100 Qualitative Research Paper Topics
Selecting an interesting research topic is a very daunting task. And it becomes even more daunting when students are required to pick a topic that is:
- Highly specific
- Doable
- Practical
- Useful to the larger research community
- Has a lot of material present on it to start with
- Can be supported by enough facts and figures
- Instrumental in closing the ‘research gap’ that already exists around it or within the same field of study.
- Tries to explain the what, why, how, when, where and/or who behind a phenomenon or an event.
Because of all these factors, institutions—schools, colleges and universities alike—pay so much attention to the kind of topics their students will be researching on.
Qualitative research involves describing or explaining an event or a phenomenon without heavily relying on statistical or mathematical practices. Even though some qualitative research papers do make use of such practices to collect data, in the end, they generally rely on summarising and interpreting that data qualitatively.
Did you know that an eclectic method or mixed-methods approach is a research method that uses both quantitative and qualitative means of data collection and interpretation?
How to Choose the Correct Qualitative Research Paper Topic
Settling on the right qualitative research topic for one’s study depends on answers to some questions and personal student reflections, such as: :
- Can I research this topic in the time I have been given by my school/college/university?
- Is there a research gap that my research will be able to fill?
- Is this topic highly necessary; if I don’t research this topic, will the research community be affected?
- Has this topic been researched before?
- Does this topic support doable, practical research objectives and questions?
- Does my topic lean more towards the quantitative side than the qualitative side?
Such questions, if brainstormed before selecting a topic, will greatly help make the right decision about what kind of research needs to be done.
Still having difficulty choosing the perfect qualitative research topic? Below is a list of 100 qualitative research topics for different types of students.
Qualitative Research Paper Topics for Senior High School Students
In most countries around the world, high school generally comprises grades from 9th or 10th to 12th grade. The courses taught to students in high school mostly include the ones listed below, along with some unique qualitative research topics for each subject.
English
- What are the main cultural elements in Charlotte Brontë’s novels? OR How do they reflect modern cultures?
- How does literary language differ from the non-literary language in writing?
- What are the differences between poetry and drama?
- Which Shakespearean play/drama is most relevant to present times and why/how?
- How do Charles Dickens’ writings portray the pre-industrial revolution era?
- Why are Charles Bukowski’s writings negatively criticised?
Biology/Animals/Nature
- Why are coral reefs so important in marine life?
- How do bones in the human body ossify?
- Flora and fauna in deserts: truth or fiction?
- When is exposure to the sun beneficial and harmful to the human body?
- What is mercury poisoning in humans?
- What is the world’s oldest plant/animal species?
- What are the effects and causes of prolonged humidity or lack of rain on land?
- Is global warming getting worse or is it just a myth?
- Why do some plants need water and some don’t?
- Are there any physical benefits of having pets?
Chemistry
- What are ferrofluids?
- How do aluminium and mercury react together? What happens/doesn’t happen?
- What are the properties of aerogel?
- Can metal be smelled? If not, why, and if so, how?
- How can old jewellery be turned into gold bars?
- When does milk become lactose-free?
- Why are some gases odourless and others aren’t?
Physics
- How are black holes evolving?
- What is so special about Jupiter’s rings?
- What is the Fermi Paradox and what are the Five Solutions to it?
- Where can the law of entropy be witnessed in action?
- Does the soul have weight? How can it be measured?
- How does the Large Hadron Collider (LHC) work?
- What kind of environments would fission and fusion reactions not hold in?
History
- What are the major implications of the Civil War in today’s world?
- How did the age of piracy end?
- Which civilisation was advanced and why (Roman, Greek, Incan, etc)?
- What would modern society be like without the two World Wars?
- Which ancient cultures have survived/are still practiced today? How?
Philosophy
- What is the Nova Effect?
- Will AI be the end of humankind?
- Nihilism: good or bad?
- Why is Arthur Schopenhauer considered the ‘darkest’ philosopher of all time?
- Stoicism, Taoism, or Absurdism: which leads to a happier life?
- How does the Amara Effect work in real life?
Arts and design
- Do students learn better in a ‘colourful’ and architecturally rich environment?
- What is the importance of the golden ratio in modern-day design?
- Lefties are more artistic: myth or fact?
Psychology
- What is the importance of birth order according to Adler’s theory?
- Alcoholism and drug abuse is common in teenagers: why or why not?
- How do the ID, EGO and SUPEREGO shape an adult’s personality according to Freud?
- Why is gratitude considered a sign of happiness in young adults?
- Where do the effects of childhood abuse affect one’s mental well-being in later life stages?
- Bullied children go on to bully others: fact or fiction?
Music
- Why is Bach’s classical music given so much importance?
- Are music and memory connected? How?
- What are Beethoven’s contributions to present-day orchestral music?
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Qualitative Research Paper Topics for ABM Students
This group of students comprises those who belong to the field of accountancy, business and management. Even though the following topics have been mentioned for each field separately, some of them can be mixed and matched. Because each field in ABM might make use of other, surrounding fields during its research process. This is all because of a simple fact: such fields are very inter-connected.
Accountancy
- Will Blockchain improve the future of accounting? Why or why not?
- How has the COVID-19 situation affected accountancy firms globally?
- Is cryptocurrency the solution to all the financial issues of today’s consumerist society? Why/why not or how?
- What are some important ethical considerations involved in discretionary accruals?
- What will an accounting firm be like without interest rates?
- Do international firms like Coke or Nestle have a better accountancy workforce than local vendors? Why or why not?
Business
- How can someone launch their own business during the current COVID-19 pandemic? How is it different than launching a business any other time of the year?
- Is the AI business model the most integrated business approach model out there right now? Why/why not or how?
- What is the importance of language in communicating business goals, reaching the target audience, etc.?
- Which business ethics’ theories are followed most rigorously by contemporary businesses and why?
- When do businesses like Amazon or Shopify least benefit or affect the general public or other businesses?
Management
- What is the relation between career and talent management?
- Which affects management more: process planning or project planning? Why or how?
- Does organisational leadership affect management in small companies? How?
- Where is construction management most useful?
- How will an organisation be affected without brand management?
Qualitative Research Paper Topics for STEM Students
STEM students belong to the fields of science, technology, engineering and mathematics. Same as ABM, STEM research topics can also be mixed and matched with one another. Since the STEM fields are also highly intertwined with each one, it becomes difficult to tell sometimes what kind of topics are solely for one field or the other.
For instance, a topic related to global warming can be considered merely scientific. But then again, fields like technology, engineering and mathematics are all different faces of science. So, while discussing the effects of global warming, a student might find themselves discussing how technological advancements can help prevent excessive damage caused by global warming worldwide.
Similarly, mathematics is heavily used in the field of engineering. So, research from one field doesn’t necessarily have to rely on that field alone. It can go on to join with other related fields, too.
The following topics, therefore, might be combined with others to create a whole new topic. Or they can also be used as they are.
Science
- Is terraforming on Mars (and possibly on other planets too) a good or bad move? Why?
- How do black holes affect supernovas?
- Can ice caps melting from global warming be artificially preserved to stop the spread of viruses living under the snow?
- How has the earth changed in the last 100 years?
- What is the relation between climate change and flora and fauna growth?
- Are science and religion two sides of the same coin? Why or why not?
- The scientific inquiry leads to more questions than answers: fact or fiction?
- Scientific inventions have destroyed more than created. Is that so? Why or why not?
- What is the most likely future of energy, be it solar or otherwise?
- What is the importance of dialectical behaviour therapy (DBT) in helping patients?
Technology
- What are the negative implications of machine learning in today’s world?
- How has information technology (IT) revolutionised the medical world in the last couple of years?
- Wireless technology or AI: which is better and why?
- What is blockchain technology? Or Why is it important?
- Should nanotechnology be adopted in different spheres of life? Why or why not?
- How has Python revolutionised the world of technology in contemporary society?
Engineering
- What are some important future trends in industrial robotics?
- How has aerospace engineering helped scientists and engineers discover all they have about space?
- Where does civil engineering play an important part in construction?
- Where are industrial pneumatics used mostly these days and how?
- Why is mechanical design so important in a product’s development process?
- Which household use engineering products run on thermodynamics and how?
- What are the fundamentals of submarine engineering?
- How do hydroelectric power plants function?
Mathematics
- How do modern construction workers and/or designers make use of the Fibonacci sequence?
- How do mathematical calculations help determine the endpoint of the universe?
- How do spacecraft make use of basic math in their construction and working?
- What is the role of maths in data science?
- Where are mathematical computations used in game development?
- Is contemporary mathematical knowledge and practices etc. based on Vedic math? Why/why not or how?
- Can architects work without the use of geometry? Why or why not?
Explore further: Check out the top 10 tips every emerging qualitative researcher ought to know about before beginning their research.
Other Essay Topics: Discursive Essay Topics & Ideas 2022, Persuasive Essay Topics – Suggested By Industry Experts, Argumentative Essay Topics and Ideas.
Conclusion
Selecting a research topic is the first and therefore, perhaps the hardest step in the research process. Qualitative research involves using more descriptive, non-statistical and/or non-mathematical practices to collect and interpret data.
There are a couple of important things that should be considered before finalising a research topic, such as whether it’s practical, doable within the assigned time, etc.
There are many different types of qualitative research topics that high school students, ABM (accountancy, business, management) and STEM (science, technology, engineering, mathematics) students can uptake these days, especially with new knowledge being published each day in different fields. However, there is still always more to be discovered, explored and explained.
Selecting a qualitative research topic for senior high school, ABM, or STEM students is made easier when the close relationship between these fields is considered. Since they’re all so interconnected, a topic from one field is bound to include elements of another, closely related field. Such topics can therefore be mixed and matched to create a whole new topic!
Frequently Asked Questions
To choose a qualitative research paper topic, consider your interests, expertise, and available resources. Explore current trends, gaps in knowledge, and societal issues. Seek feedback from peers and advisors. Prioritize relevance, feasibility, and potential impact. Refine your topic to ensure it aligns with your research goals.
