100 Sociology Research Topics You Can Use Right Now

Sociology is a study of society, relationships, and culture. It can include multiple topics—ranging from class and social mobility to the Internet and marriage traditions. Research in sociology is used to inform policy makers, educators, businesses, social workers, non-profits, etc.

Below are 100 sociology research topics you can use right now, divided by general topic headings. Feel free to adapt these according to your specific interest. You'll always conduct more thorough and informed research if it's a topic you're passionate about.

Art, Food, Music, and Culture

1. Does art imitate life or does life imitate art?
2. How has globalization changed local culture?
3. What role does food play in cultural identity?
4. Does technology use affect people's eating habits?
5. How has fast food affected society?
6. How can clean eating change a person's life for the better?
7. Should high-sugar drinks be banned from school campuses?
8. How can travel change a person for the better?
9. How does music affect the thoughts and actions of teenagers?
10. Should performance artists be held partially responsible if someone is inspired by their music to commit a crime?
11. What are some examples of cultural misappropriation?
12. What role does music play in cultural identity?

Social Solutions and Cultural Biases

13. What (if any) are the limits of free speech in a civil society?
14. What are some reasonable solutions to overpopulation?
15. What are some ways in which different types of media content influence society's attitudes and behaviors?
16. What is the solution to stop the rise of homegrown terrorism in the U.S.?
17. Should prescription drug companies be allowed to advertise directly to consumers?
18. Is the global warming movement a hoax? Why or why not?
19. Should the drinking age be lowered?
20. Should more gun control laws be enacted in the U.S.?
21. What bias exists against people who are obese?
22. Should polygamy be legal in the U.S.? Why or why not?
23. Should there be a legal penalty for using racial slurs?
24. Should the legal working age of young people be raised or lowered?
25. Should the death penalty be used in all cases involving first-degree murder?
26. Should prisons be privately owned? Why or why not?
27. What is privilege? How is it defined and how can it be used to gain access to American politics and positions of power?
28. How are women discriminated against in the workplace?
29. What role does feminism play in current American politics?
30. What makes a patriot?
31. Compare/analyze the social views of Plato and Aristotle
32. How has labor migration changed America?
33. What important skills have been lost in an industrialized West?
34. Is the #MeToo movement an important one? Why or why not?
35. What conflict resolution skills would best serve us in the present times?
36. How can violence against women be dealt with to lower incidence rates?

Education

37. Should students be allowed to take any subject they want in High School and avoid the ones they don't like?
38. How should bullies be dealt with in our country's schools?
39. Do standardized tests improve education or have the opposite effect?
40. Should school children be forced to go through metal detectors?
41. What is the best teacher/student ratio for enhanced learning in school?
42. Do school uniforms decrease teasing and bullying? If so, how?
43. Should teachers make more money?
44. Should public education be handled through private enterprises (like charter schools)?
45. Should religious education be given priority over academic knowledge?
46. How can schools help impoverished students in ways that won't embarrass them?
47. What are ethical values that should be considered in education?
48. Is it the state's role or the parents' role to educate children? Or a combination of both?
49. Should education be given more political priority than defense and war?
50. What would a perfect educational setting look like? How would it operate and what subjects would be taught?

Marriage and Family

51. How should a "family" be defined? Can it be multiple definitions?
52. What is a traditional role taken on by women that would be better handled by a man (and vice versa)?
53. How has marriage changed in the United States?
54. What are the effects of divorce on children?
55. Is there a negative effect on children who are adopted by a family whose ethnicity is different than their own?
56. Can children receive all they need from a single parent?
57. Does helicopter parenting negatively affect children?
58. Is marriage outdated?
59. Should teens have access to birth control without their parents' permission?
60. Should children be forced to show physical affection (hugs, etc.) to family members they're uncomfortable around?
61. What are the benefits (or negative impact) of maintaining traditional gender roles in a family?
62. Are social networks safe for preteens and teens? Why or why not?
63. Should the government have a say in who can get married?
64. What (if any) are the benefits of arranged marriages?
65. What are the benefits for (or negative impact on) children being adopted by LGBTQ couples?
66. How long should two people date before they marry?
67. Should children be forced to be involved in activities (such as sports, gymnastics, clubs, etc.), even when they'd rather sit at home and play video games all day?
68. Should parents be required to take a parenting class before having children?
69. What are potential benefits to being married but choosing not to have children?

Generational

70. Should communities take better care of their elderly? How?
71. What are some generational differences among Generations X, Y, and Z?
72. What benefits do elderly people get from interaction with children?
73. How has Generation Y changed the country so far?
74. What are the differences in communication styles between Generation X and Generation Y (Millennials)?
75. Why could we learn from our elders that could not be learned from books?
76. Should the elderly live with their immediate family (children and grandchildren)? How would this resolve some of our country's current problems?
77. What are some positive or negative consequences to intergenerational marriage?

Spiritualism, religion, and superstition

78. Why do some people believe in magic?
79. What is the difference between religion and spiritualism?
80. Should a government be a theocracy? Why or why not?
81. How has religion helped (or harmed) our country?
82. Should religious leaders be able to support a particular candidate from their pulpit?
83. How have religious cults shaped the nation?
84. Should students at religious schools be forced to take state tests?
85. How has our human connection with nature changed while being trapped in crowded cities?
86. Which generation from the past 200 years made the biggest impact on culture with their religious practice and beliefs? Explain your answer.

Addiction and Mental Health

87. How should our society deal with addicts?
88. What are ethical values that should be considered in mental health treatment?
89. Should mental health be required coverage on all insurance policies?
90. Is mental health treatment becoming less stigmatized?
91. How would better access to mental health change our country?
92. What are some things we're addicted to as a society that are not seen as "addiction," per se?
93. Should medicinal marijuana be made legal?
94. What are some alternative treatments for mental health and wellness instead of antidepressants?
95. Has social media helped or harmed our society?
96. Are video games addictive for young people and what should be done to curb the addiction?
97. Should all recreational drugs be made legal?
98. How has mental health treatment changed in the past 20 years?
99. Should recreational marijuana be made legal?
100. How is family counseling a good option for families going through conflict?