265 Powerful Research Proposal Topics to Consider [+ Writing Tips]

A research proposal is a common task for students of different levels and areas of study. Although it is relatively straightforward, it still can be hard to start and choose an engaging topic. In this article, you will find 255 strong suggestions on crime & law, business, finance, politics, sociology, and other subjects. Feel free to use this list for your inspiration when writing your paper. Alternatively, you can look at sample essays for free from our database and try to come up with the topic on your own.

Let’s start!

What is a Research Proposal?

First thing first, let’s define what a research proposal is. This type of assignment is similar to research; however, it’s shorter and more general. It aims at introducing a topic that needs a more in-depth discussion. The student should prove that this issue requires further research. Usually, professors assign this type of task for you to practice before working on a bigger format.

A typical research proposal consists of three key sections: introduction, literature review, and methodology of your future study. Keep reading to get to know more about each part and how you can succeed in writing them.

The length of a research proposal depends on the future paper you’re writing it for and on your task requirements. It can be from four to twenty pages. Finally, all proposals should meet the standards of the referencing style that your professor asks for.

You should also understand the difference between a qualitive and a quantitative research proposal. The first one collects non-numerical data while the second one presents numerical information. The results of a qualitive research proposal can be displayed as photographs or recordings, while the quantative research results are usually shown as graphs and tables.

Now, let’s see what topics you can choose for your assignment. Click on the links we shared to find more research proposal examples.

Crime & Law Research Proposal Topics

Law students frequently get tasks like research proposals to develop their academic writing skills and understand complicated cases better. You can be more creative with law & criminology research proposal topics than you expect. Find inspiration for your work in the list below!

International Law Topics

International relations are complicated due to numerous external and internal factors. So, setting laws that would be applicable within different societies is a tough task. In the selection of international law topics below, we collected some challenging ideas. Check it out!

1. International law and CIA rendition.
2. Individual legal personality in international law.
3. The importance of international treaties in warfare.
4. Russian and european international competition law.
5. International marine pollution law.
6. Human rights in international law.
7. The relations between domestic and international laws.
8. International law, organizations, and power.
9. International trade law evolution.
10. Legal personality development in international law.

Business Law Topics

Business is another field full of unresolved issues and puzzles from the law perspective. From ownership to taxes – each aspect hides dozens of nuances and business law cases. Let’s see what topics you can discuss in your paper.

1. International business law.
2. Business law concept and employee arbitration.
3. Personnel recruitment and equal opportunities law.
4. Piracy effects on the profitability of a business.
5. Salesperson’s negligence and consumer law.
6. The practical use of trademark and copyright by entities.
7. Model business corporation act: the australian law.
8. The effects of religion on the implementation of contract law.
9. Terrorism as global issue and preventive laws.
10. US traditional business law and Its elements.

Criminology Research Proposal Topics

Today, more and more fields of study discuss equality-related issues. Criminology is not an exception. The most popular topics concern crimes against women, children, minorities, mass violence, race-based felony, etc. Discover more engaging law research proposal topics related to criminology in our list below!

1. The law of criminal procedure.
2. Understanding sexual harassment law in action.
3. Three-strikes law for preventing violent crimes.
4. The investigation of domestic violence cases.
5. Criminal behavior investigation and search warrants.
6. Marijuana legalization and criminalization.
7. The relations between mental health and criminal behavior.

8. Criminal behavior theories and contributing factors.
9. Criminal profiling and police corruption.
10. Is criminal behavior dependable on one’s genes?
11. Grounds of victimization.
12. The criminal analysis of the O.J. Simpson case.
13. The development of serial killers.
14. Eyewitness testimony and its role in criminal cases.
15. Legal issue and criminal evidence.

Criminal Justice Research Proposal Topics

Delivering justice to those who committed crimes can be a complex process. There are many unexpected and controversial issues that institutions should take into account when solving particular cases. We prepared some criminal justice research proposal topics to dwell on. See the following list.

1. Criminal law: case of susie and perry.
2. Pulling the trigger: evaluating criminal gun laws.
3. The ethics of capital punishment.
4. The difference between war and civil crimes.
5. Pretrial procedures in the criminal justice system.
6. Juvenile detention criminal procedure.
7. Plea-bargaining law impact on criminal justice.
8. False confession in the criminal justice system.
9. The dissimilarity of criminal justice laws in different states.
10. Professional ethics in criminal justice: Singleton vs Norris.
11. Racial bias in criminal justice systems and workplaces.
12. Gender bias in criminal justice laws.
13. Confessions in saudi vs US criminal justice systems.
14. Severe financial crimes and their investigation.
15. Jury’s professionalism in criminal trials.

Business Research Proposal Topics

Business is a complex area that consists of various disciplines like marketing, finance, recruitment, business administration, and so on. In this section, we selected 60 business research proposal topics related to each of them. First, let’s see what ideas there are for general business issues.

1. Quality & environmental management for business excellence.
2. Entrepreneurship and small business management.
3. How can small businesses survive financial instability?
4. Quantitative techniques in business to manage quality.
5. Best strategies for an effective sales pitch.
6. SAS institute’s generic & business strategies.
7. Capitalism and free market issues.
8. The impact of leadership skills on business management.
9. International business: Sino-American trade war.
10. The impact of globalization on small businesses.
11. Needs-based business plan and project management.
12. Importance of negotiation contracts in the business.
13. Personal success factors in the business world.
14. Consequences of working overtime.
15. Time management as an effective business tool.

Marketing Research Proposal Topics

Today, a well-built marketing department can contribute a lot to the company’s success. On the other hand, having a weak promotion strategy can make even the best product unnoticeable on the market. Let’s see which marketing research proposal topics you can bring to light!

1. Telecommuting as a trend of contemporary business.
2. Differences between traditional and digital marketing.
3. The importance of creating a consistent brand image.
4. Market globalization and global marketing pitfalls.
5. International marketing: global corporation vs. company.
6. Use of alternative media in marketing communications.
7. Gamification as a marketing tool.
8. Paid search marketing and search engine optimization.
9. How do brands exploit impulsive buying?
10. Influencer marketing in the fashion industry.
11. How to get readers engaged with your content?
12. The evolution of consumer behavior in the past twenty years.
13. Advertising analytics and marketing innovations.
14. The distinction in marketing strategies across different cultures.
15. Which Marketing Channel Has the Biggest Potential Today?

Research Proposal Topics in Human Resource Management

Any business is more about people than about a particular product. Hiring the right fits and supporting them in their working journey is challenging – many issues can appear out of nowhere. Discuss one of the research proposal topics in human resource management from our list below and shed light on the questions you find crucial.

1. Corporate social responsibility & business ethics.
2. Ethics in business: child labor in chocolate industry.

3. Human resources: social media policy in companies.
4. Hiring the right fits: best strategies.
5. Human resources and organization management.
6. How to deal with overqualified employees?
7. Aligning human resources and business strategy.
8. The responsibilities of a human resource manager regarding talent hunting and management.
9. Healthcare human resources management and changes.
10. What fringe benefits are the most desirable for employees today?
11. Google company: international human resources management.
12. Ways of encouraging employee’s personal and professional growth.
13. Human resources in global business management.
14. What factors promote employee’s loyalty?
15. Federal and state human resources in Florida’ health care.

Finance Research Proposal Topics

Excellent finance management is the key to success for any company. This area has multiple internal and external aspects that should be considered when building business plans and strategies. In the list below, you will find finance research proposal topics related to such issues as corporate responsibility, investment, crisis management, shares, etc.

1. Project cost and finance management challenges.
2. Foreign direct investment and collaborative ventures.
3. The impact of global financial crisis on large-scale companies.
4. Fiscal policy: federal investment and taxes.
5. Corporate social responsibility and corporate finance.
6. Finance and corporate responsibility.
7. Financial constraints and investment cash flow sensitivity.
8. Roles of finance in business modernization.
9. The issues of traditional finance.
10. Investor’s role in creating culture of excellence.
11. Large profit margins and utilitarian business ethics.
12. Finance and crisis management.
13. Are a firm’s cash flow and profit different?
14. The role of shares in the company’s financial system.
15. Debt management process and its impact on the company.

English Research Proposal Topics

English is one of the most widely spoken languages in the world. It’s associated with outstanding achievements and changes in society. Also, it brought to light a handful of written masterpieces and their famous authors. Discuss one of the works or issues from the list below – dive into the depth of language!

Research Proposal: English Literature Topics

It’s hard to deny the talent of such writers as Jane Austen or Mark Twain. However, there are also less well-known masters, like Sylvia Plath, whose writings also deserve your undivided attention. Their works will teach you a lot about life in the previous centuries. Discover more research proposal English literature topics below!

1. Meanings in “Lady Lazarus” poem by Sylvia Plath.
2. Themes in poems by Robert Frost and Dylan Thomas.
3. Gender roles in Jane Austen’s novels.
4. Portraying feminism in the 20th century American poems.
5. War attitudes in American and British poems.
6. The story behind “The Lord of the Rings.”

7. The definition of a Noble Outlaw and examples in English literature.
8. Death in Emily Dickinson’s poems.
9. Jane Austen’s novels: pastiches’ analysis.
10. Why do authors create fictional languages?
11. How is piracy depicted in “Treasure Island”?
12. Slavery in “Adventures of Huckleberry Finn” the novel by Mark Twain.
13. The hidden concepts and parallels in “The War of Worlds.”
14. Satire in “Gulliver’s Travels.”
15. Conflicts in Harper Lee’s novel “To Kill a Mockingbird.”

Research Proposal on the English Language

Language is a diverse world that lives by its rules and gets constantly enriched by its speakers. English is a unique one in terms of being a second language to representatives of multiple nations and cultures. That’s why it is influenced by many languages and develops faster than any other one. We prepared fifteen topics for a research proposal on the English language to dwell on its current issues.

1. Gender differences in using the english language.
2. Speech disorders in english language learners.
3. How does english influence other languages?
4. Challenges in teaching english as a foreign language.
5. The status of english as an international language.
6. The origins of the english language.
7. The reasons behind the differences between American and British english.
8. Black english and non-standard language.
9. Language as a political tool.
10. Phenomena that enrich the english language.
11. Transgender community and heterosexism in language.
12. The future of the english language.
13. The influence of author’s neologisms on the english language.
14. Diversity psychology: foreign canguage and cognition.
15. How are ethnic minorities in the US shaping the english language?

Interesting Research Proposal Topics

Writing a research proposal can be more entertaining if you’re presenting a topic you’re deeply interested in. Whether it is politics or psychology, there is a lot to talk about. In this section, you can choose an exciting topic for a research proposal on different subjects and issues. Let’s see what we selected for you!

Political Science Research Proposal Topics

Today’s politics is developing in a tight bond with the issues of inequality, climate change, and others. Society requires the government’s immediate decisions regarding the subsequent problems. The relations between certain countries also become tense, making politicians react to urgent issues as soon as possible. All the above make politics a complex and controversial subject. Expose your thoughts on one of the political science research proposal topics we have chosen for you.

1. African-American political science: 14th amendment.
2. Political environment: democrats and republicans.
3. The relation between climate and politics.
4. Political activism: “Forces of Labor” by Beverly Silver.
5. The challenges of 2020 United States presidential election.
6. The relation between poverty and corrupted government.
7. Hegemony vs. counter hegemony: power & speech.
8. The American tradition of federalism and multiculturalism.
9. Who is more responsible for building democracy – government or society?
10. Authoritarian & totalitarian autocracy in examples.
11. The reasons why socialism has failed.
12. Is global democracy achievable in the future?
13. The origins of Sino-American conquest.
14. Nuclear Politics in the Modern World.
15. World government: utopian dream or dystopian nightmare?

Research Proposal Topics in Education

Education is a vital part of one’s life and growth. Moreover, we spend most of our youth studying and preparing for our future life. So, why not make the most of this time? In recent years, the views on the perfect study process have changed a lot. Speak out your ideas on these research proposal topics in education:

1. Teenagers’ contemporary issues: bullying at school.
2. Math and science opportunities in a preschool program.
3. Authoritative teachers: classic behavior or remnants of the past?
4. Psychological development of a school-aged child.
5. Should schoolgoers take sex education classes?
6. The reasons why education is not free.
7. High school challenges in personal experience.
8. Will there be no schools in the future?
9. Factors affecting technology uses in schools.

10. Methods of making the study process more practical.
11. Do young people need to get a master’s degree?
12. Homeschooling disadvantages for students and parents.
13. How many foreign languages should a person know?
14. Is education the key to building a successful career?
15. School experience for students with disabilities.

Sociology Research Proposal Topics

Society is constantly evolving so that more and more new issues arise. Today, we speak more about gender, race, sexual orientation, and ethnic minorities than at any time in the history of humankind. What will be the results of this discussion? We suggest you express your opinion on one of the sociology research proposal topics!

1. Ideal society and its constituents.
2. Substance abuse and impact on the family.
3. Gender bias: will the world ever eliminate them?
4. Parasocial relationships and purchasing habits.
5. The origins of vandalism.
6. Community capacity building against suicide.
7. The role of religion in contemporary society.
8. The effects of ethnic minorities on prevailing nation.
9. Sexual orientation as a social construction and reality.
10. How does climate change shape society?
11. Cultural and social literacy for millennials.
12. The society of future: possible scenarios.
13. The relations between art and society.
14. Can intolerance be fully eliminated?
15. White supremacy and historical blindness.

Psychology Research Proposal Topics

Today’s youth cares about their mental health more than the previous generation. Is that for good? Knowing what’s going inside your head can have an immense impact on your quality of life. This is a truly life-changing journey. The topical issues now are anxiety, depression, OCD, ADHD, and PTSD. We prepared fifteen psychology research proposal topics for you to discuss.

1. Generalized anxiety disorder: treatment.
2. Mindfulness-based stress reduction.
3. The difference between clinical and situational depression.
4. The concept of brain plasticity.
5. Why has anxiety become so common today?
6. Food and mental health: relations and impact.
7. Childhood relationships & adolescent mental health.
8. Defense mechanisms in psychological practice.
9. How do political regimes influence mental health?
10. Postpartum depression: diagnosis and treatment.
11. Personality types: myth or science-based classification?
12. The impact of Freud’s ideas on today’s psychology.
13. Were Freud’s statements innovative at his time?
14. Psychology behind overworking and professional burnout.
15. Positive psychology for military leadership.

Research Proposal Topics in Information Technology

Today’s life depends a lot on technology and its development. From work to health issues – many things can be solved or complicated by machines or algorithms. New technologies require new laws and ways of coping with everyday situations. However, there’s no correct answer whether they are good or bad. We prepared some absorbing information technology research proposal topics for you!

1. Cyber surveillance and privacy of internet users.
2. Military drones: innovation project.
3. Cybersecurity and intellectual property issues.
4. National incident management and command systems.
5. The role of artificial intelligence in everyday life.
6. The potential risks of online voting.
7. Cybercrime and its impact on society.
8. Artificial intelligence and language processing: contemporary challenges.
9. Information technology-based data management in retail.
10. The use of technologies in farming.
11. Email Fraud and user protection strategies.
12. Technological advancement of the study process.
13. The approaches to maximizing the use of big data.
14. Wireless technology and applications.
15. The relations between technologies and globalization.

Biology Research Proposal Topics

Are you curious about what’s going on inside your body or any other living being? If you’re studying this, the biology research proposal topics below will be handy for you! We selected ideas for papers about bacteria, cells, innovations in biotechnologies, and more.

1. Bacteria differentiation: endospore and acid-fast staining.
2. The reasons behind common plant diseases.
3. Water treatments and maximum plant height.
4. Specific features of the underwater living beings.
5. Camouflage techniques in the animal world.
6. Agricultural biotechnology and its pros and cons.
7. The impact of hormones on our wellbeing.
8. Bacteria lab: enriched, selective, differential media.
9. Homosexuality among mammals.
10. Is domestication harmful to racoons?
11. Biomimicry: innovations inspired by nature.
12. Who has the world’s most incredible digestion systems among mammals?
13. Stem cell debate.
14. Molecular biology and genetics.
15. Can aging be reverted?

Public Health Research Proposal Topics

With the advancements in governmental systems and technologies, public healthcare becomes more accessible and effective, yet many issues are to be resolved in the future. We found some research proposal topics in nursing and other medical disciplines that will be interesting to study.

1. The epidemiology of obesity.
2. Are addictions inevitable?
3. Social media in nursing: pitfalls and opportunities.
4. Can music be used as remedy?
5. Artificial intelligence in healthcare: pros & cons.
6. Chinese traditional medicine: what can it teach the west?
7. National patient safety goals: critical care access.
8. The effects of body positive movement on obesity rate.

9. Health issues caused by climate change.
10. Seasonal allergies and their impact on our health.
11. The relations between psychology and physical health.
12. Quit smoking: therapies and medications.
13. AIDS treatment and common myths.
14. Stress reduction programs for pregnant women.
15. The importance of vaccines today.

Undergraduate Research Proposal

You can find many engaging topics to discuss during your college or university life. We selected ideas for your paper that relate to different subjects and areas of study. Feel free to pick up any topics for an undergraduate research proposal you’re curious about and study it.

1. “The Great Gatsby” a novel by Francis Scott Fitzgerald.
2. “Pride and Prejudice” a novel by Jane Austen.
3. Shakespeare’s Masterpieces: Why They Deserve attention.
4. Political ideologies and their differences.
5. The evolution of gender.
6. Race and gender in public relations.
7. Why is It hard to achieve complete democracy?
8. Should people under 18 get a tattoo?
9. Should living with parents after 30 be normalized?
10. Fat acceptance and body positivity.
11. How can society make the life of disabled people better?
12. Divorce effects on children’s behavior.
13. The benefits of Wi-Fi.
14. How can investing be useful for young people?
15. Artificial intelligence: pros and cons.
16. Artificial intelligence and free will.
17. Key aging factors among women.
18. Can zodiac signs theories be scientifically proven?
19. The evolution of cinematography.
20. Space tourism: evolution and prospects.

How To Write A Research Proposal

If you made it down here, you probably want to know more about the research proposal structure. In this section, we’ll discuss the specific features of this type of assignment and how to title a research proposal.

A research proposal is a compelling abstract that introduces your proposed paper. In this writing, you present the key questions of the research. The research proposal format can be described as general, summarizing, and brief. Your main goal here is to demonstrate that the topic you’ve chosen deserves more attention.

How To Title A Research Proposal

Your research proposal should grab attention from the very first second when the reader looks at its title. Let’ see which points you should consider to make it impressive and engaging.

• The title should clearly state the subject under study.
• Stimulate reader’s interest by using powerful adjectives and adverbs – speak to their emotions.
• Hint at what type of work is that. For example, if you contrast two methods or situations, be sure to mention both within your title.

If you’re assigned a particular topic, it can be a little easier for you to title your research proposal. Simply rephrase the sentence or sentences in your task and cut off too specific information. Remember that your title should be as short as 10-15 substantive words.

Research Proposal Outline

It’s not enough to write valuable content. You should also know how to organize it properly. That’s why a good outline brings you halfway to a successfully completed task. A research proposal outline is similar to other academic papers. However, its structure has some crucial points to consider. Here are seven critical elements of a superb research proposal:

1. Title
   We already discussed how to create an outstanding title for your paper. However, it’s essential that this is just a proposed name for your work, and you can revise it when it comes to working on the actual research paper.
2. Research Proposal Abstract
   A research proposal introduction typically comes in the format of an abstract. It’s similar to a thesis statement but can be presented in up to 100 words. In this part, you should concisely point out the key issues to be discussed in your paper.
3. Research Context
   In this section, you should explain the background behind the issue you’re studying. Introduce the reader to details and facts that will make understanding the subject and your conclusions easier. Start with talking about the area of study in general and then move to the smaller notions you operate in your paper.
4. Research Questions
   Before starting your paper, dwell on the questions you’re trying to answer. Write them down separately first, and then present the essential ones in this section of a research proposal. One of the questions you will mention should relate to the usability of your research results: will this data be empirical or theoretical?
5. Research Methods
   In this part, you should explain how you’re going to conduct your research. There are various methods of working with data: visiting libraries, taking interviews, field working, etc. Most of the research works are fully or partly library-based, so don’t forget to mention the exact institutions you will visit to find specific information. For empirical data collecting, it’s important to present a detailed description and potential problems you may encounter in the process.
6. Significance of Research
   Your proposal should show how your research can be helpful and applicable for further exploration. It should also be original and seek answers to formerly unresolved issues.
7. Works Cited
   A crucial part of any academic paper is the bibliography. Be sure to check the referencing style you should use and what requirements this part has.

Conclusion

In today’s article, we presented 255 topic proposals for a research paper for you to find inspiration and ideas for your work. You can also discover dozens of examples from one of the largest essay sample databases – StudyCorgi.

Stay tuned and follow our latest updates to know how to excel in your studies!

Resources

1. A Guide to Research Proposals – Sacred Heart University Library
2. Research Guides – USC Libraries
3. How to Write a Research Proposal – University of Birmingham
4. International Law Topics – University of Queensland
5. Writing a Research Paper – OWL Purdue
6. Outline for a Research Proposal Project – Portland State University
7. A Sample Research Proposal with Comments
8. Where do I Begin? – OWL Purdue
9. Annotade Sample Research Proposal
10. How to Choose a Dissertation Topic For Your Doctoral Degree – Walden University
11. Choosing a Topic – Fontbonne University
12. Thesis Topics – LSA Psychology University of Michigan
13. Choosing a Topic for Your Research Paper – OWL Purdue
14. Undergraduate Sample Research Topics: Political Science – Western Michigan University
15. Business Research Topic Ideas – Frances Willson Thompson Library
16. How to write a research proposal – The University of Sydney