Writing a research paper is often a daunting task for students. Besides topic selection, students require to be familiar with the writing process to ensure the timely delivery of outstanding papers. 

This article will look at the process of writing a research paper, helping you overcome the common issues faced by students when writing a research paper topic. 

How to write a psychology research paper

Your writing approach greatly determines your writing experience and the quality of your paper. Some of the steps to have in mind when working on a psychology research paper include: 

1. Select a topic

Before you embark on research, narrow down your topic to a specific issue within the general idea. Your topic should specify a research problem and allow for a unique insight into your field. Ideally, start by reading extensively on the topic to familiarize yourself with various concepts, widening your perspective toward discussing your research paper. 

2. Conduct extensive research

After selecting your topic, search for various sources relating to your thesis. This will allow you to have ample support for various arguments within your paper and to analyse the extent to which your research topic has been exhausted.

Ideally, take this time to think of unique approaches to your research problems and also to determine how your ideas would fit into the existing knowledge. Ideally, note down the key arguments from each source for an easy time preparing your literature review chapter. 

3. Prepare an outline

A psychology research paper outline is a handy tool to gauge how well a topic has been exhausted and to keep you on track with various arguments within your paper. The outline also enables you to organize your ideas and achieve a smooth flow through your arguments. 

4. Draft and edit your paper

After preparing a satisfactory outline, proceed to write your paper while elaborating on the essential components of your essay. Once you are done, check your paper for various errors, to ensure maximum results for your efforts. 

When working on a long paper within a short duration, you may consider seeking expert editing help to fix various errors within your paper as you proceed with other portions of your research paper. 

Best topics for psychology research paper

Controversial topics in psychology for research paper

1. A member of the extended family has abused a child
2. Characteristics of the typical child abuser from a psychological perspective 
3. Methods for treating depression and stress in cancer patients 
4. Post-traumatic stress disorder treatment with virtual reality 
5. Does learning difficult instruments improve pupils’ cognitive abilities? 
6. Influence of parenting on a person’s later career specialty 

Developmental psychology research paper topics

7. Developmental psychology’s contribution to improving children’s lives developmental psychology’s history and research methods 
8. How can teachers apply developmental psychology theories and findings to classroom practice? 
9. The function of the infant-caregiver relationship in developmental psychology 
10. What potential for empathy promotion in children’s stories in developmental psychology? 
11. What is developmental psychology’s primary focus? 
12. What justifies the need for developmental psychology in social work? 

Forensic psychology research paper topics

13. The function of forensic psychology in legal proceedings 
14. How forensic psychology has affected modern society 
15. What forensic psychology looks like psychological abuse analysis? 
16. Forensic psychologists face challenges as a result of schizophrenia and crime
17. Clinical psychology and forensic psychology: a comparison
18. Narcissism and partner conflict 

Good topics for psychology research paper

19. What impact does medication have on your mental health? 
20. Do students who listen to music while studying score better on tests? 
21. What are the mental health consequences of postpartum depression? 
22. How do other mental problems result from a sleeping disorder? 
23. Describe the impact of child maltreatment on a child’s mental growth
24. Talk about the impact of hyperactivity disorder on a child’s development

Sports psychology topics for research paper

25. How successful are the existing techniques for identifying ped use in sports? 
26. How crucial is it for professional athletes to visit psychologists frequently? 
27. How does an athlete’s level of self-motivation affect their performance? 
28. How does a player’s personality change as their income increases? 
29. What can coaches do to help their athletes gain confidence?
30. How does the media affect how athletes behave while being filmed?

Final take

We hope that this guide was handy for your psychology research paper. Feel free to consult our team for guidance, ensuring success in your academic journey.