparation techniques and their effect on athletic motivation and resilience among team-sport athletes
• Exploring the perception and understanding of goal-setting characteristics on athletic performance among team coaches
• The effects of motivational feedback on the performance of female gymnasts
• The perception and use of visualization and imagery among coaches as a means to enhance sport performance
• The impact of sports injuries on mental health and recovery in high school athletes
• The moderating role of sleep on mental toughness and sports performance in Olympic athletes
• The use and perception of technology in sports training and performance in little league softball

Psychology-Related Dissertations & Theses

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

Below, we’ve included a selection of research projects from various psychology degree programs to help refine your thinking. These are actual dissertations and theses, written as part of Master’s and PhD-level programs, so they can provide some useful insight as to what a research topic looks like in practice.

• Effects of a Patient Question Prompt List on Outpatient Palliative Care Appointments (McDarby, 2022)
• The role of affect and exercise goals in physical activity engagement in younger and older adults (Stojanovic, 2022)
• Lay Theories about Whether Emotion Helps or Hinders Reasoning and Well-being (Karnaze, 2022)
• The effects of blast-induced traumatic brain injury on two transgenic models of Alzheimer’s Disease (Gann, 2020)
• Understanding the parental mind: Examining the stability of parental reflective functioning across the birth of a child and associations with maternal mind-mindedness (Pitzen, 2021)
• An investigation of ineffective ally behaviours (Collier, 2019)
• Response Inhibition-Related Beta Power: Distinguishing Cognitively Intact Elders by Risk for Alzheimer’s Disease (Evans, 2021)
• Recognition Memory of Extremely High-Frequency Words (Miller, 2019)
• The Relationship between Dementia Caregiver Burden and Caregiver Communications in a Memory Clinic Setting (Martin, 2021)
• Examination of Maternal Versus Paternal Ratings of Child Pre-Injury Functioning in Predicting Child Post-Traumatic Stress Symptoms (Sayer, 2021)
• Electromyography As A Means of Predicting The Rubber Hand Illusion (Teaford, 2021)
• Linking Diversity Climate and Feedback Seeking Through Interpersonal Processes and Race Effects (Flores, 2021)

Looking at these titles, you can probably pick up that the research topics here are far more specific and narrowly-focused , compared to the generic ones presented earlier. This is an important thing to keep in mind as you develop your own research topic. That is to say, to create a top-notch research topic, you must be precise and target a specific context with specific variables of interest . In other words, you need to identify a clear, well-justified research gap.

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Still unsure about how to find the right topic for your research project? Check out our private coaching services , where we work with psychology students on a 1:1 basis to help them find the perfect topic.

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10 Comments

Great insight

A very interesting site that offers a variety of options regarding research topics.

You’re most welcome

A good platform to get information

Amazing and interesting options 👌

Very useful but had not any field of research in health psychology

I feel honored going through this lovely stuff put together. Thank you so much

I need counseling psychology research topics

very empowering and insightful presentations. Can I be assisted in crafting a school psychology-related research topic about African context

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Educational Psychology Research Paper Topics

This page provides a comprehensive list of educational psychology research paper topics , catering to students deeply engaged in exploring the intersection of psychology and education. Educational psychology, a vital field that examines how individuals learn and develop within educational settings, offers a rich array of topics for investigation. These topics span the cognitive, emotional, and social factors that influence learning, effective teaching strategies that address diverse learner needs, and the impact of environmental and technological changes on education. By delving into these areas, students have the opportunity to contribute valuable insights that can inform teaching practices, shape educational policies, and ultimately enhance student learning outcomes. This resource aims to inspire students to uncover innovative solutions and perspectives that address the complexities of learning and education in the 21st century, emphasizing the critical role of educational psychology in fostering environments where all students can thrive.

100 Educational Psychology Research Paper Topics

Educational psychology integrates psychological theories and principles within educational settings to optimize teaching and learning experiences. This discipline is pivotal for developing strategies that cater to diverse learning needs, fostering environments conducive to education, and addressing the psychological facets of learning processes. Selecting a research topic in educational psychology is not just an academic exercise; it’s an opportunity to contribute to a body of knowledge that directly impacts educational policies, pedagogical strategies, and, ultimately, student learning outcomes. The choice of topic can pave the way for innovative educational practices and insights into learner behavior, emphasizing the field’s transformative potential.

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• Constructivism in the Digital Age
• Behavioral vs. Cognitive Learning Theories in Classroom Management
• The Application of Vygotsky’s Sociocultural Theory in Multilingual Classrooms
• Montessori Method: Relevance in Contemporary Education
• The Role of Gardner’s Multiple Intelligences in Personalizing Learning
• Bloom’s Taxonomy and Its Impact on Educational Assessment
• Theories of Motivation: From Maslow to Self-Determination Theory
• Bandura’s Social Learning Theory in Online Learning Environments
• Piaget’s Stages of Cognitive Development: Applications and Critiques
• The Role of Metacognition in Enhancing Learning Strategies
• Cognitive Development Milestones in Early Childhood
• The Impact of Nutrition on Cognitive Development in Children
• Adolescent Brain Development and Its Implications for Learning
• Executive Function Skills in Children: Development and Educational Strategies
• Language Acquisition and Cognitive Development
• The Effects of Screen Time on Attention and Cognitive Processing
• Cognitive Development and Play: The Role of Educational Toys and Games
• The Relationship Between Physical Activity and Cognitive Growth
• Peer Interaction and Cognitive Development: Collaborative Learning Approaches
• Cognitive Development in Children with Autism Spectrum Disorders
• Intrinsic vs. Extrinsic Motivation: Fostering a Love for Learning
• The Role of Feedback in Student Motivation and Engagement
• Gamification in Education: Boosting Motivation and Engagement
• Classroom Environment and Its Impact on Student Motivation
• Goal Setting and Self-Efficacy in Academic Achievement
• The Psychology Behind Homework: Motivation and Attitudes
• Student Engagement Strategies for Remote Learning
• Cultivating a Growth Mindset: Strategies and Outcomes
• The Impact of Teacher Enthusiasm on Student Motivation
• Motivation in Special Education: Challenges and Solutions
• Formative vs. Summative Assessment: Benefits and Drawbacks
• The Use of Portfolios for Student Assessment
• Peer Assessment Techniques in Higher Education
• Standardized Testing: Psychological Impacts and Alternatives
• The Role of Rubrics in Transparent Assessment
• Assessing Critical Thinking Skills: Approaches and Challenges
• Self-Assessment Practices and Learner Autonomy
• Technology-Based Assessment Tools: Opportunities and Limitations
• Evaluating Collaborative Learning: Methods and Metrics
• Bias in Educational Assessment: Identifying and Mitigating
• Identifying and Supporting Dyslexia in the Classroom
• Strategies for Teaching Students with ADHD
• Inclusive Education Practices for Children with Autism
• Technological Aids for Learning Disabilities
• Early Intervention in Special Education: Approaches and Benefits
• Emotional and Behavioral Disorders: Educational Strategies
• The Transition from High School to College for Students with Disabilities
• Gifted Education: Meeting the Needs of Exceptionally Able Learners
• Parental Involvement in Special Education
• Legislation Impacting Special Education: A Global Perspective
• Peer Influence and Academic Achievement
• The Role of Classroom Management in Creating Positive Social Dynamics
• Bullying in Schools: Psychological Theories and Interventions
• Promoting Social Skills through Cooperative Learning
• Teacher-Student Relationships: Impact on Learning and Well-being
• The Psychology of Classroom Seating Arrangements
• Cultivating Empathy and Respect in Diverse Classrooms
• The Impact of Social Media on Classroom Dynamics
• Leadership Skills Development in Group Work Settings
• Conflict Resolution Strategies for Educators
• E-Learning: Psychological Principles for Effective Design
• The Impact of Virtual Reality on Educational Outcomes
• Digital Divide: Addressing Inequality in Access to Technology
• Online Learning Motivation: Strategies for Student Engagement
• The Role of Social Media in Education: Pros and Cons
• Adaptive Learning Technologies and Personalized Education
• Digital Literacy: Preparing Students for a Technological World
• The Psychological Effects of Gamified Learning Platforms
• Teacher Professional Development in Educational Technology
• Cyberbullying: Prevention and Intervention in Digital Spaces
• Reflective Practice: Enhancing Teacher Effectiveness
• The Role of Mentorship in Teacher Development
• Emotional Intelligence in Teaching
• Professional Learning Communities: Impact on Teacher Growth
• Teaching Strategies for Diverse Classrooms
• The Impact of Teacher Beliefs on Educational Practices
• Continuous Professional Development: Models and Outcomes
• Teacher Resilience and Burnout: Strategies for Wellness
• Integrating Educational Psychology into Teacher Training
• The Future of Teacher Education: Trends and Challenges
• Emotional Intelligence in Students: Development and Educational Impact
• Classroom Strategies for Supporting Emotional Well-being
• The Psychology of Student Behavior: Understanding and Intervention
• Stress Management Techniques for Students
• The Role of School Psychologists in Educational Settings
• Promoting Positive Behavior: Evidence-Based Strategies
• The Impact of Trauma on Learning and Development
• Cultivating Resilience in At-Risk Students
• Mindfulness and Meditation in Education
• Understanding and Addressing Test Anxiety
• Multicultural Education: Theory and Practice
• Language Barriers in Learning: Strategies for Support
• The Role of Culture in Cognitive Development
• Educating Refugee and Immigrant Students: Challenges and Best Practices
• Bilingual Education: Models and Outcomes
• Cultural Competency Training for Educators
• The Impact of Acculturation on Student Learning
• Family Engagement in Culturally Diverse Educational Contexts
• Addressing Racial and Ethnic Disparities in Education
• Global Perspectives on Education: Learning from International Models

The vast and evolving field of educational psychology offers an array of research topics that are both broad and deeply nuanced. Each category provides a lens through which students can explore the dynamic interplay between psychological principles and educational practices. By engaging deeply with these topics, students have the opportunity to contribute significantly to the enhancement of educational practices and outcomes. Through this exploration, students can offer fresh insights and evidence-based strategies that address the complexities of learning and teaching, underscoring the transformative potential of educational psychology research.

What is Educational Psychology?

Learning Theories and Their Application

Educational psychology’s exploration of learning theories provides a foundational understanding crucial for informing effective teaching practices. Behaviorism, with its emphasis on stimulus-response associations, has led to the application of reinforcement techniques in classroom settings, underscoring the impact of external stimuli on learning behaviors. Cognitivism, focusing on the internal processes of learning, highlights the importance of organizing and structuring educational content in ways that facilitate understanding and retention, promoting strategies that enhance memory and problem-solving skills.

Constructivism advocates for active engagement and personal experience in the learning process, suggesting that knowledge is constructed uniquely by each learner through interaction with their environment. This perspective has encouraged the development of learner-centered approaches that emphasize discovery, critical thinking, and the application of knowledge to real-world scenarios. The social learning theory further expands on this by illustrating the significant role of observation, imitation, and modeling in learning new behaviors, underscoring the importance of social interactions and the observational learning opportunities they provide.

The practical application of these theories in diverse educational settings has demonstrated their efficacy in enhancing learning outcomes. Case studies from around the globe show that when educators apply theory-driven strategies, they can address the varied learning styles and needs of students, facilitating more effective and meaningful learning experiences. Whether through the tailored application of reinforcement in behaviorism, the strategic organization of content in cognitivism, or the fostering of explorative learning environments in constructivism, these theories guide educators in creating optimally supportive educational landscapes.

Innovations in Educational Assessment

The evolution of educational assessment strategies highlights a shift towards more holistic and learner-centric approaches, driven by insights from educational psychology. Traditional assessments, often criticized for their narrow focus on memorization and rote learning, are increasingly supplemented with innovative methods that assess a broader range of cognitive, emotional, and social skills. These include performance-based assessments, portfolios, and reflective journals, which offer a more comprehensive view of student learning and development.

Technology plays a pivotal role in advancing these innovative assessment strategies, offering new tools and platforms that allow for dynamic, interactive, and personalized assessment experiences. From computer-adaptive testing to digital portfolios, technology enables educators to assess learning in ways that are more aligned with contemporary educational goals, including critical thinking, creativity, and collaboration. However, the integration of these technologies into assessment practices is not without challenges. Issues of access, equity, and the need for technological literacy among both educators and students pose significant hurdles to the widespread adoption of these methods.

Despite these challenges, the opportunities presented by innovative assessment techniques are immense. They promise to make assessment a more engaging, meaningful, and fair process that better reflects the complex competencies needed in today’s world. By continuing to research and implement these strategies, educational psychology can lead the way in redefining how educational success is measured, moving beyond traditional metrics to embrace a more nuanced understanding of learning and achievement.

Psychological Factors Affecting Student Performance

Student performance is intricately linked to a multitude of psychological factors that educational psychology seeks to understand and address. Cognitive factors, such as attention, memory, and executive functioning, play critical roles in determining a student’s ability to process information, solve problems, and apply knowledge effectively. Emotional factors, including motivation, anxiety, and self-esteem, also significantly impact learning, affecting students’ engagement, persistence, and resilience in the face of academic challenges.

Social influences, from peer interactions to teacher-student relationships, further shape the educational experience, influencing attitudes towards learning and perceptions of academic competence. The classroom environment, as a nexus of these cognitive, emotional, and social factors, emerges as a critical focus for educational psychologists, who advocate for the creation of supportive, inclusive, and stimulating learning spaces that cater to the diverse needs of all students.

Addressing these psychological factors requires a multifaceted approach that encompasses individualized support strategies, socio-emotional learning programs, and interventions tailored to meet the specific challenges faced by students. By fostering a learning environment that values and supports the psychological well-being of students, educators can enhance academic achievement and equip students with the skills necessary to navigate the complexities of learning and life.

The field of educational psychology offers critical insights that have the potential to revolutionize educational practices, assessment methods, and our understanding of the psychological factors influencing student performance. By grounding educational innovations in empirical research and psychological theory, this field provides a robust framework for enhancing teaching efficacy and student learning outcomes. As educational psychology continues to evolve, its contributions to the development of more effective, equitable, and responsive educational systems will undoubtedly remain indispensable. Through continued exploration and application of its principles, we can ensure that education not only imparts knowledge but also supports the holistic development of learners, preparing them for the challenges and opportunities of the future.

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iResearchNet is committed to empowering students and researchers in educational psychology with high-quality, customized writing services. Our goal is to support your academic and professional development by providing you with exceptional research papers that illuminate the complexities of learning, teaching, and educational dynamics. By choosing iResearchNet, you gain a trusted partner dedicated to helping you achieve academic excellence and contributing valuable insights to the field of educational psychology. Let us take your educational psychology research to the next level, ensuring it is as impactful and insightful as possible.

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Younger children in school year are more commonly diagnosed with ADHD than their older classmates, says new study

New research, led by experts at the University of Nottingham, has found that teachers may be attributing signs of age-related immaturity in children, to conditions such as Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD) or Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD).

The results of the study, which are published in the journal European Child and Adolescent Psychiatry , showed that the youngest students in a class, with birth dates just before the school entry cut-off date, were overrepresented among children receiving an ADHD diagnosis or medication for the condition.

Experts looked at how being one of the youngest children in a class can influence the likelihood of being diagnosed with ADHD or ASD. ADHD is a condition where individuals have significant challenges with attention and can be overly active. ASD is a complex developmental condition that relates to how a person communicates and interacts.

Professor Kapil Sayal from the School of Medicine at the University, and senior author of the paper, said: "This review shows that adults involved in identifying or raising concerns over a child's behaviour -- such as parents and teachers -- may be inadvertently misattributing relative immaturity as symptoms of ADHD. The child's age in relation to their classmates (their 'relative' age) needs to considered when making this kind of diagnosis."

Detailed searches were used to identify all studies written on this topic worldwide. Researchers reviewed the 32 studies identified. Most of these studies focused on ADHD and two focused on ASD.

The findings confirmed that younger students in the school year are more likely to be diagnosed with ADHD and receive medication for this, compared to their older classmates. The scale of this 'relative age' effect varied between the studies.

For ASD, the youngest children in a class were also more likely to be diagnosed but more research is needed due to there only being a small number of studies available.

Interestingly, there was a more notable difference in how teachers rated these younger children compared to how parents do.

Dr Eleni Frisira, from the School of Medicine and lead author of the study, said: " Teachers play an important role in identifying ADHD symptoms in children. Our findings suggest that they can be more likely to rate younger students in a class as having ADHD symptoms than their older classmates. It is important teachers are supported in considering the relative age of a child in a classroom when ADHD is being queried."

Dr Josephine Holland, one of the authors of the paper added: "This phenomenon has been shown in research for over a decade, but knowing about it does not seem to be changing practice."

The research emphasises how important it is to consider a child's age in relation to their classmates when assessing for and diagnosing conditions like ADHD and ASD. This is an important take-home message for healthcare professionals who assess young children, but also for teachers and parents, when observing and reporting symptoms.

• Attention Deficit Disorder
• Children's Health
• Mental Health Research
• ADD and ADHD
• Mental Health
• Child Psychology
• Educational Policy
• Poverty and Learning
• STEM Education
• Attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder
• Adult attention-deficit disorder
• Controversy about ADHD
• Methylphenidate
• Hyperactivity
• Bipolar disorder
• Separation anxiety disorder
• Amphetamine

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Nottingham . Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Eleni Frisira, Josephine Holland, Kapil Sayal. Systematic review and meta-analysis: relative age in attention-deficit/ hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder . European Child & Adolescent Psychiatry , 2024; DOI: 10.1007/s00787-024-02459-x

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From distractions to jealousy, how Americans navigate cellphones and social media in their romantic relationships.

Americans and Privacy: Concerned, Confused and Feeling Lack of Control Over Their Personal Information

Majorities of U.S. adults believe their personal data is less secure now, that data collection poses more risks than benefits, and that it is not possible to go through daily life without being tracked.

Americans and ‘Cancel Culture’: Where Some See Calls for Accountability, Others See Censorship, Punishment

Social media fact sheet, digital knowledge quiz, video: how do americans define online harassment.

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