Sociology Research Paper Topics

This list of sociology research paper topics represents a thorough inquiry into the state of knowledge and scholarly thinking. For more than 100 years, sociological research has covered a vast terrain of topics, theoretical perspectives, and methodologies that run the range of mainstream topics of interest, emerging new ideas, as well as topics considered to be peripheral to the discipline but nevertheless draw heavily on sociological literature for their framework.

100+ Sociology Research Paper Topics

Collective Behavior and Social Movements Research Paper Topics

• Social Movements
• Mass Communications
• Social Change
• Dynamic Systems Theory

Social Theory and Methodology Research Paper Topics

• Ethnomethodology
• Critical Sociology
• Humanist Sociology
• Feminist Methodologies and Epistemology
• Feminist Theories
• Quality-of-Life Research
• Visual Sociology
• Sociology of Risk

Sociology of the Self Research Paper Topics

• Sociology of the Body
• Sociology of Disability
• Sociology of Emotions
• Sociology of Femininity
• Sociology of Friendship
• Sociology of Men and Masculinity

Sociology of the Life Course Research Paper Topics

• Sociology of Children and Youth
• Sociology of Aging
• Sociology of Death and Dying

Sociology of Behavior Research Paper Topics

• Sociology of Consumer Behavior
• Sociology of Entertainment
• Sociology of Food and Eating
• Sociology of Leisure and Recreation
• Sociology of Sport
• Popular Culture
• Production of Culture

Creative Behavior Research Paper Topics

• Sociology of Art
• Sociology of Knowledge
• Sociology of Music
• Sociology of the Performing Arts
• Sociology of Science and Technology

Macrosociology Research Paper Topics

• Sociology of Disaster
• Sociology of Mental Health
• Sociobiology
• Technology and the Environment
• Sociology of Terrorism
• Sociology of Violence
• Environmental Sociology

Applied Sociology Research Paper Topics

• Applied Sociology
• Clinical Sociology
• Evaluation Research
• Sociological Practice
• Teaching and Learning in Sociology

Interdicsiplinary Studies Research Paper Topics

• Appalachian Studies
• Asian and Asian American Studies
• Criminal Justice Studies
• Gay, Lesbian, and Queer Studies
• Native American Studies
• Victimology

The Discipline of Sociology Research Paper Topics

• The Sociological Perspective
• The History of Sociology: The European Perspective
• The History of Sociology: The North American Perspective
• Sociological Theory in the 21st Century

International Sociology Research Paper Topics

• Asian Sociology
• Sociology in Canada
• European Sociology
• British Sociology

The Scientific Approach Research Paper Topics

• Qualitative Methodology
• Quantitative Methodology
• Comparative Historical Sociology

Social Life Research Paper Topics

• The Sociology of Culture
• The Sociology of Socialization
• Social Psychology

Social Aggregations Research Paper Topics

• The Sociology of Social Structure
• The Sociology of Group Dynamics
• The Sociology of Organization
• Industrial Sociology
• The Sociology of Voluntary Associations
• The Sociology of Social Networks
• Work and Occupations

Social Distinctions and Diversity Research Paper Topics

• Social Stratification
• The Sociology of Racial and Ethnic Relations
• The Sociology of Gender
• The Sociology of Sexuality

Social Institutions Research Paper Topics

• The Sociology of Love, Courtship, and Dating
• Marriage and Divorce in the United States
• Family Sociology in the 21st Century
• The Sociology of Religion
• Political Sociology
• The Sociology of Education
• Economic Sociology
• Medical Sociology
• The Sociology of Law
• Military Sociology

Societal Problems Research Paper Topics

• Social Problems
• The Sociology of Deviance
• Sexual Deviance
• Criminology
• The Sociology of Gambling
• Alcohol Abuse and Alcoholism
• The Sociology of Drug Use
• Juvenile Delinquency
• The Sociology of Corrections

Social Life Research Paper Topics

• Human Ecology
• The Sociology of Community
• Rural Sociology
• Urban Sociology in the 21st Century
• The Sociology of Migration
• The Sociology of Development

The Quantification of Social Life Research Paper Topics

• Demography
• The Sociology of Social Indicators

Browse our collection of example research papers on sociology and see the list of sociology essay topics.

Since its inception through the early decades of the 20th century, the discipline of sociology was essentially monolithic in perspective, representing a rather narrow range of topics in social problems areas. Early sociologists were essentially generalists, and during the first 100 years of disciplinary activity, the literature of sociology expanded only incrementally. By mid-20th century, however, there was a sufficiently large body of sociological literature on which to draw and a much broader and energized sociological curiosity as to foster some degree of specialization.

With its new focus on theories of the middle range, sociological inquiry developed into a multifaceted perspective, representing a variety of specialty topics and an expanded literature in which a proliferation of knowledge is documented. Sociologists thus developed an expansive array of specialty knowledge that represents the variety of research and theoretical activity within the discipline. Now, in the 21st century, the success of the past century requires a comprehensive survey and assessment of the many specialty topics in sociology that is essential for organizing this vast information. Each research paper linked from this list of topics provides a comprehensive research on one of these specialty topics.

For more than 100 years, sociological research has covered a vast terrain of topics, theoretical perspectives, and methodologies that run the range of mainstream topics of interest, emerging new ideas, as well as topics considered to be peripheral to the discipline but nevertheless draw heavily on sociological literature for their framework. The work sociologists engage in is both pure and applied, and depending on time and space and shifts in the dominant orientation of the body politic, the substance of this work is more or less significant. The discipline of sociology and its researchers are subject to the changing needs of the society that we attempt to better understand. Sociologists have been from the beginning social activists and social policy analysts. These interests and foci continue in the present and will undoubtedly continue throughout the 21st century.

Increasingly, sociologists have engaged in exploring a wide range of topics, and this extensive activity is demonstrated through the large number of topics presented in this list. Although there is certain to be some modest theoretical and methodological overlap between some of the topics, each research paper is developed to reflect the unique historical development of the topic, offers a general overview of the current state of knowledge, and provides suggestions for how the area of inquiry is destined to develop as we move well into the 21st century. This collection of research paper topics and example papers is both interesting and informative in that the research paper content offers the student insight into the rich legacy and development of the discipline of sociology while also providing the requisite reference information for advanced study and research into each topic. In this regard, there is a sufficient amount of information to support the rich sociological legacy of enabling students ample opportunity to learn while also providing important insights for those who enthusiastically embrace social activism as a part of the sociological enterprise.