- Dominion High School
- AP Psychology Research Papers and Topics
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Research: Topic Selection & Rubric:Mr. Haberman - AP Psychology(Revised 2/14)You must select one topic from the list below on the first come, first serve bases, and complete an APA-style research paper once each semester. Only one student per topic and register the selection with the teacher. To insure that you get a topic of interest, highlight your top 5 research topics, in order.That way, if your top choice has already been selected by someone else in the class, you can move down the list.1. Addictions:which substance(s) most addicting?Which easiest/hardest to treat?2.Role of the environment in the development of personality.3. What do modern psychologists feel are the major weaknesses of Freud's psychoanalytic theories.4. Addiction: influences of genetics vs. peers/environment5. Anxiety: Causes, Symptoms and Therapy6. Attachment Theory:relationship to parenting style & psychological health as an adult7. Research the literature on the psychological and physical benefits of laughter.8. The effects of the circadian rhythms on human beings.9. The effects of cognitive dissonance on behavior/values10. The Nightly Dream Cycle and Sleep Deprivation:impact on mental health11. The Validity of Psychological Tests: how established? Which tests more valid? Less valid?12. Collectivist vs. Individualistic Cultures:impact on positive self-esteem/sense of self.13. Interpersonal Attraction: causes, gender differences; is there an "ideal"?14. Gender differences and the Brain - separating actual differences from stereotypes15. Endorphins and Happiness:production, role, implications for mental health16. Learned Optimism/helplessness:how each come about; implications for mental health17. Genius: Criteria, Characteristics and Types.18. The Internet: positive/negative effects on our psychological health19. How has Abraham Maslow's concept of self-actualization affected Psychology?20. Trace the Development of Humanism from 1950 till now. Review of the Literature21. Childhood Trauma: impact on personality/role in personality disorders.22. Race and Intelligence: The Scientific View23. Possible Causes of Childhood Autism24. How is Intelligence Measured?Reasons for controversy/debate25. The Dual Roles of Genetics and Environment on Intelligence26. Inherited Behavior - The Latest Research27.Compare and Contrast the Learning Theories of B. F. Skinner and Jean Piaget28. Alzheimer's Disease:causes, treatment & role lifestyle plays29. Contact sports & degenerative brain disease30. Workplace stress: environmental factors?Role of culture, of job type?31. Rational Emotive Theory: development & modern uses32. Aging:changes to brain; implications, opportunities & challenges33. Theories of Forgetting - explanation & implications for better memory34. Does money buy happiness?Psychological health & socioeconomic status35. Theories of Intelligence (Spearman vs. Gardner):implications for schools36. The Theory of Persuasion - why works/doesn't work (psychology behind it)37. Bullying:causes, who gets bullied; what can parents/teachers do to stop it?38. The Effects of Over Crowding on Human Beings39. Subliminal Messages and How They can be Used to Influence Thought and Behavior40. Current Experiments in Thought Control41. The Psychological Effects of Torture42. The Psychological Effects of War43. How are Children Affected by War.44. The Theory of Memory Storage in the Human Brain: is there a physical basis? What happens to it?45. How to Motivate Children to Achieve46. The Function of Play in psychological health/well-being47. Reality Therapy: origins, modern uses48. The Psychological Benefits of Pets & Pet Therapy49. Psychological Problems of Paraplegics50. The Emotional Effects of Solitary Confinement51. Behavior Patterns of Hyperactive Children - biological vs. environmental roots52. The Stages of Grief According to Elizabeth Kubler-Ross:implications for coping with loss53. Attractiveness & bias:are the attractive treated differently? (convictions, hiring, perceptions)54. Habits: How are they Formed and How They Can Be Changed?55. The Effects of Color on Mental States56. The Savant: origins; contrast with normal intellectual functioning57. The Theory of Boredom: mental/emotional determinants58. Managing Interpersonal Conflict:psychology of mediation59. Divorce: causes, psychological impact60. Shyness in Adults:causes, consequences61. The Principles of Primal Therapy: origins, modern uses62. How Children Develop Gender Identification63. Typical Mother-Daughter Conflicts in Modern America:causes, solutions64. The Psychological Aspects of Obesity65. The Psychological Profile of a Terrorist66. The Clinical Uses of Hypnosis - risks vs. benefits67. Significant Findings From Recent Research on Identical Twins68. The Psychological Profile of a Mercenary Soldier69. Abusers: A Profile - early psychological history of a future abuser70. Eating Disorders:why are they so resistant to treatment?Role of gender?Brain changes?71. Hate Crimes:impact on vicims & on communities72. Brain Damage and Behavior73. Dreams & dream interpretation:why they occur?are interpretations valid?74. The Limits of Artificial Intelligence75. Compare and Contrast the Training, Scope, and Functions of Psychiatrists and Psychologists.76. The Rorschach Test (ink blots): How is it Administered and Evaluated?77. The Psychological Problems of the Homeless.78. How does social anxiety disorder effect the routine life of a person?79. Cyber bullying:psychological impact and recommended responses80 . ADHD: Latest research and recommended treatment81. The link between exercise and emotional health82 .Anger management:what makes psychological treatment effective?83 .Psychology of Flow: implications for workplace satisfaction84 .Psychological characteristics of long-lasting marriages85. Creativity and Intelligence:what makes kids creative, and is it measured by intelligence tests?86. US Cultural and Marketing Trends:do they threaten children's physical and mental health?87 .Violence in the Media: psychological effects on children88 .Tools of Sports Psychologists: how they can also promote mental health in the workplace89. Birth Order: does it effect personality? First-born vs. middle child vs. youngest?90. Psychological profile of the serial killer: what do they have in common - neurologically? Personalities? Family history?91. Depersonalization/derealization Disorder: causes, symptoms and treatment.92. Antisocial Personality Disorder: influences of nature vs. nurture; prominence in the criminal justice system93. Brand New Mental Disorders: describing the disorders first appearing in the DSM 5 - implications for psychology?94. Brain Mapping: dispelling myths & updating accuracy based on the newest maps. What really happens where?95. Psychology Behind Attraction: how marketing professionals influence consumer choices.96. Key parenting strategies for raising children with healthy self-esteem.97. What is emotional intelligence and how does it relate to success and life satisfaction?98. The psychological benefits of forgiveness.99. Optimism versus pessimism: impact on physical and psychological health.100. The psychopath's brain: is it structurally different from the normal brain?101. The most widely believed MYTHS in psychology.102. Do we inherit or create our personalities? A review of the evidence.103. The frequent selfie-taker: the social psychology behind social media use.104. Near Death Experiences (NDE): explain, explore how they are similar, and the psychological impact on those who experience them105. Dissociative disorders: causes, treatments and controversies106. Psychotic disorders: causes, treatment and challenges107. Ekman's Theory of Emotions: are emotions universal or learned?108. Psychology of Diversity: explaining the challenges from individual, institutional and cultural perspectives109. Grit and Resiliency: are they better predictors of academic success than IQ?110. Online Therapy (Cybertherapy): can it be effective? Limitations?111. The Psychology of Altruism: don't the benefits contradict the definition? Is it selfish? Is it cooperation?112. Causal Thinking/Attribution Error: how does this relate to our beliefs, our superstitions, our evolution as thinking beings113. The psychological risks of chronic health conditions in childhood and adolescence.114. Music Therapy: origins, effectiveness in treating psychological disordersSemester Research PaperAP Psychology – Mr. Haberman1st Semester:100 point project grade; 2nd Semester:scored as 25% of Final ExamGRADING RUBRIC:General InstructionsIndependent research allows each AP Psychology student the opportunity to explore a topic of personal interest, and delve into greater detail on the chosen topic than we would have time to cover as an entire class.Each paper (one per semester), to be submitted electronically, should be 3-4 pages typed, double-spaced with a font size of 12, not counting the cover page, abstract, and references page.Your research should include a minimum of 5 references, with at least 2 references coming from either books or professional journal articles.Your research papers are to be prepared in APA format, and as such should include:1.1” margins all around2.Title page centered horizontally and vertically3.Abstract – second page – a brief summary of your findings4.References within the document in APA format (NOT footnotes, but author and year in parenthesis).5.References page after the body of the report (not numbered, but alphabetical by author’s last name – see examples below).APA Format for References (fictitious samples, to show you the format):For a professional journal article (as it would appear in the bibliography - alphabetically by author last name):Freud, S. (1933). The interpretation of dreams. Journal of Clinical Psychology, 5(2), 144-148.For a book: Erikson, E. (1958). Psychological and social development through the lifespan. (pp. 104-155). New York, NY: Hardcourt Brace.In-paper citations (using these two examples).Paraphrase the information, ending with the citation: "For many adults, unresolved issues from childhood may show up in the latent content of their dreams, when interpreted from a psychoanalytic point of view (Freud, 1933). In other cases, the difficulties may have more to do with their age and stage of development. In later adulthood, conflicts may arise from career difficulties, and the feeling that it has become too late to make major life changes (Erikson, 1958)."Topic SelectionTopics will be selected in class – only one student may select each topic. Your paper should address the following:1.Give a brief background of the subject or problem.2.Include a personal discussion of your thoughts, bias, feelings towards the subject or problem prior to the research you conducted.3.What types of research methods have been used to study this topic/problem?4.What is the significance of this topic/problem?Why is it important for people to understand?What areas of mental or physical health may it have an impact on?5.What is already known about this topic/problem?6.What were the limitations that effected your efforts to research this topic/problem?Are there things that currently limit what we know about this topic/problem?7.APPLICATION:how can your research be applied? Address the various possible audiences:by psychologists? By other mental health and/or medical professionals? By individuals and/or families? By institutions, governments or societies?8.Relevance:is your research important to work going on currently in the field of psychology?How?Be specific.9.Conclusions:what answers did your research provide for you? What are the unanswered questions, and/or the areas where further research is needed?Grading (100 point project grade 1st semester; 25% of Final Exam 2nd semester): APA Style & Format:4 pointsGrammar & Spelling:4 pointsContent (each element above):11 pointsReferences:6points/ 25 Total (25% of Final Exam)
Last Modified on February 19, 2019