issues in research papers

• USC Libraries
• Research Guides

Organizing Your Social Sciences Research Paper

• 1. Choosing a Research Problem
• Purpose of Guide
• Design Flaws to Avoid
• Independent and Dependent Variables
• Glossary of Research Terms
• Reading Research Effectively
• Narrowing a Topic Idea
• Broadening a Topic Idea
• Extending the Timeliness of a Topic Idea
• Academic Writing Style
• Applying Critical Thinking
• Choosing a Title
• Making an Outline
• Paragraph Development
• Research Process Video Series
• Executive Summary
• The C.A.R.S. Model
• Background Information
• The Research Problem/Question
• Theoretical Framework
• Citation Tracking
• Content Alert Services
• Evaluating Sources
• Primary Sources
• Secondary Sources
• Tiertiary Sources
• Scholarly vs. Popular Publications
• Qualitative Methods
• Quantitative Methods
• Insiderness
• Using Non-Textual Elements
• Limitations of the Study
• Common Grammar Mistakes
• Writing Concisely
• Avoiding Plagiarism
• Footnotes or Endnotes?
• Further Readings
• Generative AI and Writing
• USC Libraries Tutorials and Other Guides
• Bibliography

In the social and behavioral sciences, the subject of analysis is most often framed as a problem that must be researched in order to obtain a greater understanding, formulate a set of solutions or recommended courses of action, and/or develop a more effective approach to practice. The research problem, therefore, is the main organizing principle guiding the analysis of your research. The problem under investigation establishes an occasion for writing and a focus that governs what you want to say. It represents the core subject matter of scholarly communication and the means by which scholars arrive at other topics of conversation and the discovery of new knowledge and understanding.

Alvesson, Mats and Jörgen Sandberg. Constructing Research Questions: Doing Interesting Research . London: Sage, 2013; Jacobs, Ronald L. “Developing a Dissertation Research Problem: A Guide for Doctoral Students in Human Resource Development and Adult Education.” New Horizons in Adult Education and Human Resource Development 25 (Summer 2013): 103-117; Chapter 1: Research and the Research Problem. Nicholas Walliman . Your Research Project: Designing and Planning Your Work . 3rd edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2011.

Choosing a Research Problem / How to Begin

Do not assume that identifying a research problem to investigate will be a quick and easy task! You should be thinking about it during the beginning of the course. There are generally three ways you are asked to write about a research problem : 1) your professor provides you with a general topic from which you study a particular aspect; 2) your professor provides you with a list of possible topics to study and you choose a topic from that list; or, 3) your professor leaves it up to you to choose a topic and you only have to obtain permission to write about it before beginning your investigation. Here are some strategies for getting started for each scenario.

I.  How To Begin:  You are given the topic to write about

Step 1 : Identify concepts and terms that make up the topic statement . For example, your professor wants the class to focus on the following research problem: “Is the European Union a credible security actor with the capacity to contribute to confronting global terrorism?" The main concepts in this problem are: European Union, security, global terrorism, credibility [ hint : focus on identifying proper nouns, nouns or noun phrases, and action verbs in the assignment description]. Step 2 : Review related literature to help refine how you will approach examining the topic and finding a way to analyze it . You can begin by doing any or all of the following: reading through background information from materials listed in your course syllabus; searching the USC Libraries Catalog to find a recent book on the topic and, if appropriate, more specialized works about the topic; conducting a preliminary review of the research literature using multidisciplinary databases such as ProQuest or subject-specific databases from the " By Subject Area " drop down menu located above the list of databases.

Choose the advanced search option in the database and enter into each search box the main concept terms you developed in Step 1. Also consider using their synonyms to retrieve additional relevant records. This will help you refine and frame the scope of the research problem. You will likely need to do this several times before you can finalize how to approach writing about the topic. NOTE: Always review the references from your most relevant research results cited by the authors in footnotes, endnotes, or a bibliography to locate related research on your topic. This is a good strategy for identifying important prior research about the topic because titles that are repeatedly cited indicate their significance in laying a foundation for understanding the problem. However, if you’re having trouble at this point locating relevant research literature, ask a librarian for help!

ANOTHER NOTE:   If you find an article from a database that's particularly helpful, paste it into Google Scholar , placing the title of the article in quotes. If the article record appears, look for a "cited by" reference followed by a number [e.g., C ited by 37] just below the record. This link indicates how many times other scholars have subsequently cited that article in their own research since it was first published. This is an effective strategy for identifying more current, related research on your topic. Finding additional cited by references from your original list of cited by references helps you navigate through the literature and, by so doing, understand the evolution of thought around a particular research problem. Step 3 : Since social science research papers are generally designed to encourage you to develop your own ideas and arguments, look for sources that can help broaden, modify, or strengthen your initial thoughts and arguments. For example, if you decide to argue that the European Union is inadequately prepared to take on responsibilities for broader global security because of the debt crisis in many EU countries, then focus on identifying sources that support as well as refute this position. From the advanced search option in ProQuest , a sample search would use "European Union" in one search box, "global security" in the second search box, and adding a third search box to include "debt crisis."

There are least four appropriate roles your related literature plays in helping you formulate how to begin your analysis :

• Sources of criticism -- frequently, you'll find yourself reading materials that are relevant to your chosen topic, but you disagree with the author's position. Therefore, one way that you can use a source is to describe the counter-argument, provide evidence from your own review of the literature as to why the prevailing argument is unsatisfactory, and to discuss how your approach is more appropriate based upon your interpretation of the evidence.
• Sources of new ideas -- while a general goal in writing college research papers in the social sciences is to examine a research problem with some basic idea of what position you'd like to take and on what basis you'd like to defend your position, it is certainly acceptable [and often encouraged] to read the literature and extend, modify, and refine your own position in light of the ideas proposed by others. Just make sure that you cite the sources !
• Sources for historical context -- another role your related literature plays in formulating how to begin your analysis is to place issues and events in proper historical context. This can help to demonstrate familiarity with developments in relevant scholarship about your topic, provide a means of comparing historical versus contemporary issues and events, and identifying key people, places, and events that had an important role related to the research problem. Given its archival journal coverage, a good multidisciplnary database to use in this case is JSTOR .
• Sources of interdisciplinary insight -- an advantage of using databases like ProQuest to begin exploring your topic is that it covers publications from a variety of different disciplines. Another way to formulate how to study the topic is to look at it from different disciplinary perspectives. If the topic concerns immigration reform, for example, ask yourself, how do studies from sociological journals found by searching ProQuest vary in their analysis from those in political science journals. A goal in reviewing related literature is to provide a means of approaching a topic from multiple perspectives rather than the perspective offered from just one discipline.

NOTE: Remember to keep careful notes at every stage or utilize a citation management system like EndNotes or RefWorks . You may think you'll remember what you have searched and where you found things, but it’s easy to forget or get confused. Most databases have a search history feature that allows you to go back and see what searches you conducted previously as long as you haven't closed your session. If you start over, that history could be deleted.

Step 4 : Assuming you have done an effective job of synthesizing and thinking about the results of your initial search for related literature, you're ready to prepare a detailed outline for your paper that lays the foundation for a more in-depth and focused review of relevant research literature [after consulting with a librarian, if needed!]. How will you know you haven't done an effective job of synthesizing and thinking about the results of our initial search for related literature? A good indication is that you start composing the outline and gaps appear in how you want to approach the study. This indicates the need to gather further background information and analysis about the research problem.

II.  How To Begin:  You are provided a list of possible topics to choose from Step 1 : I know what you’re thinking--which topic on this list will be the easiest to find the most information on? An effective instructor would never include a topic that is so obscure or complex that no research is available to examine and from which to design an effective study. Therefore, don't approach a list of possible topics to study from the perspective of trying to identify the path of least resistance; choose a topic that you find interesting in some way, that is controversial and that you have a strong opinion about, that has some personal meaning for you, or relates to your major or a minor. You're going to be working on the topic for quite some time, so choose one that you find interesting and engaging or that motivates you to take a position. Embrace the opportunity to learn something new! Once you’ve settled on a topic of interest from the list provided by your professor, follow Steps 1 - 4 listed above to further develop it into a research paper.

NOTE: It’s ok to review related literature to help refine how you will approach analyzing a topic, and then discover that the topic isn’t all that interesting to you. In that case, choose a different topic from the list. Just don’t wait too long to make a switch and, of course, be sure to inform your professor that you are changing your topic.

III.  How To Begin:  Your professor leaves it up to you to choose a topic

Step 1 : Under this scenario, the key process is turning an idea or general thought into a topic that can be configured into a research problem. When given an assignment where you choose the topic, don't begin by thinking about what to write about, but rather, ask yourself the question, "What do I want to understand or learn about?" Treat an open-ended research assignment as an opportunity to gain new knowledge about something that's important or exciting to you in the context of the overall subject of the course.

Step 2 : If you lack ideas, or wish to gain focus, try any or all of the following strategies:

• Review your course readings, particularly the suggested readings, for topic ideas. Don't just review what you've already read, but jump ahead in the syllabus to readings that have not been covered yet.
• Search the USC Libraries Catalog for a recently published book and, if appropriate, more specialized works related to the discipline area of the course [e.g., for the course SOCI 335: Society and Population, search for books on "population and society" or "population and social impact"]. Reviewing the contents of a book about your area of interest can give you insight into what conversations scholars are having about the topic and, thus, how you might want to contribute your own ideas to these conversations through the research paper you write for the class.
• Browse through some current scholarly [a.k.a., academic, peer reviewed] journals in your subject discipline. Even if most of the articles are not relevant, you can skim through the contents quickly. You only need one to be the spark that begins the process of wanting to learn more about a topic. Consult with a librarian and/or your professor about what constitutes the core journals within the subject area of the writing assignment.
• Think about essays you have written for other courses you have taken or academic lectures and programs you have attended outside of class. Thinking back, ask yourself why did you want to take this class or attend this event? What interested you the most? What would you like to know more about? Place this question in the context of the current course assignment. Note that this strategy also applies to anything you've watched on TV or has been shared on social media.
• Search online news media sources, such as CNN , the Los Angeles Times , Huffington Post , MSNBC , Fox News , or Newsweek , to see if your idea has been covered by the media. Use this coverage to refine your idea into something that you'd like to investigate further, but in a more deliberate, scholarly way in relation to a particular problem that needs to be researched.

Step 3 : To build upon your initial idea, use the suggestions under this tab to help narrow , broaden , or increase the timeliness of your idea so you can write it out as a research problem.

Once you are comfortable with having turned your idea into a research problem, follow Steps 1 - 4 listed in Part I above to further develop it into an outline for a research paper.

Alderman, Jim. "Choosing a Research Topic." Beginning Library and Information Systems Strategies. Paper 17. Jacksonville, FL: University of North Florida Digital Commons, 2014; Alvesson, Mats and Jörgen Sandberg. Constructing Research Questions: Doing Interesting Research . London: Sage, 2013; Chapter 2: Choosing a Research Topic. Adrian R. Eley. Becoming a Successful Early Career Researcher . New York: Routledge, 2012; Answering the Question. Academic Skills Centre. University of Canberra; Brainstorming. Department of English Writing Guide. George Mason University; Brainstorming. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Chapter 1: Research and the Research Problem. Nicholas Walliman . Your Research Project: Designing and Planning Your Work . 3rd edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: Sage Publications, 2011; Choosing a Topic. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University;  Mullaney, Thomas S. and Christopher Rea. Where Research Begins: Choosing a Research Project That Matters to You (and the World) . Chicago, IL: University of Chicago Press, 2022; Coming Up With Your Topic. Institute for Writing Rhetoric. Dartmouth College; How To Write a Thesis Statement. Writing Tutorial Services, Center for Innovative Teaching and Learning. Indiana University; Identify Your Question. Start Your Research. University Library, University of California, Santa Cruz; The Process of Writing a Research Paper. Department of History. Trent University; Trochim, William M.K. Problem Formulation. Research Methods Knowledge Base. 2006.

Resources for Identifying a Topic

Resources for Identifying a Research Problem

If you are having difficulty identifying a topic to study or need basic background information, the following web resources and databases can be useful:

• CQ Researcher -- a collection of single-themed public policy reports that provide an overview of an issue. Each report includes background information, an assessment of the current policy situation, statistical tables and maps, pro/con statements from representatives of opposing positions, and a bibliography of key sources.
• New York Times Topics -- each topic page collects news articles, reference and archival information, photos, graphics, audio and video files. Content is available without charge on articles going back to 1981.
• Opposing Viewpoints In Context -- an online resource covering a wide range of social issues from a variety of perspectives. The database contains a media-rich collection of materials, including pro/con viewpoint essays, topic overviews, primary source materials, biographies of social activists and reformers, journal articles, statistical tables, charts and graphs, images, videos, and podcasts.
• Policy Commons -- platform for objective, fact-based research from the world’s leading policy experts, nonpartisan think tanks, and intergovernmental and non-governmental organizations. The database provides advanced searching across millions of pages of books, articles, working papers, reports, policy briefs, data sets, tables, charts, media, case studies, and statistical publications, including archived reports from more than 200 defunct think tanks. Coverage is international in scope.

Descriptions of resources are adapted or quoted from vendor websites.

Writing Tip

Not Finding Anything on Your Topic? Ask a Librarian!

Don't assume or jump to the conclusion that your topic is too narrowly defined or obscure just because your initial search has failed to locate any relevant studies. Librarians are experts in locating and critically assessing information and how it is organized. This information will help you develop strategies for analyzing existing knowledge in new ways. Therefore, always consult with a librarian before you consider giving up on finding information about what you want to investigate. If there isn't a lot of information about your topic, a librarian can help you identify a closely related topic to study. Use the Ask-A-Librarian link above to either chat with a librarian, send a general email to the librarians, or identify a subject expert librarian related to the course you are taking.

Another Writing Tip

A Research Problem is Not the Thesis Statement

A thesis statement and a research problem are two different parts of the introduction section of your paper. The thesis statement succinctly describes in one or two sentences, usually in the last paragraph of the introduction, what position you have reached about a topic. It includes an assertion that requires evidence and support along with your opinion or argument about what you are researching. There are three general types of thesis statements that are intended to set forth a claim that you will seek to validate through the research you describe in your paper :

1) analytical statements that break down and evaluate the topic;

2) expository statements that present facts and research about the topic; and,

3) argumentative statements that make a claim about the topic and defend that claim. An  argumentative thesis statement is the most common type of statement required in social sciences writing assignments.

Before the thesis statement, however, your introduction must include a statement about a problem in which you describe either a key area of concern, a condition to be improved upon, a difficulty to be eliminated, or a troubling issue that exists . The research problem describes something that can be empirically verified and measured; it is often followed by a set of questions that underpin how you plan to approach investigating that problem. In short, the thesis statement states your opinion or argument about the research problem and summarizes how you plan to address it.

Tips and Examples for Writing Thesis Statements. The Writing Lab and The OWL. Purdue University; Write a Strong Thesis Statement! The Writing Center, University of Evansville; Thesis Statements. The Writing Center. University of North Carolina; Tutorial #26: Thesis Statements and Topic Sentences. Writing Center, College of San Mateo; Creswell,  John W. and J. David Creswell. Research Design: Qualitative, Quantitative, and Mixed Methods Approaches . 5th edition. Thousand Oaks, CA: SAGE Publications, 2017.

Still Another Writing Tip

Don't be a Martyr!

In thinking about what to study, don't adopt the mindset of pursuing an esoteric or overly complicated topic just to impress your professor but that, in reality, does not have any real interest to you. Choose a topic that is challenging but that has at least some interest to you or that you care about. Obviously, this is easier for courses within your major, but even for those nasty prerequisite classes that you must take in order to graduate [and that provide an additional tuition revenue for the university], try to apply issues associated with your major to the general topic given to you. For example, if you are an international relations major taking a GE philosophy class where the assignment asks you to apply the question of "what is truth" to some aspect of life, you could choose to study how government leaders attempt to shape truth through the use of nationalistic propaganda.

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• Research paper

How to Write a Research Paper | A Beginner's Guide

A research paper is a piece of academic writing that provides analysis, interpretation, and argument based on in-depth independent research.

Research papers are similar to academic essays , but they are usually longer and more detailed assignments, designed to assess not only your writing skills but also your skills in scholarly research. Writing a research paper requires you to demonstrate a strong knowledge of your topic, engage with a variety of sources, and make an original contribution to the debate.

This step-by-step guide takes you through the entire writing process, from understanding your assignment to proofreading your final draft.

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Table of contents

Understand the assignment, choose a research paper topic, conduct preliminary research, develop a thesis statement, create a research paper outline, write a first draft of the research paper, write the introduction, write a compelling body of text, write the conclusion, the second draft, the revision process, research paper checklist, free lecture slides.

Completing a research paper successfully means accomplishing the specific tasks set out for you. Before you start, make sure you thoroughly understanding the assignment task sheet:

• Read it carefully, looking for anything confusing you might need to clarify with your professor.
• Identify the assignment goal, deadline, length specifications, formatting, and submission method.
• Make a bulleted list of the key points, then go back and cross completed items off as you’re writing.

Carefully consider your timeframe and word limit: be realistic, and plan enough time to research, write, and edit.

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There are many ways to generate an idea for a research paper, from brainstorming with pen and paper to talking it through with a fellow student or professor.

You can try free writing, which involves taking a broad topic and writing continuously for two or three minutes to identify absolutely anything relevant that could be interesting.

You can also gain inspiration from other research. The discussion or recommendations sections of research papers often include ideas for other specific topics that require further examination.

Once you have a broad subject area, narrow it down to choose a topic that interests you, m eets the criteria of your assignment, and i s possible to research. Aim for ideas that are both original and specific:

• A paper following the chronology of World War II would not be original or specific enough.
• A paper on the experience of Danish citizens living close to the German border during World War II would be specific and could be original enough.

Note any discussions that seem important to the topic, and try to find an issue that you can focus your paper around. Use a variety of sources , including journals, books, and reliable websites, to ensure you do not miss anything glaring.

Do not only verify the ideas you have in mind, but look for sources that contradict your point of view.

• Is there anything people seem to overlook in the sources you research?
• Are there any heated debates you can address?
• Do you have a unique take on your topic?
• Have there been some recent developments that build on the extant research?

In this stage, you might find it helpful to formulate some research questions to help guide you. To write research questions, try to finish the following sentence: “I want to know how/what/why…”

A thesis statement is a statement of your central argument — it establishes the purpose and position of your paper. If you started with a research question, the thesis statement should answer it. It should also show what evidence and reasoning you’ll use to support that answer.

The thesis statement should be concise, contentious, and coherent. That means it should briefly summarize your argument in a sentence or two, make a claim that requires further evidence or analysis, and make a coherent point that relates to every part of the paper.

You will probably revise and refine the thesis statement as you do more research, but it can serve as a guide throughout the writing process. Every paragraph should aim to support and develop this central claim.

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A research paper outline is essentially a list of the key topics, arguments, and evidence you want to include, divided into sections with headings so that you know roughly what the paper will look like before you start writing.

A structure outline can help make the writing process much more efficient, so it’s worth dedicating some time to create one.

Your first draft won’t be perfect — you can polish later on. Your priorities at this stage are as follows:

• Maintaining forward momentum — write now, perfect later.
• Paying attention to clear organization and logical ordering of paragraphs and sentences, which will help when you come to the second draft.
• Expressing your ideas as clearly as possible, so you know what you were trying to say when you come back to the text.

You do not need to start by writing the introduction. Begin where it feels most natural for you — some prefer to finish the most difficult sections first, while others choose to start with the easiest part. If you created an outline, use it as a map while you work.

Do not delete large sections of text. If you begin to dislike something you have written or find it doesn’t quite fit, move it to a different document, but don’t lose it completely — you never know if it might come in useful later.

Paragraph structure

Paragraphs are the basic building blocks of research papers. Each one should focus on a single claim or idea that helps to establish the overall argument or purpose of the paper.

Example paragraph

George Orwell’s 1946 essay “Politics and the English Language” has had an enduring impact on thought about the relationship between politics and language. This impact is particularly obvious in light of the various critical review articles that have recently referenced the essay. For example, consider Mark Falcoff’s 2009 article in The National Review Online, “The Perversion of Language; or, Orwell Revisited,” in which he analyzes several common words (“activist,” “civil-rights leader,” “diversity,” and more). Falcoff’s close analysis of the ambiguity built into political language intentionally mirrors Orwell’s own point-by-point analysis of the political language of his day. Even 63 years after its publication, Orwell’s essay is emulated by contemporary thinkers.

Citing sources

It’s also important to keep track of citations at this stage to avoid accidental plagiarism . Each time you use a source, make sure to take note of where the information came from.

You can use our free citation generators to automatically create citations and save your reference list as you go.

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The research paper introduction should address three questions: What, why, and how? After finishing the introduction, the reader should know what the paper is about, why it is worth reading, and how you’ll build your arguments.

What? Be specific about the topic of the paper, introduce the background, and define key terms or concepts.

Why? This is the most important, but also the most difficult, part of the introduction. Try to provide brief answers to the following questions: What new material or insight are you offering? What important issues does your essay help define or answer?

How? To let the reader know what to expect from the rest of the paper, the introduction should include a “map” of what will be discussed, briefly presenting the key elements of the paper in chronological order.

The major struggle faced by most writers is how to organize the information presented in the paper, which is one reason an outline is so useful. However, remember that the outline is only a guide and, when writing, you can be flexible with the order in which the information and arguments are presented.

One way to stay on track is to use your thesis statement and topic sentences . Check:

• topic sentences against the thesis statement;
• topic sentences against each other, for similarities and logical ordering;
• and each sentence against the topic sentence of that paragraph.

Be aware of paragraphs that seem to cover the same things. If two paragraphs discuss something similar, they must approach that topic in different ways. Aim to create smooth transitions between sentences, paragraphs, and sections.

The research paper conclusion is designed to help your reader out of the paper’s argument, giving them a sense of finality.

Trace the course of the paper, emphasizing how it all comes together to prove your thesis statement. Give the paper a sense of finality by making sure the reader understands how you’ve settled the issues raised in the introduction.

You might also discuss the more general consequences of the argument, outline what the paper offers to future students of the topic, and suggest any questions the paper’s argument raises but cannot or does not try to answer.

You should not :

• Offer new arguments or essential information
• Take up any more space than necessary
• Begin with stock phrases that signal you are ending the paper (e.g. “In conclusion”)

There are four main considerations when it comes to the second draft.

• Check how your vision of the paper lines up with the first draft and, more importantly, that your paper still answers the assignment.
• Identify any assumptions that might require (more substantial) justification, keeping your reader’s perspective foremost in mind. Remove these points if you cannot substantiate them further.
• Be open to rearranging your ideas. Check whether any sections feel out of place and whether your ideas could be better organized.
• If you find that old ideas do not fit as well as you anticipated, you should cut them out or condense them. You might also find that new and well-suited ideas occurred to you during the writing of the first draft — now is the time to make them part of the paper.

The goal during the revision and proofreading process is to ensure you have completed all the necessary tasks and that the paper is as well-articulated as possible. You can speed up the proofreading process by using the AI proofreader .

Global concerns

• Confirm that your paper completes every task specified in your assignment sheet.
• Check for logical organization and flow of paragraphs.
• Check paragraphs against the introduction and thesis statement.

Fine-grained details

Check the content of each paragraph, making sure that:

• each sentence helps support the topic sentence.
• no unnecessary or irrelevant information is present.
• all technical terms your audience might not know are identified.

Next, think about sentence structure , grammatical errors, and formatting . Check that you have correctly used transition words and phrases to show the connections between your ideas. Look for typos, cut unnecessary words, and check for consistency in aspects such as heading formatting and spellings .

Finally, you need to make sure your paper is correctly formatted according to the rules of the citation style you are using. For example, you might need to include an MLA heading  or create an APA title page .

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Checklist: Research paper

I have followed all instructions in the assignment sheet.

My introduction presents my topic in an engaging way and provides necessary background information.

My introduction presents a clear, focused research problem and/or thesis statement .

My paper is logically organized using paragraphs and (if relevant) section headings .

Each paragraph is clearly focused on one central idea, expressed in a clear topic sentence .

Each paragraph is relevant to my research problem or thesis statement.

I have used appropriate transitions  to clarify the connections between sections, paragraphs, and sentences.

My conclusion provides a concise answer to the research question or emphasizes how the thesis has been supported.

My conclusion shows how my research has contributed to knowledge or understanding of my topic.

My conclusion does not present any new points or information essential to my argument.

I have provided an in-text citation every time I refer to ideas or information from a source.

I have included a reference list at the end of my paper, consistently formatted according to a specific citation style .

I have thoroughly revised my paper and addressed any feedback from my professor or supervisor.

I have followed all formatting guidelines (page numbers, headers, spacing, etc.).

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Research Paper

99 of the Most Controversial Research Paper Topics (Controversial Yet Interesting)

Ignite debates with thought-provoking content! Explore controversial research paper topics for compelling discussions and academic exploration.

Feb 20, 2024

Dive into a world of contentious debates and thought-provoking discussions with a deep look at controversial research paper topics. From exploring ethical dilemmas to dissecting societal taboos, this blog will navigate the intricate landscape of controversial subjects, shedding light on research paper structure while captivating your intellectual curiosity. Join us as we unravel the complexities of these contentious issues and challenge the norms of traditional research. Let's embark on a journey of exploration and critical analysis together.

Table of Contents

Why controversial research paper topics make the best research papers, how to effectively structure a controversial research paper, supercharge your researching ability with otio — try otio for free today.

1. Stimulates Critical Thinking and Debates

Controversial research paper topics have the unique ability to spark intense debates and discussions among researchers, academics, and the general public. These topics often challenge preconceived notions and push individuals to think critically, analyze different perspectives, and defend their own viewpoints. The intellectual stimulation that arises from debating controversial issues can lead to groundbreaking insights and innovative solutions.

2. Encourages Exploration of Taboo Subjects

Controversial research paper topics often touch upon taboo subjects that are considered sensitive or off-limits in mainstream discourse. By delving into these contentious areas, researchers have the opportunity to explore uncharted territories , challenge societal norms, and shed light on marginalized voices. This exploration can lead to a deeper understanding of complex issues and contribute to social progress and change.

3. Drives Innovation and Creativity

The inherent controversy surrounding these research paper topics pushes researchers to think outside the box, question traditional beliefs, and come up with novel approaches to address challenging issues. This drive for innovation and creativity can lead to the development of groundbreaking theories, methodologies, and solutions that have the potential to revolutionize the field of study and have a lasting impact on society.

4. Captures Public Attention and Interest

Controversial research paper topics have a certain allure that captures the attention and interest of a wide audience. These topics often deal with pressing social, political, and ethical issues that resonate with people on a personal level. As a result, research papers on controversial topics have the potential to reach a larger audience, generate public discourse, and raise awareness about important issues that might otherwise be overlooked.

5. Fosters Resilience and Intellectual Courage

Engaging with controversial research paper topics requires a certain level of resilience and intellectual courage. Researchers must be willing to confront uncomfortable truths, challenge prevailing beliefs, and navigate potential backlash or criticism. By tackling controversial subjects head-on, researchers can develop a greater sense of resilience, strengthen their analytical skills, and cultivate the intellectual courage necessary to push boundaries and pursue innovative research agendas.

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1. Genetic modification of embryos: Ethical implications and future considerations

Exploring the ethical dilemmas surrounding the genetic modification of embryos and the potential impact on future generations.

2. Mandatory vaccinations: Balancing public health and individual rights

Investigating the debate on mandatory vaccinations to prevent the spread of contagious diseases while respecting personal freedoms.

3. Climate change denial: The science, the skeptics, and the consequences

Examining the arguments of climate change deniers, the scientific consensus, and the potential consequences of inaction.

4. Artificial intelligence: Enhancing society or posing a threat to humanity?

Delving into the benefits and risks of artificial intelligence in various aspects of society and its potential impact on humanity.

5. Legalizing euthanasia: Compassion or moral dilemma?

Analyzing the arguments for and against legalizing euthanasia, considering the ethical and moral implications.

6. Gun control: Striking a balance between safety and Second Amendment rights

Exploring the contentious issue of gun control, addressing public safety concerns while upholding constitutional rights.

7. Animal testing: Scientific necessity or ethical concern?

Examining the use of animals in scientific research, weighing the benefits of medical advancement against animal welfare concerns.

8. Capital punishment: Just retribution or inhumane practice?

Discussing the arguments surrounding the death penalty, including its deterrent effect, justice for victims, and ethical considerations.

9. Nuclear energy: Sustainable solution or environmental risk?

Investigating the role of nuclear energy in the quest for sustainable power sources and its potential environmental impact.

10. Gender identity: Biological reality vs. self-perception

Exploring the complexity of gender identity, including biological, social, and personal factors that influence one's sense of self.

11. Online privacy: Balancing security with individual freedom

Analyzing the tension between protecting online privacy and the need for security measures in the digital age.

12. Legalization of prostitution: Empowerment or exploitation?

Examining the arguments for and against legalizing prostitution, considering the impact on sex workers and society.

13. Cloning: Scientific advancement or ethical dilemma?

Delving into the science and ethics of cloning, including its potential benefits and the moral implications of cloning humans.

14. Cultural appropriation: Appreciation or exploitation?

Discussing the fine line between cultural appreciation and appropriation, considering power dynamics and historical contexts.

15. Universal basic income: Addressing inequality or encouraging dependency?

Exploring the concept of universal basic income as a solution to economic disparities and its potential societal implications.

16. Genetically modified organisms (GMOs): Feeding the world or endangering health?

Investigating the controversy surrounding GMOs, including their role in food production, safety concerns, and environmental impact.

17. Social media influence: Empowering or manipulating society?

Analyzing the influence of social media on individuals and society, including its role in shaping opinions and behaviors.

18. Cyberbullying: The dark side of online interactions

Exploring the prevalence and impact of cyberbullying on mental health and well-being, and strategies for prevention.

19. Art censorship: Preserving morals or stifling creativity?

Discussing the debate on art censorship, considering cultural sensitivities, freedom of expression, and artistic integrity.

20. The obesity epidemic: Personal responsibility or societal problem?

Examining the factors contributing to the obesity epidemic, including lifestyle choices, food environment, and public health policies.

21. Renewable energy sources: Transitioning towards a sustainable future

Investigating the potential of renewable energy sources to reduce carbon emissions and combat climate change.

22. Racial profiling: Law enforcement tool or civil rights violation?

Analyzing the practice of racial profiling, its impact on marginalized communities, and efforts to address systemic bias.

23. The privacy vs. security debate: Striking a balance in the digital age

Exploring the trade-offs between privacy rights and national security concerns, especially in the context of technological advancements.

24. The future of work: Automation, AI, and the changing labor landscape

Discussing the impact of automation and artificial intelligence on the workforce, including job displacement and skills training.

25. Body modification: Self-expression or societal taboo?

Examining the motivations behind body modifications, including tattoos, piercings, and cosmetic surgeries, and societal perceptions.

26. Educational inequality: Addressing disparities in access and quality

Investigating the factors contributing to educational inequality, including funding disparities, systemic barriers, and solutions for reform.

27. Medical marijuana: Healing herb or gateway drug?

Exploring the therapeutic potential of medical marijuana , its legal status, and the debate on its recreational use.

28. Sustainable agriculture: Balancing productivity with environmental stewardship

Discussing sustainable farming practices that promote food security while minimizing environmental impact and preserving natural resources.

29. Cybersecurity threats: Protecting data in the digital age

Analyzing the evolving landscape of cybersecurity threats, including hacking, identity theft, and data breaches, and strategies for protection.

30. Animal rights activism: Advocacy for ethical treatment or extremist ideology?

Examining the motivations and tactics of animal rights activists, legal protections for animals, and ethical considerations in animal welfare.

31. The role of media in shaping public opinion: Informative tool or propaganda machine?

Discussing the influence of media outlets on public perception, including bias, misinformation, and the importance of critical thinking.

32. Immigration policies: National security or human rights concern?

Exploring the complexities of immigration policies , including border control, refugee rights, and the socio-economic impact of migration.

33. Gender pay gap: Workplace inequality and the fight for equal pay

Investigating the disparities in wages based on gender, factors contributing to the gender pay gap, and strategies for achieving pay equity.

34. Mental health stigma: Breaking the silence and promoting understanding

Discussing the stigma surrounding mental health issues, misconceptions, and the importance of destigmatizing mental illness.

35. Space exploration: Inspiring innovation or wasteful expenditure?

Exploring the benefits of space exploration in scientific advancement, technological innovation, and the ethical considerations of space travel.

36. Internet censorship: Protecting society or stifling free speech?

Analyzing the implications of internet censorship on freedom of expression, access to information, and government control of online content.

37. Cultural diversity in the workplace: Promoting inclusivity or tokenism?

Examining the importance of cultural diversity in the workplace, challenges faced by diverse employees, and best practices for fostering inclusivity.

38. Autonomous vehicles: Revolutionizing transportation or safety risk?

Discussing the potential of self-driving cars to improve road safety, reduce traffic congestion, and ethical considerations in autonomous vehicle technology.

39. Gender stereotypes in media: Reinforcing norms or challenging perceptions?

Investigating the portrayal of gender stereotypes in media, its impact on society, and efforts to promote gender equality in media representation.

40. Food insecurity: Hunger in a world of abundance

Exploring the root causes of food insecurity, including poverty, conflict, and climate change, and solutions to address global hunger.

41. The ethics of whistleblowing: Exposing truth or breaching trust?

Discussing the moral dilemmas faced by whistleblowers, the impact of whistleblowing on organizations, and legal protections for whistleblowers.

42. Alternative medicine: Holistic healing or pseudoscience?

Examining the efficacy of alternative medicine practices, including acupuncture, herbal remedies, and homeopathy, and the debate on their scientific basis.

43. Body image and the media: Unrealistic standards and mental health

Analyzing the influence of media on body image perceptions, the prevalence of body dysmorphia, and strategies for promoting positive self-esteem.

44. Plastic pollution: A global environmental crisis

Investigating the impact of plastic pollution on marine ecosystems, human health, and efforts to reduce plastic waste through recycling and regulation.

45. Animal testing in cosmetics: Beauty at the cost of cruelty?

Discussing the controversy surrounding animal testing in the cosmetics industry, ethical alternatives, and consumer awareness of cruelty-free products.

46. Nuclear disarmament: A world free of nuclear weapons?

Exploring the challenges and benefits of nuclear disarmament, global security implications, and diplomatic efforts towards nuclear non-proliferation.

47. Climate engineering: Geoengineering solutions for climate change

Investigating the feasibility and ethical implications of climate engineering technologies, such as solar radiation management and carbon capture.

48. The impact of social media on mental health: Connection or isolation?

Discussing the effects of social media on mental well-being, including cyberbullying, FOMO, and strategies for promoting positive online interactions.

49. Water scarcity: Managing a precious resource

Exploring the global water crisis, sustainable water management practices, and the socio-economic impact of water scarcity on communities.

50. Universal healthcare: Ensuring access to healthcare for all

Discussing the benefits and challenges of implementing universal healthcare systems, including funding, quality of care, and equity in healthcare access.

51. Sweatshop labor: Exploitation in the global supply chain

Analyzing the ethical issues of sweatshop labor, corporate responsibility, and efforts to improve working conditions and wages for garment workers.

52. The impact of globalization on culture: Homogenization or diversity?

Examining the cultural consequences of globalization, including the spread of Western values, cultural exchange, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

53. Genocide prevention: Learning from history to protect human rights

Discussing the role of international law , humanitarian intervention, and early warning systems in preventing genocides and mass atrocities.

54. Data privacy in the age of surveillance: Protecting personal information

Exploring the implications of data collection and surveillance on privacy rights, data breaches, and the need for data protection regulations.

55. Drug legalization: Addressing the war on drugs

Investigating the arguments for legalizing drugs, including marijuana, psychedelics, and the impact of drug policies on public health and criminal justice.

56. Artificial intelligence in warfare: Autonomous weapons and ethical concerns

Discussing the use of AI in military technology, including autonomous drones, cyber warfare, and the ethical considerations of AI in armed conflict.

57. Police brutality: Accountability and reform in law enforcement

Analyzing cases of police violence, racial bias in policing, and efforts to promote accountability, community policing, and reforms in law enforcement.

58. The ethics of animal experimentation: Balancing scientific progress and animal welfare

Examining the ethical considerations of using animals in research, alternatives to animal testing, and regulations to ensure humane treatment.

59. Bioethics in Healthcare: Navigating moral dilemmas in medical practice

Discussing ethical issues in healthcare, including patient autonomy, end-of-life care, genetic testing, and reproductive technologies.

60. GMO labeling: Informed consumer choice or unnecessary regulation?

Exploring the debate on labeling GMOs in food products, consumer rights to know, and the impact of GMO labeling on food industry practices.

61. Online hate speech: The limits of free expression

Investigating the rise of online hate speech, its impact on marginalized groups, legal implications, and strategies to combat hate speech online.

62. The future of democracy: Challenges and opportunities in a digital age

Discussing the impact of technology on democracy, including disinformation, social media influence, electoral integrity, and civic engagement.

63. Cyber warfare: The new frontier of conflict

Analyzing the threats posed by cyber warfare, including hacking, ransomware, and state-sponsored cyber attacks, and strategies for cybersecurity defense.

64. Workplace discrimination: Breaking barriers and promoting diversity

Examining the prevalence of workplace discrimination based on race, gender, age, and sexual orientation, and efforts to foster inclusive work environments.

65. The opioid epidemic: Addressing addiction and overdose crisis

Discussing the factors contributing to the opioid crisis, including overprescription, illicit drug trafficking, and strategies for prevention and treatment.

66. Surveillance capitalism: The commodification of personal data

Exploring the business model of surveillance capitalism, data collection practices by tech companies, and the implications for consumer privacy.

67. Online dating: Changing norms and social interactions

Investigating the impact of online dating on relationships, social dynamics, and the evolution of dating norms in the digital age.

68. Racial disparities in healthcare: Addressing inequities in access and treatment

Examining the racial inequalities in healthcare outcomes, disparities in access to care, and strategies to promote health equity among diverse populations.

69. The impact of technology on jobs: Automation and the future of work

Discussing the effects of automation and AI on the labor market, job displacement, reskilling programs, and the need for workforce adaptation.

70. Domestic violence: Breaking the cycle of abuse

Analyzing the prevalence of domestic violence, its impact on victims and families, and interventions for prevention, support, and legal protection.

71. The dark web: Unveiling the hidden layers of the internet

Exploring the anonymous and illicit activities on the dark web , including illegal markets, cybercrime, and the challenges of law enforcement in cyberspace.

72. Cultural heritage preservation: Safeguarding the past for the future

Investigating efforts to protect cultural heritage sites, artifacts, and traditions from destruction, looting, and the impact of urban development.

73. Mass incarceration: Reforms in the criminal justice system

Examining the causes and consequences of mass incarceration, racial disparities in sentencing, and initiatives for criminal justice reform and rehabilitation.

74. Genetic privacy: Regulating DNA data and bioinformatics

Discussing the privacy concerns related to genetic testing, DNA databases, and the ethical implications of sharing personal genetic information.

75. The impact of social media influencers: Marketing or manipulation?

Analyzing the influence of social media influencers on consumer behavior, advertising regulations, and the authenticity of influencer marketing.

76. Access to education for refugee children: Overcoming barriers to learning

Exploring the challenges faced by refugee children in accessing quality education, barriers to integration, and initiatives for refugee education support.

77. Workplace surveillance: Balancing security with employee privacy

Investigating the use of surveillance technologies in the workplace, employee monitoring practices, and the legal and ethical implications of workplace surveillance.

78. Cryptocurrency regulation: Navigating the digital financial landscape

Exploring the challenges of regulating cryptocurrencies, blockchain technology, and the implications for financial transactions, security, and legal frameworks.

79. Mental health treatment stigma: Breaking down barriers to care

Discussing the stigma surrounding mental health treatment, access to mental healthcare services, and destigmatization efforts to promote help-seeking behaviors.

80. The impact of social media on politics: Influence and disinformation

Analyzing the role of social media in political discourse, election campaigns, misinformation, and the regulation of political advertising online.

81. Human trafficking: Combating modern-day slavery

Examining the global issue of human trafficking, including sex trafficking, forced labor, and efforts to prevent trafficking, prosecute perpetrators, and protect victims.

82. Biohacking: DIY biology and ethical considerations

Investigating the biohacking movement, including DIY genetic engineering, body modifications, and the ethical implications of citizen science in biotechnology.

83. Gender-based violence: Addressing inequalities and promoting gender equality

Discussing the prevalence of gender-based violence, including domestic violence, sexual assault, and efforts to empower survivors, raise awareness, and enact legal protections.

84. The digital divide: Access to technology and internet connectivity

Exploring the disparities in access to technology, digital skills, and internet connectivity, and initiatives to bridge the digital divide and promote digital literacy.

85. The impact of social media on youth: Peer pressure and mental health

Analyzing the influence of social media on adolescent behavior, mental well-being, body image perceptions, and strategies for promoting positive online habits.

86. Workplace diversity programs: Fostering inclusion and equity

Examining the effectiveness of workplace diversity initiatives, including diversity training, recruitment practices, and the promotion of inclusive work environments.

87. Child labor: Exploitation and human rights violations

Discussing the prevalence of child labor, its impact on education, health, and development, and efforts to eliminate child labor through legislation and advocacy.

88. The ethics of brain-computer interfaces: Enhancing cognition or privacy concerns

Investigating the ethical considerations of brain-computer interface technology, its potential applications in healthcare, communication, and the implications for privacy and autonomy.

89. Social inequality in healthcare: Addressing disparities in access and outcomes

Examining the socio-economic factors contributing to healthcare inequality, including insurance coverage, healthcare affordability, and the impact on health disparities.

90. The future of privacy in a surveillance society: Protecting personal data

Exploring the challenges of protecting privacy rights in a surveillance society, digital tracking, data breaches, and the need for privacy regulations.

91. The impact of climate change on vulnerable communities: Environmental justice and adaptation

Analyzing the disproportionate impact of climate change on marginalized communities, including low-income neighborhoods, indigenous populations, and strategies for climate resilience and adaptation.

92. Social media addiction: The risks of excessive screen time

Investigating the addictive nature of social media, its impact on mental health, relationships, and strategies for digital detox and healthy technology use.

93. Sustainable fashion: Ethical practices and environmental impact

Discussing the environmental and social implications of fast fashion, sustainable fashion brands, ethical sourcing, and the circular economy in the fashion industry.

94. Workplace harassment: Creating a culture of respect and accountability

Examining the prevalence of workplace harassment , including sexual harassment, bullying, and efforts to prevent workplace misconduct, promote reporting mechanisms, and support victims.

95. The impact of artificial intelligence on creative industries: Innovation or job displacement

Analyzing the role of AI in creative fields, including art, music, writing, and the potential impact on creative expression, copyright laws, and employment in the arts.

96. Cultural assimilation vs. cultural preservation: Identity and diversity

Exploring the tensions between assimilation and preservation of cultural identities, traditions, languages, and the impact of globalization on cultural diversity.

97. Youth activism: Empowering the next generation of changemakers

Investigating the rise of youth-led movements, social activism among young people, and the impact of youth activism on policy change, social justice, and civic engagement.

98. Smart cities: Urban innovation and sustainable development

Discussing the concept of smart cities, IoT technology, data-driven urban planning, and the potential of smart infrastructure to enhance efficiency, safety, and quality of life in urban areas.

99. Workplace automation: Redefining job roles and skills

Analyzing the impact of automation on the workforce, job displacement, upskilling opportunities, and the future of work in an increasingly automated economy.

1. Choosing a Provocative Topic

Select a topic that is relevant, timely, and sparks debate. Addressing current societal issues or challenging conventional beliefs can make your research paper stand out and generate interest.

2. Thorough Background Research

Before diving into writing, ensure you have a comprehensive understanding of the topic. Familiarize yourself with various perspectives, existing studies, and key arguments to strengthen the credibility of your paper.

3. Compelling Introduction

Hook your readers from the start with a captivating introduction. Clearly define the issue at hand, present the significance of your research, and pose thought-provoking questions to engage your audience.

4. Structured and Logical Organization

Divide your paper into clear sections such as introduction, literature review, methodology, results, discussion, and conclusion. This structure will guide the reader through your arguments and findings in a coherent manner.

5. Incorporating Diverse Viewpoints

Acknowledge different perspectives on the controversial topic and present a balanced analysis . Address counterarguments respectfully while reinforcing your own stance with strong evidence and logical reasoning.

6. Data-driven Analysis

Support your claims with reliable data, statistics, case studies, and scholarly references. Using empirical evidence will enhance the credibility of your research paper and validate your arguments.

7. Engaging Writing Style

Write in a clear, concise, and engaging manner. Avoid jargon and complex language that may alienate readers. Use illustrative examples, anecdotes, and relatable scenarios to make your paper more accessible and impactful.

8. Ethical Considerations

Ensure that your research is conducted ethically and respects the rights and dignity of all individuals involved. Address any potential biases or conflicts of interest transparently to maintain the integrity of your study.

9. Impactful Conclusion

End your paper with a compelling conclusion that summarizes key findings, emphasizes the significance of your research, and suggests potential implications for the field. Leave the reader with lingering thoughts and a call to action.

10. Peer Review and Revision

Seek feedback from peers, mentors, or professors to refine your research paper. Be open to constructive criticism and revise your work diligently to enhance clarity, coherence, and overall quality. By following these guidelines, you can effectively structure a controversial research paper that captures the reader's attention, stimulates critical thinking, and contributes meaningfully to the academic discourse.

• Research Paper Outline Template • Research Paper Introduction Example • Research Paper Conclusion Example • How Long Should A Research Paper Be • How To Quickly Write A Research Paper • Tips For Writing Research Papers • 7 Steps In Writing A Research Paper

In controversial research paper topics, the landscape is vast and ever-evolving. Scholars, students, and knowledge workers frequently find themselves engulfed in a deluge of information, struggling to sift through the abundance of data to extract meaningful insights. This dilemma is exacerbated by the proliferation of content creation, where anyone can contribute to the pool of knowledge with a mere click. Otio emerges as a beacon of light in this chaos, offering a streamlined solution to the pervasive issue of content overload. By providing a centralized AI-native workspace for researchers, Otio revolutionizes the way individuals engage with information. Let's delve into the key features of Otio that make it a game-changer in the realm of research and writing.

Collecting Diverse Data Sources

One of the primary challenges faced by researchers is the task of gathering information from a multitude of sources, ranging from traditional articles and books to tweets and YouTube videos. Otio simplifies this process by allowing users to collect data seamlessly from a wide array of sources. Whether it's a thought-provoking tweet or an in-depth research paper, Otio enables users to compile all relevant materials in one cohesive platform.

Extracting Key Takeaways with AI-generated Notes

Once the data is amassed, the next hurdle is distilling key insights from the wealth of information. Otio's AI-generated notes feature proves to be invaluable in this regard. By automatically generating detailed notes on bookmarks, PDFs, videos, and more, Otio empowers users to extract essential takeaways with ease. This not only saves time but also ensures that crucial information does not get lost in the sea of data.

Engaging in Source-grounded Q&A Chat

In the pursuit of knowledge, clarity is key. Otio enhances the research process by offering a unique source-grounded Q&A chat feature. This functionality enables users to engage in dynamic conversations about individual links or entire knowledge bases, fostering a collaborative and insightful research environment. Just like conversing with a knowledgeable peer, Otio's chat capabilities facilitate a deeper understanding of the material at hand.

Accelerating the Writing Process with AI Assistance

Crafting coherent and compelling research papers or essays is often a laborious task. Otio streamlines this process by providing AI-assisted writing functionalities. From generating draft outputs based on collected sources to refining the writing style, Otio acts as a supportive writing partner for researchers, helping them transition from a mere reading list to a polished first draft in record time.

Embracing the Future of Research and Writing with Otio

In a world inundated with information, Otio stands out as a beacon of efficiency and innovation. By amalgamating cutting-edge AI technologies with user-friendly features, Otio redefines the research and writing experience for knowledge workers, researchers, and students alike.  Embrace the future of research and writing—let Otio be your AI research and writing partner . Try Otio for free today and revolutionize your workflow.

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Educational resources and simple solutions for your research journey

Top 10 Challenges Faced by Researchers on the Path to Excellence

The pursuit of research excellence is not for the faint of heart; you have to overcome several challenges faced by researchers to map a path to excellence. From formulating research questions to gathering data, writing research papers, and getting them published, researchers grapple with complexities that demand their unwavering dedication and perseverance. By shedding light on the challenges faced by researchers , we aim to help academics navigating the path of knowledge and foster a deeper understanding of the challenges in conducting research .  

A career in scientific research can be highly rewarding and fulfilling for those who enjoy intellectual pursuits, value continuous learning, and want to make a positive impact on society. It offers exciting opportunities to unravel the mysteries of the world, push the boundaries of knowledge, and contribute to the collective understanding of humanity. However, one requires dedication, hard work, and perseverance to overcome the many research challenges you will encounter along the way.  

Table of Contents

Top 10 Challenges faced by researchers  

While each research journey is unique, the challenges faced by researchers share common threads that bind them together. By acknowledging and understanding these research challenges , academics can equip themselves with the knowledge and strategies needed to conduct research effectively.  

1. Slow and time-consuming processes

 The scientific process is often slow and iterative, and progress sometimes can only be measured in small increments over many months or years. Research takes time to execute, and oftentimes the results are uncertain. This can be frustrating for researchers who may have invested significant time, money, and effort into these projects. By being patient and persistent and inculcating a willingness to accept failure and setbacks, you can overcome this researcher challenge and make important contributions to your field.  

2. Difficulty in getting grants and funds

One of the biggest challenges faced by researchers is securing adequate funding for their work. Grants can be highly competitive, and the process of applying can be time-consuming and complex. To secure research funding for your project, you need to seek out a variety of funding sources, including government grants, private foundations, and industry partnerships, and learn what is needed to write a successful grant proposal . One of the most common research challenges is writing a clear, concise, convincing grant proposal that outlines the goals and significance of your research and why the funding agency should support your project.  

 3. Juggling activities to ensure better time management

Managing multiple projects and deadlines successfully is among the most common research challenges . Careful time management , prioritizing work, and setting realistic goals and deadlines are simple ways for researchers to manage their many responsibilities. Experts suggest using strategies like breaking larger projects into smaller tasks and scheduling regular breaks to avoid burnout, a very real challenges faced by researchers .  

4. Active networking and collaboration

Collaboration and networking is essential for research, but it can also be a big challenge faced by researchers . It can be difficult to build a network when you are just starting out, especially if you are unfamiliar with the language or uncomfortable with public speaking. It doesn’t get easier when it comes to collaborations, especially in interdisciplinary research projects. Researchers have different working styles or conflicting priorities, which can lead to tension and conflict when working with larger teams. To overcome this challenge in conducting research , scientists should set the right expectations from the start, establish clear communication channels, and be willing to work together to achieve shared goals.  

 5. Managing and evaluating huge amounts of information

Managing and analyzing large datasets can be a time-consuming and complex process. To overcome this research challenge , researchers should develop effective data management strategies, such as using cloud-based tools for storage and analysis and implementing best practices for data security and privacy. The collection, analysis and management of research data is critical to scientific study and career advancement, which makes it important to know how to develop an effective data management plan for researchers .   

 6. Successfully publishing in impactful journals

Publishing research in reputable journals is one of the biggest challenges faced by researchers globally. Researchers have to learn to navigate the peer-review process, respond to feedback, meet strict formatting and style guidelines, and develop strong academic writing and editing skills. Experts suggest seeking mentorship and guidance from senior researchers and overcoming this research challenge by using AI academic writing assistants like Paperpal, powered by Researcher Life, to ease the process.  

 7. Securing intellectual property

Intellectual property rights protect your research ideas and work from being used unfairly or incorrectly by others. However, protecting intellectual property can be a critical challenge faced by researchers , particularly those working in areas with high commercial potential. It’s important to know that different laws related to intellectual property rights can impact research collaboration across boundaries, so discuss this beforehand. One way to tackle this research challenge is to be aware of your rights and responsibilities regarding intellectual property and seek out legal advice and guidance as when required.  

 8. Understanding and following the nuances of academic and scientific ethics

Research ethics are among the top challenges faced by researchers . Plagiarism, falsification, fabrication, missing ethical declarations and non-compliance with standard ethical guidelines are considered inappropriate and can have serious consequences for researchers. Overcome this research challenge by following all ethical considerations in research ; this helps to maintain the high standards of science and research, ensure accountability, prioritize transparency, and ensure trust and integrity in your work.   

 9. Staying abreast of technological developments

Researchers must keep track of and use technology effectively, but the continually developing landscape can also be a source of frustration. Today, there are several online tools, software, and platforms to optimize your academic writing, research reading, science communication, and more. Oddly, the challenge faced by researchers here is keeping up with technology trends, finding AI tools that are tailored for academics, and effectively integrating them into their work.  

10. Balancing work and life

One of the biggest and most common challenges faced by researchers is balancing the demands of a research career with personal and family responsibilities. PhD students and researchers must learn how to achieve a healthy work-life balance , prioritize self-care, and set boundaries to avoid academic burnout. Seeking support from peers, friends, and family is a great way to manage the stress that comes with a career in scientific research. Effective time management, pursuing a hobby, and taking breaks are other ways to find ways to take care of your mental health as a researcher.   

Editage All Access is a subscription-based platform that unifies the best AI tools and services designed to speed up, simplify, and streamline every step of a researcher’s journey. The Editage All Access Pack is a one-of-a-kind subscription that unlocks full access to an AI writing assistant, literature recommender, journal finder, scientific illustration tool, and exclusive discounts on professional publication services from Editage.  

Based on 22+ years of experience in academia, Editage All Access empowers researchers to put their best research forward and move closer to success. Explore our top AI Tools pack, AI Tools + Publication Services pack, or Build Your Own Plan. Find everything a researcher needs to succeed, all in one place –  Get All Access now starting at just $14 a month !    

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Purdue Online Writing Lab Purdue OWL® College of Liberal Arts

Writing a Research Paper

Welcome to the Purdue OWL

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The Research Paper

There will come a time in most students' careers when they are assigned a research paper. Such an assignment often creates a great deal of unneeded anxiety in the student, which may result in procrastination and a feeling of confusion and inadequacy. This anxiety frequently stems from the fact that many students are unfamiliar and inexperienced with this genre of writing. Never fear—inexperience and unfamiliarity are situations you can change through practice! Writing a research paper is an essential aspect of academics and should not be avoided on account of one's anxiety. In fact, the process of writing a research paper can be one of the more rewarding experiences one may encounter in academics. What is more, many students will continue to do research throughout their careers, which is one of the reasons this topic is so important.

Becoming an experienced researcher and writer in any field or discipline takes a great deal of practice. There are few individuals for whom this process comes naturally. Remember, even the most seasoned academic veterans have had to learn how to write a research paper at some point in their career. Therefore, with diligence, organization, practice, a willingness to learn (and to make mistakes!), and, perhaps most important of all, patience, students will find that they can achieve great things through their research and writing.

The pages in this section cover the following topic areas related to the process of writing a research paper:

• Genre - This section will provide an overview for understanding the difference between an analytical and argumentative research paper.
• Choosing a Topic - This section will guide the student through the process of choosing topics, whether the topic be one that is assigned or one that the student chooses themselves.
• Identifying an Audience - This section will help the student understand the often times confusing topic of audience by offering some basic guidelines for the process.
• Where Do I Begin - This section concludes the handout by offering several links to resources at Purdue, and also provides an overview of the final stages of writing a research paper.

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113 Great Research Paper Topics

General Education

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

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

What Makes a Good Research Paper Topic?

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

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

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

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

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

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

#3: It Fits Your Teacher's Guidelines

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

113 Good Research Paper Topics

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

Arts/Culture

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

Current Events

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

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

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

Science/Environment

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

How to Write a Great Research Paper

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

#1: Figure Out Your Thesis Early

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

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

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

#2: Back Every Statement Up With Research

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

#3: Do Your Research Before You Begin Writing

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

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

What's Next?

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These recommendations are based solely on our knowledge and experience. If you purchase an item through one of our links, PrepScholar may receive a commission.

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• Affirmative Action
• Affordable Care Act
• Alternative medicine
• America's global influence
• Artificial intelligence
• Assisted suicide
• Bilingual education
• Black Lives Matter
• Border security
• Capital punishment
• Charter schools
• Childhood obesity
• Civil rights
• Climate change
• Concussions in football
• COVID restrictions
• Cryptocurrency
• Cyber bullying
• Cybersecurity
• Drug legalization
• Early voting
• Eating disorders
• Equal Rights Amendment
• Executive order
• Factory farming
• Foreign aid
• Freedom of speech
• General Data Protection Regulation
• Genetic engineering
• Gerrymandering
• Green New Deal
• Hate speech
• Health insurance
• Human trafficking
• Immigration
• Israel-Palestine relations
• Judicial activism
• Labor unions
• Land acknowledgments
• #MeToo movement
• Minimum wage
• Misinformation
• Net neutrality
• Nuclear energy
• Offshore drilling
• Online anonymity
• Organic food
• Outsourcing
• Police reform
• Political activism
• Prescription drug addiction
• Racial profiling
• Reparations
• Russian hacking
• Sanctuary city
• Screen addiction
• Self-driving cars
• Sex education
• Smart speakers
• Social Security reform
• Standardized testing
• Stimulus packages
• Supreme Court confirmation
• Syrian civil war
• Title IX enforcement
• Trade tariffs
• Transgender rights
• Ukraine and Russia
• Urban agriculture
• Vaccination mandates
• Violence in the media
• Voter ID laws
• Voting fraud and security
• White nationalism
• Women's rights
• Zero tolerance policies

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• As Ozempic’s Popularity Soars, Here’s What to Know About Semaglutide and Weight Loss JAMA Medical News & Perspectives May 16, 2023 This Medical News article discusses chronic weight management with semaglutide, sold under the brand names Ozempic and Wegovy. Melissa Suran, PhD, MSJ
• Patents and Regulatory Exclusivities on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists JAMA Special Communication August 15, 2023 This Special Communication used data from the US Food and Drug Administration to analyze how manufacturers of brand-name glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) receptor agonists have used patent and regulatory systems to extend periods of market exclusivity. Rasha Alhiary, PharmD; Aaron S. Kesselheim, MD, JD, MPH; Sarah Gabriele, LLM, MBE; Reed F. Beall, PhD; S. Sean Tu, JD, PhD; William B. Feldman, MD, DPhil, MPH
• What to Know About Wegovy’s Rare but Serious Adverse Effects JAMA Medical News & Perspectives December 12, 2023 This Medical News article discusses Wegovy, Ozempic, and other GLP-1 receptor agonists used for weight management and type 2 diabetes. Kate Ruder, MSJ
• GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Gastrointestinal Adverse Events—Reply JAMA Comment & Response March 12, 2024 Ramin Rezaeianzadeh, BSc; Mohit Sodhi, MSc; Mahyar Etminan, PharmD, MSc
• GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Gastrointestinal Adverse Events JAMA Comment & Response March 12, 2024 Karine Suissa, PhD; Sara J. Cromer, MD; Elisabetta Patorno, MD, DrPH
• GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Risk of Postoperative Complications JAMA Research Letter May 21, 2024 This cohort study evaluates the risk of postoperative respiratory complications among patients with diabetes undergoing surgery who had vs those who had not a prescription fill for glucagon-like peptide 1 receptor agonists. Anjali A. Dixit, MD, MPH; Brian T. Bateman, MD, MS; Mary T. Hawn, MD, MPH; Michelle C. Odden, PhD; Eric C. Sun, MD, PhD
• Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Risk of Gallbladder and Biliary Diseases JAMA Internal Medicine Original Investigation May 1, 2022 This systematic review and meta-analysis of 76 randomized clinical trials examines the effects of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonist use on the risk of gallbladder and biliary diseases. Liyun He, MM; Jialu Wang, MM; Fan Ping, MD; Na Yang, MM; Jingyue Huang, MM; Yuxiu Li, MD; Lingling Xu, MD; Wei Li, MD; Huabing Zhang, MD
• Cholecystitis Associated With the Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists JAMA Internal Medicine Research Letter October 1, 2022 This case series identifies cases reported in the US Food and Drug Administration Adverse Event Reporting System of acute cholecystitis associated with use of glucagon-like peptide-1 receptor agonists that did not have gallbladder disease warnings in their labeling. Daniel Woronow, MD; Christine Chamberlain, PharmD; Ali Niak, MD; Mark Avigan, MDCM; Monika Houstoun, PharmD, MPH; Cindy Kortepeter, PharmD

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Sodhi M , Rezaeianzadeh R , Kezouh A , Etminan M. Risk of Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Associated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss. JAMA. 2023;330(18):1795–1797. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.19574

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Risk of Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Associated With Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists for Weight Loss

• 1 Faculty of Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada
• 2 StatExpert Ltd, Laval, Quebec, Canada
• 3 Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Medicine, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, Canada
• Medical News & Perspectives As Ozempic’s Popularity Soars, Here’s What to Know About Semaglutide and Weight Loss Melissa Suran, PhD, MSJ JAMA
• Special Communication Patents and Regulatory Exclusivities on GLP-1 Receptor Agonists Rasha Alhiary, PharmD; Aaron S. Kesselheim, MD, JD, MPH; Sarah Gabriele, LLM, MBE; Reed F. Beall, PhD; S. Sean Tu, JD, PhD; William B. Feldman, MD, DPhil, MPH JAMA
• Medical News & Perspectives What to Know About Wegovy’s Rare but Serious Adverse Effects Kate Ruder, MSJ JAMA
• Comment & Response GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Gastrointestinal Adverse Events—Reply Ramin Rezaeianzadeh, BSc; Mohit Sodhi, MSc; Mahyar Etminan, PharmD, MSc JAMA
• Comment & Response GLP-1 Receptor Agonists and Gastrointestinal Adverse Events Karine Suissa, PhD; Sara J. Cromer, MD; Elisabetta Patorno, MD, DrPH JAMA
• Research Letter GLP-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Risk of Postoperative Complications Anjali A. Dixit, MD, MPH; Brian T. Bateman, MD, MS; Mary T. Hawn, MD, MPH; Michelle C. Odden, PhD; Eric C. Sun, MD, PhD JAMA
• Original Investigation Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonist Use and Risk of Gallbladder and Biliary Diseases Liyun He, MM; Jialu Wang, MM; Fan Ping, MD; Na Yang, MM; Jingyue Huang, MM; Yuxiu Li, MD; Lingling Xu, MD; Wei Li, MD; Huabing Zhang, MD JAMA Internal Medicine
• Research Letter Cholecystitis Associated With the Use of Glucagon-Like Peptide-1 Receptor Agonists Daniel Woronow, MD; Christine Chamberlain, PharmD; Ali Niak, MD; Mark Avigan, MDCM; Monika Houstoun, PharmD, MPH; Cindy Kortepeter, PharmD JAMA Internal Medicine

Glucagon-like peptide 1 (GLP-1) agonists are medications approved for treatment of diabetes that recently have also been used off label for weight loss. 1 Studies have found increased risks of gastrointestinal adverse events (biliary disease, 2 pancreatitis, 3 bowel obstruction, 4 and gastroparesis 5 ) in patients with diabetes. 2 - 5 Because such patients have higher baseline risk for gastrointestinal adverse events, risk in patients taking these drugs for other indications may differ. Randomized trials examining efficacy of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss were not designed to capture these events 2 due to small sample sizes and short follow-up. We examined gastrointestinal adverse events associated with GLP-1 agonists used for weight loss in a clinical setting.

We used a random sample of 16 million patients (2006-2020) from the PharMetrics Plus for Academics database (IQVIA), a large health claims database that captures 93% of all outpatient prescriptions and physician diagnoses in the US through the International Classification of Diseases, Ninth Revision (ICD-9) or ICD-10. In our cohort study, we included new users of semaglutide or liraglutide, 2 main GLP-1 agonists, and the active comparator bupropion-naltrexone, a weight loss agent unrelated to GLP-1 agonists. Because semaglutide was marketed for weight loss after the study period (2021), we ensured all GLP-1 agonist and bupropion-naltrexone users had an obesity code in the 90 days prior or up to 30 days after cohort entry, excluding those with a diabetes or antidiabetic drug code.

Patients were observed from first prescription of a study drug to first mutually exclusive incidence (defined as first ICD-9 or ICD-10 code) of biliary disease (including cholecystitis, cholelithiasis, and choledocholithiasis), pancreatitis (including gallstone pancreatitis), bowel obstruction, or gastroparesis (defined as use of a code or a promotility agent). They were followed up to the end of the study period (June 2020) or censored during a switch. Hazard ratios (HRs) from a Cox model were adjusted for age, sex, alcohol use, smoking, hyperlipidemia, abdominal surgery in the previous 30 days, and geographic location, which were identified as common cause variables or risk factors. 6 Two sensitivity analyses were undertaken, one excluding hyperlipidemia (because more semaglutide users had hyperlipidemia) and another including patients without diabetes regardless of having an obesity code. Due to absence of data on body mass index (BMI), the E-value was used to examine how strong unmeasured confounding would need to be to negate observed results, with E-value HRs of at least 2 indicating BMI is unlikely to change study results. Statistical significance was defined as 2-sided 95% CI that did not cross 1. Analyses were performed using SAS version 9.4. Ethics approval was obtained by the University of British Columbia’s clinical research ethics board with a waiver of informed consent.

Our cohort included 4144 liraglutide, 613 semaglutide, and 654 bupropion-naltrexone users. Incidence rates for the 4 outcomes were elevated among GLP-1 agonists compared with bupropion-naltrexone users ( Table 1 ). For example, incidence of biliary disease (per 1000 person-years) was 11.7 for semaglutide, 18.6 for liraglutide, and 12.6 for bupropion-naltrexone and 4.6, 7.9, and 1.0, respectively, for pancreatitis.

Use of GLP-1 agonists compared with bupropion-naltrexone was associated with increased risk of pancreatitis (adjusted HR, 9.09 [95% CI, 1.25-66.00]), bowel obstruction (HR, 4.22 [95% CI, 1.02-17.40]), and gastroparesis (HR, 3.67 [95% CI, 1.15-11.90) but not biliary disease (HR, 1.50 [95% CI, 0.89-2.53]). Exclusion of hyperlipidemia from the analysis did not change the results ( Table 2 ). Inclusion of GLP-1 agonists regardless of history of obesity reduced HRs and narrowed CIs but did not change the significance of the results ( Table 2 ). E-value HRs did not suggest potential confounding by BMI.

This study found that use of GLP-1 agonists for weight loss compared with use of bupropion-naltrexone was associated with increased risk of pancreatitis, gastroparesis, and bowel obstruction but not biliary disease.

Given the wide use of these drugs, these adverse events, although rare, must be considered by patients who are contemplating using the drugs for weight loss because the risk-benefit calculus for this group might differ from that of those who use them for diabetes. Limitations include that although all GLP-1 agonist users had a record for obesity without diabetes, whether GLP-1 agonists were all used for weight loss is uncertain.

Accepted for Publication: September 11, 2023.

Published Online: October 5, 2023. doi:10.1001/jama.2023.19574

Correction: This article was corrected on December 21, 2023, to update the full name of the database used.

Corresponding Author: Mahyar Etminan, PharmD, MSc, Faculty of Medicine, Departments of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences and Medicine, The Eye Care Center, University of British Columbia, 2550 Willow St, Room 323, Vancouver, BC V5Z 3N9, Canada ( [email protected] ).

Author Contributions: Dr Etminan had full access to all of the data in the study and takes responsibility for the integrity of the data and the accuracy of the data analysis.

Concept and design: Sodhi, Rezaeianzadeh, Etminan.

Acquisition, analysis, or interpretation of data: All authors.

Drafting of the manuscript: Sodhi, Rezaeianzadeh, Etminan.

Critical review of the manuscript for important intellectual content: All authors.

Statistical analysis: Kezouh.

Obtained funding: Etminan.

Administrative, technical, or material support: Sodhi.

Supervision: Etminan.

Conflict of Interest Disclosures: None reported.

Funding/Support: This study was funded by internal research funds from the Department of Ophthalmology and Visual Sciences, University of British Columbia.

Role of the Funder/Sponsor: The funder had no role in the design and conduct of the study; collection, management, analysis, and interpretation of the data; preparation, review, or approval of the manuscript; and decision to submit the manuscript for publication.

Data Sharing Statement: See Supplement .

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Microinsurance research: status quo and future research directions

• Published: 19 August 2024
• Volume 49 , pages 417–420, ( 2024 )

Cite this article

• Martin Eling 1 &

Avoid common mistakes on your manuscript.

Eighteen years have passed since Muhammad Yunus was honoured with the Nobel Prize, sparking significant interest in the microfinance and microinsurance sectors. Presently, the economic and social significance of microinsurance, along with its challenges, are acknowledged every day in news outlets and political debates. Over the past decade, the microinsurance sector has seen remarkable growth, particularly in Asian countries, with significant emphasis on serving the low-income population facing life, health and agricultural risks. This expansion is complemented by the development of inclusive insurance programmes, which extend coverage to encompass the burgeoning middle class. These initiatives, ranging from rural schemes to more organised, national programmes with government assistance, play a crucial role in providing vital financial protection to diverse segments of society.

Even as microinsurance gains in importance for both business and society, research in this area is still scarce. Despite some publications, there remains a critical gap in understanding its theoretical benefits, drawbacks, practical effectiveness and the extent of regulation it requires. With this special issue, The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance—Issues and Practice continues its tradition of publishing special issues on emerging insurance topics. The journal has a history of dedicating issues to microinsurance (volume 39 (2) in 2014, volume 41 (2) in 2016, volume 44 (3) in 2019 and volume 46 (3) in 2021). As illustrated in Fig.  1 , research on microinsurance has surged over the past two decades, and it is now established as a distinct research domain. The first 10 years saw research output increase by tenfold, from around 100 to over 1000 publications annually. Subsequently, the field has stabilised, with approximately 1500 publications each year. Web of Science peaks in microinsurance publications in 2016 and 2019 coincide with the years this journal released special issues on the subject, highlighting the significant impact these editions have had on scholarly research in the field.

Hits by year for search term microinsurance (as of 4 March 2024)

The journal has published several well-cited articles on the challenges for commercial insurers providing coverage for the low-income market (Churchill 2007 ), the determinants of microinsurance demand (Eling et al. 2014 ) and the barriers to microinsurance adoption (Cole 2015 ). Yet, most articles dealt with narrower (often unique) settings, emphasising the complexity of the topic. Research on microinsurance demonstrates the fundamental problems and need for basic solutions (e.g. obtaining data, data quality, asymmetric information, potential correlations, ‘public good’ character of products, group vs. individual choice, short-term vs. long-term welfare gains, (unexpected) impact of regulation, return on investment, crowd out by public programmes). These special issues of The Geneva Papers therefore serve the industry well by informing on current thinking in the microinsurance space.

This year’s special issue on microinsurance includes three articles selected from nine submissions. The authors have used a range of methodologies from empirical analysis based on surveys to aggregated data. One article also includes a conceptual framework based on Outreville’s insurance demand framework. Two of the three articles deal with the African environment in Ghana, and the other with Turkey. As for the risk categories, one article discusses microinsurance in general (life and non-life), one paper focus on life/health and the other on agricultural risks. We also note that two of the three articles analyse the demand side, and one considers more supply-side frictions.

The first paper, Microinsurance in Ghana: Investigating the impact of Outreville's four-factor framework and firm and product characteristics on adoption , delves into the determinants of microinsurance adoption in Ghana, analysing data from households across six market centres and three regions, alongside data from 14 microinsurance firms and 47 products between 2017 and 2021. The study employs robust probit fixed effects and panel-corrected standard error models, highlighting that income levels, trust in financial institutions, participation in community risk management groups and the national health insurance scheme significantly affect microinsurance adoption. It also notes the influence of firm- and product-specific factors, such as affordability, claims risk, premiums and benefits, alongside the importance of structural, social and economic factors. This comprehensive analysis employs Outreville's four-factor insurance demand framework to categorise the critical factors influencing microinsurance uptake, offering valuable insights for policymakers and practitioners aiming to enhance microinsurance adoption in Ghana.

The second paper, Actuarial premium calculation for beekeeping insurance in Türkiye , explores the modelling of aggregate claims based on hive insurance policy data from 2014 to 2021. Using a collective risk model, the study conducts premium calculations for different geographical regions of Türkiye, identifying Eastern Anatolia as the region with the highest premiums and Central Anatolia the lowest. The research includes cluster analysis to categorise provinces based on claims ratios, revealing significant variations in premium rates. This detailed actuarial analysis aims to provide a foundation for fair and effective premium setting in Türkiye's beekeeping insurance sector, addressing the unique risks and challenges of the industry.

Finally, the third paper, The effect of microinsurance on the financial resilience of low-income households in Ghana: evidence from a propensity score matching analysis , examines how microinsurance enhances the financial resilience of low-income households in Ghana. The study utilises data from households across three regions and employs propensity score matching, tobit and probit instrumental variable techniques. It finds that microinsurance adoption significantly improves financial resilience by increasing income and reducing reliance on precautionary savings. This offers a critical safety net against economic shocks, advocating for the implementation of microinsurance programmes to support financial stability among Ghana’s poor.

One intention of this special issue is to stimulate future research on microinsurance in addition to publishing interesting articles. Indeed, the articles presented in this special issue open several avenues for future research. Firstly, understanding the mechanisms through which microinsurance can further enhance financial resilience in low-income communities, particularly by examining the role of digital technologies and mobile banking in increasing accessibility and reducing costs. This entails a deeper analysis of behavioural factors influencing microinsurance uptake and the impact of financial literacy programmes in the context of social networks. Secondly, there is promising scope for exploring the scalability of beekeeping insurance models to other agricultural sectors, potentially integrating climate risk assessment to develop more comprehensive insurance products. These areas not only offer the potential for significant academic contributions but also hold practical implications for policymakers and practitioners aiming to improve insurance penetration and financial inclusion in developing economies.

In considering this special issue, it is striking that all contributions are empirical and that there is no established theoretical framework to analyse microinsurance. Obviously, one might ask whether a separate theoretical framework for microinsurance is needed or whether microinsurance is just another type of insurance that should be analysed using classical models. The above discussion, however, illustrates the special nature and complex features of microinsurance (e.g. asymmetric information, potential correlations, ‘public good’ character) so that distinct papers that analyse microinsurance from a theoretical point of view might be useful, maybe also with reference to other comparable types of risk.

In addition, considering the growing scale of inclusive insurance, and the overlap of its target population with microinsurance, it is of interest to explore the possibility of partnering the two types of products in certain areas of practice, to learn from the experience of inclusive insurance and to combine forces in the field of financial inclusion.

We feel privileged to be able to benefit from the research of the contributing authors. We hope you will enjoy reading their articles as much as we have enjoyed editing this special issue of The Geneva Papers on Risk and Insurance—Issues and Practice .

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Eling, M., Yao, Y. Microinsurance research: status quo and future research directions. Geneva Pap Risk Insur Issues Pract 49 , 417–420 (2024). https://doi.org/10.1057/s41288-024-00328-x

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Issue Date : July 2024

DOI : https://doi.org/10.1057/s41288-024-00328-x

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Researchers develop index to quantify circular bioeconomy

As the world faces the challenges of mitigating climate change and providing resources for a growing population, there is increasing focus on developing circular economies for sustainable production. But to evaluate strategies and impacts, it is necessary to have reliable metrics. Researchers at the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign have developed a Circularity Index that provides a comprehensive method to quantify circularity in bioeconomic systems. In a new paper, they outline the method and apply it to two case studies -- a corn/soybean farming operation and the entire U.S. food and agriculture system.

"The traditional economic system is linear -- we produce, distribute, use, and dispose of products. To increase sustainability, we need to develop a circular economy. Rather than just using natural resources, we must recover, reuse, and recycle waste materials," said lead author Yuanhui Zhang, a professor in the Department of Agricultural and Biological Engineering (ABE), part of the College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences and The Grainger College of Engineering at the U. of I.

"Circular bioeconomy has become a hot topic in research, but most studies are merely descriptive and there's no way to measure impacts. To move the technology forward, we need measurements to quantify effects, establish benchmarks, compare approaches, and identify weak spots," he said.

In the paper, the researchers provide a step-by-step outline of the Circularity Index (CI), which measures circularity on a scale from 0 to 1. Zero means the system is completely linear, and 1 means it is completely circular. The index includes eight categories: take, make, distribute, use, dispose, recover, remake, and reuse. The CI is computed by entering available data into each of these categories.

Zhang and his colleagues demonstrate how to use the CI in two case studies. The first examines nitrogen cycling in a corn-soybean farm in the Midwestern United States. The researchers enter production and output data for a period of 8 years, and compare the effect of two different fertilizer treatments: urea versus manure. They calculate the CI to be 0.687 for urea and 0.86 for manure, indicating the use of manure fertilizer provides a more circular economy.

In the second case study, Zhang and his colleagues look at the U.S. food and agriculture system, focusing on energy use. Drawing on national data from the USDA, EPA, and DOE, they compare the current system with an approach based on the Environment-Enhancing Food Energy and Water System framework, which involves recovery, remake, and reuse of organic waste. They find the existing system has a CI of 0.179, while the EE-FEWS approach would lead to a CI of 0.84.

"Our current production system relies primarily on fossil fuel, with some use of solar and wind energy. But there is very little recovery of biowaste. If we recover food waste and manure and turn it into energy and fertilizer, we can recycle it back to the agricultural systems it originates from. Employing the EE-FEWS framework would greatly improve circularity of the U.S. bioeconomy," Zhang explained.

The CI is a scalable method that can be used on different resource types and systems, depending on the focus of interest. Resources can be minerals, such as carbon or nitrogen, or non-mineral, such as water or energy. Systems can range from a process or a farm to an industry sector, a national economy, or even the global economy.

"We know it's important to reduce fossil fuel use, increase renewable resources, and minimize our water consumption. But to do so effectively, we need to know how much, and what the weak links and tradeoffs are. The CI provides a single number that allows you to establish a baseline, compare systems, and determine best strategies for action," Zhang said.

The CI can serve as an indicator to support policy initiatives such as the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. It also has potential commercial value; for example, food companies can demonstrate their production circularity to consumers.

• Agriculture and Food
• Food and Agriculture
• Energy and the Environment
• Sustainability
• Renewable Energy
• Energy Issues
• World Development
• Environmental Policies
• Water resources
• Sustainable land management
• Sustainable agriculture
• Shifting cultivation
• Temperature record of the past 1000 years
• Agriculture
• Consensus of scientists regarding global warming

Story Source:

Materials provided by University of Illinois College of Agricultural, Consumer and Environmental Sciences . Original written by Marianne Stein. Note: Content may be edited for style and length.

Journal Reference :

• Yuanhui Zhang, Sabrina Summers, James W. Jones, John F. Reid. A scalable index for quantifying circularity of bioeconomy systems . Resources, Conservation and Recycling , 2024; 210: 107821 DOI: 10.1016/j.resconrec.2024.107821

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300 Social Issues Research Topics to Impress Your Professor and Get A

Researching social issues holds immense importance in our quest for knowledge and progress. It allows us to delve deeper into the complexities of society, unraveling the underlying causes, impacts, and potential solutions. However, the significance of a good research topic must be considered, which sets the stage for a high-scoring and impactful research endeavor. If you have difficulty finding a good social issue research topic, check out these lists from the experts working with a professional  paper writing services  provider.

Table of Contents

Comprehensive list of Unique Social Issue Research Topics

Scroll down and go through our list of unique topics and pick one that sparks your interest. Here you go with the first one: 

Women’s Social Issues Research Topics 

It’s crucial to look into the various aspects of women’s social issues if we want to get a better understanding of gender inequality. Here are some ideas to help you dig deeper into this topic.

• Prejudice against women in corporate culture
• Problems of pregnant women working in the corporate
• Harassment in educational institutes against women
• What strategies can governments adopt to ensure equal rights for women?
• Raising awareness of the problems of pregnant women
• How to develop a respectful attitude towards women and gender minorities in companies?
• Ill-treatment of women in the government sector
• Writing on essay topics related to problems with Syrian female immigrants
• The Role of Women in economic life and the World of Work
• Women’s political and electoral training
• Women in old homes: Research and Interviews for Problems and Concerns
• Toxic Masculinity in the Workplace: what can women do?
• Developing a workplace culture for fair treatment of every gender
• Role of Government in solving problems related to Women
• The economy of the United States: Income inequality in the U.S.
• Building a world where women have equal opportunities and fair treatment
• Essay Topics Related to Problems of Women in New York
• Financial problems for single mothers
• Women dealing with social issues in New Mexico
• Condition of Mexican immigrant women in the United States
• Women’s health: Key performance indicators, problems and obstacles
• Securing Women’s Rights with the Help of international law
• Education of women: The rights and responsibilities
• Better living conditions for older women
• A research study of the problems of pregnant women in California
• Health and welfare of older people, especially women
• Improving the quality of life for single mothers with better opportunities

Children’s Social Issues Research Topics 

It’s important to tackle the social issues that affect kids to create a better, more nurturing future for the next generation. Here are some interesting topics on this subject to get started with  writing your research paper . 

• School Bullying and social networks
• Problems and issues with children with a single parent
• A research study on the problems of children in foster homes
• How can we make foster care better and safer for children?
• Delinquency trends in children among marginalized communities
• modernity and technology at the cost of the destruction of childhood
• Issues that children from Mexican households in America have to face
• What are the advantages of multiculturalism in kindergarten?
• Problems of Assault and Molestation of Children
• Why Are Young People Committing Crimes These Days?
• Cyberbullying and Toxicity on social media
• Violence among children and young people
• Rehabilitation of juvenile offenders and improving their lives
• Illness and disability among kids living in developing countries
• The lack of tolerance among the teenagers
• Child labor in developing countries
• Psychology of kindergarten education
• School is a chance for every kid to learn tolerance and harmony
• Children facing with lack of empathy and bullying on social media
• The use of new technologies in education and adaptability in children
• Problems of immigrant children
• Child development and behavior

Social Issues Research Topics About Labor Rights

It’s essential to look into the social issues surrounding workers’ rights and fight for their well-being. Labor rights are the foundation of having fair and decent working conditions. Here are some topics if you want to research such subjects.

• The legal responsibility of entrepreneurs
• Workplace accident management
• Increased flexibility via remote working options
• Mental health problems caused by workers after the COVID pandemic
• The principle of equality today is related to labor rights
• Change wages or salaries
• Labor problems caused by the Covid pandemic
• Employees having to deal with additional work pressures
• Role of labor unions in social justice for Laborers
• Mental health problems in the Workplace
• What can we do to offer ideas for improvements in labor laws
• The desire to maintain a healthy work-life balance
• Hate speech and domestic violence against marginalized groups in large companies
• Academic paper for immigration disruptions in Canada and USA
• The employer’s right to manage employees and the abuse of it
• Role of human resources in identifying and solving problems of labor
• The job of the government and schools is to offer their members better career prospects
• Problems and issues related to a minimum period of employment
• The technology skills gap leads to problems with the laborers
• Improving the well-being of the company for its members
• Change wages or salaries impact and consequences
• How the global pandemic and Working from home changed the World
• Recruiting methods from passive to active: how to prepare
• Global labor shortages: problems and consequences
• What are the reasons for the labor shortage?
• Writing assignment about laborers dealing with the effects of long Covid
• Why is it essential for companies to take a public stand for social issues
• Mental health problems for workers in the field
• Relevant examples of social issues related to labor and employment
• How to empower workers against social injustice?

Social Issues Research Topics for the Environment

It’s important to dig into how social issues and the environment are connected when we’re trying to handle big problems like climate change, running out of resources, etc. Here are some  research topics  to think about.

• Health risks associated with the general environment and their perception and representation
• Climate change knowledge and expertise on health risks
• Health inequalities resulting from environmental and social factors
• What Role can environmental law play in protecting the environment at sea?
• Deforestation and chronic pollution are destroying biodiversity
• Importance of green energy conversion
• The Law of the Environment and sustainable development
• The Management of Pollution in Environmental Law
• Toward a better understanding of atmospheric pollution
• Utilizing environmental technologies and learning about them
• Waste and material resources of the World
• The destruction of ozone affects the environment and health
• Nature’s resources are being destroyed. What can we do as researchers to prevent this?
• Is it still imperative to preserve the environment during wartime?
• Combating armed conflict while preserving the environment
• The tourism industry and pollution management
• Environmental factors that affect cancer risk
• Cost-benefit analysis of the action based on legal or socioeconomic criteria
• Analyzing how different environmental factors contribute to the risk
• Investigating a variety of environmental issues and sectors
• Regions and specific areas of environmental perception
• The effects of climate change and global warming
• Factors contributing to a healthy environment
• The relationship between human rights and environmental law
• In environmental law, pollution management is a constant
• Worldwide implementation of sustainable development
• How consumption trends and international news can help the environmental cause

Social Issues Research Topics Related to Covid Pandemic

The Covid-19 pandemic has changed how we live and has spotlighted all kinds of social issues that need to be looked into and solved. So, if you would like to research social issues related to the recent pandemic, check out this list for current social issues for research paper:

• Social panic caused after the COVID-19 breakdown
• Problems and social issues caused by the COVID-19 pandemic
• COVID-19 and financial problems on the rise
• Impact of COVID-19 on the people with middle class
• Police Procedure and criminal justice during the COVID-19
• The aftermath of COVID-19 has resulted in a social dilemma and economic disruption
• An influential aspect of the pandemic is mental health
• The Impact of social and territorial inequalities on health
• The ethical issues raised by the pandemic
• Writing research papers on social media’s Role during COVID-19
• Children and adolescents’ mental condition during the pandemic
• Problems in healthcare and Management of chronic diseases
• Disruption in modern society by the COVID-19
• How our social media accounts helped us during the darkest hours of covid
• Ensuring the delivery of criminal justice during covid
• Impact of COVID-19 on family life
• Role of the Pandemic in the Promotion of remote education
• Avoiding social media addiction during the quarantine

Social Issue Topics Related to American Society

Checking out the social problems in the U.S. gives us a great understanding of how complicated, varied and hard they can be for people and different communities. Here is another list of topics on social issues. 

• Environment perception in specific areas and regions
• Climate change and global warming effects
• The factors that contribute to a healthy environment
• Cancer risk factors in the environment
• Workplace toxic masculinity: what can women do?
• The global labor shortage: problems and consequences
• Why does the U.S. have a shortage of labor?
• Workers dealing with the effects of Covid
• Problems related to mental issues among field workers
• Law and human rights concerning the environment
• Management of pollution is a constant concern in environmental law
• Impacts and consequences of changes in wages or salaries
• How to prepare for passive to active recruitment
• The problem of child labor in developing countries
• Kindergarten Education and Psychology
• Tolerance and harmony can be learned in school by every child
• Lack of empathy and bullying on social media among children
• Technology in Education and Children’s Adaptability
• Legal or socioeconomic cost-benefit analysis of the action
• A major social issue in the modern age is poverty
• Government’s Role in solving social problems
• Sustainable Development of the World
• Trafficking in drugs and Mexican cartels
• A culture of fair treatment for all genders in the Workplace
• Nature’s resources are being depleted.
• Management of pollution in the tourism industry
• How can we use social media to improve society and resolve social problems?
• A lack of respect for marginalized communities in the professional environment can be seen in several ways.
• Understanding social issues and the problems associated with them
• Materials and waste from around the World and the Impact they have on the environment
• The depletion of ozone is detrimental to the environment and human health
• Insights into the political and electoral training of women
• Taking a closer look at Women’s Problems and Concerns in old homes: Research and Interviews
• Issues and problems related to the minimum period of employment and the minimum wage
• The technological skills gap is causing labor shortages shortly
• Enhancing the well-being of the members of the company as a whole

Interesting Social Injustice Topics for College Students

As college students, exploring and engaging with interesting social issues topics expands our intellectual horizons and empowers us to become agents of change in our communities and beyond. Particularly when you include social problems examples. Here is another list of interesting topics.

• Developing better relationships with public institutions to solve problems
• The Role of social work in the Management of health problems
• Corporations discriminate against marginalized communities in the U.S.
• Sociology of the popular classes
• The reasons for the low human development index in African countries
• Social issues caused by class differences
• Drugs and anarchist behaviors
• Religious Differences and biased approaches to employment strategies
• Mexican cartels and the problem of drug trafficking
• Poverty is one of the most significant social issues in the Modern World
• Role of the Government in solving social issues
• How can we use social media to improve society and solve social issues?
• Prejudice against marginalized communities in the professional environment
• Understanding the problems related to social issues
• Role of problem-solving and understanding the root cause of social issues
• Major social issues in developing countries
• Role of Education in ending violence in Society
• Class Differences and the Impact on the human development index
• Differences in health facilities for different classes
• Social Norms and the Role of the Community
• Causes and solutions to human trafficking on the Mexican borders
• Human development index in India
• How to solve the poverty problem?
• What is the problem of social media bullying, and how to avoid it?
• How does financial illiteracy lead to a lack of development in developing countries?
• Impact of Terrorism on Society
• How to solve the terrorism problem?
• Mafia problems in the USA and how to deal with them
• Biased treatment of marginalized communities in the government sector
• The increasing problem of drug addiction
• Ethics and Artificial Intelligence: Emerging social issues
• Role of social media in increasing social issues

Police and Social Justice Research Papers Topics

Let’s unveil a curated collection of current social issues for a research paper. Here’s the list:

• Children’s safety and protection: The security job is of the utmost importance
• School bullying is a serious issue that needs to be addressed
• A few heartrending social issues examples 
• Using the Internet to disseminate terrorist content: a serious issue related to Cybersecurity
• Digital Platform Security Certification – A Guide to Cybersecurity Certifications
• The protection of minors in alcohol-serving establishments
• Concerns regarding cyber security in the United States
• An analysis of the spatial pattern of terrorism in the USA over the past two decades
• New York crime analysis, a look at the crime situation in the City
• Security technologies face several obstacles when it comes to their implementation
• Having the versatility to specialize and the specialization to be versatile in security matters
• Investigative requisitions from the judicial police
• Relationships between the police and the public: The need for improvement
• Conflict Management and Prevention in Communities
• The principle of secularism in sports must be respected
• Stopping the illicit trade in tobacco products
• Towns with small populations and cybersecurity
• Taking care of historical monuments
• Providing support to victims of aggression
• An analysis of the roadside check system in developing countries
• The challenges of reception at a police station for public security
• A system for protecting housing from illegal encroachment
• Anti-abuse and anti-fraud measures
• A diversity of expectations and feedback from the inhabitants
• Taking public security work seriously in terms of its relational dimension
• The issue of external assistance in the area of internal security
• Putting social networks to the test in terms of police ethics

As you have reached the conclusion paragraph of the blog post, you must have picked a topic or two to work for your social issue research paper. Most of the lists have focused on social issues today as they could be very interesting for the readers. Plus, there are a plethora of good topics for you to count on. Just remember that a good research subject must be able to answer, what is a social problem, what is a social issue, and more. Still if you are struggling with picking up a good topic, feel free to count on the expertise of  our writers .

What is an interesting social issue research topic?

What is research about social issues, how do i choose a social research topic.

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• v.32(7); 2006 Jul

Authorship of research papers: ethical and professional issues for short‐term researchers

Although the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors has published clear guidance on the authorship of scientific papers, short‐term contract research workers, who perform much of the research that is reported in the biomedical literature, are often at a disadvantage in terms of recognition, reward and career progression. This article identifies several professional, ethical and operational issues associated with the assignment of authorship, describes how a university department of primary care set about identifying and responding to the concerns of its contract research staff on authorship and describes a set of guidelines that were produced to deal with the ethical and professional issues raised. These guidelines include directions on how authorship should be negotiated and allocated and how short‐term researchers can begin to develop as authors. They also deal with the structures required to support an equitable system, which deals with the needs of short‐term researchers in ways that are realistic in the increasingly competitive world of research funding and publication, and may offer a model for more formal guidelines that could form part of institutional research policy.

Short‐term, contract researchers are key members of the biomedical community. A recent report from the UK's Academy of Medical Sciences confirms that most research conducted in higher‐education institutions is carried out by short‐term researchers, with a short‐term contract being defined as less than 5 years. 1 The opportunity to report the results of a research study—to be an author—is likely to be an important component of career progression for contract researchers. Some important ethical and professional issues on the authorship of publications arising from research, however, are not dealt with in this otherwise excellent report. For example, there is often a serious discrepancy between those who carry out the research and those who receive the credit for it. In this article, we explore authorship issues relevant to clinical and non‐clinical short‐term contract researchers and report on how they have been dealt with in an academic department of general practice and primary care.

Problems in academic authorship

The authorship of research papers is associated with a range of problems, not least the ethical questions about the use of explicit, transparent criteria for authorship and issues of inappropriately assigned authorship. 2 Authorship credit has been traditionally determined by departmental politics, whereby those with power and status decide who receives the credit. The politicised scientific environment deeply affects “who gets their name on what”, as authorship involves staking and maintaining territorial rights, colonisation and empire building. 3

Authorship provides recognition among peers and establishes intellectual and professional credibility, which contribute to career progression. In tandem with these benefits, however, come responsibility and accountability for the dissemination of research findings. 4 Much biomedical research is undertaken for the explicit purpose of supporting evidence‐based diagnostic and treatment decisions. It is crucial therefore that those taking credit for the work have actually carried it out and are qualified to guarantee the findings. This is easier said than done, because bringing a research project to fruition often requires the contribution of a multidisciplinary team, which may make it difficult for each author to guarantee the quality of research undertaken by others. Clinical trials often cross institutional and international boundaries, so that the need to build relationships for future collaboration has meant fostering goodwill among the many players. This interdependency may encourage inappropriately assigned authorship—for instance, by rewarding collaborators who achieve high recruitment rates in trials. But rubberstamping someone's name on to your research paper in the hope that they will return the favour is not the only problem affecting authorship. Two other forces strongly affect the academic publication process: institutional politics and financial competition.

Research in the higher education sector is increasingly conducted with an eye on the financial main chance and not, as may naively be believed, with a selfless dedication in the pursuit of knowledge. Instead, the driving force is the quest for funding to support research, which in turn supports the career. 3 In the UK, institutional survival depends on the grading obtained in the Research Assessment Exercise (RAE), whereby scores are dependent on the quality of research output and the amount of research income. 5 Peer‐reviewed scientific papers are one of the main determinants of the RAE grade. Each person who is RAE returnable needs to publish at least four papers in peer‐reviewed, high‐impact journals during the RAE assessment period. In other countries, higher education institutions use, or are considering using, similar research assessment systems in which these bibliometrics play an important part. Producing papers is often a criterion for obtaining tenure in other university settings. Although this link with academic reward is seen by some as being responsible for the failure of the authorship system, 6 the reality is that the currency of an academic research department is still peer‐reviewed publication. 7

Authorship problems for contract researchers

Although contract researchers are often valued members of multidisciplinary research teams, they do not enjoy the benefits afforded to both tenured staff and clinician researchers, in terms of advancement and career development. One of the most poignant complaints from contract researchers is that they carry out the work and yet do not receive the credit and recognition for their efforts in the form of authorship. Misappropriation of authorship in this way undermines the integrity of the system. 8 Other examples of publication misconduct, which remain matters of contemporary concern, include fraud, plagiarism and duplicate publication. 9 , 10

In the hope of solving some of these problems, the International Committee of Medical Journal Editors (ICMJE), previously known as the Vancouver Group, developed guidelines in 1997, 11 which were updated in 2004, 12 to take account of the changing reality of multiauthored publications. There is still evidence that authorship problems persist—many researchers still cannot identify the basic ICMJE tenets and these guidelines are still not adhered to in a substantial proportion of peer‐reviewed medical journals. For example, Hwang and colleagues 13 found that only 68% of researchers fulfilled the ICMJE authorship criteria in contributing to articles published in the journal Radiology between 1998 and 2000, and Bates and colleagues, reviewing publications in the Annals of Internal Medicine , the British Medical Journal and the Journal of the American Medical Association concluded in their recent publication 14 that honorary authorship was still alive and well, and that general medical journal publication policies diverged considerably from the recommendations of ICMJE.

These problems were also taken up by the Council of Science Editors. In an important publication in 1999, Biagioli et al 15 emphasised that guidelines were required because of a human tendency to attempt to maximise their own credit, at the same time minimising their responsibility. 15 This publication identified the threats, both covert and overt, of greed and fraudulent behaviour, and associated ethical authorship with issues of credit and responsibility. A more fundamental characteristic of ethical authorship is probably honesty.

In this article, we explain how one university department of general practice and primary care dealt with the concerns of its short‐term contract researchers and developed policy guidelines in an attempt to rectify reported authorship problems. While developing a departmental policy on authorship, the contract researchers met to prepare a formal record of their concerns on three occasions. The first meeting was to voice and record their issues, the second to understand the departmental RAE requirements as explained by the head of department (RJ) and the final one to prepare a summary of their most pressing concerns. Department faculty were then asked for their input about the issues raised by the contract researchers and were encouraged to respond in writing. These guidelines now form part of the department's research policy.

Issues raised by the contract researchers

The most pressing concern for contract researchers is the need to secure authorship to facilitate their career development (box 1). Although there is no formal career structure for many non‐clinical academics, they need to get research published to progress. Without authorship, they lack the credibility to apply for grants in their own name. Although the current policy of most organisations giving grants allows only permanent staff to apply for grants, our contract researchers have asked for permission to apply independently for grants in the future. Mostly, they wanted clear guidelines so that they knew at the outset of each project what they could expect in terms of publishing opportunities. In addition, they found that because of hierarchy and the status of senior academics, there were often no formal avenues of appeal against authorship decisions made by the principal investigator. Resolution of difficulties was often too subjective and dependent on personality, instead of on policy. The researchers were also worried about who should be included in the sometimes lengthy list of authors and how to decide on the order of the names, although they reported that the order of authors was less a problem than being left out altogether. Many had dedicated years to a project, only to have the contract expire before publication. They had moved on to a new contract or to a new location and therefore lost ownership of the project, with a concomitant loss of publication credit.

Another issue that emerged was that all short‐term contract personnel would like to be given the opportunity for at least one first‐authored publication. It is not possible, however, to guarantee first authorship to all junior researchers, even though they may make a substantial contribution to a research project. For example, the research question considered by the project may have been identified before their appointment, with the project protocol written and funding obtained. Typically, the first author is the one most associated with the work. 16 This “agreed” first author is responsible for writing the first draft, but if the researchers have moved on, they may not be available to prepare it. Furthermore, junior researchers may simply lack the experience to draft a paper, or it may require such a degree of rewriting that, in reality, they did not write the first draft at all. Finally, part‐time doctoral students doing contract research simultaneously with a research degree must deal with competing demands on their time to write up their thesis and complete their research project within the time limits of the contract. The time for them to write is taken into consideration by senior staff when the research proposal is prepared and staffing and funding requirements are calculated.

Box 1 Issues raised by the contract researchers group

• Carrying out data collection and analysis and drafting papers only to be refused first authorship or any authorship
• Carrying out data collection and analysis, but leaving the job before writing any drafts and not receiving authorship or acknowledgement
• Carrying out data collection and analysis as well as drafting papers, but not receiving authorship because they have now left their job
• Disagreement with the contents of a paper where a senior staff member is the first author and the researcher is one of the co‐authors

Basis for policy guidelines

Our intent in developing policy guidelines was to create an ethical, professional authorship policy for non‐clinical or contract researchers, which was consistent, clear and fair, while balancing their needs for career advancement with the demands of the RAE and the other academic needs of their departments.

We adopted the ICMJE criteria for authorship as a starting point for our guidelines. The 2004 criteria 12 state that authorship credit should be based on (1) substantial contribution to conception and design, acquisition of data, or analysis and interpretation of data; (2) drafting the article or revising it critically for important intellectual content; and (3) final approval of the version to be published, with authors meeting all of these three conditions. The ICMJE criteria also point out that acquisition of funding, collection of data or general supervision of the research group, alone, does not justify authorship. As we wished to make these criteria inclusive, yet tailored to fit our particular organisational culture, we decided that we should make a clear statement of contributorship at the end of papers as appropriate, including acknowledgement of those who obtained funding, wrote the grant application and the paper, edited drafts, or had a lesser role in collecting or analysing the data. The contribution of supporting characters and agencies is sometimes almost as important as authorship credit and order. The ICMJE guidelines also state that each author “should have participated sufficiently in the work to take public responsibility for the content”. 12 Therefore, the basis of our policy in assigning or determining authorship is that each author should be sufficiently familiar with the project to be able to defend the work publicly.

We do not believe in “gift” authorship. This is defined as naming, as an author, a person who does not meet authorship criteria. 17 A gift author is often the head of a research group or the department. Quite simply, increasing the number of undeserving authors on a publication increases the possibility that deserving authors will be omitted. Nor do we support “ghost” authorship. A ghost author is defined as a person who is not listed as an author but who made contributions that merited authorship. 8 Omitting the name of the true author—for example, the contract researcher—at the time of publication constitutes ghosting, which is not consistent with integrity in publication.

We decided to write and distribute formal guidelines as a result of these discussions (box 2). The first step is to ensure that the issue of authorship is raised at the outset of any project. This includes preparing a research plan outlining anticipated papers, along with their proposed authorship, and agreeing this plan among the research team. In addition, the writing of each paper should be preceded by a detailed discussion of its authorship. This should be completed before any drafts are written. Furthermore, having guidelines allows opportunity for appeal and arbitration. To reduce the possibility of future disagreement, we have left open the possibility for negotiation between the researcher and the principal investigator. This allows experienced researchers to negotiate terms for their particular career needs that may not be applicable to inexperienced researchers, as well as for those aspiring to lectureships.

Negotiations between the principal investigator and the researchers on working and publishing arrangements should not be antagonistic, but should progress in a positive direction, on the basis of these guidelines. In this way, more senior researchers who may be aspiring to faculty positions can negotiate terms favourable to their career requirements. These guidelines are not firm rules, but they provide a starting point from which negotiations can proceed without fear of reprisal.

Box 2 Guidelines

• Ensure that whoever writes the first draft gets first authorship. The order of authorship on the byline should be a joint decision of the co‐authors.
• Ensure that an agreement is negotiated early, which provides clarity of roles and plans for papers.
• Ensure that there is a shared understanding with the supervisor of the duties as defined by the job description.
• Ensure that the annual appraisals are used to discuss progress, set new objectives or explore any areas of difficulty or concern.
• Ensure that avenues of appeal are open to contract researchers.

Furthermore, contract researchers should be encouraged to be more proactive in the development of a publication record, instead of waiting until the end of the research contract period and publication of the results (box 3). For example, they should consider writing a position paper based on their literature review or a methodological critique based on the research study design and getting experience of presenting their ideas at meetings and conferences. Reading the literature and contributing to the correspondence columns is another important step on the journey to independent authorship. This is particularly relevant when the grant has expired before the write‐up has begun, which limits the opportunity to be named as first author.

Implementation

These guidelines, which were developed at the instigation of our researchers and supported by senior academic staff, have now become part of our research policy, but were initially introduced on a voluntary basis. This meant that we did not have formal mechanisms to enforce compliance with them, although they were widely welcomed as providing a tangible and useful framework within which to negotiate research conduct. They have not yet become part of institutional research policy—this would require further extensive negotiations with other academic disciplines outside the medical sciences, within which there may be differences in detail and emphasis.

Box 3 Suggestions for developing a publication record

• Ensure maximisation of your personal publication record by submitting articles or letters to journals in response to other publications. These need not be the top peer‐reviewed journals to begin.
• Ensure an opportunity to prepare research reports for publication. Try to gain first author status and do most of the writing.
• Ensure an opportunity to prepare a conference paper or poster.
• Ensure maximum opportunity for career progression through the pursuit of a higher degree. (This department will pay one third of the part‐time fees upfront and another one third upon successful and timely completion. Arrangements may vary elsewhere.)

On a practical level, the Department of General Practice & Primary Care, King's College London, like many others, is keen to retain well‐trained short‐term researchers. They are valuable team members, without whom the department would not meet the requirements for the RAE. In addition, the learning curve researchers find themselves on in successive contracts is eased, as they have already become familiar with the organisational culture and institutional structure.

Our guidelines were developed in an attempt to correct inadequacies in our current authorship procedures and were based on ICMJE criteria. We recognise that these criteria are not perfect. It is possible to satisfy them without making a truly substantial contribution to the research effort and, as previously discussed, they have not been uniformly adopted by journal editors. There has also been a suggestion 16 that there is a mismatch between the criteria for authorship outlined by the ICMJE and the self‐identified contribution of researchers.

Firm implementation is essential but, unfortunately, misunderstandings will still occur. The publication of research papers continues to offer a range of opportunities for unethical behaviour 9 , 18 , 19 and two factors in particular may counterbalance our preventive efforts on misleading authorship. The first is the inevitable, uneven power relationship between the principal investigator and the researcher, which may impair objective decision making on entitlement to authorship. Secondly, authorship is intrinsically linked with career advancement, and therefore with status and success, and people are motivated to maximise these. For these reasons, we also provide an opportunity for appeal and arbitration by the head of department, although we recognise that this itself may represent a potential conflict of interest, which could be dealt with by identifying an external person or group able to make a final determination on these matters. Formal incorporation of a modified version of these guidelines, taking account of the requirements of other academic disciplines, into institutional research policy will be required if they are to become mandatory and enforceable.

When we began this exercise, we did not assume that these guidelines would resolve all the woes of the contract researcher. Nevertheless, we hope that they will alleviate problems with acquiring authorship, facilitate the career development of trained researchers, improve overall morale within the research community, and foster and promote harmonious working relationships. Indeed, a recent informal survey of department research staff has indicated that several people have found the guidelines helpful in negotiating authorship issues with senior colleagues.

Acknowledgements

We thank members of the Contract Research Group for their suggestions; Kate Cox and Mary Cavanagh for recording and writing the summary of the concerns of the researchers; and Roger Higgs, David Armstrong, Jane Ogden and Leone Ridsdale for their comments on earlier drafts of this paper.

Abbreviations

ICMJE - International Committee of Medical Journal Editors

RAE - Research Assessment Exercise

Competing interests: None declared.

Deserted: The U.S. Military's Sexual Assault Crisis as a Cost of War

Over the past decade, the U.S. military has implemented policies to promote gender equality, notably lifting the ban on women in combat roles in 2013 and opening all military jobs to women by 2016. Yet, even as U.S. military policy reforms during the “War on Terror” appear to reflect greater equality, violent patterns of abuse and misogyny continued within military workplaces.

This author of this report found that sexual assault prevalence in the military is likely two to four times higher than official government estimations. Based on a comparison of available data collected by the U.S. Department of Defense to independent data, the research estimates there were 75,569 cases of sexual assault in 2021 and 73,695 cases in 2023. On average, over the course of the war in Afghanistan, 24 percent of active-duty women and 1.9 percent of active-duty men experienced sexual assault. The report highlights how experiences of gender inequality are most pronounced for women of color, who experience intersecting forms of racism and sexism and are one of the fastest-growing populations within the military. Independent data also confirm queer and trans service members’ disproportionately greater risk for sexual assault.

The report notes that during the post-9/11 wars, the prioritization of force readiness above all else allowed the problem of sexual assault to fester, papering over internal violence and gender inequalities within military institutions.

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The 2024 Deirdre G. Martin Memorial Privacy Law Awards recognize three students

The Deirdre G. Martin Memorial Privacy Law Awards aim at recognizing students at the University of Ottawa’s Faculty of Law who have presented outstanding papers on the subject of privacy law.

The Centre for Law, Technology and Society is delighted to announce the following awards:

• Deirdre G. Martin Memorial Privacy Law Award for the Best Research Paper Gabriella Da Silva (3rd year of JD) for "Is consent still king? Analyzing legislative developments on consent in Canadian private sector data privacy law."
• Deirdre G. Martin Memorial Privacy Law Award for the Best Research Project Clara Mustata (3rd year of JD) for " An Examination of the Legislative Environment, Potential Reform, and the Privacy Issues Associated with Connected Cars. "
• Honourable Mention Sean Cousins (3rd year of JD) for " Canada’s Proposed Approach to Criminalizing AI-Related ‘Behaviours of Concern’. "

Thanks to the generosity of Deirdre G. Martin's friends and colleagues, students will receive CA$1,500 for the main awards and CA$ 500 for the honourable mention.

The Deirdre G. Martin Memorial Privacy Law Award was established by her friends and colleagues in the Legal Division of Insurance Bureau of Canada to honour her memory. 

All professors teaching a privacy law-related course at the Faculty of Law were invited to nominate the best papers written during the 2023-2024 academic year by a student from the Common Law Section, the Civil Law Section or the Graduate Studies. The selection committee was made up of Professor Teresa Scassa, Professor Marina Pavlović and Professor Florian Martin-Bariteau.

About Deirdre G. Martin

Deirdre G. Martin received her law degree with distinction in 1978 from the Faculty of Law, Common Law Section, at the University of Ottawa. From 1998 to 2006, she was Senior Counsel at the Insurance Bureau of Canada. She was a recognized expert in the application of federal, Alberta and British Columbia privacy law to the property and casualty insurance industry. A gifted speaker, she enjoyed leading presentations on the application of these privacy laws. Between 2001 and 2004, she delivered training seminars and presentations across Canada, reaching over two thousand people from property and casualty insurance companies, independent brokers and adjusters.