The research paper must include a discussion of the relevant theories appropriate to the topic, identify current research efforts, and apply the topic. You may also consider comparing and contrasting
Topics in Positive Psychology
Possible Topics for Research Paper
The following list of topics for the Research Paper required in this course is NOT meant to be exclusive. Instead, it is intended to get your mind thinking about a couple of topics which you would like to learn more about by researching them and reporting your findings.
| Adult attachment styles | Agency thinking | Altruism |
| Authenticity | Balance theory of wisdom | Broaden-and-build model |
| Collectivism | Companionate love | Culture |
| Egotism | Emotional approach | Empathy |
| Flourishing | Flow | Forgiveness |
| Four-front approach | Gratitude | Happiness |
| Hope | Individualism | Integrity |
| Intimacy | Learned optimism | Life satisfaction |
| Love | Mature interpersonal relationships | Meditation |
| Mindfulness | Moral courage | Negativity bias |
| Pathways thinking | Penn Resiliency Program | Positivity |
| Positive Parenting Program | Psychological courage | Self-efficacy |
| Socioemotional selectivity theory | Spirituality | Wisdom |
If you find a topic that catches your attention, do a search with Google on that term. Find three authoritative Web sites (usually having “.edu” in the URL) and read them.
Formulate a thesis statement, i.e., a sentence that includes your topic of interest as the subject and some conclusion about that topic that you have inferred based on your reading. For help in writing a thesis statement, check Writing a Thesis Statement.
Write an Introduction that tells the reader something about will pique his/her curiosity, something striking about the topic that you want to share from your research, finishing with your thesis statement. For help in writing an Introduction, check Writing an Introduction Paragraph.
Then write the main body of your paper, presenting information in (with proper citations to your research sources) that lead up to your essay’s conclusion. For help in writing a main body, check Writing the Paper Main Body.
Write a Conclusion paragraph that summarizes and reviews the main points you have made in this essay. For help in writing a Conclusion, check Writing a Conclusion.
Write a separate References page with citation information for the sources that you have cited in support for your assertions (in APA style). For help in writing in APA style, check Writing the References Section.
Finally, take time to re-read and edit your paper, a process called “proofreading.” For help in proofreading, check Editing Your Paper.
If you did not have helpful classes in correct writing, you might want to check Common Student Writing Mistakes.
