Reliable sources of developmental psychology research paper topics
There are many different ways to find a great developmental psychology research paper topic, and this article will cover a few of them—and include a sample of topics to choose from.
- Current research
- Historical topics
- Biographical topics
One way to find a great topic for a research paper is to take note of current advances in the subject of developmental psychology. Because it’s something that many laypersons are interested in, there are often related topics on the news or in popular magazines. While these types of articles aren’t, of course, great sources for the paper itself, they can be a great way to find out what the current “hot topics” in developmental psychology are, and can give the student inspiration for a thesis statement, which they can support with more suitable scholarly sources.
By their very nature, historical topics related to developmental psychology will very likely offer a wealth of sources. These topics, of course, aren’t adequate when the student is expected to do original research, but for research papers that are used as a term paper or an exam substitute, they can be a perfect source of inspiration.
Another great source of topics are biographical topics—choosing an interesting figure in the history of developmental psychology and then exploring their life and work in a research paper of one’s own. This can be an intriguing way to learn more about an aspect of the field the student was formerly unfamiliar with as well, or to learn more about their favorite part of the field.
Sample Developmental Psychology Research Paper Topics
- How does teaching hearing infants ASL or a sign language substitute later impact their ability to acquire spoken language?
- Does a child’s apparent motivation to be and remain physically active correlate with the parenting style of their guardians?
- How does marketing impact the desire children have to eat certain foods? Are candy and junk food more appealing simply because of flavor, or does the brightly colored, exciting packaging have more an impact?
- How does recreational mental engagement (activities like puzzles and games which require critical thinking or memorization) affect cognitive function in children? In adults? In the elderly?
- How does short term memory evolve, change, or deteriorate as an individual grows older? What are the limits of short term memory in children, versus adults? How does the change in short term memory affect long term memory, if at all?