AP Research Topics: 200 Examples With Feasibility Tags & Data Leads

Written by Helen Burgos

Posted: March 11, 2025

Last update date: October 10, 2025

13 min read

Table of contents

1 Top 30 Feasible AP Research Topics for 2025
2 Full List — 200 AP Research Topics by Field
3 Turn a Topic into a Research Question
- 3.1 5 Templates for Research Questions
- 3.2 2 Examples from Student Samples (AP Central)
4 Methods Quick Guide
5 Data Sources for High-School Research
6 HSRB/IRB Basics for AP Research Paper
7 AP Research vs AP Seminar Topics

AP Research is the second course in the AP Capstone Program.
Students write a 4,000–5,000-word paper worth 75% of the grade.
Students give a 15–20 minute presentation with 3–4 questions worth 25%.
A topic must be feasible: consider method, access to data, ethics, and completion within one school year.
Strong choices connect to fields like medical research topics.
Both AP Seminar research topics and AP Research train students in inquiry, but AP Research requires deeper evidence and an AP research paper.
The course develops skills for future scientific research and independent academic work.

Full List — 200 AP Research Topics by Field

AP Research is more than just writing a research paper: it is a structured process where students select challenging AP research topics, test ideas, and present results.

Understanding what is a capstone project in research is key since it combines analysis, critical thinking, and independent study. Thus, each research topic gives students a chance to practice real academic inquiry.

Exploring good AP research also prepares high school students for future college projects and advanced study skills.

STEM and Technology

STEM and Technology AP research topics focus on AP research ideas that explore science, tech, and engineering. Popular AP research topics include studying artificial intelligence, evaluating realistic approaches for environmental issues, and analyzing mental well-being impacts from technology.

Artificial intelligence applications in classrooms
Effective AP project in renewable energy solutions
Realistic approaches for reducing carbon emissions
Environmental shifts’ impacts on American domestic life
Mental well-being effects of screen time
Machine intelligence in healthcare diagnostics
Effective AP project in robotics and automation
Practical solutions for urban traffic congestion
Environmental shifts and agricultural productivity
Mental well-being support through wearable technology

👉 To narrow, focus on one technology (e.g., AI in math tutoring) or one group of students (e.g., middle schoolers).

Artificial intelligence in environmental monitoring
Good AP research in smart home technology
Realistic approaches for water conservation
Climate change adaptation in coastal cities
Mental health interventions using virtual reality
Machine intelligence for cybersecurity
Effective AP project in drone applications
Practical solutions for energy-efficient transport
Environmental shifts modeling using AI
Mental well-being trends in remote learning
Machine intelligence in public safety
Effective AP project on sustainable technology
Realistic approaches for electronic waste
Environmental shifts education programs for teens
Mental well-being monitoring using mobile apps

👉 To narrow, define one measurable outcome (e.g., test scores, stress levels) and one method (survey, experiment).

Health and Medicine

Health and Medicine topics guide students to focus on good AP research topics and create meaningful research papers about mental well-being, community wellness, and human health.

Projects often analyze trends, interventions, and outcomes in community well-being and environmental factors like the planetary climate crisis or aquatic organisms.

Mental well-being support for upper-school learners
Community wellness campaigns and community awareness
Human health effects of air pollution
Community well-being initiatives in rural areas
Marine life conservation and human impact
Planetary climate crisis effects on community wellness
Mental well-being interventions in schools
Human health and diet-related chronic diseases
Public health policies and vaccination uptake
Mental well-being support using telemedicine

👉 To narrow, choose one health issue (e.g., asthma, anxiety) and one location (school, local town).

Community well-being impact of urban planning
Planetary climate crisis and vector-borne diseases
Aquatic organisms, biodiversity, and local communities
Mental well-being awareness on social media
Human health risks from industrial pollution
Community wellness and access to clean water
Community well-being programs for adolescents
Mental well-being effects of academic pressure
Climate change adaptation in healthcare systems
Marine life and sustainable fishing practices
Human health benefits of physical activity
Mental health stigma reduction strategies
Public health response to pandemics
Community health education for families
Mental health and sleep patterns in teens

👉 To narrow, connect the issue to one age group (teens, elderly) or one type of intervention (apps, school programs).

Environmental Science and Sustainability

Environmental Science topics use AP Seminar topic ideas to explore the impact of humans on nature. Students can investigate planetary climate crisis, conservation efforts, severe climate events, and environmental resources to understand environmental challenges in rural versus urban areas while linking to mental well-being and community well-being.

Conservation efforts to protect endangered species
Severe climate events and community preparedness
Environmental resources management in low-income nations
Planetary climate crisis effects on small towns vs. metropolitan areas
Mental well-being benefits of green spaces
Environmental protection initiatives in marine ecosystems
Intense weather patterns and school infrastructure
Environmental resources usage and sustainability
Environmental shifts and adaptation strategies in cities
Mental health effects of environmental disasters

👉 To narrow, pick one environment (coastal city, desert, forest) or one group affected (students, farmers).

Conservation efforts in national parks
severe climate events and public safety policies
Natural resources and renewable energy adoption
Climate change education for upper-school learners
Mental well-being and environmental awareness campaigns
Environmental protection initiatives in freshwater ecosystems
Intense weather patterns and economic impacts
Environmental resources and sustainable agriculture
Environmental shifts and urban planning solutions
Mental well-being benefits of eco-friendly communities
Environmental protection initiatives in wildlife corridors
Intense weather patterns and insurance challenges
Natural resources depletion and policy solutions
Climate change mitigation strategies
Mental health support after natural disasters

👉 To narrow, match one method (survey, content analysis) with a local dataset or case study.

Social Sciences and Psychology

Social Sciences and Psychology topics use AP Seminar research questions examples to study human behavior, social trends, and psychological patterns. Students can explore psychological effects, the civil rights movement, societal changes, national identity, wildlife conservation, ethical implications, and mental well-being impacts in modern society.

Civil rights movement and youth activism
Societal changes in American family life
National identity and immigrant communities
Wildlife conservation through education
Ethical implications of AI in decision-making
Mental health effects of remote learning
Psychological effects of bullying in schools
The Civil Rights Movement amongst modern society movements
Societal changes in digital communication
National character and global citizenship

👉 To narrow, set a time frame (last 5 years, post-2020) or one group (immigrant teens, upper-school learners).

Wildlife conservation in urban areas
Ethical implications of genetic testing
Mental well-being and academic stress
Psychological effects of video games
Civil rights movement and voting rights
Cultural shifts in gender roles
National character in historical education
Wildlife conservation in marine ecosystems
Ethical implications of social media algorithms
Mental well-being support for refugees
Psychological effects of parental expectations
Racial justice struggle and education policies
Societal changes in political engagement
Mental health interventions in communities
Psychological effects of social media on teens

👉 To narrow, decide if your study is qualitative (interviews) or quantitative (surveys).

Education and Policy

Education and Policy topics use AP research questions to investigate academic achievement, academic involvement, different teaching methods, early childhood education, developmental outcomes, investigative skills, and modern challenges like biotechnology modification.

Student engagement strategies in remote learning
Different teaching methods for diverse learners
Preschool learning and literacy outcomes
Developmental outcomes of bilingual education
Research skills improvement in upper-school learners
Biotechnology modification and ethical considerations in schools
Academic achievement in STEM programs
Student engagement and project-based learning
Alternative teaching strategies and learning styles
Preschool learning programs in urban areas

👉 To narrow, focus on one grade level (e.g., middle school) or one specific program (e.g., bilingual literacy).

Developmental achievements of music education
Research skills in science projects
Genetic engineering awareness in upper-school learners
Academic achievement and school attendance
Academic involvement in extracurricular activities
Alternative teaching strategies for online learners
Preschool learning and social development
Developmental achievements of physical education
Investigative skills through community projects
Genetic engineering debates in classroom discussions
Academic accomplishments and teacher feedback
Academic involvement and collaborative learning
Alternative teaching strategies and standardized tests
Early childhood education policies and outcomes
Academic achievement and technology use in classrooms

👉 To narrow, define a measurable indicator (test scores, attendance, participation) and one type of school (urban, rural).

Business and Economics

Business and Economics topics often grow from AP seminar projects. Students may analyze consumer behavior, explore online marketing, measure public opinion, or study student success in different contexts.

Purchasing patterns in online shopping among teens
Digital marketing influence on upper-school learners
Societal views on eco-friendly energy adoption
Educational accomplishment and access to technology
Cognitive function and multitasking in classrooms
Consumer behavior and brand loyalty in youth
Online marketing strategies on social media platforms
Societal views on environmental shift policies
Educational accomplishment and study habits
Intellectual capacity improvement through exercise

👉 To narrow, pick one platform (Instagram, TikTok) or one population (teen shoppers, college students).

Purchasing patterns and ethical shopping choices
Digital marketing and influencer culture
Public opinion on regional community initiatives
Educational accomplishment and peer support networks
Intellectual capacity and memory training apps
Buyer behavior in fast fashion trends
Online marketing and video advertising
Societal views on education reforms
Student success and school funding
Cognitive function in digital learning
Buyer behavior in mobile app usage
Online marketing and data privacy concerns
Societal views on social justice issues
Educational accomplishment in after-school programs
Buyer behavior and eco-friendly products

👉 To narrow, compare two groups (male vs. female, teens vs. adults) or one outcome (purchase intent, retention).

Arts and Humanities

Arts and Humanities projects grow from research topics for the AP seminar. Students can link creative expression to history and society, exploring World War II, global conflicts, notable past events, and the role of campaign speeches. Modern students may also reflect on issues like gun control laws, adult mental well-being, and cognitive development.

Worldwide conflict and the role of women in society
Historical events in art and literature
Political speeches and their cultural impact
Gun control laws in American history
Adult mental well-being and art therapy
Cognitive development through music education
World War II and technology innovations
Worldwide conflict and international diplomacy
Notable past events and their role in national character
Campaign speeches and public trust

👉 To narrow, select one medium (film, painting, speeches) or one country’s perspective.

Firearm control policies and constitutional debates
Adult mental health in modern workplaces
Cognitive development and bilingual education
World wars, films, and historical memory
Worldwide conflict and youth perspectives
Historical events and civic education
Political speeches in election campaigns
Firearm control policies and student safety
Adult mental health and stress management
Intellectual development through theater programs
World wars and global alliances
Global war narratives in school textbooks
Notable past events shaping local communities
Political orations and leadership styles
Worldwide conflict and propaganda in the media

👉 To narrow, define a single historical period, author, or policy for deeper analysis.

Tech & Society Connections

Tech & Society topics grow from the AP research topics list. They examine the balance between innovation and social outcomes. Students may study social media dependency, cutting-edge tech, and how a subject that genuinely interests them links to psychological and social impacts, regional community, educational outcomes, and thought process maturation.

Social media addiction and student productivity
Cutting-edge tech in eco-friendly energy adoption
Transforming student passions into research opportunities
Psychological and social impacts of online learning
Regional community responses to climate change
Academic performance and digital distractions
Cognitive development through online education
Social media dependency and sleep patterns
Upcoming technological trends in healthcare systems
The role of genuine interest in crafting research questions

👉 To narrow, focus on one app (TikTok, Instagram) or one measurable outcome (grades, sleep hours).

Behavioral and community impacts of gaming culture
Regional community resilience during extreme weather events
Educational outcomes in project-based schools
Thought process maturation in early digital exposure
Social media addiction and peer relationships
Upcoming technological trends in transportation systems
Curiosity as the key to lifelong independent learning
Mental and societal effects of influencer culture
Regional community use of renewable energy sources
Academic performance and study apps
Intellectual development through coding education
Social media dependency and mental health support
Emerging technologies in ecological science
Balancing passion and process in academic research
Mental and societal effects of online activism

👉 To narrow, link one technology to one target group (middle school students, regional community members).

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Turn a Topic into a Research Question

Many students start with broad ideas but do not know how to shape them into questions. Strong questions matter because there are not enough — in AP Research, you must design a study that fits data, method, and ethics.

Turning ideas into questions also makes your AP research paper focused and practical.

5 Templates for Research Questions

Experiment: “Does [factor] cause a change in [outcome] among [group]?”
Example: Does daily online learning practice improve academic performance in grade 10 students?
Correlation: “Is there a relationship between [variable A] and [variable B]?”
Example: Is there a link between hours of online learning and final exam scores?
Content Analysis: “How is [theme] represented in [media/text]?”
Example: How is academic performance shown in social media posts by students?
Secondary Data: “What do existing datasets show about [trend/issue]?”
Example: What do national surveys reveal about AP research topic ideas on digital learning habits?
Mixed Method: “How do [qualitative insights] support or explain [quantitative results]?”
Example: How do student interviews explain the test score results from the effective AP project on study habits?

2 Examples from Student Samples (AP Central)

Topic → Question:
- Topic: The effect of study playlists on grades
- Research question: “Does listening to background music while studying improve academic performance in upper-school learners?”
Topic → Question:
- Topic: Social media and teen learning
- Research question: “What is the relationship between daily use of social media and outcomes in AP research paper writing skills?”

Methods Quick Guide

The best AP research topics depend on your method choice. Your AP research paper must clearly explain why surveys, experiments, correlations, or secondary data fit the problem. Choosing well saves time and improves credibility.

When to choose each method in AP Research:

Method	When to Use	Paraphrasing Formulas (3 examples)	Sample Research Question
Experiment	When you can manipulate one factor and measure its effect on an outcome (causal).	1. Does [factor] cause [outcome] in [group]? 2. How does [intervention] affect [outcome]? 3. If [factor] is introduced, how does [group] change?	Does daily meditation reduce exam stress in grade 11 students?
Correlation	When you do not intervene, you only examine relationships between variables.	1. Is there a relationship between [A] and [B]? 2. To what extent is [A] associated with [B]? 3. How does [A] vary with [B] in [group]?	Is there a link between TikTok use and GPA?
Content Analysis	When you analyze texts, videos, ads, or other media to identify patterns.	1. How is [theme] represented in [media]? 2. What patterns emerge in [media] regarding [topic]? 3. How do [media sources] frame [issue]?	How is climate change framed in TikTok videos?
Secondary Data	When existing datasets allow you to test hypotheses without collecting new data.	1. What do existing datasets show about [issue]? 2. How have [trends] changed in [dataset] over time? 3. What differences appear in [dataset] regarding [group]?	What do CDC datasets reveal about vaping trends among teens?

Data Sources for High-School Research

Finding data is one of the hardest steps in research topics for AP Research. Reliable datasets make your paper credible and ethical. Learn how to spot credible sources, trust academic literature, and build on existing research.

A quick reference to credible, publicly available datasets for AP Research:

Pew Research Center: Surveys on public opinion, social trends, and psychology; useful for social science projects.
Census / BLS (Bureau of Labor Statistics): Demographics, employment, income; ideal for economics, education, or population studies.
World Bank: Global development, poverty, and eco-friendly energy data; great for international and environmental research.
NOAA / NASA: Climate, weather, and space science data; essential for ecological science or STEM topics.
CDC (Centers for Disease Control and Prevention): Public health, disease statistics, and health behavior surveys; key for health and medicine research.
ICPSR (Inter-university Consortium for Political and Social Research): Social science studies archive; useful for longitudinal or historical analysis.
GSS (General Social Survey): Long-running survey on U.S. social trends; perfect for psychology or sociology projects.
Kaggle (public datasets): Open data for practice, modeling, and computational projects; suitable for STEM, statistics, or tech-focused research.

HSRB/IRB Basics for AP Research Paper

All AP Research projects must consider ethical issues and, when applicable, obtain teacher or IRB/HSRB approval before data collection.

Key points:

When approval is needed: Any study involving human participants, especially vulnerable groups (minors, individuals with disabilities, at-risk populations).
What to check: Potential risks, privacy, informed consent, and whether participation could cause harm.
Vulnerable groups: Minors, the elderly, people with cognitive or physical impairments, or anyone in a high-risk situation.
Why retroactive approval doesn’t work: AP Research requires prior oversight — collecting data before review violates ethical standards and College Board policy (AP Research Course & Exam Description, 2025).

📝

A Quick Tip:Discuss your method and participants with your teacher before collecting data.

AP Research vs AP Seminar Topics

Students often confuse AP Seminar and AP Research, especially when choosing research topics for AP Seminar that might later transition into AP Research.

AP Seminar builds skills with teamwork and sources. Instead, AP Research focuses on an independent project and AP Research questions. Knowing the gap helps you plan early.

Good AP seminar topics focus on teamwork, argument building, and source analysis. They are designed to develop collaborative research and critical and analytical thinking skills.

AP Research, in contrast, is an individual project: a 4,000–5,000-word paper, your own method choice, and a presentation with oral defense. Understanding the distinction helps students plan independent research without mixing course requirements.

Main differences for students:

In AP Class Discussion, your AP Research teacher guides source analysis
In AP Research, you earn college credit with a formal paper
The AP Research process allows long-term studies like eco-friendly energy adoption projects
Motivation matters: high student motivation and critical thinking predict success

Know how to structure your paper

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FAQ

Is There a Required Word Count for the AP Research Paper?

The paper is 4,000–5,000 words for good AP research projects.

How Many Questions Are in the Defense?

3–4, and they test if the work genuinely interests you.

Can I Use Surveys?

Yes, if ethical and feasible for future researchers.

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Helen Burgos

Helen Burgos, a distinguished author at PapersOwl with a degree in Communications, has contributed rich, informative content for seven years. She excels in storytelling and audience engagement, simplifying complex educational topics. Outside work, she enjoys cooking and gardening, drawing parallels to the educational journey. Her passion for education and attention to detail make her a trusted resource for students.