Research+Paper

=** Sample Research Topics **=


 * Social Issues **

q Are computer games actually harmful to youth? How can this be measured? q Should downloading MP3 files and video files from the internet be considered illegal? If so, what can be done about it? q More than half of Canada’s university population is female, yet when these female graduates get to the workplace, are they greeted with really workplace equity? q How have “residential schools” affected Canada’s aboriginal people? q The ageing society: How can we look after the elderly in __________? q Are “weblogs,” or blogs, a better source of information than traditional news sources (like CNN or newspapers)? How can this be determined? Are some news sources better than others? q The “brain drain” of highly skilled people leaving my country for other places. Can it be prevented? Should it? q What does it mean to be a “multicultural” country? Is it really working in places like Canada? q Is there true democracy in ________? q Compare and contrast the Iraq War and the Vietnam War. q What is the influence of TV advertising on gender identity? q What are the effects of marketing on teenagers? q What are the effects of marketing on children?

= Health / Science / Technology =

q How does online relationship change friendship? q Stress for international students. How does stress affect the success of students studying overseas? It may not be preventable, but can it be reduced? q Music therapy is being practiced in some hospitals. How does this technique work, and what scientific evidence is there to support the practice? q Study strategies are important to students, especially at exam time, but how much do we remember later? What is “memory processing,” and are there ways to improve your short-term and long-term memories? q Is there a connection between cell phones and automobile accidents? Are any countries in the world doing anything about it? q Just how harmful are genetically-modified foods (GM foods) to us? Or, are these foods the solution to the world hunger crisis? Should they be encouraged or banned? q How bad is junk food for our health? What data is there to explain it? Can this problem be fixed? q Are “Hybrid cars” a significant answer to the environmental problem? q With new computer models, how useful is animal research at present? Do we need to continue this practice? q What is the “slow food” movement? What practical applications does it have for our health and lifestyle? q Compare electronic books and paper books. Do you think paper copies will be replaced by e-books in the future? q Compare organic farming and traditional farming methods. Which is better for us? q Compare genetically modified foods and organic food. Which one is better for our health?

= Business / International Issues = q Outsourcing and offshoring: how are these two new economic strategies affecting economic development? q Are marketing strategies different when companies want to sell to men and women? In what ways is marketing “gender-determined,” and how effective is this strategy? q What is undercover marketing or “stealth advertising,” and how does it work? Is it effective? Why do some people think it is unethical and potentially illegal? q Does advertising go too far in modern life? Should governments restrict some advertisements in public places? q How can a nation encourage “entrepreneurship” among its youth? Is this a useful thing to encourage in the new global economy? q Does globalization increase or decrease the economic gap between poor and rich countries? q Is the rapid development in IT in developing countries, like India, having an impact on career opportunities in developed countries? q Do the Olympics actually benefit a country economically? How is this measured? q Are international organizations like the International Monetary Fund (IMF) or the World Bank fair when they lend money to economically troubled countries?

= Environmental Issues =

q What are the causes of water pollution? q What are the causes of the water crisis in the world? q What are the effects of the consumption of bottled water? q What are the effects of noise pollution? q What are effects of global warming on animals? q The global financial crisis is an opportunity to reassess our values and prioritize environmental concerns as we make changes. q What is “carbon sequestration,” and would it be an effective solution to our pollution problems? q Ethanol, the new fuel made from corn: is it a good alternative energy source for cars? What disadvantages or side effects could we also expect? q Economic development at the risk of environmental damage in ____: is it worth it? q Is wind power a suitable alternative energy source for Canada?

Others
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