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100 Psychology Thesis Topics for 2023

Students know the importance of developing great psychology dissertation topics for a graduate assignment. However, many don’t have the time to brainstorm ideas that meet the requirements their professors expect. We’ve done a lot of the heavy lifting and have put together a list of 100 psychology thesis topics suitable for several situations. Feel free to pick a topic and start writing your thesis proposal .

General Psychology Topics for High School

Give five top reasons why you would want to become a psychologist.
What kind of influence has psychology research had in other sciences?
Why are teenagers at higher risk of developing an eating disorder?
How are phobias developed in children under the age of twelve?
In what ways did Pavlov’s conditioning experiment contribute to our understanding of addiction therapy?

Child Psychology Research Paper Topics

What are the major differences between psychiatry and psychology?
Discuss mental tools that can be used to determine when children are lying to adults.
What were the ethical complications involve 12d in the Little Albert Experiment?
What does research suggest is the origin of intelligence in children?
How does emotional intelligence in children affect their learning abilities?

Cognitive Psychology Topics

How did Alan Turing’s suggestion that the brain is an organized machine lead to computers?
Do the “seven chunks of information” still hold through in research?
Can we develop working memory to retain greater long-term memory?
Can a person that has been convicted of a felony charge change into a law-abiding citizen?
How can cognitive therapy be used to help patients suffering from emotional disorders?

Developmental Psychology Topics

How do our perceptions of our experiences affect development in teenagers?
What are the four levels of development and which is most important in children?
Can a moral judgment be taught to toddlers who have latent reasoning skills?
How are our personalities developed through the influence of others?
Are children naturally beholden to one parent or the other?

Social Psychology Topics for College Students

How are a person’s original opinions influenced by the opinions of larger groups?
What psychological effects does spending too much time on social media have?
How do social psychologists deal with aggression and violence in young adults?
What impact has social psychology had on our understanding of online bullying?
How do family dynamics change when a member of the immediate family dies?

Sports Psychology Research Topics

Does aging have a bigger impact on retired athletes’ mental health than head trauma?
How is mental health affected by long recovery schedules for serious body injuries?
How does neuro-linguistic programming in professional athletes affect performance?
How do professional athletes mentally prepare for competitions?
How have approaches to sports training and preparation been affected by developments in psychology?

Controversial Topics in Psychology

How did the Milgram Obedience Experiments of the 1960s help us understand how we view authority figures?
How did the Stanford Experiment help further our knowledge of situational variables on human behavior?
How did Harlow’s experiments of affection (especially the lack of affection) lead to advancements in child development theories?
Does the implementation of capital punishment on sex offenders prevent them from committing a crime?
What is the link between criminal acts and teenagers that were bullied?

Health Psychology Topics for College Students

What impact do regular exercise and healthy eating have on mental health in young adults?
How have the media’s depictions of body ideals have negatively impacted how young adults see themselves?
What are the most effective strategies for getting people to develop healthy eating habits?
What can local governments do to help people maintain mental health after a disaster?
How do stress management techniques help people cope with difficult situations in the workplace?

Great Educational Psychology Topics

How can different technologies help students perform better at school?
Does working in a small group help students retain more information?
How does physical activity help students perform better on standardized tests?
What psychological factors should teachers consider as they develop each year’s curriculum?
In what ways do psychologists help develop confidence in students with learning disabilities?

Excellent Cultural Psychology Topics

What are some of the most difficult cultural situations young people face?
In what ways does developing culture roots with one’s family positively impact social behavior?
What stresses do young people feel when they return to their native countries?
What impact does cultural learning have on students in elementary school?
How does family support help young people cope with difficult decisions?

Psychology Topics to Write About

Why are adolescents more at risk of developing some type of eating disorder?
What are the negative effects of insomnia in patients being treated in a medical facility?
In what ways does group therapy positively impact a patient’s ability to overcome addiction?
Why should therapists refrain from prescribing ADHD medications to children?
What are the most effective ways of treating PTSD without using prescription medication?

Abnormal Psychology Topics

What are the psychological effects of telling either a truth or a lie among young adults?
What are the major causes of borderline personality disorder in teenagers?
In what ways does the level of insanity change in patients under specific treatment?
Why are some people more prone to suffer from personality disorders?
Can the Oedipus complex first introduced by Freud be used in treatment today?

Developmental Psychology Research Topics

What role does television media play in promoting violence in adults?
What are the major psychological characteristics in a child prone to aggression?
What are the major factors in sociopathic behavior among youth?
What are some traditional ways of parenting that have been proven ineffective?
What environmental factors increase the chances of child abuse by a parent?

Biological Psychology Topics

How are cognitive diseases related to the development of certain disorders?
How are our perceptions of the world around us affecting the way we behave?
Can alcohol addiction and other drug-related dependencies be tied to genetics?
Does biology prevent humans from experiencing a pure sense of free will?
In what ways does functionalism play into biological psychology?

Forensic Psychology Topics

How can psychology be used to identify and put suspects on trial for certain crimes?
How has forensic psychology assisted in the way we look at death penalty cases?
Can psychotic disorders be reevaluated as a result of better psych understanding?
Should mental diseases be considered in capital punishment cases?
How would you evaluate the mitigating effects of capital cases in people?

What did you think of our list of psychology thesis topics? Our professional dissertation writers keep our list of ideas up-to-date so that students are always pushing the envelope of research in every discipline. Check back for new general psychology topics or contact us to have a list custom-made for a specific research project.

Senior Honors Thesis

Completing a year-long Senior Honors Thesis is one of the most rewarding, time-consuming and challenging endeavors a Psychology major can undertake. The process requires designing, executing, and analyzing the data from an original empirical research investigation, writing a comprehensive APA-format report, and presenting and defending this work before a committee of two faculty members (one of whom, the committee chair, must be from the Psychology Department). Because chairing a Senior Honors Thesis requires a great deal of time and effort on the part of faculty members, only a small number of seniors can complete a thesis in a given year. Students are therefore encouraged to contact potential thesis chairs no later than the end of their junior year , and preferably even earlier. Because of the high demand for thesis supervision, some faculty may only agree to supervise theses for students who have spent multiple previous semesters working in their lab.

Students interested in independent study (including Senior Honors Thesis) must find a supervising faculty member before registering for the course via SIS . Those registering for a Senior Honors Thesis (PSY 199) must also fill out and submit by early October the Thesis Honors Candidate form .

Undergraduate research assistants and students completing a senior honors thesis in all labs that are conducting human subjects research are required to take the Collaborative IRB Training Initiative (CITI). Please contact the faculty supervisor of the lab for more details.

Per Tufts policy, students must appear on the Dean's List for at least two semesters in order to be eligible to complete a thesis. As mentioned above, our faculty often have additional requirements for thesis students, including previous experience in their research lab (PSY 91/92 or PSY 191/192). For students already registered to complete a thesis, additional information regarding expectations for your project and the bases on which it will be evaluated are best obtained from your committee chair.

Students who complete an honors thesis receive a letter grade for their two semesters of work in PSY 199, as well as a determination of thesis honors. The letter grade is not assigned until the end of the second semester and is determined by the thesis chair; students are therefore encouraged to discuss their progress with their chair at various points during the year. This grade is intended to reflect a student's lab performance and consistency of effort over the course of seeing a research project through to completion. The thesis committee makes the determination of thesis honors, choosing from among the following designations: no honors, honors, high honors, and highest honors. This assessment is based on the final written product and oral defense, and is intended to reflect the quality, originality, independence, and potential impact of the work.

Review the departmental rubric for evaluating senior honors theses .

Utility Menu

Psychology Undergraduate Program

Department of Psychology
Past & Current Theses

Current Approved Thesis Proposals

2023-24 Approved Thesis Proposals

2024-25 Approved Thesis Proposals

Lists of Past Theses

Class of 2023 / 2022 / 2021 / 2020 / 2019 / 2018 / 2017 / 2016 / 2015 / 2014 / 2013 / 2012 2011 / 2010 / 2009 / 2008 / 2007 / 2006 / 2005 / 2004 / 2003 / 2002 2001 (PDF)/ 2000 (PDF) / 1999 (PDF) List of Prize-Winning Theses, 2001 - Present

Reading Sample Theses

As you prepare for your thesis, you might want to get a sense of what you can accomplish in your finished product. Reading past theses can show you the scope and nature of well-done undergraduate projects. Because theses in different areas of psychology often look quite different, it will help you to examine several in the same general area you plan to conduct your research in.

The Psychology Undergraduate Office has hard copies of several prize-winning theses from the past five years that you may sign out to see what the best undergraduate work looks like. Above, you can browse the titles of past undergraduate theses to give you an idea of the topics of theses students typically write.

Only hard copies of recent prize-winning theses are currently available.

Please note: Recent theses stored in the Social Relations Library (which recently closed) are unavailable. Inquirers needing a thesis that is not listed in HOLLIS should contact the authors of theses directly to attempt to obtain a copy.

2024 March Thesis Deadlines
2024 May Thesis Deadlines
2025 March Thesis Deadlines
2025 May Thesis Deadlines

Psychology Honors Thesis

Student Life
The Undergraduate Experience

Honors FAQs Honors Thesis Application

Psychology is an empirical and STEM discipline which relies on data to answer questions about the brain, mind, and behavior. We encourage all of our majors to get involved in the wonders of research and the generation of new knowledge. To fully explore your interests in psychology, the Department of Psychology at ASU has a number of activities that are specifically designed to encourage and support honors students in Barrett .

An Honors Thesis in Psychology is expected to be a project of original empirical research that adds to knowledge in the discipline. Students in the honors program complete theses on a wide range of topics using a range of methodologies and the projects evolve from a blend of student interest and faculty expertise. The Department recommends that Barrett students participate in the Psychology Honors Sequence.

HONORS THESIS SEQUENCE

We offer a structured, intensive sequence for advanced students to help pursue an empirically-based Honors Thesis in Psychology. The Honors Thesis Sequence is the core of the psychology honors program. Beginning each January, the sequence spans one calendar year and consists of a two-semester sequence which is offered Spring and Fall. The seminar helps provide structured support for the cohort of students who are working on their theses with Psychology faculty. Seminar activities include professional tool skills in writing and defending a thesis and preparation for applications to graduate or professional schools. Doing a thesis in psychology is also excellent preparation for any number of professional roles because of its analytic, scientific, and communicative demands.

Enrollment in the sequence is limited with applications welcomed from all qualified, well-prepared psychology majors. Expectations for student preparation are more fully described in the program brochure and Honors Thesis Application . Applications for the Psychology Honors Thesis Seminar are due in mid-November for admission to the sequence in the January.

As described in the application materials, if a student applies to complete a Psychology Honors Thesis outside the Honors Sequence, they have the same expectations for preparation and committee structure as for students applying to the sequence, and they should used the application document to receive permission to enroll using the PSY prefix. Alternative honors projects can be completed using the prefix of HON.

The department offers a small number of sections of some courses that are designed for honors students. These are smaller, separate seminar courses that are limited to honors students or by instructor permission (footnote 19 courses). When available, we particularly recommend that you seek out an honors section of Statistics (PSY 231 instead of PSY 230), as well as enrollment in the honors section of PSY 351 (Social Psychology) which is periodically offered.

Research Opportunities

In the thesis sequence, you will be immersed in a research project that you have designed so it is essential that you acquire firsthand research experience in preparation for the thesis sequence. Research opportunities abound through our department's labs and you will undoubtedly find an ongoing study that will suit your inquisitive nature across the field of psychology including research in behavioral neuroscience, clinical psych, cognitive science, developmental psych, quantitative methods or social psych.

Currently available research opportunities can be found here . If you don't see a research lab that quite matches your interests, visit our Research Lab pages and don't hesitate to directly contact the faculty member who directs the lab's research projects. Course credit (PSY 399, 499) is available for students who serve as research assistants in various psychology labs and many labs accept volunteer research assistants.

All students preparing to do a Psychology Honors Thesis (PSY 492/493) are expected to have completed a supervised research experience in PSY 399 before beginning your thesis project.

What is an honors thesis in psychology?

Psychology is a scientific discipline that studies behavior and mental activity. In this it is a very broad field, which overlaps with many other disciplines in the university. Psychology is also an empirical science and our faculty feel that the honors thesis should have an empirical component rather than being a solely theoretical review paper. We encourage all our majors to get actively involved in research at all levels and feel that such research should be part of the thesis experience as well.

Thus, the honors thesis in psychology is a project of original scholarship which includes an empirical component and which the student undertakes under the guidance of a faculty member. The specific research question that the thesis engages and the details of the project are determined by the student and faculty member. Students work with faculty in developing research questions for their theses and in designing and executing studies to inform us about those research questions.

Thesis projects may involve the collection of new data or may use existing data sets to answer to new research questions. Because of the complexity of projects in psychology and the need in many cases to collect data from people or animals as subjects of study, there is a great deal of planning involved and projects are thus scheduled to require two semesters of academic work.

The thesis serves as a capstone experience for our majors. The experience is aimed at students who are our best students in terms of their capability and in terms of their engagement with the major. Before beginning a thesis, we expect students will have substantial progress in the major and already had some experience in research endeavors usually as a supervised research experience via a PSY 399 course.

When does the psychology honors sequence occur?

The year-long sequence is spring and fall semesters. Thus, it is held in a calendar year, rather than an academic year. Students begin the sequence in spring semester of their junior year and complete the sequence and defend their honors thesis in the fall of their senior year.

What does the psychology honors thesis sequence involve?

There are a total of four courses (12 hours of credit) involved in the sequence, all of which are honors credit. Students enroll for PSY 497 Honors Thesis Seminar and PSY 492 Honors Directed Study. In the fall semester, students enroll in a second semester of PSY 497 and PSY 493 Honors Thesis.

During the spring semester, students develop the ideas, background and methods for their study. At the end of the spring semester, they write a paper and make a formal presentation of their proposed project to the seminar and their faculty mentor.

During the summer (when warranted) and fall semesters, students complete the data collection, do analyses of their data, and write up the study as a formal thesis. The honors thesis is then defended to a committee and the seminar class.

What does a student do to prepare for the honors thesis sequence?

Get an early start on substantive course work in psychology; do well in their coursework; and get involved in Psychology research activities with faculty-directed labs.

Expectations for applicants include the successful completion of:

PSY 230/231, PSY 290 with a minimum GPA of 3.4;
at least two, 3-credit upper division Psychology content courses (PSY 300 level or higher -- does not include PSY 394 UTA, PSY 394 Adv Advising Assistant, PSY 399, PSY 484, PSY 499);
at least one research experience beyond PSY 290 (usually a PSY 399 experience with a faculty member in the department);

Students without this level of preparation are at disadvantage in terms of having the ideal honors thesis experience. Because the seminar has limited capacity, we reserve the class for those who are engaged and prepared for the experience. Typically, we have admitted all students meeting our expectations for preparation.

How do I apply?

There is an application process to help us make sure that you have met the expectations for preparation. An Honors Thesis Application should be submitted to the Honors Coordinator, Dr. Mary Davis ( [email protected] ). Once admitted to the Honors Thesis Sequence, students will be given permission to enroll in PSY 497 and PSY 492.

Can I begin the sequence in the fall?

No. The honors thesis sequence begins Spring semester only and runs two semesters ending in Fall. Begining the sequence in the spring semester has a number of advantages and remains the best timing option. Having the sequence run each calendar year also provides the greatest flexibility, both by having the summer available to work on the project and also by providing for a cushion in the event that the project is not completed by the end of fall semester. This timeline is also best for the student who is aiming to go forward to graduate or professional school in that thesis projects are largely completed by the fall period of applying to graduate school and student personal statements and the faculty letters of recommendation are more mature and well-informed.

What if I want to spent junior year abroad?

Study abroad can also be a very important, positive experience for students as is completing a thesis. If psychology majors who want to do an honors thesis in the sequence also want to study abroad, it requires more planning and probably some flexibility. It is true that there are more good opportunities than time to do them all, and sometimes students need to prioritize their choices.

Many students use the fall of their junior year or the summer either before or after junior year as a time to participate in such programs. It is not unusual for us to get an application from Spain or Australia in late fall to begin the sequence in January. If you elect this option, do not forget to submit an application by the November deadline. Remember that you still need to complete the expectations for preparation for the sequence.

What if I am a transfer student, or am shifting majors to psychology as an upper-classman?

Upperclass students new to Psychology should carefully review their academic progress and longer term goals to evaluate the importance of the honors sequence for them. Although it is possible to be admitted into the program, transfer students or new majors may need to take additional semester(s) of study in psychology. It is imperative that such students plan carefully with their advisors.

Honors Thesis for Psychology (PSY 5994)

The Psychology Honors Thesis (PSY 5994) is the capstone experience for honors students pursuing BS or BA degrees in psychology. The thesis project is typically a year-long project undertaken independently, under the supervision of a Psychology department faculty mentor, during the final year of study. The student is responsible for securing the commitment of their primary Psychology faculty mentor, as well as two additional faculty committee members. The nature and scope of the project are determined in consultation with the faculty project advisor. The honors project consists of scholarly work culminating in a written research report and an oral presentation.

Getting Started

PSY 4994V: Psychology Honors Research Practicum is the prerequisite course for the honors thesis. PSY 4994V is only offered in the Spring of your Junior Year and is designed to walk you through these next steps.

Identify an area of interest through Psychology coursework, reading in journals and texts, the Honors Research Practicum course, and discussion with instructors, faculty, and/or psychology advisors
Secure a Department of Psychology faculty or Psychology adjunct faculty member to serve as your advisor
Plan to spend two semesters working on your psychology thesis, which is the typical time frame for psychology honors students. (It is strongly recommended that you complete the majority of your psychology courses prior to starting on the project, so be sure you are planning a realistic time frame.)

2 Steps to Complete

Complete the UHP Thesis Proposal Form , keeping in mind key deadlines set by the University Honors Program. Consult your UHP Advisor when you have questions about UHP required documentation.
Enroll in Psychology Thesis credits (PSY 5994) by following the steps below:

Enrollment in Psychology Thesis Credits - PSY 5994

Registration for PSY 5994 Thesis credits requires completion of the Department of Psychology Online Research Contract , which must be reviewed by a Psychology advisor following the process below. This occurs prior to the distribution of a permission number allowing your registration. This Online form has a section specifically for Honors Thesis registration and requires advanced discussion of expectations between student and faculty mentor.

To submit your thesis contract for PSY 5994 registration, complete the following steps no more than 2 weeks after the start of the semester in which you first plan to enroll in PSY 5994 Directed Research - Psy Honors Thesis:

For all projects, identify two additional faculty readers, one from within the Department of Psychology and one outside of the Department of Psychology. Consult with your primary mentor when identifying prospective faculty readers. (Though the primary mentor determines the Psychology Thesis grade, other faculty readers provide project feedback and evaluation. Discuss your project ideas with prospective readers, incorporating their suggestions as appropriate).
Articulate the final proposal on the contract, including practical issues such as the term of registration, credits to be earned (minimum 3, maximum 6), and evaluation procedures. Almost all students will enroll in 3 credits in Fall and 3 credits in Spring. Consult with Psychology Advising on any variations needed (e.g. for Financial Aid, degree completion, etc.).
Secure a signature of approval from your primary thesis mentor. This is completed through an online workflow process.
The completed and signed contract will route to Psychology Advising for advisor review and approval. This approval will include the distribution of a permission number enabling you to enroll in the course (PSY 5994).

If you will plan to enroll in a second term of credits, Psychology Advising will email you a permission number allowing you to register for a second semester of honors thesis credits.

Grade Posting - Instructions for Faculty Mentor

Students registered across two semesters will not receive a grade until the final project is completed and evaluated. A single grade will then be posted for both PSY 5994 registrations. After the end of the first term, you should request that your faculty mentor submit a temporary grade as a placeholder. The appropriate grade in this instance is ‘K’ for ‘continuing.’ An email reminder from Psychology Advising will be sent to students and faculty about this process.

Instructions : Faculty mentors for PSY 5994 will simply enter grades in MyU. Adjunct Faculty mentors for PSY 5994 should email the following grade posting information to [email protected] :

Student name
Student ID#
Course number (i.e., PSY 5994 - Honors Thesis)
Term(s) of registration

Presentation Ideas (Recommended and Required for Summa Level)

Review the University Honors Program Thesis guidelines . Summa candidates are required to complete a public thesis presentation .

Options for psychology honors students include:

Participating in the campus Undergraduate Research Symposium , held in April each year
Presenting at the Minnesota Undergraduate Psychology Conference , held in April
Presenting at a regional or national undergraduate conference
Presenting at a professional conference in psychology or a related discipline
Presenting at a faculty mentor’s laboratory meeting (Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude only)
Joining the Psychology Capstone (PSY 3901W, 3902W, and 3903W) Elliott Hall poster presentation, held at the end of each term (Cum Laude and Magna Cum Laude only)

Psychology Honors Program

The Honors Program in Psychology is designed for Psychology majors who wish to pursue a full year of intensive supervised independent research during their senior year. Students in the program will acquire a broad background in psychology as well as a deep background in their chosen area. You can find out more about the program in this short video here .

Program Overview

Fall Quarter is devoted to learning new research skills, developing your career, and to getting started on your research project. We will meet twice a week during the quarter. The seminar will include guest presentations about resources at Stanford; panel discussions with current graduate students about how to apply for lab manager positions, graduate fellowships, and graduate school. The sessions on research skills cover a range of topics including project management with Github, statistical analysis in RStudio, and tools for academic writing. Students give a presentation about their research, write a grant project proposal at the end of quarter, and provide peer feedback.

Winter Quarter is devoted to learning more about each other's research through reading and discussion. We will meet once a week during that quarter. Each student will select one paper for the class to read that's particularly relevant for their research, and lead the discussion of that paper in class. Students will share reaction posts based on their reading, write a literature review at the end of the quarter (which will serve as the introduction for their thesis), and provide peer feedback.

Spring Quarter is devoted to finishing up and presenting your research. We will meet twice a week during that quarter. Students will provide updates on their projects, and we will spend time together writing the thesis. Students provide peer feedback on thesis writing throughout the quarter. We will discuss how to effectively present one's work in poster presentations, oral presentations (including a short elevator pitch), and in written form. At the end of the quarter, students will submit a short video recording of their research (elevator pitch), present their work as a poster during the psychology colloquium, and submit their written honors thesis.

Upon successful completion of the program, students will graduate with Departmental Honors.

All Honors students must have a research advisor. Honors students must be supervised by a Psychology faculty member. Any honors research supervised by faculty outside of the Psychology Department may be accepted with a Psychology faculty co-advisor or must first be approved by the Honors Faculty Director.

Honors Program Requirements

Students who graduate with Honors in Psychology will have completed the following by the end of their final year at Stanford:

All regular major requirements
Psych 198 (Senior Honors Research) Fall, Winter, and Spring Quarters
Completion of the Honors Thesis
Presentation at the Honors Convention

How to Apply

Students may apply to the program in their junior year. Admission to the program is based on academic performance, previous research experience, and faculty or graduate student recommendations. Applicants will be notified of acceptance during the spring quarter prior to senior year.

Applicants will need the following materials:

Honors Application, due April 15, 2024 .
An unofficial transcript that includes your Winter 2023-2024 grades.
A brief summary of your research idea/project (1-2 pages max).
One must be from a Stanford Psychology faculty member who will be your Honors Advisor.
The second letter can be from anyone who has knowledge of your academic work or research experience.
Recommenders should email their letters to asims [at] stanford.edu (asims[at]stanford[dot]edu) .

IMAGES

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