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Social anthropology articles from across Nature Portfolio

Social anthropology is the subdiscipline of anthropology that investigates the cultural properties of human societies. Topics include cultural norms, morals, laws and customs, and there is a particular focus on the comparative study of non-industrialised societies.

Latest Research and Reviews

social anthropology research topics

Cross-cultural perception of strength, attractiveness, aggressiveness and helpfulness of Maasai male faces calibrated to handgrip strength

  • Marina L. Butovskaya
  • Victoria V. Rostovstseva
  • Albert Davletshin

social anthropology research topics

Artificial intelligence and illusions of understanding in scientific research

The proliferation of artificial intelligence tools in scientific research risks creating illusions of understanding, where scientists believe they understand more about the world than they actually do.

  • Lisa Messeri
  • M. J. Crockett

social anthropology research topics

The golden section in the art of ancient Greece: an anthropometric study of the young warrior of Riace

  • Alessandra Putrino
  • Simona Zaami

social anthropology research topics

The mothers: contesting health-illness status and cultural authority in the age of AIDS

  • João Paulo Gugliotti
  • Richard Miskolci

social anthropology research topics

The cultural evolution of collective property rights for sustainable resource governance

Understanding the forces behind the successful governance of common-pool resources is crucial to sustainable development. This study reveals the importance of establishing and enforcing ‘access rights’ in the face of intergroup conflicts over resources to facilitate the evolution of sustainable ‘use rights’.

  • Jeffrey Andrews
  • Matthew Clark
  • Monique Borgerhoff Mulder

social anthropology research topics

Early humans out of Africa had only base-initial numerals

  • One-Soon Her
  • Yung-Ping Liang
  • Marc Allassonnière-Tang

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social anthropology research topics

From equitable access to equitable innovation: rethinking bioengineering for global health

What does global health equity mean? In bioengineering, ‘equity’ is often interpreted as global ‘access’ to technologies, thereby neglecting wider structural inequalities. Here we suggest that concepts of equity need to be expanded to incorporate principles of equitable representation and recognition within the innovation ecosystem.

  • Alice Street
  • Maïwenn Kersaudy Kerhoas
  • Zibusiso Ndlovu

Key points for an ethnography of AI: an approach towards crucial data

Recent years have seen an increase in calls for ethnography as a method to study Artificial Intelligence (AI). Scholars from diverse backgrounds have been encouraged to move beyond quantitative methods and embrace qualitative methods, particularly ethnography. As anthropologists of data and AI, we appreciate the growing recognition of qualitative methods. However, we emphasize the importance of grounding ethnography in specific ways of engaging with one’s field site for this method to be valuable. Without this grounding, research outcomes on AI may become distorted. In this commentary, we highlight three key aspects of the ethnographic method that require special attention to conduct robust ethnographic studies of AI: committed fieldwork (even if the fieldwork period is short), trusting relationships between researchers and participants, and, importantly, attentiveness to subtle, ambiguous, or absent-present data. This last aspect is often overlooked but is crucial in ethnography. By sharing examples from our own and other researchers’ ethnographic fieldwork, we showcase the significance of conducting ethnography with careful attention to such data and shed light on the challenges one might encounter in AI research.

  • Roanne van Voorst
  • Tanja Ahlin

social anthropology research topics

Late Neolithic community, clay pipes and water diversion in monsoonal North Central China

Excavation and a geoarchaeological survey provide evidence of an early multi-levelled water management system in the Late-Holocene East Asian Monsoon region.

  • Vernon L. Scarborough

social anthropology research topics

Research codes and contracts do not guarantee equitable research with Indigenous communities

Research codes and contracts have been developed to protect Indigenous and marginalized peoples from exploitation and to promote inclusion, so that research will become more beneficial to them. We highlight three important but often overlooked challenges for such instruments, drawing on examples from the San of southern Africa.

  • Stasja Koot
  • Julie Grant
  • David Mushavanga

social anthropology research topics

Global supernatural beliefs

Supernatural beliefs shape how people understand the world, but there is debate regarding how these beliefs relate to the natural or social world. Jackson and colleagues quantitatively analysed the ethnographic record and found evidence that supernatural explanations are more commonly used for natural than for social phenomena.

  • Matthew I. Billet
  • Ara Norenzayan

social anthropology research topics

Makeshift medicine is a response to US health system failures

The ‘makeshift medicine’ framework describes how individuals address healthcare needs when they are unable to access the US healthcare system. The framework is applied to gender-affirming care, the health of people who inject drugs and abortion access. Recommendations for future research, advocacy and policy are made.

  • Patrick J. A. Kelly
  • Katie B. Biello
  • Jaclyn M. W. Hughto

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Anthropology Research Topics And Writing Ideas For Students

anthropology research topics

Writing an anthropology research paper is in a lot of ways similar to writing an argumentative essay in other disciplines. Usually, the significant difference between these essays is how you support your idea. While you may use only literature to prove your point in an argumentative essay, you may need to employ textual proofs from artifacts, ethnographies, etc., in an anthropology essay.

Research in anthropology could be thrilling, particularly if you have many anthropology project ideas. Anthropology studies the evolution of human culture and therefore provides a wide range of anthropology essay topics that spill into history, biology, sociology, etc. Many anthropological research projects borrow from other social sciences. It is easy to feel that overwhelming grip on your chest if you’re unable to choose an anthropology research topic.

How to Write an Anthropology Research Paper

Guide how to write an anthropology research paper, the excellent list of 110 anthropology research paper topics, physical anthropology research paper topics, medical anthropology research paper topics, cultural anthropology research paper ideas, best cultural anthropology essay topics, biological anthropology research paper topics.

  • Forensic Anthropology Research Paper Topics

Are you worried because you don’t know how to write an anthropology paper? Writing an anthropology paper could be so much fun if you can nail the basics. It is not as bad as people paint it to be, especially if you get writing help from our professional writers . With the right anthropology paper format, anthropology research topics, and anthropology research paper examples, you’re set to go!

If you’re a big fan of doing lots of things in a short time and with fewer efforts, then you’re in the right place. This guide is full of the tips and skills you need to arrange your ideas properly. It also contains anthropology paper examples, anthropology paper topics, and other life-saving tips you may need. Ready to know how to start an anthropology research paper? Let’s delve right in!

How do you get started on an anthropology research paper? Below is the most comprehensive list on the internet to get you home and dry in record time!

  • Review the Assignment Guidelines
  • Develop a Topic
  • Outline your Paper
  • Do some Library Research
  • Write a Rough Draft
  • Write the Paper
  • Edit the Paper

We shall shortly expound on this list to help you better understand them.

  • Review the Assignment Guidelines: your professor may give you some guidelines to follow. To avoid deviating from the instructor’s expectations, spend some time reviewing your assignment guidelines so that you know the exact things you need to accomplish. For example, confirm if there are any stated anthropology research methods and the likes. It is beneficial to have a writing schedule. If you have a lot of time in your hands before the submission time, spreading out the workload will help to ease some of the stress. If you’re naturally a binge writer, sit at your computer early and bleed!
  • Develop a Topic:  search for some anthropology research paper ideas and choose from the vast array of anthropology research topics available. Select a topic that revolves around a guiding question. This topic should connect on a deeper level to the theme of the course. The length requirement for the paper will help you know if your topic is too big, too small, or just good enough. For a short paper, you may want to focus on a particular culture or event in the context of a broader topic. Ensure that your thesis focuses on anthropology and that it draws from anthropological theories or ideas. Now, do a quick search to confirm if there are scholarly materials available for this topic. It is easier to write a paper with some available references.
  • Introduction/Abstract
  • Library Research: now, start the research on your topic, preferably from course materials. A bibliography at the end of a relevant course reading is also a great way to get other related materials. Depending on the requirement of the assignment, feel free to search for other books or articles.
  • Write a Rough Draft: during your research, endeavor to make proper jottings and references, which will form the rough draft of your essay. A rough draft will help you create dots that you will be able to connect later on.
  • Title: Usually on a separate page and contains the abstract.
  • Introduction/Abstract : A short paragraph showing the road map of your thesis.
  • Body: Leverages your thesis and presenting your research in a detailed and logical structure.
  • Conclusion: The conclusion is a short paragraph that summarizes your fundamental theme and substantiates your thesis.
  • References: A citation of the resources you used in your paper. Follow the referencing style which your instructor chooses.
  • Edit the Paper:  you may engage any of your friends to help you go through your essay. Make some final checks such as the length requirement, the format and citation style, spelling and grammatical errors, logical flow of ideas and clarity, substantial support of the claim, etc. Once you edit your paper, turn it in and accept an A+!

Without further ado, here are 110 anthropology research paper topics for free! With 18 topics each from the six main subcategories of anthropology, you can’t get it wrong!

  • Eugenics — its merits and demerits in the 21st-century world.
  • Human Origin: Comparing the creationist versus evolutionist views on the origin of man.
  • Ancient Egypt: The preservation of their dead and underlying beliefs.
  • Homo habilis: Investigating Contemporary facts supporting their past existence.
  • Drowning: Clarifying the cause of drowning by examining the physical and anatomical evidence.
  • Smoking and its effects on the physical appearance of humans over decades of indulgence.
  • Physical labor: Exploring its long-term impact on the physical appearance of humans.
  • The relationship of Kyphosis with human senescence.
  • Aging in Western Culture.
  • Skin color: Exploring the influence of the environment on human skin color across continents.
  • Species and language: Focus on ways species evolve across the world and ways language acquisition affects and influences culture.
  • Abiogenesis: Research about abiogenesis and how it affects human development
  • Animal stability: How captive animals are different from those that live in the wild.
  • Henry Walter: The ways Henry Walter contributed to the field of physical anthropology.
  • Cephalization: The process of cephalization and what it entails.
  • Genotype: The environment correlation study.
  • Genetics: What does genetic hijacking mean?
  • Altruism: Do people learn altruism or it is an acquired state.
  • Applying the Concepts of Ethnozoology in medicine.
  • Critically Assessing the fundamental posits of critical medical anthropology (CMA).
  • The 2014 Ebola virus outbreak in Africa: Evaluating the success of control interventions.
  • Exploring the applications of Ethnobotany in medicine.
  • Nuclear disaster: A research into the life of survivors of the Chernobyl nuclear disaster of 1986.
  • HIV/AIDS: The reasons for prevalent societal infamy and the way forward.
  • HIV/AIDS epidemic in Europe: Exploring the roles of commercial sex workers in the spread of the disease.
  • Alternative medicine in China: A comparative review of its weaknesses and possible strengths in the light of Orthodox medicine.
  • HIV/AIDS in Africa: A critical assessment of extensively troubled nations and populations.
  • Depression in South-East Asia: Sheer social noise or severe threat?
  • Adult’s onset diabetes: Research on how diabetes is a major health issue in aboriginal populations in The U.S and Canada.
  • ARV rollout: The role of the ARV rollout and campaigns in Africa.
  • Sexual diversity in Africa: Research on whether sexual diversity in Africa is being taken into account to help fight against AIDS.
  • Chemicals and radiation waste: How the radiation waste and chemicals in the air are affecting people.
  • Mercury poisoning: The effects of Mercury poisoning in Minamata, Japan, and the measures to help put the situation under control.
  • Health: The health ramifications of adapting to ecology and maladaptation.
  • Health: Domestic healthcare and health culture practices
  • Clinic: Clinical interactions in social organizations.
  • Growth: Difference between growth and development.
  • Engineering: Genetic engineering and what it entails.
  • Marriage: Marriage rituals in different cultures.
  • Magic: Belief in magic and the supernatural.
  • Mythologies: The effects it has on modern culture.
  • Anthropology: How to use anthropology as forensic science.
  • Heroes: Studies of heroes in different societies.
  • Education: How education differs around the world.

Cultural anthropology discusses human societies and their cultural origin, vacation, history, and development. Here is a look at cultural Anthropology topics:

  • Women in Africa: The various challenging roles that women in Modern Africa play and how they handle it.
  • Homelessness: How homelessness affects and influences the culture and social landscapes.
  • India: Methods and measures that India is taking to deal with the issue of homelessness and measures they have put in place to deal with social landscapers.
  • Political science: Highlight and discuss the link between cultural anthropology and political science.
  • Superstition: Research ways that superstition affects the way of life.
  • Sexual discrimination: The evolution of sexual discrimination and its effects in modern times.
  • African cultures: Investigating how different religions and beliefs impact African culture.
  • Northern Nigeria: How the basic religious beliefs that influence forced nuptials among the children in North Nigeria.
  • Gay marriage: The background on gay marriage and how it influences the cultural and social backgrounds.
  • Racism: Explain racism and its existence in modern times.
  • Religious practices: Ways how religious practices and beliefs affect culture.
  • Culture shock: What it is and ways that people can work through it.
  • Ethnocentrism: Ways that you can use to minimize it.
  • Ancestors: A view of ancestors in African culture.
  • Religion: Religious practices in a particular society.
  • Culture: About the Rabari culture in India
  • Definition of culture
  • How culture anthropology links to political science
  • Alcoholism: Looking into the socio-economic and cultural history in Eastern Europe.
  • Assessing the effects of radioactivity on populations affected by the nuclear disaster of 2011 in Fukushima Daiichi.
  • Gay marriage: Exploring the biological aspects of same-sex weddings in North America.
  • Minamata disease: A critical look into the origin, populations affected, and transgenerational impact of this disease on Japan.
  • Asthma disease in Yokkaichi: A critical look into the cause, people affected, and transgenerational effect on Japan.
  • Itai-Itai disease: A critical look into the cause, populations affected, and transgenerational effect on Japan.
  • Nuclear bombings in Hiroshima and Nagasaki: An investigation of the transgenerational effects on the health of affected victims to this present time.
  • Cocaine use in America: A critical look into the health impact on American cocaine users.
  • Making Marijuana use legal in America: Possible woes and beneficial outcomes.
  • Cystic fibrosis: Justifications for its preponderance in white populations in America.
  • Biological Anthropology: Research on the meaning and definition of biological Anthropology and how it influences different fields.
  • Paleoanthropology: Explore ways Paleoanthropology uses fossil records to draw biological anthropology compassion and conclusions regarding human evolution.
  • Human social structures: Explain the development of human social structures using biological anthropology.
  • Biological anthropologies: Research on some primary geographical locations where biological anthropologies used to research their work.
  • Human language: Research how biological anthropology helped in the development of human language and communication.
  • Body projects: The changes and the valued attributes.
  • Political ecology: The Vector-borne and infectious disease.
  • Clinical Interactions: What are clinical interaction and social organization?

Forensic Anthropology Research Paper Ideas

  • Radioactive Carbon dating: A critical assessment of the accuracy of this dating technique.
  • Human Origin: Pieces of evidential support for Creationist and Evolutionist views on the origin of man.
  • Assessing the accuracy of DNA evidence testing and matching on criminology.
  • Neanderthals: Exploring environmental influences and migratory paths on their survival and appearance.
  • Dating Techniques: A critical review of current archaeological dating techniques.
  • Ancient Egypt Mummification: A critical look at the effectiveness of the methods used.
  • Nuclear disaster: A research into the impact of radioactivity on life forms due to the atomic catastrophe Chernobyl in 1986.
  • A critical look into recent evidence supporting the existence of Homo habilis in the past.
  • Crime Scene Forensics: Recent advances in the detection of crime.
  • Postmortem Changes: Investigating the primary agents responsible for biological changes in humans.
  • Criminal procedure: Research a case with a confession scenario and highlight unique features of the case.
  • Criminal procedure: Do your research on the criminal proceedings in a given area and what makes them effective.
  • Computer forensic: Ways that the computer forensic help in preserving electronic evidence.
  • Digital forensic: Research about the history and features of digital forensic.
  • History: Ways that Israel presents itself as a leader in computer forensics.
  • Oncology: The latest archaeological dating methods.
  • DNA: How accurate is DNA evidence in the matching and testing criminology?
  • Crime detention: The recent improvements of crime detection.

So here we are! Fifty juicy topics that are all eager to wear some flesh! Ready to have an A+? Let’s do it!

Are you stuck with writing your thesis? Just enter promo “ mythesis ” – that’s all you need to get a 20% discount for any anthropology writing assignment you might have!

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195 Top Anthropology Topics For Great Thesis

anthropology research topics

Anthropology is one of the most interesting disciplines that you can pursue at the university level. The whole idea of exploring everything known about human beings, from their origins to evolution, is pretty exciting.

However, the study requires preparing multiple assignments, which can be pretty challenging because you need a deep understanding of biology, history, and culture. The first step, which is even more stressful when preparing an anthropology paper, is selecting the right topic. So, we are here to help.

In this post, we have a list of the best anthropology topics that you can use to get good grades. To help you increase the chances of scoring the best grade in your paper, we have also included a comprehensive guide on how to write your paper like a pro.

What Is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the study of humanity, and it is concerned about human biology, behavior, societies, cultures and linguistics in the past and present. The discipline stretches back to the study of past human species. Because of its broad nature, it is broken down into a number of units, with each focusing on a specific area:

Social anthropology: Focuses on patterns of human behavior. Cultural anthropology: This branch mainly focuses on culture, including values and norms in the society. Linguistic anthropology: Unlike the other two, this branch of anthropology targets determining how language impacts people’s lives. Biological anthropology: This branch focuses on studying the biological development of humans. Archaeological anthropology: This branch of anthropology is concerned with investigating humans in the past. In some jurisdictions, such as Europe, it is considered a full discipline like geography or history.

How To Write Best Quality Anthropology Research Paper

When your professors issue anthropology research paper prompts, one of the questions that you might have is, “how do I write a high level paper?” Here are the main steps that you can use to write a great college paper.

Step One: Understand the Assignment The biggest mistake that you can make is starting an assignment without understanding what it entails. So, read the prompt carefully and grasp what is needed. For example, does your teacher want a qualitative or quantitative research paper? For masters and graduate students, it might be a quantitative anthropology dissertation. Step Two: Select the Preferred Research Paper Topic The topic that you select is very important, and it is advisable to go for the title that is interesting to you. Furthermore, the topic should have ample resources to help you complete the paper smoothly. If there are no books, journals, and other important resources to prepare the paper, there is a risk of getting stuck midway. Once you select the topic, carry preliminary research to gather key points that you will use to prepare the paper. However, these points are not final and will need to get updated along the way. Step Three: Develop Your Research Paper Outline An outline defines the structure of the paper. It makes further research and preparing the paper pretty straightforward. Also, it eliminates the risk of forgetting important bits of the research paper. To make the paper more informative, make sure to add supportive information progressively. Step Four: Write the Thesis Statement of Your Paper The thesis statement of a paper is your stand about the topic that you are writing about. The statement comes in the introduction but will further be restated in conclusion. The information you present on the research paper will approve or disapprove your thesis statement. Step Five: Write the Draft Paper After gathering the information about the topic, it is time to get down and prepare the first draft. So, strictly follow the prepared outline to craft a good paper, starting with the introduction to the conclusion. If you are writing a dissertation, it might be good to tell your supervisor about the progress. Remember that a dissertation is more comprehensive than a research paper. To write a dissertation, you should start with the introduction, followed by the literature review, research methods, results, discussion, and finally, conclusion. Step Six: Write the Final Paper After finishing the draft, it is time to refine it further and make the work exceptional. Therefore, you might want to go through more resources to establish if there is anything more helpful to add. Finally, edit your paper and proofread the paper. You might also want to ask a friend to help with proofreading to identify mistakes that might have skipped your eye.

Next, we will highlight the leading anthropology topics that you should consider. So, pick the preferred one or tweak it a little to suit your needs.

Top 20 Anthropology Paper Topics

  • How does the environment impact the color of a person?
  • The advantages and disadvantages of eugenics in the 21st century.
  • A closer look at the aging process in the western culture.
  • What are the implications of physical labor on the physique of a person?
  • Define the relationship between Kyphosis to human senescence
  • Does smoking impact the appearance of a human being?
  • Death caused by drowning: How to determine it through examination of physical and anatomical evidence.
  • Existence of Homo Habilis is supported by modern facts.
  • Compare two theories that explain the origins of human beings.
  • A review of key beliefs about human body preservation in ancient Egypt.
  • The role played by storytelling in different cultures.
  • Applying anthropology as forensic science.
  • Heroes in society.
  • Closed societies.
  • Emergency of terrorism into a culture.
  • Feminism application in different cultures.
  • A review of the concept of wellness in different cultures.
  • What role does literature play in human development?
  • Analyzing conflicts in Latin American and Asian cultures.
  • Genetic engineering and anthropology: How are they related?

Interesting Anthropology Topics

  • Investigating how religious beliefs impact the Hispanic cultures.
  • A review of the evolution of sexual discrimination.
  • The impact of culture on same sex marriages: A case study of LGBT community in France.
  • A closer look at racism in modern societies.
  • Causes of homelessness among the Hispanic communities.
  • Causes and effects of homelessness among the Indian people in Asia.
  • Comparing the strategies adopted to deal with homelessness in the US and India.
  • Cultural anthropology and political science: How are they related?
  • Identify and review two most important organizations when it comes to advancing anthropology.
  • Peru’s Quechua people.
  • Contemporary policy and environmental anthropology.
  • What influences human social patterns?
  • A review of the impact of western culture on indigenous people in North America.
  • Analyzing the caste systems and ranking in societies.
  • A review of ancient Roman culture.
  • The evolution of the human ear.
  • Comparing the evolution of man to the evolution of birds.
  • What is the origin of modern humans?
  • A closer look at the main issues in female circumcision.

Biological Anthropology Research Paper Topics

  • Exploring the meaning of biological anthropology and its application in different fields.
  • Analyzing how primatologists use primates to understand human evolution.
  • How paleontologists use fossil records for anthropological comparisons.
  • Biological anthropology: How does it explain human behavior development?
  • Identify and review top geographical locations where anthropologists do their work: Why are these locations so important?
  • Define the connection between social sciences and biological anthropology.
  • The evolution of the primate diet.
  • Analyzing the evolution of tapetum lucidum.
  • A closer look at the extinction of giant lemurs in Madagascar.
  • Human resistance to drugs: Human pathogen coevolution.
  • How to determine the age of an animal using its bones.
  • How does syphilis impact bones?
  • Poaching and habitat destruction.
  • The application of natural selection in the animal kingdom.

Good Cultural Anthropology Research Paper Topics

  • Religious beliefs in the Asian cultures.
  • Comparing religious beliefs in African and Aboriginal cultures.
  • A review of the key cultural concepts in a culture of choice in Europe.
  • Comparing the idea of worldview from the perspectives of two societies.
  • Marriage in a traditional society of your choice.
  • A review of early development of economic organizations.
  • The role of women in Indian society.
  • A closer look at the process of language acquisition in African culture.
  • Missionary and anthropology: What is the relationship?
  • What strategies would you propose to minimize ethnocentrism?
  • How can society minimize the notion of cultural baggage?
  • Culture shock: Insights on how to address it.
  • Belief in magic in different societies.
  • A review of the impacts of globalization on nutritional anthropology.

Anthropological Research Questions

  • Should anthropology be merged fully with biology?
  • Is DNA evidence accurate in criminology applications?
  • How does the practice of anthropology application in China compare to that of the US?
  • Use of radiological tools in anthropology: What is their level of effectiveness?
  • What are the main hazards and risks of forensic anthropology?
  • What effect do mythologies have in modern society?
  • How does language acquisition impact the culture of a society?
  • Body project change projects: What are the valued attributes?
  • Halloween celebrations: How have they evolved over the years?
  • What are the impacts of adaptive mutation?
  • How did WWI and WWII impact human societies?
  • What are the impacts of climate change on animal evolution?
  • Location of crime: What can you learn about it?
  • What are the impacts of long-term alcohol addiction on the human body?
  • Magic and science: Are they related?

Easy Anthropological Ideas

  • Development of anthropology in the 21st century.
  • Important lessons about humans that can be drawn from anthropological studies.
  • Anthropological issues in pre-capitalist societies.
  • A closer look at folk roles and primitive society.
  • Urban centers and modern man.
  • How is automation impacting human behavior?
  • How does biology impact human culture?
  • Reviewing racial identity and stereotypes in society.
  • Comparing ancient Aztec to Maya civilizations.
  • Analyzing religious diversity in the United States.
  • Comparing religious diversity in the UK and Italy.
  • Why is studying anthropology important?
  • Comparing different death rituals in different cultures on the globe.
  • What is the relationship between literature and human development?
  • Analyzing the influence of anthropology on modern art.
  • How has social media impacted different cultures on the globe?

Linguistic Anthropology Research Topics

  • What led to the emergence of linguistics anthropology?
  • A review of the main theories in linguistic anthropology.
  • Linguistics used by different communities in the same nation.
  • Comparing sign and verbal communication.
  • How did Dell Hymes contribute to linguistic anthropology?
  • Language is the most important component among Bengal immigrants.
  • Language endangerment: What is it?
  • Comparing different categories of arts from an anthropological context for an Asian and Western country.
  • The impact of colonization on the language of a specific society of your choice.
  • Explore three different indigenous languages in America.

Controversial Anthropology Topics

  • Social anthropology is not worth studying because it is very general.
  • Human societies are cultural constructs.
  • The past should be considered a foreign nation.
  • What are your views of petro behavior in chimps?
  • Man is natural killer
  • Infant killing is an important evolutionary strategy.
  • The war on infanticides: Which side do you support?
  • Evaluating the concept of human morality.
  • Should all the political leaders be required to undertake training in cultural anthropology?
  • Human cleansing: Evaluating the driving factors in different societies.
  • Analyzing the concept of political correctness in the 21st century.
  • What are the earliest life forms to exist on the planet?

Medical Anthropology Research Topics List

  • Comparing and contrasting physical and medical anthropology studies.
  • Do we have evidence of evolution over the last 2000 years?
  • Exploring the importance of anthropology in modern medicine.
  • The health implications of adapting to ecology.
  • Domestic health culture practices in two societies of choice.
  • A review of clinical anthropology applications.
  • Political ecology of infectious diseases.
  • What is the relationship between violence, diseases and malnutrition?
  • The economic aspect of political health in a country of choice.
  • Perception of risk, vulnerability and illnesses: A case study of the United States.
  • What are the main factors that drive good nutrition and health transition?
  • The adoption of preventive health practices in society.
  • Important cultural conditions that help shape medical practices.
  • Comparing the medical practices during the colonial and post-colonial eras in a county of choice.
  • Use of mitochondria in forensic and anthropology.
  • Commercialization of health and medicine: What are the implications in society?
  • Analyzing health disparity in a society of your choice.

Current Topics In Anthropology

  • Using anthropology studies to determine the impact of political systems on different societies.
  • Human rights of people who are convicted of crimes.
  • What are the most important organizations when studying anthropology?
  • A closer look at the dialect of a modern feminist.
  • A study of current queer life in Germany.
  • Implications of Barack Obama as the African American President.
  • Reviewing the Pagan rituals and their impacts.
  • Comparing aging in the west and growing old in the African setting.
  • Cultural implications of deviant behavior in society.
  • The new concept of childhood in the emerging economies.

Physical Anthropology Research Topics

  • What does genetic hitchhiking mean?
  • Analyzing the cephalization process.
  • What is adaptive mutation?
  • Altruism: Is it learnt or a natural trait?
  • What is abiogenesis in human development?
  • A study of Australian marsupial’s convergent evolution.
  • Comparing stability of animals in stability and those in the wild.
  • Evolution of different animals in different parts of the globe. What drives the differences?
  • A review of physical anthropology trends.
  • The future evolution of human beings.
  • Physical anthropology: The human and digital culture.
  • What really makes people human?

Special Anthropology Topics to Write About

  • Enlightenment and Victorian Anthropological Theory.
  • Race and ethnicity: The anthropologist’s viewpoint.
  • A closer look at reciprocity in the native aboriginal communities in Australia.
  • What is the relationship between Neanderthal and modern humans?
  • Cultural anthropology versus sociology.
  • Anthropology of Mormonism.
  • What is the biggest change since WWI?
  • What is reflexive anthropology?
  • What is the main purpose of rituals in society?
  • Comparing rituals around childbirth in Asia.
  • Evaluating the connection between religion and myths in different societies.
  • Comparing the 20th and 21st century’s method of collecting anthropological data.
  • Why is medical anthropology so important today?
  • The importance of Benin artifacts in the history of the world.
  • The sociology theory: A review of its structure and shortcomings.
  • Christian believes in anthropology.
  • Comparing Anthropology of Europe to Anthropology of Africa.
  • Evaluate the effectiveness of reflexivity use in ethnographic studies.

Forensic Anthropology Paper Topics

  • What are the primary agents that cause biological changes in the human body?
  • Are the biological change agents in a human being similar to those of other animals?
  • Assessing the accuracy of carbon dating technology.
  • Analyzing the latest improvements in crime detection technology.
  • Analyzing evidence that supports evolution views of human beings.
  • How does radioactivity impact different animals?
  • The main signs of asphyxiation.
  • A review of the latest archaeological dating methods: Are they effective?
  • Mummification: How effective was the process as applied in Egypt?
  • Importance of crime scenes in forensic anthropology.
  • Analyzing the effectiveness of Buccal Swabs when profiling insides of cheeks.
  • Criminal profiling: How effective is it in deterring a criminal’s traits?
  • Footprint in the crime scene: What can they tell you?
  • Soil comparison in forensic anthropology.
  • Insect as important agents of body decomposition.
  • How do you identify blunt force trauma?
  • Comparing and contrasting penetrating and perforating trauma.
  • Analyzing the Rigor Mortis method of establishing a person’s death.

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Top 300 Anthropology Research Topics

Anthropology research Topics

Welcome to a fascinating world of anthropology. DIve into our curated compilation of 300 engaging anthropology research topics that uncover the diversity of human societies and cultures. These topics span a wide range of fascinating subjects, from how people live and communicate to the ways they shape their communities and beliefs.

Explore cultural traditions across the globe, investigate the roots of human evolution, or solve the complexities of language and identity. Whether you’re mesmerized by ancient civilizations, modern urban societies, or the impact of technology on cultures, you’ll find thought-provoking ideas to spark your curiosity and inspire insightful exploration.

From examining social behaviors to understanding environmental adaptations, these research topics offer a doorway to understanding the rich diversity of humanity. Join us on this journey through anthropology’s vast kingdoms, where each topic invites you to solve the complexities of human existence, one subject at a time.

What Is Anthropology ?

Table of Contents

Anthropology is the study of humans’ origins, societies, cultures, behaviors, and physical variations across time and space. It emphasizes understanding the diversity of human experiences and how societies function. Anthropologists explore various aspects of human life, from biological and evolutionary perspectives to cultural and social dimensions.

There are four primary subfields in anthropology:

  • Cultural Anthropology: Focuses on understanding contemporary societies, cultures, customs, and practices.
  • Archaeology: Studies past human societies and cultures by examining material remains, artifacts, and structures.
  • Biological/Physical Anthropology: Investigates human biology, evolution, genetics, and primatology.
  • Linguistic Anthropology: Explores the role of language in societies, communication, and cultural expression.

Anthropologists use diverse methods, including ethnography (participant observation), interviews, archaeological excavations, biological analyses, and linguistic studies, to uncover insights into human societies, their histories, and how they evolve over time.

Here we have compiled 300 research topics under different categories. From how languages evolve to what ancient artifacts tell us, these topics are like treasure maps guiding us to discover the wonders of human life. Ready to dive into stories of our past, present, and future? Let us start.

Top 15 Topics On Biological Anthropology Research Areas

  • Human Evolutionary Genetics
  • Primate Behavior and Ecology
  • Forensic Anthropology
  • Paleoanthropology Studies
  • Human Osteology and Skeletal Biology
  • Biological Adaptations to Environments
  • Comparative Anatomy and Morphology
  • Dental Anthropology Research
  • Bioarchaeology Investigations
  • Human Growth and Development
  • Primatology and Conservation
  • Disease and Health in Past Populations
  • Population Genetics and Human Diversity
  • Evolutionary Medicine and Anthropology
  • Human Paleopathology

Top 15 Research Topics On Cultural Anthropology Research Topics

  • Rituals and Symbolism in Culture
  • Cultural Identity and Globalization
  • Ethnographic Studies of Communities
  • Gender Roles and Cultural Practices
  • Material Culture and Society
  • Language and Culture Interactions
  • Folklore and Oral Traditions
  • Cultural Heritage Preservation
  • Indigenous Knowledge Systems
  • Culture and Power Dynamics
  • Urban Anthropology and City Life
  • Cultural Diversity and Social Change
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Fieldwork
  • Diaspora Communities and Identity
  • Religion and Cultural Practices

Top 15 Research Topics On Archaeological Anthropology Investigations

  • Archaeogenetics and Human Origins
  • Settlement Patterns and Urbanization
  • Environmental Archaeology
  • Ancient Technologies and Innovations
  • Archaeological Excavation Techniques
  • Paleoecology and Human Adaptations
  • Cultural Transmission in Archaeology
  • Dating Methods in Archaeological Studies
  • Maritime and Underwater Archaeology
  • Landscape Archaeology Approaches
  • Cultural Heritage Management
  • Rock Art and Symbolism
  • Archaeology of Death and Burial Practices
  • Archaeology and Climate Change
  • Site Preservation and Conservation

Top 15 Research Topics On Linguistic Anthropology Studies

  • Language Acquisition and Development
  • Sociolinguistics and Cultural Variation
  • Language Revitalization Efforts
  • Language and Identity Formation
  • Ethnolinguistics and Cultural Contexts
  • Historical Linguistics and Evolution of Languages
  • Linguistic Relativity and Thought Patterns
  • Multilingualism and Society
  • Dialectology and Regional Variations
  • Language Endangerment and Preservation
  • Language Contact and Creole Formation
  • Anthropological Approaches to Verbal Art
  • Pragmatics and Cross-Cultural Communication
  • Language and Power Dynamics
  • Ethnography of Communication

Top 15 Research Topics On Medical Anthropology Focus Areas

  • Cross-Cultural Perspectives on Health and Illness
  • Traditional Healing Practices
  • Biocultural Aspects of Disease
  • Global Health and Healthcare Systems
  • Medical Pluralism and Integration
  • Mental Health and Cultural Perceptions
  • Ethnomedicine and Herbal Remedies
  • Health Disparities and Social Determinants
  • Healing Rituals and Symbolism
  • Maternal and Child Health in Cultures
  • Anthropology of Infectious Diseases
  • Indigenous Knowledge in Healthcare
  • Alternative Medicine and Society
  • Medical Ethnography and Fieldwork
  • Healthcare Access and Marginalized Communities

Top 15 Anthropology Research Topics On Economic Anthropology Research

  • Market Systems and Exchange Networks
  • Economic Development and Globalization
  • Cultural Perspectives on Wealth and Value
  • Informal Economies and Subsistence Strategies
  • Gift-giving and Reciprocity in Societies
  • Economic Anthropology of Gender
  • Economic Anthropology of Labor and Work
  • Money and Symbolism in Cultures
  • Land Tenure Systems and Property Rights
  • Resource Management and Sustainability
  • Consumption Patterns and Consumerism
  • Economic Anthropology of Entrepreneurship
  • Economic Anthropology of Food and Agriculture
  • Poverty and Inequality Studies
  • Economic Anthropology in Urban Settings

Top 15 Research Topics On Social Anthropology Themes

  • Kinship Structures and Family Dynamics
  • Social Identity Formation and Group Relations
  • Rituals and Ceremonies in Societies
  • Power Dynamics and Social Hierarchies
  • Community Studies and Social Networks
  • Gender Roles and Social Constructs
  • Ethnicity and Cultural Boundaries
  • Conflict Resolution and Peacemaking
  • Social Movements and Activism
  • Urbanization and Social Change
  • Socialization and Education Systems
  • Marginalized Communities and Social Inclusion
  • Collective Memory and Commemoration
  • Media and Society in Anthropological Contexts
  • Identity Politics and Intersectionality

Top 15 Anthropology Research Topics On Psychological Anthropology Topics

  • Cultural Perspectives on Mental Health
  • Emotions and Cultural Expression
  • Belief Systems and Psychological Well-being
  • Cross-Cultural Studies on Trauma
  • Rituals and Healing in Psychological Contexts
  • Cultural Influences on Perception and Cognition
  • Identity Formation and Psychological Processes
  • Child Rearing and Psychological Development
  • Stress and Coping Mechanisms in Cultures
  • Cultural Variations in Personality
  • Spirituality and Psychological Resilience
  • Psychopathology and Cultural Interpretations
  • Cultural Constructions of Happiness
  • Intergenerational Transmission of Psychological Traits
  • Culture, Mind, and Brain Interaction

Top 15 Research Topics On Evolutionary Anthropology Exploration

  • Human Evolutionary Genetics and Adaptations
  • Evolutionary Perspectives on Social Behavior
  • Evolution of Human Communication
  • Cultural Evolution and Transmission
  • Evolutionary Medicine and Health
  • Primate Evolution and Comparative Anatomy
  • Evolution of Tool Use and Technology
  • Evolutionary Ecology and Human Adaptations
  • Evolutionary Psychology in Anthropological Context
  • Evolutionary Aspects of Human Diet
  • Co-evolution of Humans and Pathogens
  • Evolution of Human Brain and Cognition
  • Biocultural Evolution and Society
  • Paleolithic Archaeology and Human Evolution
  • Evolutionary Anthropology and Human Biodiversity

Top 15 Research Topics On Visual Anthropology Areas of Study

  • Ethnographic Filmmaking and Storytelling
  • Visual Ethnography and Cultural Representation
  • Anthropology of Photography
  • Visual Arts and Cultural Identity
  • Media and Visual Culture in Anthropological Contexts
  • Visual Documentation of Rituals and Traditions
  • Film as Cultural Artifact in Anthropology
  • Ethnographic Film Festivals and Discourse
  • Visual Anthropology and Indigenous Perspectives
  • Ethical Considerations in Visual Representation
  • Digital Visual Anthropology
  • Visual Media and Social Change
  • Visual Methodologies in Anthropological Research
  • Visual Anthropology and Museum Practices
  • Aesthetics and Meaning in Visual Anthropology

Top 15 Anthropology Research Topics On Urban Anthropology Research

  • Urban Spaces and Everyday Life
  • Urban Diversity and Multiculturalism
  • Gentrification and Urban Dynamics
  • Urban Poverty and Marginalized Communities
  • Urban Development and Planning
  • Urban Social Networks and Relationships
  • Anthropology of Urban Public Spaces
  • Informal Economies in Urban Contexts
  • Cultural Diversity in Urban Neighborhoods
  • Urban Health and Well-being
  • Technology and Urban Anthropology
  • Urban Youth Cultures and Identities
  • Migration and Urban Settlements
  • Urban Governance and Citizenship

Top 15 Research Topics On Environmental Anthropology Issues

  • Human-Environment Interactions in Indigenous Societies
  • Climate Change and Cultural Adaptations
  • Environmental Conservation and Indigenous Knowledge
  • Political Ecology and Resource Management
  • Ethnobotany and Traditional Ecological Knowledge
  • Environmental Justice and Marginalized Communities
  • Anthropogenic Impact on Ecosystems
  • Sacred Landscapes and Cultural Preservation
  • Environmental Displacement and Resettlement
  • Sustainable Development and Local Communities
  • Ecological Anthropology and Biodiversity Loss
  • Water and Sanitation in Cultural Contexts
  • Anthropology of Natural Disasters
  • Land Use and Cultural Perspectives
  • Ethical Considerations in Environmental Research

Top 15 Research Topics On Applied Anthropology Focus Topics

  • Applied Anthropology in Healthcare Settings
  • Anthropology in Community Development Projects
  • Cultural Competence in Social Work
  • Anthropological Approaches to Environmental Conservation
  • Humanitarian Aid and Disaster Relief
  • Cultural Consultancy in Business and Industry
  • Forensic Anthropology and Crime Investigations
  • Ethnographic Evaluation in Public Policy
  • Anthropology in Education and Curriculum Development
  • Participatory Research Methods in Applied Anthropology
  • Urban Planning and Community Engagement
  • Cultural Heritage Management and Tourism
  • Applied Anthropology in Conflict Resolution
  • Technology and Innovation in Applied Anthropology
  • Anthropology in Global Health Initiatives

Top 15 Anthropology Research Topics On Gender and Sexuality in Anthropology

  • Gender Roles and Social Norms
  • Gender Identity and Cultural Constructs
  • Sexuality and Cultural Expression
  • LGBTQ+ Communities and Identity Politics
  • Feminist Anthropology and Theory
  • Masculinity Studies in Cultural Contexts
  • Gender-Based Violence and Cultural Responses
  • Intersectionality and Gender in Anthropology
  • Gender and Power Dynamics
  • Reproductive Health and Cultural Perspectives
  • Sexuality Education and Cultural Variations
  • Gendered Spaces and Social Hierarchies
  • Gender and Economic Empowerment
  • Ethnographic Studies on Gender Diversity
  • Indigenous Perspectives on Gender and Sexuality

Top 15 Research Topics On Indigenous Peoples and Ethnography

  • Indigenous Knowledge Systems and Preservation
  • Ethnography of Indigenous Communities
  • Indigenous Rights and Land Ownership
  • Oral Traditions and Cultural Transmission
  • Indigenous Health and Traditional Medicine
  • Rituals and Ceremonies in Indigenous Cultures
  • Indigenous Languages and Linguistic Diversity
  • Indigenous Governance and Political Structures
  • Environmental Ethics in Indigenous Societies
  • Indigenous Education and Cultural Revitalization
  • Indigenous Women’s Roles and Empowerment
  • Cultural Heritage and Indigenous Identity
  • Indigenous Activism and Social Movements
  • Indigenous Art and Cultural Expression
  • Resilience and Challenges in Indigenous Communities

Top 15 Anthropology Research Topics On Anthropology of Religion Studies

  • Rituals and Symbolism in Religious Practices
  • Sacred Spaces and Pilgrimages
  • Religion and Power Structures
  • Religious Conversion and Adaptation
  • Shamanism and Healing Practices
  • Mythology and Religious Narratives
  • Religious Pluralism and Coexistence
  • Ethnography of Religious Communities
  • Religion and Social Change
  • Gender Roles in Religious Contexts
  • Diasporic Religious Practices
  • Religious Syncretism and Hybridity
  • Religion and Environmental Ethics
  • Supernatural Beliefs and Cosmology
  • Ritualistic Performance and Symbolic Acts

Top 15 Research Topics On Migration and Diaspora Anthropology

  • Identity Formation in Transnational Contexts
  • Cultural Adaptation and Integration of Migrants
  • Anthropology of Forced Migration
  • Transnationalism and Global Diasporas
  • Refugee Resettlement and Integration
  • Gender Dynamics in Migration
  • Remittances and Economic Impacts
  • Homeland Connections and Diasporic Identities
  • Social Networks and Support Systems in Diasporas
  • Xenophobia and Discrimination Against Migrants
  • Politics of Borders and Migration Policies
  • Diasporic Cultural Practices and Traditions
  • Second-Generation Diaspora Identities
  • Urbanization and Diaspora Communities
  • Diaspora Engagement in Home Countries

Top 15 Anthropology Research Topics On Anthropology of Power and Politics

  • Political Rituals and Symbolism
  • Power Dynamics in Social Hierarchies
  • Political Economy and Social Inequality
  • Political Authority and Legitimacy
  • Political Activism and Social Movements
  • Political Representation and Marginalized Groups
  • Ethnography of Governance Systems
  • Political Discourse and Media Influence
  • Political Violence and Conflict Resolution
  • Political Participation and Civic Engagement
  • Power Structures in Indigenous Societies
  • Politics of Memory and Commemoration
  • Anthropology of State Formation
  • Political Agency and Identity Politics

Top 15 Research Topics On Technology and Anthropological Studies

  • Digital Cultures and Virtual Communities
  • Ethnography of Online Spaces
  • Technological Adaptations in Traditional Societies
  • Surveillance and Privacy in Technological Contexts
  • Anthropology of Artificial Intelligence
  • Technological Innovations and Social Change
  • Ethical Implications of Technology Integration
  • Mobile Technology and Global Connectivity
  • Cultural Perspectives on Robotics and Automation
  • Anthropology of Wearable Technology
  • Social Media and Identity Construction
  • Technological Impact on Cultural Heritage Preservation
  • Access to Technology in Marginalized Communities
  • Cybersecurity and Cultural Perceptions
  • Anthropology of Emerging Technologies

Top 15 Research Topics On Globalization and Anthropology Research Areas

  • Transnationalism and Identity Formation
  • Global Flows of Culture and Commodities
  • Globalization and Indigenous Peoples
  • Migration and Diaspora Studies
  • Global Health and Medical Practices
  • Globalization’s Impact on Language and Communication
  • Cultural Hybridity in Globalized Contexts
  • Globalization and Environmental Anthropology
  • Global Economic Networks and Labor Mobility
  • Cultural Imperialism and Resistance
  • Globalization and Urban Anthropology
  • Globalization’s Influence on Food Systems
  • Technology and Global Cultural Exchange
  • Globalization and Social Movements
  • Globalization and Ethical Dilemmas

In wrapping up our big list of 300 anthropology research topics, remember, anthropology’s like a treasure chest filled with amazing things to explore. These topics offer a map to understanding people, cultures, and societies. They’re keys that unlock doors to ancient times, different beliefs, and how our world works today. 

Pick a topic that sparks your curiosity, dive in, and discover fascinating insights about humans and our diverse ways of living. Let these topics guide you on an adventure of understanding, questioning, and learning. So, grab your curiosity, pick a topic, and explore the exciting world of anthropology.

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Social Anthropology

The graduate program in Social Anthropology focuses on issues of globalism, ethnic politics, gender studies, “new” nationalisms, diaspora formation, transnationalism and local experience, medical anthropology, linguistic and semiotic anthropology, and media. Our mission is to develop new methodologies for an anthropology that tracks cultural developments in a global economy increasingly defined by the Internet and related technologies. Our graduate students (drawn from over 30 countries) expect to work in the worlds of academe, government, NGOs, law, medicine, and business.  

Knowing that material culture is a key element in the study of globalism and the new world economy, we work closely with staff from Harvard’s Peabody Museum of Archaeology and Ethnology, who share our interests in redefining the study of popular culture, art, and the origins of industrial society. Research at the museum also makes it possible for us to maintain close ties to our departmental colleagues in the archaeology program.  

  • Admissions Information
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Social Anthropology research

Anthropological research at the School of Global Studies builds on a tradition of detailed empirical fieldwork. At the core of our research are lived life, everyday praxis, and the workings of power.

We practice an anthropology built on comparative and reflexive analyses that adds new understandings of the familiar as well as the unfamiliar. Our empirical fieldwork includes methods such as long-term participant-observation; textual, visual and archival research; interviews; elicitation techniques; and collaborative methods such as digital mapping and photo-narration.

We carry out both basic and applied research. Our work addresses classical theoretical problems within anthropology such as the boundaries between persons and things, waste and value, the sacred and the secular, social organisation and the formation of subjectivities, as well as contemporary social issues related to migration, integration, climate change, precarity and collective action.

Anthropologists at the School of Global Studies conduct research in urban and rural settings in Africa, Asia, Europe, and North, Central and South America. 

A sample of current research questions are:

  • How does global neoliberal capitalism affect economic opportunities, social relations and cultural imaginaries among groups ranging from subsistence farmers in the Venezuelan Andes to urban factory workers in south China, to Silicon Valley entrepreneurs?
  • How are climate change and other environmental challenges understood and managed by squatters in Jakarta, indigenous people in Peru and Bolivia, and urban Swedes?
  • How do global religious movements create new sensibilities, practices, and transnational networks in settings from Kuala Lumpur to rural Java to Luanda? Specific projects spanning topics from witchcraft and legal pluralism to religious wars and the social life of spirits.

A growing research field within anthropology is the migration industry, trafficking and new patterns of migration from Europe to Africa.  

Researchers, teachers and doctoral students in Social Anthropology

  • Chris Allen , doctoral student
  • Staffan Appelgren , senior lecturer
  • Signe Askersjö , doctoral student
  • Ruy Blanes , senior lecturer
  • Anna Bohlin , senior lecturer
  • Eric Boyd , associate researcher
  • Anders Burman , senior lecturer
  • Proshant Chakraborty , doctoral student
  • Simone De Boer , doctoral student
  • Sylva Frisk , senior lecturer
  • Maris Boyd Gillette , professor and Deputy Head of Department
  • Anna Hedlund , senior lecturer
  • Jörgen Hellman , professor
  • Steffen Jöhncke , senior lecturer
  • Mikela Lundahl Hero , senior lecturer
  • Anders Norge Lauridsen , doctoral student
  • Karsten Paerregaard , researcher
  • Stefan Permanto , researcher
  • Muhammad Rifqi , doctoral student
  • Ana Carolina Rodrigues , doctoral student
  • Dan Rosengren , researcher
  • Annelie Sjölander Lindqvist , senior lecturer and Assistant Head of Department
  • Carolina Valente Cardoso , researcher
  • Johan Wedel , senior lecturer
  • Lisa Åkesson , professor

Research projects

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Completed research projectes

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  • Problem gambling and economic crime in the workplace (External link)
  • Brokers manoeuvring il/legal terrains of gendered labour migration control in N… (External link)
  • Negotiating Water Values and Water Rights in Peru’s Highlands (External link)
  • The Cosmopolitics of Mountain Offerings in the Peruvian Andes (External link)
  • Crossing therapeutic borders: Sickness and Healing in the Somali Diaspora (External link)
  • Circular economy in the Swedish public sector (External link)

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Anthropology Research Topics: 100+ Ideas

Anthropology Research Topics

Do you want to frame an anthropology research paper that helps you stand out from the crowd? If this is the case, don’t worry because we have you covered. However, before jumping straight to the writing part, the first step is to select a great anthropology research topic.

A majority of students consider this step to be the most daunting. Choosing a topic and researching it can take time and effort. It requires a broad range of skills. However, since it is an academic compulsion, you must recognize it for a short time. Why not give this your most passionate shot once and for all and fully indulge in it once and all?

Don’t be afraid, as we’re here to navigate you through an enticing list of 100+ research topics in anthropology. These topics will help you frame the outstanding research paper you have always wanted. You can choose these topics as they are or tweak them a little according to your unique requirements.

Table of Contents

Working on Anthropology Research Paper Topics

To frame an outstanding research paper on anthropological topics, the first and foremost thing is to think anthropologically. Thinking anthropologically implies suspending their preconceived notions of how the world functions and what constitutes “normal” or “abnormal.” Anthropology urges anthropologists to be “culturally relative” and to comprehend cultural diversity on their terms. Anthropology rejects ethnocentrism and recognizes divergence without placing it in a hierarchy.

When you are writing your anthropology research paper, you need to ensure the following items are on your checklist:

  • Critically analyze and evaluate cultural norms (both in your own and other cultures).
  • Conduct comprehensive research on ethnographic data (including data and descriptions of everyday events, oral histories, and significant interviews) to understand significant patterns.
  • Organize all the ethnographic or other evidence to expound on a phenomenon or event or support a hypothesis or argument.
  • Evaluate a theoretical viewpoint critically to determine how well it explains cultural occurrences.

100+ Anthropology Research Paper Topics

There are a few subjects that intrigue the majority of students. These are anthropology, psychology, mythology, sociology, and other good ethnography topics.

Drafting a research paper on anthropology comes with a wide spectrum of special subtopics. These subtopics include linguistics, biology, current events, and cultural anthropology topics to choose from. These topics are mentioned below and can help inspire fascinating research and writing about humans and their evolution.

Read Also – Top 100 Position Paper Topics

Top 20 Topics in Anthropology

If you’re looking for the most researched anthropology topics for research papers that most readers will find interesting, you’ve come to the right place. Look at the following anthropological topics and choose one that suits your requirements best:

  • Global forensic anthropology and forensic pathology
  • Evolutionary theory in anthropology
  • Aging cultures and perceptions
  • Anthropology: an introduction to anthropology beyond humanity
  • Women in Lakota Sioux culture
  • Peru’s Quechua people: a living Andean culture
  • The evolution of Islamic terrorism
  • The advantages and disadvantages of eugenics
  • Western civilization: aging and identity
  • The cultural anthropology of time: an applied perspective
  • Aging and kyphosis: a narrative review
  • Theories about the evolutionary origins of humans
  • The Hijra of India: effects of colonization and globalization
  • Mass globalization
  • Unimagined communities: sex, networks, and AIDS in Uganda
  • The long history of gender roles in medicine
  • Developmental anthropology
  • Climate change and global health: anthropology and beyond
  • Eugenics in the 21st century
  • Living in closed societies: ethical and political issues

Read Also – Interesting biology research topics

Biology and Anthropology Topics for Research

Biological anthropologists investigate, document, and explain the evolution of morphological variations among humankind through time in the historical record. They also provide a comparative perspective on the uniqueness of the human race compared to other living primates. It is a very popular subject for students. Thus, if you’re keen to research more about such factors, then consider these biological anthropology topics that will help you get started with a specific mindset for writing:

  • The history of biological anthropology: understanding the natural history of humankind
  • A handbook on paleoanthropology: the history of our tribes
  • Minimizing the risk of maladaptation: a developmental perspective
  • Understanding the current stage of paleoanthropology in the USSR
  • Biological anthropology with other allied fields of science
  • How biological anthropology explains the genesis of human behaviour and social structures
  • Applying biological anthropology to interpret human evolution
  • How do the biotech and pharmaceutical industries influence modern medicine?
  • Biological anthropology and aging

Controversial Anthropology Topics for Research

Writing and researching controversial topics is always the cherry on the cake. You can easily expound on these topics by corroborating a huge spectrum of data and resources. Thus, instead of choosing drudgery research topics in anthropology, give another penny for your thoughts and choose controversial topics. Topic ideas relating to controversial topics are here.

  • Ancient Egyptian civilization: the culture of life and death
  • Validation of social anthropology
  • The ethnographic paradigms
  • The war on infanticide has a global scope and magnitude.
  • Cultural construction or anthropology: theory and empirical evidence
  • The criticism of the European monarchy over western democracy
  • The relationship between social anthropology and allied disciplines
  • Hidden voices: Unveiling women in Ancient Egypt
  • Understanding Italian culture: Greek culture’s influence on Italian languages and culture
  • The origins and natural history of human morality
  • Analyzing male aggression against women from an evolutionary perspective
  • Understanding personality, cognition, and behavioural changes in chimpanzees
  • Infanticide as an evolutionary strategy: reality or myth?
  • The myth of man as a natural hunter
  • Analyzing the dart and the Seville statement on war
  • The history of Samoan sexual conduct and the Mead-Freeman controversy
  • Menopause: adaptation or epiphenomenon?
  • Who owns the past?
  • The repatriation of anthropology

Read Also – 295 Sociology Research Topics

Cultural Anthropology Research Topics

Cultural anthropology is the branch of anthropology that studies human societies, patterns, cultures, and developments. Some of the contentious cultural anthropology topics are given below:

  • Cultural anthropology and linguistics
  • The evolution of sexism: a critical analysis of past problems and future possibilities
  • The flourishing of libertarian literary writings
  • The history of women’s struggles
  • Cultural anthropology and psychiatry
  • The development of sociology and social anthropology
  • Fundamental religious principles govern child forced marriages in northern Nigeria.
  • The battle of African women for equality
  • Patriarchy and the representation of women in Asian nations
  • Green and Roman mythology: a comparative analysis
  • African traditional beliefs and spirituality in Africa
  • Cultural violence and the Nigerian woman: a narrative review
  • The ultimate journey of widow-burning in India
  • Exploring cultural spaces and technologies in contemporary societies
  • The biological myth of human evolution: a phylogenetic approach
  • Erasing culture and race: practising “self-determination.”
  • The American Holocaust: Columbus and the Conquest of the New World
  • The 16th and 17th-century philosophy of India
  • Understanding Mexican culture from a religious point of view
  • Migration and cultural diversity
  • The native American ancestry of African-Americans
  • Muslim women and forced marriages
  • A theoretical analysis of culture clashes in American anthropology
  • Anthropology of religion
  • Christendom’s worlds and Christianity’s future

Physical Anthropology Research Paper Topics

Physical anthropology is the study of human origins, evolution, and diversity. If you’re interested in researching and writing about physical anthropology, then here are some interesting topic suggestions that you can consider:

  • Genotype-environment correlation study: an overview
  • The evolution of human beings
  • Genetic hitchhiking: the controversy and its implications
  • The altruistic personality: the heritability of individual differences
  • The cephalization process
  • Amazonian Anthropology: Henry Walter Bates
  • Homo sapiens and early human migration
  • The evolution of human history and the first man
  • The ancient Egyptian afterlife beliefs
  • The issues and challenges of aging in Asia
  • Influence of environmental factors on skin tone
  • Examine five literary works that discuss the stages of drowning and dying.
  • Evidence of somatic acceleration from recent investigations
  • The relationship between psychological and physiological constitutions
  • A review and comparison of dissolution profiles
  • The advantages and disadvantages of eugenics in the 21st century
  • Aging across cultures: a comparative analysis
  • Genetic engineering and medical anthropology: ethics and challenges

Read Also – 100+ Compelling Linguistics Research Topics

Linguistic Anthropology Research Paper Topics

Linguistic anthropology is the branch of anthropology that studies the connection or relationship between languages and cultures. It study how people negotiate, think, compete, and reproduce cultural forms and relations through the medium of languages. If you’re interested in learning more about linguistic anthropology, here are a few suggestions for you:

  • The anatomy and physiology of speech
  • Language, Race, and Popular Culture
  • The relationship between language and culture
  • Understanding intercultural communication: a current perspective
  • Linguistics and the politics of representation
  • Representational barriers and issues in linguistic anthropology
  • Language and gender: a comprehensive research work
  • American-African women’s language: talking that talk
  • Journeys into the past: understanding different language cultures
  • Language endangerment and language revitalization: an active approach

Forensic Research Topics in Anthropology

Generally speaking, forensic anthropology studies the examination of human remains for law enforcement agencies to solve atrocious crimes. Have a look at some of these great forensic anthropology research topics:

  • Analyzing the latest perspectives on forensic anthropology
  • Criminal profiling and computer forensic processes: assumptions, challenges, and probable solutions
  • Fundamentals of forensic anthropology: current methods and practices
  • Forensic anthropology and medicine
  • Forensic anthropology and forensic pathology
  • A handbook on crime scene investigation
  • Comparison of soils in forensic anthropology: a detailed study
  • Reactive oxidants and human diseases
  • An investigation of the fundamental factors that cause biological alterations in the human body
  • A study on the recent advancements in forensic science
  • Criminal profiling: a powerful tool against criminal offences
  • Current tools and future concepts of forensic anthropology
  • Common techniques in the study of forensic anthropology
  • Progress and prospects of DNA testing procedures
  • Narratives of forensic psychology and criminal personality profiling
  • Moral issues in forensic anthropology
  • The workings of forensic anthropology: ethics and professionalism
  • accuracy of carbon dating technology
  • Asphyxiation: an autopsy study
  • Analyzing the methods of determining the time of death

Medical Anthropology Topics for Research

Interested in medical anthropology? If so, look at the below-provided research topics on anthropology.

  • Exploring medical anthropology
  • Ethno zoology: applications and principles
  • A reflection on medical anthropology
  • Medical anthropology and epidemiology
  • Medical ethno botany: applied principles and applications
  • An overview of the spread of the Ebola virus in 2014
  • Maladaptation: The effects of adaptation to ecological conditions and improper adaptation on health
  • Mapping the concepts of vulnerability, risk, and responsibility for healthcare and illness
  • Critical and clinical engagement in anthropology
  • Ethno medicine modalities in a healing process

The Bottom Line

Each option in the article can help you develop an outstanding research paper in anthropology. Anthropology is indeed a complex subject. Thus, you can also consider some good ethnography topics for your research. You need to conduct extensive research on the different sections of societies and how they have evolved over the past few years. These research paper topics are meant to inspire you and help you score high marks in your academic research programs. You can use these topics as they are or modify them accordingly.

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Social Anthropology

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What is Social Anthropology?

Social anthropology is the study of human society and cultures through a comparative lens.

Social anthropologists seek to understand how people live in societies and how they make their lives meaningful. Anthropologists are concerned with such questions as:

  • Why do people do what they do?
  • How are societies organised?
  • What are the untold stories we could tell?

Explore these questions further by reading our What is Social Anthropology? blog  or by watching the below video featuring  Dr Chika Watanabe , Lecturer in Social Anthropology.

Ethnographic Research

The most challenging, but also most rewarding part of the course was re-learning how to look at the world through an anthropological lens. We learned how to see every-day practices we took as normal, and deconstructed them to the point of unfamiliarity. It is a very interesting way to look at the world which I continue to do in my work life. Eleanor Hurley / Former BSocSc Social Anthropology student

Although anthropologists in the 19th and early 20th centuries studied ‘far away’ places and small societies, today they turn their attention to a variety of social contexts, from state bureaucracies in Papua New Guinea to religious belief in the UK. One of the principal goals of anthropology is to ‘make the familiar strange and the strange familiar’.

Studying anthropology gives you an insight into what makes people tick. This knowledge comes from the study of societies over an extended time frame through what is called ethnography, which revolves around long-term fieldwork for a year or longer.

Anthropologists believe that it is only by understanding and sharing people’s everyday lives that we can analyse, tackle, and challenge societal and global issues. That is why we conduct ‘participant observation’, a form of research that is not only about observing phenomena, but more importantly about participating in other people’s daily lives and practices.

Watch the video below to learn more about ethnography from Professor of Social Anthropology  Penelope Harvey .

As a second year undergraduate student in Social Anthropology, you will have a chance to conduct your own ethnographic research in Manchester . This is a defiant city seeped in dynamic and diverse histories of labour and suffragette movements, underground music, and multicultural migration.

Anthropology in practice

Contemporary social anthropology tackles an enormous variety of topics. These range from the social implications of new reproductive and information technologies through the analysis of the social meanings of consumer behaviour, to the study of violence, poverty, and the means for resolving conflicts and alleviating human suffering.

Because of its focus on behaviour, social organisation and meaning, anthropology is used in a number of contemporary settings. Companies such as Google and Intel, for example, use anthropologists to understand how people interact with technology.

Anthropological approaches are also increasingly used in the health sector to redesign the patient experience.

If you want to learn more about studying Social Anthropology at The University of Manchester please visit our Courses page to explore our undergraduate courses, master's degrees and PhD programmes.

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Sociology and Anthropology Research Paper Topics

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Writing an anthropology research paper? This list of sociology and anthropology research paper topics provides some ideas for narrowing down your topic to a successful and manageable one. This page also explores the connection between the disciplines of sociology and anthropology. Browse other anthropology research paper topics  for more inspiration.

African American thought African Americans African thinkers Alienation Amish Balkans Child abuse Childhood studies Civil disobedience Class societies Collective behavior Communities Complex societies Crime Criminology and genetics Cuba Cultural convergence Culture of poverty Culture shock Deviance Division of labor Egalitarian societies Euthenics Extended family Feminism Folk culture Folk speech Folk speech Folkways Forms of family Friendships Gangs Genocide Gerontology Globalization Gypsies History of city Homosexuality International organizations Israel Labor Marxism Midwifery Nationalism Nuclear family Peasants Population explosion Rank and status Rank societies Secret ocieties Sex identity Sex roles Sexual harassment Sexuality Slavery Social anthropology Social anthropology Social Darwinism Social sturctures Socialist schools in Africa Socialization Sociobiology Sociolinguistics Sociology Sociology of language use Subcultures Untouchables Urban legends Women’s studies Xenophobia

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Sociology and Anthropology Research Paper Topics

One area where anthropology and sociology have joined forces is in the study of refugees. Approximately 140 million people entered the ranks of refugees in the 20th century. Many refugees left their homes because of war and political violence. Others relocated to escape nature’s wrath as droughts, floods, tidal waves, and earthquakes ravaged their homelands. Studies have revealed that about 90% of all refugees remain in the first area of relocation. While large numbers of refugees, particularly those who leave voluntarily, will be assimilated into the cultures of their adopted lands, others will remain in refugee camps in tents or barracks, creating new cultures that blend elements of the old with the new.

After World War I, the newly formed League of Nations oversaw the relocation of refugees displaced by the war. The end of World War II witnessed a shift in this responsibility to the Displaced Persons Branch of the Supreme Headquarters Allied Expeditionary Forces. The lives, rights, and basic needs of refugees were thereafter protected by international law. In 1951, the responsibility for refugee oversight again shifted when the United Nations High Commission for Refugees (UNHCR) was created at the Geneva Refugee Convention. By the early 21st century, UNHCR was responsible for some 17 million refugees around the world, mostly from Africa and Asia. Many of the refugees under UNHCR protection are children unaccompanied by adults. These children present new challenges to cultural anthropologists who study them, as well as to the agencies responsible for their welfare.

After both World War I and World War II, a number of scholars in various disciplines turned their attention to refugee studies as they attempted to develop a framework of research that would affect policy decisions. In 1939, the publication of a special issue on refugees in the Annals of the American Academy of Political and Social Science served to focus attention on the legitimacy of refugee studies as a scholarly endeavor. In 1950, during the post–World War II years, the Association for the Study of the World Refugee Problem was founded in Liechtenstein, followed by the creation of UNHCR the following year.

In 1981, International Migration Review issued a call for comparative, interdisciplinary studies on refugees. Seven years later, the Journal of Refugee Studies was founded to provide a comprehensive forum for scholarly research in the field. Since its inception, 22.5% of the contributors to the Journal of Refugee Studies have been anthropologists, and 18% have been sociologists. That same year, in response to increased interest in refugee studies within anthropology, the American Archaeological Association established the Committee on Refugees and Immigrants as a subgroup of the General Antiquity Division. Over the next 6 years, the number of anthropologists involved in refugee studies increased significantly.

Social Anthropology

While anthropologists in the United States developed cultural anthropology, the British developed social anthropology. In the present, despite the fact that social anthropology departments still exist in Great Britain and in other parts of the world, social anthropology existed as a distinct discipline only from the early 1920s to the early 1970s. Historically, social anthropologists rejected evolutionary anthropology as speculative rather than scientific and tended to study a society at a particular moment in time. Social anthropologists focused on social organization, particularly on kinship. Until recently, they did not deal with history and psychology as much as cultural anthropologists did.

Bronislaw Malinowski (1884-1942) and A. R. Radcliffe-Brown (1881-1955) were the two main figures to develop social anthropology. Malinowski developed the functionalist approach, and Radcliffe-Brown developed structural functionalism. Influenced by French sociological thought, social anthropologists looked at social institutions. In particular, Emile Durkheim’s (1858-1917) organic view of society influenced social anthropology. This approach described society as an organism, in which the different parts of the society work to maintain the society. This led to a holistic approach, which said that you could not look at any institution in society in isolation from any other institution. Social anthropology took hold in the British Empire. It also developed as a specialized discipline in parts of the United States, particularly at the University of Chicago.

Malinowski developed the method of social anthropology, ethnography, during World War I, when he did intensive field research in the Trobriand Islands of Melanesia for 2 years. Intensive fieldwork, where the anthropologist lives among an exotic people, became a hallmark of social anthropology. Malinowski’s functionalism focused on human biological and social needs, ideas that followed those of W. H. R. Rivers (1864-1922). He said that people had primary needs for sex, shelter, and nutrition and that people produced culture to satisfy these needs and other needs that resulted from these primary needs. While his theory has lost popularity, his fieldwork method has become standard in anthropology. Malinowski wrote many books based on his fieldwork, the most famous of which is Argonauts of the Western Pacific (1922). Early works based on Malinowski’s approach included Raymond Firth’s We the Tikopia (1936) and Reo Fortune’s Sorcerer’s of Dobu (1937). Later scholars criticized such ethnographies because the better they explained a particular aspect of society in relation to the whole society, the harder it became to compare that aspect cross-culturally.

Radcliffe-Brown’s structural functionalism used Durkheim’s ideas to a greater degree than Malinowski, and Radcliffe-Brown suggested social anthropology should be called “comparative sociology.” He got his ideas of social structure from Lewis Henry Morgan, Henry Maine, and his teacher W. H. R. Rivers. Radcliffe-Brown developed a more organic functionalism than Malinowski. He made the analogy that people of a society are like the parts of a human body. Social anthropologists who followed this analogy talked about kinship systems, political systems, economic systems, and other systems, which all worked to maintain a society’s social structure. They wrote about how each of these systems influenced one another, and when one changed, the others would change as well. Thus, some social anthropologists talked about how witchcraft beliefs are linked to social control, and, as Durkheim said, what religion you belong to correlates with the chance you will commit suicide. Examples of ethnographies produced that combined Malinowski’s fieldwork method with Radcliffe-Brown’s theoretical approach include Gregory Bateson’s Naven (1936) and E. E. Evans-Prichard’s Witchcraft, Magic, and Oracles Among the Azande (1937).

Early social anthropologists focused on social relationships in terms of social statuses and social roles. Social statuses are the different positions a person holds in a society. Each society has different social statuses a person can hold in a society, and there are behaviors associated with these statuses. Social roles are the behaviors associated with social statuses. They involve how people relate to each other in terms of their status, such as how a father relates to his children, a supervisor relates to her staff, or a chief relates to his followers. As people react together in relation to social roles, they define their social relationships. Social anthropologists discovered social relationships by looking at how people said they should relate to each other and observing how they related to each other in everyday life.

Henrika Kuklick points out another aspect of social anthropology; it was tied to colonial rule, and this influenced how people wrote ethnographies. Most social anthropologists described the societies they studied as harmonious and static. Social anthropologists for various reasons usually concentrated on egalitarian societies and wrote how in such societies consensus was the rule. She uses Evans-Pritchard’s writings on the Nuer to make this point, noting that Evans-Pritchard’s accounts show that some Nuer prophets had considerable power and leopard-skin chiefs also had power but Evans-Pritchard downplays this power. She says that the British anthropologists downplayed this inequality because they were also downplaying the oppression caused by their own rule.

In the 1940s and early 1950s, the focus of social anthropology changed to the study of social structure, the relationship between groups. Major works of this period were The Nuer (1940), by E. E. Evans-Pritchard, and African Political Systems (1940), which was influenced by classification systems by Lewis Henry Morgan and Henry Maine. In The Nuer, Evans-Prichard took a more cultural view than most earlier social anthropologists, since he said structures were cognitive maps of society, not actual social relationships. Then in the mid-1950s, some social anthropologists began to pay more attention to how society changed. This was reflected in the approach of Edmund Leach, who was influenced mostly by Malinowski, and in the conflict approach of Max Gluckman, who was influenced mostly by Radcliffe-Brown and Karl Marx. Major works that came out during this period were Edmund Leach’s Political Systems of Highland Burma (1954), and the work of Gluckman’s student, Victor Turner, Schism and Continuity in African Society (1957).

After this period, the influence of Malinowski and Radcliffe-Brown began to decline as social anthropologists turned to the structuralist ideas of Claude Lévi-Strauss, and later the ideas of Americans like David Schneider and Clifford Geertz, who looked more at culture than society. And Americans were exposed to ideas of social anthropology as social anthropologists like John Middleton, Victor Turner, and Mary Douglas all came to teach in universities in the United States. Finally, theorists like Foucault and Derrida influenced both social and cultural anthropologists. Today, many American universities say they teach sociocultural anthropology, and social anthropologists now deal with culture as much as society.

Bibliography:

  • Beattie, J. (1964). Other cultures. New York: Free Press.
  • Bohannan, P. (1963). Social anthropology. Holt, Rinehart & Winston.
  • Erickson, P., & Murphy, L. (1998). A history of anthropological theory. Peterborough, Canada: Broadview Press.
  • Kuklick, H. (1991). The savage within: The social history of British Anthropology: 1885-1945. Cambridge: Cambridge University Press.
  • Kuper, A. (1996). Anthropology and anthropologists: The modern British school (3rd ed.). New York: Routledge.
  • Stocking, G. (1995). After Tylor: British social anthropology 1888-1951. Wisconsin: University of Wisconsin Press.

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259 Most Popular Anthropology Research Topics For Students

anthropology research topics

Anthropology is the concept that explores the culture of human societies and how these cultures have spurred development. It is the study of physiological and biological features which encompasses the evolution of humans.

The study extends to ethnography, participant observation, ethnocentrism, even cultural relativism. As a student, you may need anthropology topics for your research or forthcoming college essay. You may even need anthropology project ideas to create your idea for a paper.

These persuasive anthropology essay topics are across different fields of the course and you can choose any of these topics for your use.

Medical Anthropology Research Topics

As a part of anthropology that deals with human health, diseases, and the performance of public health institutions, you may need anthropological topics viewing humanity from the ecological lens. Consider the following:

  • Assess the intervention of government and NGOs following Ebola virus break in Europe
  • Evaluate the success of governmental and NGO intervention after the Ebola virus outbreak in Africa
  • Assess the role of ethnobotany in medical sciences
  • Nuclear disaster: evaluate how it affects people using an event of natural disaster as a case study
  • Assess the residue why societal infamy is linked to HIV/AIDS
  • Attempt an evaluation of how the spread of HIV/AIDS is improved by sex workers in Central Europe
  • HIV/AIDS: an Analysis of the safety measures for commercial sex workers if it exists
  • Assess the strength and weaknesses of orthodox and unorthodox medicine in Native Americans
  • Evaluate the medical threats of depression in South Asia communities
  • Engage in an assessment of women’s sexuality and how culture affects sexual health
  • Attempt a medical moral perspective of the ethics behind euthanasia and how it could be synonymous with suicide
  • Express in detail what transcultural nursing means
  • Assess the complications in the treatment of periodontal disease
  • Examine how nursing ethics become pragmatic in the career of professionals
  • Examine how South Africa gas managed to reduce the HIV infection rate
  • How do contraceptives address HIV/AIDS and its spread
  • What does positive living mean as a means of avoiding AIDS stigma?
  • Express what sexual diversity means in America as a way to combat AIDS
  • Give an account if his Environmental and political health can help the advancement of medical anthropology
  • Give a study on the status of cancer after the Chernobyl nuclear disaster in Russia
  • Examine the environmental health disaster of two countries of your choice
  • Assess the connection of income to health and analyze three pioneering literature on the study
  • An attempt to explain big pharma and the complications of watchdogs and whistleblowers
  • Give a comparative overview of the Ebola virus and HIV/AIDS in Africa
  • How has the outbreak of HIV/AIDS affected the gay community since its first discovery?

Ethnographic Research Topics

You already know ethnography as the study of the everyday life of a particular society. These are anthropological essay topics that you can consider for your research or forthcoming undergraduate essay. They are:

  • Undergo a qualitative ethnographic representation of contemporary feminism in America
  • Examine the role of clinical science in the pharmaceutical science of rural communities
  • Choose a minority group of your choice and conduct research on their mental wellbeing based on their challenges
  • Research why abortion is considered the first resort for sexually assaulted and domestically violated victims
  • Evaluate the role of Ethnography and Its studies in psychology
  • Elucidate how teachers can adopt the findings of Ethnography in classroom learning
  • Examine the function of Ethnography in software technology
  • Assess how Ethnography and its studies could help people with learning disabilities
  • Assess how music and interpersonal relationship improve cognitive behaviors
  • Attempt an ethnographic study of healthcare management and American nurses’ intensive care
  • Attempt an Ethnographic study of resource management and how it affects American doctors
  • Attempt an Ethnographic study on the inclusiveness of health care and the public access to it
  • Evaluate how journalists cope with stress and how it affects their profession
  • Examine the boundaries of citizens involvement in intensive healthcare
  • Examine the Ethnographic study of a group of domestically violated victims and how they respond to the violation
  • Evaluate the effects of smart homes and privacy in communal Ethnographic studies
  • Evaluate the status of spiritual healing through systems of pilgrimage therapy
  • Examine the culture existent in poor educational leadership and how it fails the society
  • Attempt an expository study on the role of psychologists in advancing special education
  • How ICT improved collaborative work routines: a study of its consequences on human relationships
  • Embark on a qualitative research study on diabetes studies in Southeast Asia
  • Use ethnographic information to assess intensive public healthcare
  • Attempt an ethnographic overview of patient handover in European health care
  • Account for the challenges in interprofessional teamwork practice amongst European nurses
  • Conduct an overview of how cultures affect professionalism in healthcare: a case study of an African and European country
  • Study traditional health beliefs and myths and how they affect contemporary society development
  • Express how the value of education has been improved through ethnographic discoveries
  • Examine the factors that facilitate cultural developments in the face of Western civilization: a case study of India or China
  • Conduct a study on the beliefs of Japanese students while they learn English
  • Examine the state of theories of racism and how the black community of America has tried to change the narrative

Anthropology Research Paper Topics

You may need topics in anthropology for your next research paper. As you already know that anthropology is generally about cultures and history, you may need ideas of topics in anthropology to direct what your research is centered on. You can consider the following topics for informative and compelling research:

  • Examine the greeting gestures in American and Chinese societies
  • Examine the greeting gestures in native African societies
  • Attempt a comparative analysis of greeting gestures amongst the Yoruba people in Nigeria and the Brazilians with Yoruba ancestry
  • Navigate the process of aging and how it exacerbates fear of old age
  • Examine the benefits and consequences of eugenics in today’s world
  • Examine how human color affects his social relationship with his environment: a case study of the UK
  • Examine how the physical outlook of a smoker is affected
  • Investigate the view that human civilization emerged from Africa
  • Investigate the view that homo habilis is not an evolutionary fiction
  • Assess how ancient Egyptians kept dead
  • Attempt an overview of kissing myths in the western world and how it affects the cultural meaning of a kiss
  • Attempt an overview of the evolving ideas to matrimony in Asia
  • Account for the effects of the internet and western civilization on the traditions of Japan
  • Account for the significance of the Greek culture on Italian languages and culture
  • Account for the similarity and contrast in the philosophy of ancient Greece and Italy
  • Assess Latin language and account for the development of other languages since their inception
  • Assess the Slavic groups and explore the development of the aborigines and the modern Slavophiles
  • Account for the significance of women in ancient Egypt
  • Attempt a bird’s eye documentation of women’s role in modern Egypt
  • Study the concepts of American culture of consumerism and the Scandinavian culture of minimalism
  • Account for animal and floral prints in the life and art of native American cultures
  • Account for the connection of animals and plants in the art of beautification amongst native American tribes
  • Attempt a detailed overview of how the Roman Catholic Church improved the science of sculpting and architecture
  • Account for the influence of the Roman Catholic Church as the center of government, religion, art, and social life
  • Attempt a reconstruction of migrants and immigration means in America’s 17th to 21st centuries
  • Defend the notion that the English political culture is a mix of the old and contemporary cultures
  • Attempt a criticism of the monarchy in European politics over western democracy
  • Attempt a critical overview of the Bollywood and Hollywood movie industry as well as the historical context explored in the products
  • Assess the cultural constructions of human society and how they aid evolutions
  • Consider the discourse that language doesn’t exist without culture and vice versa drawing opinions from at least five Literature
  • Account for the development of rock music and its connection to any native American tribes
  • Attempt an overview of how social media engages the electorate before and during elections
  • Explore the concept of piercing in western countries and Asia’s India
  • Study the contemporary psychology of traveling between teenagers and their parents
  • Drug: attempt a critic of it as an entertainment or a coping mechanism.

Cultural Anthropology Topics

Cultural anthropology research topics give answers to human behavior by studying patterns and distinguishing elements from other societies. If you need awesome anthropology paper topics, you may consider the following to impress your professor as your graduate thesis topic:

  • Explore the social and cultural revolution leading to homosexuality in Africa
  • Attempt the social and cultural revolution that led to contemporary sexual attitudes in any region
  • Assess the social and cultural revolution that has propelled feminism in the Middle East
  • Attempt an overview of the different nature of feminism in the west and the Middle East
  • Criticize the critics who believe western feminism attempts to dominate the cultural lives of women in Arab countries
  • Consider an in-depth analysis of the Philosophies of two societies of your choice
  • Attempt an in-depth analysis of the religious beliefs of two traditional groups in Europe
  • Assess the structure of family and marriage in two countries of your choice in Africa and Asia
  • Account for the concept of ancestors in native American countries and Africa
  • Document the significance of cultural diversity in the study of human evolution in anthropology
  • Account for the meaning of cultural baggage and how to address the concept of culture invasion
  • Explore the background, development, and public reaction to the concept of gay and lesbian narratives in Africa
  • Give a critical assessment of how burial practices are interwoven with religion and myth
  • Explore the influence of religious and cultural superstition in the development of African worldview
  • Account for the evolving roles of women in Asian countries
  • Account for the distinctions in the cultures of death rituals in any two Asian countries
  • Account for the fundamental influence of culture and religion in the forced marriage narratives of Northern Nigeria
  • Assess the function of storytelling in the promotion of native American cultures
  • Account for the significance of social media in the culture of the first and third world
  • Attempt a forensic overview of the concept of family, fraternity, and gangs
  • Assess the significance of gangs and fraternities in the development of modern England
  • Give a forensic overview of the significance of political organizations in many Middle Eastern countries
  • Attempt a criticism of western intervention and modernization agenda in developing countries as an attempt to encroach cultures
  • Explore the distinction between the level of education in an Islamic state in the Middle East and a liberal state in Asia
  • Study music, dance, and parties in the contemporary society
  • Study the cultures of rituals and festivals and how they have led to cultural identity, community development, and intercultural relationship
  • Assess the concept of social status in any African community
  • Explore the cultures of any native American tribe and how it has changed over time
  • Assess the role of literature in the evolution of humans ideas
  • Study the understanding of health and wellness in three societies across from Europe, Africa, and Asia
  • Study the process of migration, factors mitigating against it, and how migration promotes cultural diversity
  • Examine the role of literature in spreading libertarian ideas
  • Argue for feminism in patriarchal societies
  • Attempt a criticism and distinction of anthropology and art
  • Explore the emergence and influence of culture on tourism.

Biological Anthropology Research Topics

This discipline examines the origins and evolution of humans, notably hominins. It studies fossil behavior, genetics, and other significant concepts that makeup morphology. If you need persuasive anthropology essay topics for your college or university degree, you can wow your professor with any of these:

  • Explore the socio-economic and cultural history of Americans and alcohol drinkers
  • Account for the effects of the disaster of Hiroshima and Nagasaki bombings
  • Examine the transgenerational impact of the Hiroshima and Nagasaki nuclear explosions
  • Account for the results of radioactivity in the affected population of Fukushima Daiichi in 2011
  • Assess the biology in same-sex matrimony in North America
  • Account for the origin, spread, and transgenerational impact of any endemic in any society of your choice
  • A critical overview of COVID-19 and the battle for survival in two or more Indian cities
  • Cocaine use in America: health impact on addicts and the psychology for starters
  • Marijuana in North America: benefits, disadvantages, and woes
  • Maladaptation: how it affects migrants in any country of your choice
  • Examine how domestic health care challenges cultural health practices in any Middle Eastern country
  • Analyze the concept of vulnerability and risk in public health care
  • Analyze the possibilities of traditional institutions in preserving cultures
  • Explore the relationship and comparison between malnutrition, violence, and chronic disease in any society of your choice
  • Study the factors that drive health care transition, nutrition, and improvement of health in any European country of your choice
  • How do social relationships affect nutritional choices and human healthy living?
  • Account for the historical practices that have influenced medicinal practices and policies in the contemporary society
  • Examine clinical interactions in any social association of your choice
  • Attempt a pluralistic overview of health practices in any society of your choice
  • Assess the cultural revolution of medicine in any African country of your choice
  • Give an overview of how pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies shape contemporary medicine
  • Explore medical cultures in pre-colonial, colonial, and post-colonial India and how it functions as a part of modernity
  • Examine the commercialization and commodification of medicine and healthcare in the contemporary society
  • Account for the disparity in healthcare accessibility in any developing country
  • Account for the challenges of a developing nation in public access to healthcare services

Interesting Anthropology Topics

If you’d like to explore current anthropology research questions, there are compelling topics for your undergraduate research. You can attempt and rephrase any topics in anthropology below to use for your school essay or research:

  • Women in Afghanistan and the culture of silence
  • Women in Egypt and the culture of silence
  • The influence of western feminism and the culture of silence in the Arabic Muslim world
  • Examine the influence of environmental anthropology on medicine
  • Attempt a critical study of the global outlook of HIV/AIDS and how it concerns the LGBTQ community
  • Explore the impact of contemporary ideologies on native American societies
  • Account for the role of folklore in the defense and transgenerational retainment of cultures
  • Tribal, savage, barbaric: explore the culture of labeling in the contemporary world
  • Assess the growth of modern man and the evolution of civilization
  • Account for different race theories and the systems of cultural assimilations across the world
  • Give an account of the overview of colonialism as expressed by the Literature of Franz Fanon
  • Assess the connection of political science with cultural anthropology
  • Explain the psychology behind genocide and its effects on human relationship
  • Attempt an anthropological analysis of human behavior in Lord of the Flies
  • Account for the nature of matrimony in Islamic societies
  • Express the racial identities particular to native American tribes and any Asian country of your choice
  • Compare and contrast American and Asian music
  • Express the psychological implications of Barack Obama’s emergence as a colored president
  • Explore the origin, factor for development, and spread of biological aggression during warfare
  • Give a critical account of the hunter-gatherer society in South Africa
  • Give an overview of fishermen and their knowledge of the society in any country of your choice
  • Explore how the internet promoted westernization
  • Examine the influence of cross-cultural experiences in the modern world
  • Evaluate the history and significance of the festivities of Halloween
  • Evaluate the factors that promote the culture of bullying in America
  • Evaluate the concept of aging in African and Europe
  • Express the spiritual cultures of any African and European country
  • Assess the religious beliefs of Catholicism and Its Influence on contemporary faith
  • Assess how sexuality is affected by religiosity
  • Evaluate the defiant behavior of contemporary sexuality
  • Examine the factors that propel religious aggressions
  • Expatiate on the factors that promote cultural hatred in a diverse society
  • Explore the cultural distinctions between European and American societies
  • Account for the role of TV reality shows in the social life of any society of your choice
  • How does TV reality show the reality of any society?

Physical Anthropology Research Paper Topics

This is a field of anthropology interested in the history, evolution, and distinguishing features of humans. The field impacts, most importantly, human behavior and anatomical transformations. You can consider these Anthropology research paper topics for your class or personal research study:

  • What are the advantages and consequences of eugenics in today’s society?
  • Why has the origin of man been different societies of civilization
  • Have western ideas of superiority affected the acknowledgment of Egypt as the cradle of civilization?
  • What are the contemporary facts that support past research and experiences of homo habilis?
  • What are the consequences of smoking on human physical appearance
  • What is the underlying Egyptian belief in preserving the dead
  • Examine the Influence of the environment on skin color
  • Explore aging in Asian countries and what it means for them
  • Analyze the physical concept of re-adjusting newborn babies by nursing mothers
  • Analyze five pieces of Literature on the stages of drowning till death

List of Ethnography Topics

If you need topics regarding the scientific understanding of cultures, humans, their customs, and collective distinctive features, you need ethnographic research topics. You can consider the following:

  • Is homelessness a function of ethnic affiliation in the United States?
  • Examine the factors contributing to migration from Latin America to other parts of the world
  • Examine the concept of drug trafficking in Africa
  • Examine the violence and concept of human trafficking in Africa
  • Analyze the Psychology of victims of human trafficking and how it affects their human relationships
  • Attempt to examine how cultures of patriarchy adapt to American liberalism
  • Analyze the factors that propel violence through drug trade in South America
  • Examine the difference between the treatment of black and white Americans in the prison system
  • Attempt to respond to the division of fraternities along the lines of ethnic groups
  • Discuss the way of life of homeless persons in Europe
  • Examine the domestic policies of Europe and how it affects day to day living
  • Examine how the migration policies of Poland affect migrants
  • Examine how US veterans are integrated into the society
  • Criticize the policies of Poland and express its fear of terrorism
  • Give an overview of Sharia law in the UK and what it means for the culture
  • Examine the conceit of migration between Africa and Europe
  • Examine how unemployment has fueled the migration of Nigerian culture to Saudi Arabia and the potential effect of cultural diversity
  • Examine how Muslim parents dominate their children’s choices
  • Examine how parents in Asian societies dominate their children’s choices
  • Analyze how parents in European societies dominate their children’s choices
  • Discuss the advantages of western socialization with Islamic countries
  • Assess the politics of Arab countries
  • Account for the Arab spring and the link to human revolutions
  • Account for the means of socializing with kids in India
  • Examine the link between terrorism and human trafficking
  • Explore the success and failure levels of people with different backgrounds
  • Examine the trend of marriage and the changes in any society of your choice
  • Account for how globalization has affected any group of people
  • Account for the values of European countries
  • Assess the eating habits of European homeless persons
  • Account for how the street is sometimes space for talent shows
  • Discuss the concept of adulthood amongst Brazilians and Indians
  • Examine any social organization and share their striking features
  • What is the traditional and contemporary definition of beauty
  • Examine the culture of transgenderism in Arab countries.

Current Topics in Anthropology

You could also want to consider straightforward anthropology topics for your thesis. You can set your research study on:

  • Oral traditions and culture
  • Human evolution
  • Forensic anthropology
  • Physical Anthropology
  • Spiritual therapy
  • Cross-cultural diversity
  • Linguistics and culture
  • Art, beauty, and worldview
  • Labour and work systems
  • Political and economic systems
  • Family, kinship, and marriage systems
  • Social inequality
  • Contemporary technology
  • Contemporary industrialization
  • Immigration processes
  • Archaeology
  • Gender studies
  • Decomposition
  • Methods embalmment
  • Primatology
  • Reconstruction of skeletal systems
  • Homo species
  • Science of excavations
  • Human anatomy
  • Interpretation of archaeological researches
  • Early species
  • Westernization and tribalism
  • Comparative culture.

Need Help With Anthropology?

Since you have access to topics which could guide your research, you may also need thesis help for a compelling research study. There are many online research writing assistance websites who can help create the best and most informative study. You can get a high quality essay at a fast pace to pass your undergraduate degree at a cheap price. You can even get your class colleagues on board for the awesome opportunity to get an excellent essay.

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121+ Highly Informative Anthropology Research Topics

Anthropology is a broad field of study about human beings, and it spans various subjects that deal with the past, present, and future. Curious students, those who want to become researchers, or just learners love this subject as there are numerous fascinating things to discuss. 

This course involves everyone with an innate desire for curiosity and self-discovery in an intellectual experience. It covers topics ranging from converting the riddles of ancient civilizations to understanding the ethnicities surrounding us. 

So please go through our list of the top 121+ anthropology research topics that are informative and provide gateways to appreciating the richness of human societies, their transformation through time, and how they have profoundly affected our earth. 

What Are Anthropology Research Topics?

Table of Contents

Anthropology research topics look at different parts of human life, both past and present. These topics explore cultural traditions, social groups, languages, and biological factors that help us understand what it means to be human.

At their core, these topics invite us to be curious and question what we think we know. They let us explore the many different ways humans live and have lived worldwide, from ancient societies to modern communities. These topics allow us to see how culture, environment, and human behavior are connected.

Whether studying how languages started, how social rankings developed, or the special meanings behind rituals and objects, anthropology research topics help us unravel the many stories that make up human history. They bring together knowledge of archaeology, biology, linguistics, and cultural studies.

By investigating these topics, we learn more and gain a deeper respect for our planet’s diversity of human cultures. We learn to understand and appreciate the rich tapestry of ways of life around us.

Recommended Reading: “ Top 169+ AP Seminar Research Topics – Full Guide! “.

Ethnographic Fieldwork: Immersive Research Techniques

Ethnographic fieldwork involves getting close to different groups of people. It’s like jumping into their way of life, seeing things through their eyes. Researchers don’t just read about these groups—they stay with them for a while.

This hands-on approach lets anthropologists experience a culture for themselves. They watch daily activities, participate in special events and traditions, and get to know the people. Instead of just looking in from the outside, they become a part of the community, even just a little bit.

Ethnographers use techniques like participant observation, where participants fully participate in the cultural setting. They might learn local languages, eat the same foods, and follow the same routines as the people they’re studying—it’s like walking in their shoes.

Talking to people is also important. Having open conversations with community members to understand their beliefs, values, and perspectives is crucial to building trust so people feel comfortable sharing their stories and thoughts.

Field notes capture all the rich details of daily life that outsiders often miss. From unique customs to deep, meaningful practices, these firsthand accounts paint a clear picture of the culture.

By living this immersive lifestyle, even for a while, ethnographers can truly understand what makes each community special and human. It’s an up-close look at the diversity of our world.

Top 121+ Most Informative Anthropology Research Topics

Here is the list of the top 121+ highly informative anthropology research topics; let’s look. 

Cultural Anthropology Research Topics

  • How the world becoming more connected affects traditional cultures
  • When people copy aspects of another culture without understanding its meaning
  • How men and women are expected to behave in different societies
  • Special events and ceremonies in different cultures today
  • How cities have people from many different cultures living together
  • How people see things differently depending on their culture
  • Keeping traditional knowledge alive in native communities
  • Studying immigrant communities to understand their way of life
  • How cultures mix in the age of the internet
  • How different cultures view mental health problems

Biological Anthropology Research Topics

  • Learning about human evolution through old bones
  • How people are different because of their genes and how they adapt to their environment
  • Looking at how culture and biology affect people’s health differently
  • Studying how monkeys and other non-human primates behave
  • Using old bones to solve crimes
  • Looking at how our bodies evolved to understand how to stay healthy
  • Studying how people are different based on their race or where they’re from
  • Understanding how food affects our bodies
  • How people grow and develop from babies to adults
  • Studying old bones to learn about ancient people’s lives

Forensic Anthropology Research Topics

  • Figuring out how old a person was when they died
  • Studying how bodies decay after death
  • Making faces of people from their skulls
  • Using DNA to help solve crimes
  • Finding and studying mass graves
  • Studying bugs to help solve crimes
  • Using chemicals to learn about people’s lives from their bones
  • Identifying victims of large disasters
  • Looking at the laws and what’s right or wrong in studying bones
  • Using bones to investigate human rights abuses

Linguistic Anthropology Research Topics

  • Saving languages that are disappearing
  • Looking at how people talk differently in different places
  • How people feel about themselves because of the language they speak
  • How children learn to talk
  • How language affects how people see themselves in society
  • Seeing how languages stay alive or die out
  • How people mix languages
  • Studying how people talk to each other in different cultures
  • How language shows who has power in a society
  • How language affects how people think

Medical Anthropology Research Topics

  • Looking at how different cultures deal with being sick
  • Mixing traditional and modern medicine to help people
  • Studying how people choose where to get medical help
  • Using plants to help people get better
  • Seeing how some people get good healthcare while others don’t
  • Studying how different cultures see disabilities
  • People traveling to get medical help and what it means for where they live
  • Learning about how people make babies and take care of them in different cultures
  • How people feel about getting help for their mind
  • Studying what’s right or wrong when studying people who need help

Physical Anthropology Research Topics

  • Looking at how hormones affect how we act and how our bodies work
  • Studying how our bodies move
  • Seeing how we change because of things around us
  • Learning about how people pick who they want to be with
  • How people change when they live up high
  • Studying how our genes affect how we move and do sports
  • Looking at people’s teeth to learn about how they lived
  • How diseases change and spread over time
  • Studying old bones to learn about what people ate and how healthy they were
  • Studying how our minds work and why we do things

Archaeological Anthropology Research Topics

  • Looking at where people lived and why
  • Studying how people made things in the past
  • Seeing how people changed the world around them
  • How people traded things a long time ago
  • Special things people did in the past for their religion
  • Studying old plants remains to learn about what people ate
  • How people started farming and why
  • Drawing and studying old pictures on rocks
  • Studying old things found under the sea
  • How people protect and take care of old things

Cross-Cutting and Interdisciplinary Topics

  • Looking at how different things about a person come together
  • Studying how people are treated fairly when it comes to the environment
  • Thinking about what’s right or wrong when studying people
  • Using different sciences to learn about how people and the world around them are changing because of the weather
  • Learning from native people about how to take care of the Earth
  • How technology helps us learn about people
  • Working with native people to learn from them
  • Looking at how people and animals lived together
  • Studying how people are changing the world
  • Looking at how people see things because of their skin color

Emerging and Futuristic Topics

  • Studying how robots and computers are like people
  • Looking at how people act online
  • Thinking about how people will live in space
  • What’s right or wrong when scientists change people’s genes
  • Thinking about how people and machines will be together in the future
  • Studying new things that are being made
  • Learning how people deal with big problems like disasters
  • What’s right or wrong when we change the Earth
  • Taking care of old things that are online
  • Studying how people and machines are being put together

Some More Interesting Anthropology Research Topics

  • How social media affects different cultures
  • Why stories are important for keeping our traditions alive
  • How language can make someone feel powerful at work
  • Why music and dancing matter in different cultures
  • How food is part of important events and traditions
  • How native people are shown in movies and TV
  • Why some people change their bodies in special ways
  • What happens to traditions when lots of people visit
  • How religion affects what people think is right or wrong
  • Why do people wear certain clothes that show where they’re from
  • How climate change affects native communities
  • How we can help the environment and respect people’s culture
  • Why boys and girls are expected to act a certain way
  • How people help each other during bad times
  • Why making things by hand is important to some cultures
  • How moving to a new place can change who you are
  • Why playing games is part of the culture
  • How holidays help keep us together
  • Why do we tell stories to each other
  • How the world is changing because people in different places are talking to each other
  • How people learn new things from each other
  • How we show when something important happens in our lives
  • Why do we take care of older people
  • How families work in different places
  • How old ways of living changed because of new people
  • How people deal with someone doing something wrong
  • Why do we laugh at silly things
  • How do we stay healthy, and what do we do when we’re not feeling well
  • Why do some people have babies, and some don’t
  • Why do we tell stories about things that didn’t happen
  • How do we help people who need extra help
  • Why we like new things and how they change us
  • How we make friends and what we do with them
  • Why someone is chosen to lead and what they do
  • Why it’s important to take care of our planet
  • How we talk shows who we are
  • How big cities change who we are
  • Why we fight and how it changes our traditions
  • Why it’s important to have fun and relax
  • How we remember our past and who we are

These topics cover various cultural, social, and environmental aspects of human societies, providing ample opportunities for research and exploration in anthropology.

Tips While Choosing The Right Anthropology Research Topics

Tips While Choosing The Right Anthropology Research Topics

Picking the perfect topic for your anthropology research can be confusing, but don’t worry—we have some handy tips to simplify it.

Choosing the right anthropology research topic is important for a fun and rewarding project. Here are some helpful tips to keep in mind:

  • Pick something you like : Choose a topic that interests and excites you. The research process becomes more enjoyable and meaningful when you’re into your subject.
  • Look at new things : Stay updated on the latest happenings and talks in anthropology. Exploring modern-day issues can provide fresh angles and contribute to ongoing conversations.
  • Mix different subjects : Anthropology combines fields like sociology, psychology, and history. Look for topics that allow you to connect across subjects for a richer understanding.
  • Make it smaller : While anthropology covers a lot, it’s important to focus on a specific part or cultural group. This will help you dig deeper into your chosen area and find more insightful stuff.
  • Ensure it’s doable : Consider the resources available, access to research places or people, and the time to finish. Choose a topic that is both interesting and practically achievable.
  • Ask for help : Don’t hesitate to talk to teachers, mentors, or experienced researchers in your area of interest. Their insights and suggestions can be valuable in refining your topic and ensuring it’s relevant.

By following these tips, you’ll be well-prepared to choose an anthropology research topic that matches your interests and contributes to the ever-growing understanding of human diversity and culture.

Closing Up 

As we finish looking at all these different anthropology topics, it’s clear that studying humans is a big and interesting exploration. Each topic we discussed opens a window into the many unique ways humans live worldwide. 

Whether learning about ancient groups, special languages people use to communicate, or the close social bonds that connect communities, these topics remind us how creative and varied human life is. 

As you start your anthropology journey, may these topics get you curious, inspiring you to question what you think you know and see things in new ways. Ultimately, they can help you appreciate the incredible tapestry of human cultures from all over and throughout time. 

By understanding our shared pasts and presents, we can build a future filled with kindness, understanding, and joy in our differences. After all, our diversity is what makes the human story so special and meaningful.

How can I choose the right anthropology research topic?

Consider your interests and the subfield of anthropology you’re most passionate about. Research current trends and emerging issues in the field for inspiration.

Are there any ethical considerations when conducting anthropological research?

Yes, ethical considerations are crucial in anthropology, especially regarding cultural sensitivity, informed consent, and the preservation of cultural heritage.

How can I ensure my anthropology research is unique and original?

Conduct thorough literature reviews to identify gaps in existing research and explore novel perspectives or methodologies to contribute to the field.

Can anthropology research topics be interdisciplinary?

Absolutely! Anthropology often intersects with other disciplines, such as sociology, biology, linguistics, and environmental science, offering interdisciplinary research opportunities.

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140 Best Anthropology Research Topics to Focus On

Table of Contents

Would you have to submit a research paper on the anthropology concept? Currently, are you searching for the best anthropology research topics for your final assignment? If yes, then you are at the right spot. We know how challenging it would be to search and find anthropology research paper topics. Therefore, for your convenience, here, in this blog we have shared a list of 100+ impressive anthropology research ideas worthy of fetching top grades. Explore the entire list and select any topic that is interesting to you.

What is Anthropology?

Anthropology is the scientific study of humans, their evolutionary history, behavior, and the ways humans communicate and socialize with each other. The study is mainly concerned with both the physiological and biological features along with the social aspects of humans which include language, family, culture, politics, and religion.

Anthropology Research Topics

List of Anthropology Research Paper Topics

In this section, we have presented a list of 100+ outstanding anthropology research topic ideas in various areas such as cultural, ethnographic, medical, physical, and biological anthropology. Go through the list carefully and choose any persuasive idea that matches your university’s research paper writing guidelines.

Cultural Anthropology Research Topics

  • Conduct an in-depth analysis of the philosophy of two societies of your choice.
  • The significance of cultural diversity in the study of human evolution in anthropology
  • How are burial practices interwoven with religion and myth?
  • The meaning of cultural baggage and the ways to address the concept of cultural invasion
  • A forensic overview of the concept of family, fraternity, and gangs
  • The concept of ancestors in Native American countries and Africa
  • Music, dance, and parties in the contemporary society
  • The concept of social status in any African community
  • The emergence and influence of culture on tourism
  • Feminism in patriarchal societies
  • How does migration promote cultural diversity?
  • The evolving roles of women in Asian countries
  • Assess the structure of family and marriage in two countries of your choice
  • A criticism and distinction of anthropology and art
  • The role of literature in spreading libertarian ideas.
  • Role of women in Islamic societies
  • Analyze how the spread of K-pop had influenced Western culture
  • The impact of terrorism on Islamophobia
  • Describe the influence of language on culture
  • Hindu culture versus Islamic culture
  • How to minimize Ethnocentrism?
  • What is Culture shock?
  • Analyze the culture of Australian Aboriginals
  • Monoculturalism and Ethnocentrism
  • Describe the culture of Ancient Egypt

Anthropology Research Topics

Ethnographic Anthropology Research Topics

  • The role of clinical science in the pharmaceutical science of rural communities
  • The role of Ethnography and its studies in psychology
  • The function of Ethnography in software technology
  • Why abortion is considered the first resort for sexually assaulted and domestically violated victims?
  • How does music and interpersonal relationship improve cognitive behavior?
  • How teachers can adopt the findings of Ethnography in classroom learning?
  • An ethnographic study on the inclusiveness of health care and public access to it
  • How ethnography and its studies could help people with learning disabilities?
  • The ethnographic study of a group of domestically violated victims and how they respond to the violation
  • How has the value of education improved through ethnographic discoveries?
  • The effects of smart homes and privacy in communal Ethnographic studies
  • Use ethnographic information to assess intensive public healthcare.
  • An expository study on the role of psychologists in advancing special education
  • Examine the state of theories of racism
  • How do traditional health beliefs and myths affect contemporary society’s development?
  • Conduct a study on the beliefs of Japanese students while they learn English
  • An ethnographic overview of patient handover in European health care
  • Examine the boundaries of citizens’ involvement in intensive healthcare.
  • Evaluate how journalists cope with stress.
  • The status of spiritual healing through systems of pilgrimage therapy.
  • The ethnographic study of why has it been easier to use religion for influencing people to join terrorist groups?
  • How do stereotypical concepts relate to sexual orientation impact the mental health of children?
  • How are stereotypical concepts related to mental health affecting doctors?
  • Conduct a study to understand why women have been called their worst enemy.
  • Conduct a study to highlight whether “Shariah” is beneficial for Islamic societies or not.

Medical Anthropology Research Ideas

  • The role of ethnobotany in medical sciences
  • Assess the residue of why societal infamy is linked to HIV/AIDS.
  • An assessment of women’s sexuality and how culture affects sexual health
  • What is transcultural nursing?
  • How do nursing ethics become pragmatic in the career of professionals?
  • The complications in the treatment of periodontal disease
  • Assess the connection of income to health.
  • A study on the status of cancer after the Chornobyl nuclear disaster in Russia
  • Explain big pharma and the complications of watchdogs and whistle-blowers.
  • Examine the environmental health disaster of two countries of your choice.
  • Analyze how the Bhopal gas incident in India is still impacting societies in the specific state.
  • Describe how nurses have played a role in helping elder patients cope with stress and other address factors as a result of growing age.
  • Discuss the impact of AIDS on Central African societies
  • Consequences of the traumas of war on families in Sri Lanka and Guatemala
  • Risks associated with In Vitro Fertilisation

Read more: Best Medical Research Topics To Analyze and Write About

Physical Anthropology Research Topics

  • The advantages and consequences of eugenics in today’s society
  • Analyze five pieces of literature on the stages of drowning till death.
  • Aging in Asian countries and what it means for them
  • Analyze the physical concept of re-adjusting newborn babies by nursing mothers.
  • What is the underlying Egyptian belief in preserving the dead?
  • Have Western ideas of superiority affected the acknowledgment of Egypt as the cradle of civilization?
  • The origin of man in different societies of civilization
  • What are the contemporary facts that support past research and experiences of Homo habilis?
  • Examine the influence of the environment on skin color.
  • What are the consequences of smoking on human physical appearance?

Biology Anthropology Research Paper Topics

  • The origin spread, and transgenerational impact of any endemic in any society of your choice
  • Analyze the possibilities of traditional institutions in preserving cultures.
  • How maladaptation affects migrants in any country of your choice.
  • Analyze the concept of vulnerability and risk in public health care.
  • The relationship and comparison between malnutrition, violence, and chronic disease in any society of your choice
  • How do social relationships affect nutritional choices and human healthy living?
  • The clinical interactions in any social association of your choice
  • The challenges of a developing nation in public access to healthcare services
  • How do pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies shape contemporary medicine?
  • The commercialization and commodification of medicine and healthcare in contemporary society .
  • Comparing bones of bipeds and quadrupeds
  • Harry Harlow and his experiments on monkey bonding
  • Why do the Stanford Prison Experiment and the Brown-Eyed vs. Blue-Eyed Student Experiments are considered the two most controversial experiments?
  • Why does Zimbardo’s simulated prison experiment is considered one of the most controversial experiments?
  • Analyze the results derived from The Robbers Cave Experiment
  • Discuss the controversy around The Monkey Drug Trial in 1969

Read more: Top 175 Biology Research Topics for Academic Writing

Captivating Anthropology Research Topics

  • The influence of environmental anthropology on medicine
  • The role of Folklore in the defense and transgenerational retainment of Cultures
  • A review of the latest archaeological dating methods
  • How accurate is DNA evidence in matching and testing criminology?
  • A critical assessment of radioactive carbon dating accuracy
  • Recent improvements in crime detection
  • A detailed analysis of language classification
  • The factors that promote cultural hatred in a diverse society
  • The important changes in theories behind linguistic anthropology
  • Explore the use of fossil records in paleoanthropology.
  • Protective and risk dimensions of cultural norms, human behavior, and social institutions
  • The Role of TV reality shows in the Social Life
  • The influence of cross-cultural experiences in the modern world
  • How does the internet promote Westernization?
  • The connection of political science with cultural anthropology
  • The political ecology of vector-borne and infectious diseases
  • Physical anthropology essentials
  • What is language endangerment?
  • The link between cultural anthropology and political science
  • Explain the existence of racism in modern times.
  • Critical analysis of the Evolutionary theory in anthropology
  • Use case studies related to altered states of consciousness to explain the study of transpersonal anthropology
  • The Art of Disturbance: Transactions in the Mexico-United States Border Scenario
  • Discuss the connections between feminism, technology, and postmodernism

Interesting Anthropology Research Topics

  • The contemporary psychology of traveling between teenagers and their parents
  • The cultural constructions of human society and how they aid evolution
  • A criticism of the monarchy in European politics over Western democracy
  • The influence of the Roman Catholic Church as the center of government, religion, art, and social life
  • The concepts of the American culture of consumerism and the Scandinavian culture of minimalism
  • A detailed overview of how the Roman Catholic Church improved the science of sculpting and architecture
  • The significance of women in ancient Egypt
  • The evolving ideas about matrimony in Asia
  • The benefits and consequences of eugenics in today’s world
  • The process of aging and how it exacerbates fear of old age
  • The disparity in healthcare accessibility in any developing country
  • Examine the greeting gestures in American and Chinese societies.
  • The significance of the Greek culture on Italian languages and culture
  • The development of rock music and its connection to Native American tribes.

Informative Anthropology Research Paper Topics

  • Write about the risks of using artificial intelligence in forensics.
  • How can ethnobotany and its principles be applied in medicine?
  • Describe the role of language in the development of
  • Explain the role of DNA databases in searching for criminals.
  • Analyze the Marriage traditions of different cultures.
  • Tracking the behavior of twins over time.
  • Explain the impact of TikTok on European culture
  • Discuss the effectiveness of alternative medicine in the United States;
  • Explain the origins and generational impacts of Minamata disease.
  • How the dead were preserved in ancient Egypt?

The Bottom Line

Out of the various ideas mentioned in this blog post, pick any ideal anthropology topic suitable for conducting research. Here we have shared only a few impressive research topics. If you want more unique anthropology research project ideas, then immediately reach out to us.

Along with providing trending anthropology research topics, we will also offer assignment help for those who struggle to write their research papers. Simply send your assignment or research paper requirements to us and get quick writing assistance from the subject professionals on our platform. Most importantly, with the support of our team of academic writers, you can submit a plagiarism-free anthropology research paper ahead of the deadline. Note that, the anthropology assignment papers that we dispatch would put you at the top position in your class.

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189+ Best Social Science Research Paper Topics For Students

social science research paper topics

  • Post author By Pooja Barman
  • October 23, 2023

Social Science Research Paper Topics can be intriguing, insightful, and engaging, offering students an opportunity to explore a wide range of subjects that impact our society. Are you looking for the most interesting and good topics for a sociology research paper?

If yes, in this article, we will explore what Social Science Research Paper Topics are, provide guidance on how to choose and find them, and discuss why they are beneficial for students.

Additionally, we’ll present a comprehensive list of research paper topics across various social science fields.

Must Read: 125+ Most Creative Art Therapy Projects For Seniors

Table of Contents

What Are Social Science Research Paper Topics

Social Science Research Paper Topics are subjects, questions, or themes within the realm of social sciences that students investigate and write about in research papers. These topics cover a broad spectrum of disciplines, including sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, political science, and more.

They aim to shed light on various aspects of human behavior, society, and culture, offering valuable insights and understanding.

How to Choose and Find Social Science Research Paper Topics

Selecting an engaging and relevant social science research paper topic is crucial for a successful paper. Here are some tips on how to choose and find the right topic:

1. Identify Your Interests

Start by considering your personal interests within the social sciences. What subjects or issues captivate your attention? Choosing a topic you’re passionate about will make the research and writing process more enjoyable.

2. Review Course Material

Reflect on what you’ve learned in your social science courses. Often, your coursework can spark ideas for research topics based on your studies and readings.

3. Current Events and Trends

Stay informed about current events and societal trends. These can provide inspiration for research topics that are both timely and relevant.

4. Consult with Professors

Seek guidance from your professors or advisors. They can offer suggestions and help refine your topic ideas.

5. Consider Feasibility

Ensure that your chosen topic is manageable within the scope of your assignment. You should be able to find sufficient research material and complete the project within the given timeframe.

6. Narrow or Broaden Your Focus

Depending on the assignment’s length and requirements, you may need to narrow down a broad topic or expand on a more specific aspect of a larger subject.

Now, let’s dive into a comprehensive list of Social Science Research Paper Topics across various fields:

Sociology Research Paper Topics

  • Income Inequality and Social Mobility
  • The Impact of Immigration on Host Societies
  • Gender Roles and Stereotypes in Society
  • Social Isolation in the Digital Age
  • Social Media’s Influence on Political Movements
  • Social Media and Self-esteem: Impacts on Mental Health
  • Gun Control Policies and Their Effects on Society
  • The Sociology of Protests and Social Movements
  • The Role of Religion in Social Cohesion
  • Cultural Appropriation and Its Social Implications

Psychology Research Paper Topics

  • The Psychology of Resilience in Adversity
  • Cognitive Behavioral Therapy for Anxiety Disorders
  • Effects of Childhood Trauma on Adult Mental Health
  • Cross-Cultural Differences in Psychological Disorders
  • The Psychology of Prejudice and Discrimination
  • Positive Psychology and Well-being
  • The Impact of Technology on Cognitive Abilities
  • Child Development and Attachment Theory
  • The Psychology of Prejudice in Online Communities
  • Understanding and Addressing Teenage Depression

Anthropology Research Paper Topics

  • Cultural Relativism and Ethical Dilemmas
  • Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainability
  • Human-Environment Interactions in Archaeology
  • Anthropological Perspectives on Global Health
  • Cultural Change and Adaptation in the Modern World
  • Urban Anthropology and the Study of City Life
  • Ethical Dilemmas in Anthropological Research
  • Indigenous Knowledge and Sustainable Agriculture
  • Anthropology of Food and Cultural Significance
  • Archaeological Methods and Discoveries

Economics Research Paper Topics

  • The Economic Impact of Natural Disasters
  • Minimum Wage Policies and Their Consequences
  • Behavioral Economics and Consumer Decision-Making
  • The Gig Economy and Labor Market Trends
  • The Economics of Healthcare and Insurance
  • Global Economic Recession: Causes and Impacts
  • Economic Consequences of the COVID-19 Pandemic
  • Economic Inequality and Social Unrest
  • Behavioral Economics and Decision-Making in Investment

Political Science Research Paper Topics

  • International Diplomacy and Conflict Resolution
  • Political Polarization and Its Effects on Governance
  • Comparative Analysis of Political Systems
  • Global Governance and International Organizations
  • Political Propaganda and Media Manipulation
  • Women in Politics: Representation and Challenges
  • Political Extremism and Counterterrorism Policies
  • The Role of Soft Power in International Relations
  • Political Populism and Its Rise in Contemporary Politics
  • Environmental Policies and Political Will

Social Science Education Research Paper Topics

  • Inclusive Education and Special Needs Programs
  • Homeschooling: Trends and Outcomes
  • The Impact of Standardized Testing on Students
  • Teacher Training and Professional Development
  • Education Funding and Equity
  • The Impact of Technology in Classroom Learning
  • Education and Socioeconomic Achievement Gap
  • Teacher-Student Relationships and Academic Performance
  • School Bullying Prevention and Interventions

Environmental Social Science Research Paper Topics

  • Urbanization and Urban Planning for Sustainability
  • The Role of Wetlands in Ecosystem Health
  • Environmental Ethics and Conservation
  • Environmental Justice and Marginalized Communities
  • Renewable Energy Policies and Implementation
  • Ecotourism and Sustainable Tourism Practices
  • Soil Erosion and Agricultural Sustainability
  • Wildlife Conservation and Biodiversity Preservation
  • Environmental Education and its Role in Society
  • Sustainable Urban Planning and Green Cities

History-Social Science Research Paper Topics

  • The Historical Roots of Colonialism
  • Decolonization Movements in the 20th Century
  • The Impact of the Cold War on Global Politics
  • Historical Perspectives on Women’s Rights
  • The Cultural Significance of Historical Artifacts
  • The Impact of the Renaissance on Art and Culture
  • Historical Perspectives on the American Civil Rights Movement
  • The Decline of Ancient Civilizations: Causes and Lessons
  • Historical Analysis of Ancient Trade Routes
  • Impact of Colonialism on Indigenous Peoples

Social Work Research Paper Topics

  • Social Work in Crisis Intervention and Trauma Counseling
  • Substance Abuse Treatment in Vulnerable Populations
  • Child Protective Services and Family Welfare
  • The Role of Social Workers in Healthcare
  • Human Rights and Social Justice Advocacy
  • Trauma-Informed Social Work Practice
  • Homelessness and Social Services Interventions
  • Social Work in Correctional Facilities
  • Child Welfare and Family Reunification
  • Human Rights and Advocacy in Social Work

Communication Research Paper Topics

  • Crisis Communication in the Social Media Age
  • The Impact of Fake News on Public Perception
  • Visual Communication and its Influence
  • Cross-Cultural Communication Challenges
  • The Rhetoric of Political Speeches
  • Digital Media and the Future of Journalism
  • Intercultural Communication in a Globalized World
  • Communication Technology and its Impact on Relationships
  • Visual Communication and its Persuasive Power
  • The Art of Public Speaking and Rhetoric

Criminology Research Paper Topics

  • Cybersecurity and the Role of Law Enforcement
  • Criminal Behavior and Psychological Profiles
  • Recidivism and Rehabilitation Programs
  • White-Collar Crime and Corporate Responsibility
  • Policing Strategies and Community Relations
  • Juvenile Justice and Rehabilitation Programs
  • Cybersecurity and Law Enforcement Challenges
  • Criminal Profiling and Offender Characteristics
  • Hate Crimes and their Motivations
  • The Effectiveness of Restorative Justice Programs

Gender Studies Research Paper Topics

  • Toxic Masculinity in Popular Culture
  • The Impact of #MeToo Movement
  • Intersections of Gender and Race
  • Transgender Rights and Healthcare Access
  • The Influence of Gender in Language and Media
  • Women’s Reproductive Rights and Policies
  • Men’s Mental Health and Societal Expectations
  • Gendered Violence and Prevention Strategies
  • Gender Roles in Fairy Tales and Popular Culture
  • The Role of Gender in Language and Linguistics

Social Policy Research Paper Topics

  • Drug Policy and Harm Reduction Strategies
  • Universal Basic Income and Poverty Alleviation
  • Maternity and Paternity Leave Policies
  • Aging Population and Social Security
  • Immigration and Asylum Policies
  • Universal Basic Income and Economic Equality
  • Housing Policies and Affordable Housing Initiatives
  • Youth and Social Services Programs
  • Immigration and Family Reunification Policies
  • Disability Rights and Social Inclusion

Health Science Research Paper Topics

  • Healthcare Disparities in Underserved Communities
  • Nutrition and Public Health Interventions
  • The Opioid Epidemic and Prescription Drug Abuse
  • Mental Health Services in Rural Areas
  • Aging and Long-Term Care Services
  • Mental Health Stigma in Healthcare
  • The Impact of Social Determinants on Health Disparities
  • Healthcare Access and Rural Communities
  • Health Communication in Public Health Campaigns
  • Healthcare Systems in Developing Countries

Family Studies Research Paper Topics

  • The Impact of Divorce Mediation on Children
  • Foster Care and Adoption Policies
  • Sibling Relationships and Birth Order Effects
  • Interethnic and Intercultural Marriages
  • The Role of Grandparents in Child-Rearing
  • The Effect of Divorce on Sibling Relationships
  • Parental Involvement and Child Development
  • Foster Care and Child Welfare Reforms
  • Domestic Violence and Support Services
  • Aging Parents and Caregiver Stress

Globalization and Development Research Paper Topics

  • The Role of Non-Governmental Organizations (NGOs)
  • Humanitarian Aid and International Crisis Response
  • Cultural Exchange Programs and Diplomacy
  • Global Supply Chain and Labor Conditions
  • Sustainable Tourism and Cultural Preservation
  • The Role of Multinational Corporations in Developing Economies
  • Indigenous Rights and Sustainable Development
  • Microfinance and Poverty Alleviation
  • Fair Trade and Ethical Consumerism
  • Global Health Partnerships and Disease Prevention

Social Justice Research Paper Topics

  • Environmental Racism and its Implications
  • Disability Rights and Inclusion
  • LGBTQ+ Refugees and Asylum Seekers
  • Juvenile Justice and Restorative Practices
  • Mass Incarceration and Prison Reform
  • LGBTQ+ Rights and Global Advocacy
  • Refugee Rights and Resettlement Challenges
  • Disability Rights and Access to Healthcare
  • Criminal Justice Reform and Social Equity
  • Indigenous Land Rights and Environmental Justice

Sociology of Religion Research Paper Topics

  • Religious Fundamentalism in Contemporary Society
  • Religion and Healthcare Decision-Making
  • Interfaith Dialogue and Understanding
  • Cults and Their Social Impact
  • Religion and Ethics in Bioengineering
  • Religious Pluralism and Interfaith Dialogue
  • Religious Radicalism and Terrorism
  • Religion’s Influence on Political Policies
  • The Role of Religion in Environmental Ethics
  • Secularism and Non-religious Worldviews

Social Impact of Technology Research Paper Topics

  • Online Privacy and Digital Surveillance
  • Artificial Intelligence and Its Ethical Challenges
  • E-Government and Online Civic Engagement
  • Social Media Activism and Its Limitations
  • Technology and Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)
  • Ethical Implications of Artificial Intelligence
  • The Digital Divide and Technological Inequities
  • Social Media Activism and Online Movements
  • Cybersecurity and Data Privacy Concerns
  • Virtual Reality and Its Applications in Education

Social Movements and Activism Research Paper Topics

  • Black Panther Party and its Legacy
  • Disability Rights Movements
  • Global Youth Activism and Climate Change
  • The Arab Spring and Political Change
  • Indigenous Rights Movements in Latin America
  • Youth-Led Movements and Their Impact on Social Change
  • Women’s Suffrage and the Fight for Voting Rights
  • Environmental Activism and Conservation Efforts
  • Indigenous Rights Movements in Asia

Why Social Science Research Paper Topics Are Beneficial for Students

Social Science Research Paper Topics offer several advantages for students:

  • Critical Thinking : Researching and writing about social science topics fosters critical thinking skills. It encourages students to analyze, interpret, and evaluate information and arguments.
  • Understanding Society : Social science research topics help students better understand the complexities of human society, culture, and behavior.
  • Research Skills : Students develop valuable research skills, including finding and assessing sources, conducting surveys or interviews, and drawing meaningful conclusions.
  • Communication Skills : Writing research papers hones students’ communication skills, including the ability to express complex ideas clearly and persuasively.
  • Awareness of Social Issues : Exploring social science topics can raise awareness of pressing social issues and encourage students to engage with them more deeply.
  • Preparation for Future Careers : Many careers in fields like sociology, psychology, and political science require strong research and analytical skills. Engaging in social science research prepares students for these roles.

Social Science Research Paper Topics provide students with an opportunity to explore, analyze, and contribute to our understanding of human society and its complexities. By following the guidance on selecting topics and recognizing their benefits, students can embark on research projects that are not only academically fulfilling but also socially relevant and impactful.

Whether you choose a topic from sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, political science, or any other social science field. With this extensive list of Social Science Research Paper Topics, students have a wide range of subjects to choose from, spanning sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, political science, and more.

These topics offer an opportunity to delve into critical societal issues, analyze their implications, and contribute to a deeper understanding of human behavior and society’s complexities.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is an example of a social science research question.

What are the sources of social inequality, and how does it relate to political institutions and social structures?

How do you write a good social science research paper?

The information should be detailed enough for someone to replicate the study, but it should also be concise.

What is social science research essay?

Social Science Research is the activity of gathering, analysing and interpreting information for a variety of social, economic, educational and political purposes.

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The Anthropological Index Online (AIO) is published by the Royal Anthropological Institute (RAI) in cooperation with Anthropology Library and Research Centre at the British Museum. It is an index to articles in journals taken by the Library, which incorporates the former RAI holdings, covering all branches and areas of anthropology. In addition, AIO includes journals and periodicals of anthropological interest that are not in the Library’s catalogues. Films held at the Royal Anthropological Institute are equally indexed as part of the bibliography. The Library holds some 4,000 periodical titles (1,500 current). Nearly 650 journals, published in more than 40 languages, are indexed on a continuing basis. Records cover 1957 to the present.

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  • Advocacy journalism
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Comprehensive coverage of communication topics in Communication Abstracts and Communication & Mass Media Complete.

Covers major journals in communication, mass media, and other closely-related fields of study as far back as 1915. Includes indexing/abstracting for 600+ journals; full text of 500+ journals.

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  • Mandatory minimum sentencing
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1968-present. Journals, books, and governmental & non-governmental reports.

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  • African American Vernacular English
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  • Indo-European language history
  • Language revitalization
  • Oral history
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  • Taboo language
  • Southern dialect
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Indexes literature in linguistics and related disciplines.

Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts (LLBA) abstracts and indexes the international literature in linguistics and related disciplines in the language sciences. The database covers all aspects of the study of language including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. Complete coverage is given to various fields of linguistics including descriptive, historical, comparative, theoretical and geographical linguistics. The database provides abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews drawn from over 1,500 serials publications, and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, and dissertations. 

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  • 2016 presidential campaign
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  • Facebook campaigning
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  • Donald Trump
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Includes full-text journals, reference books, monographs, and conference papers, including those of the International Political Science Association.

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  • Anger management
  • Animal assisted therapy
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  • Compulsion loop
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  • Internet addiction
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  • Mass psychogenic illness
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  • Panic attacks
  • Peer pressure
  • Personality types
  • Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD)
  • Postnatal (postpartum) depression
  • Prescriptions for ADHD
  • Replication Crisis
  • Self-esteem
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1887-present. Includes journals, books, book chapters, and dissertations in psychology.  Short video tutorials on using PsycINFO

Includes the collections APA PsycInfo and APA PsycArticles.

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  • Ambient awareness
  • Anti-vaccination
  • Black Lives Matter
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  • Consumerism
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  • Social media activism
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Provides access to the international literature in sociology, social services, and related disciplines, 1952-present.

Includes the databases Sociological Abstracts, Social Services Abstracts, and Sociology Database, which may each be searched separately. Sociological Abstracts abstracts and indexes the international literature in sociology and related disciplines in the social and behavioral sciences. The database provides abstracts of journal articles and citations to book reviews drawn from over 1,800 serials publications, and also provides abstracts of books, book chapters, dissertations, and conference papers. Many records from key journals in sociology, added to the database since 2002, also include the references cited in the bibliography of the source article. Each individual reference may also have links to an abstract and/or to other papers that cite that reference; these links increase the possibility of finding more potentially relevant articles. These references are linked both within Sociological Abstracts and across other social science databases available on ProQuest. Updated monthly, with approximately 30,000 records added per year. (Description from the publisher's website.)

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100 best anthropology topics to write about.

April 1, 2021

anthropology topics

However, anthropology is a complex subject. And writing about any topic in this subject requires knowledge of different societies, traditions, and cultures. What’s more, social anthropology topics combine studies like sociology and history.

As such, researching and writing about some topics related to anthropology can be a challenging task. Nevertheless, this subject largely covers almost all human life’s aspect. Here is a list of some of the best anthropology topics from our customer writing service .

  • The Top 10 Anthropology Topics

Controversial Topics in Anthropology

Medical anthropology research topics, physical anthropology topics, biology anthropology topics, cultural anthropology topics, linguistic anthropology research topics, forensic anthropology research topics, the top 10 anthropology topics.

Maybe you are looking for anthropology research topics that most people will be interested to read about. In that case, consider these anthropology paper topics.

  • The merits and demerits of eugenics during the 21st century
  • Exploring how the environment influences the human skin color
  • Explain the aging process in the Western culture
  • How Kyphosis relate to human senescence
  • The long-term effects of physical labor on the physical appearance of a person
  • How smoking affects the human physical appearance
  • Clarifying what causes drowning through the examination of anatomical and physical evidence
  • Investigating modern facts that support the existence of homo habilis
  • Theories about the origin of humans
  • The underlying beliefs behind the preservation of the dead in ancient Egypt

Most people will be interested in reading about such anthropology research paper topics. However, you should be ready to research any of these ideas extensively to come up with a brilliant paper.

Do you enjoy the idea of researching and writing about controversial issues? If yes, you will find these anthropology essay topics quite fascinating to research and write about.

  • Social anthropology is nothing because it generalizes science
  • Society is a theoretically obsolete concept
  • Human worlds are cultural constructions
  • Language is the culture’s essence
  • Humans should see the past as a foreign country
  • Patrol behavior in Chimpanzee
  • The myth of man as a killer
  • Human morality evaluation
  • Biology as the human behavior’s bases
  • Anthropology and ethnic cleansing

This category comprises controversial issues that make interesting anthropology topics. Nevertheless, take your time to explore any of these topics to come up with a great essay or paper.

Maybe you love reading and writing about different medical anthropology topics. This anthropology subfield draws upon cultural, social, linguistic, and biological anthropology. It aims to understand factors that influence the wellbeing and health, distribution and experience of illness, as well as, treatment, prevention, and the healing processes. Here is a medical anthropology research topics list worthy of your exploration.

  • The health ramifications of adapting to ecology and maladaptation
  • Local interpretations of different bodily processes
  • Domestic health care and health culture practices
  • Body projects’ changes and the valued attributes
  • Critical and clinical engagement in anthropology applications
  • The political ecology of vector-borne and infectious diseases
  • Chronic diseases, violence, and malnutrition- how they relate
  • The political healthcare provision- the economic aspect
  • The perceptions of vulnerability, risk, and responsibility for healthcare and illness
  • Protective and risk dimensions of cultural norms, human behavior, and social institutions
  • Harm reduction and preventative health practices
  • Illness experience and social relations of a disease
  • Factors that drive nutrition, health, and healthcare transitions
  • Clinical interactions in a social organization
  • Pluralistic and ethnomedicine modalities in a healing process
  • The historical and cultural conditions that shape medical policies and practices
  • The interpretation of biotechnology and pharmaceuticals
  • Medical practices within the colonial, post-colonial, and modernity social formations
  • The commodification and commercialization of medicine and health
  • Health disparity and disease distribution

This category also has some of the most current topics in anthropology. These are ideas that touch on issues that affect the current healthcare and medical systems in most countries. However, you should be ready to research any of these topics extensively.

Physical anthropology research topics entail studying and writing about the human body. If this is something you find interesting, here are good topics for physical anthropology research paper to consider. Feel free to check more physics topics .

  • Genotype-environment correlation study
  • Genetic hitchhiking- What it means
  • Do people learn altruism or is it a trait?
  • The cephalization process
  • The contribution of Henry Walter Bates to the Anthropology field
  • Adaptive mutation- What is it?
  • The effects of adaptive mutation
  • Human development and abiogenesis- what are they about?
  • Discuss the placental mammals and Australian marsupials’ convergent evolution
  • Explain animal stability variation after being in captivity compared to those in the wild
  • Variations in the evolution of different species in various parts of the globe
  • Physical anthropology essentials
  • Physical anthropology trends

These are interesting topics to explore if you love physical anthropology. Nevertheless, take your time to research your topic to come up with a brilliant paper.

Biology anthropology research topics revolve around the origin, diversity, and evolution of humankind. Until the late 20th century, this field was also called physical anthropology. If interested in researching and writing about the origin, diversity, and evolution of humankind, here are interesting topics in biological anthropology to consider.

  • Explain how biological anthropology differs from the other science fields
  • How does biological anthropology attempt to interpret and explain human evolution?
  • Explain the use of biological anthropology by primatologists in improving the understanding of evolutionary developments in primates
  • Explore the use of fossil records in paleoanthropology
  • How biological anthropology attempts to explain human behaviors and social structures’ development
  • Explain how studying modern humans enables scientists to draw conclusions and insights from the biological anthropology viewpoint
  • Identify the primary geographical areas where biological anthropologists explore
  • How geographical locations help in explaining the human evolution

Pick any of these topics and then research them extensively before you write your paper.

Cultural ethnography entails the study of behavior and patterns in humans, as well as why and how they differ in modern societies. Some cultural anthropology research topics may also include ethnohistory, ethnography, and cross-cultural studies. Here is a list of possible topics to consider for your paper.

  • The underlying religious beliefs that influence forced nuptials among children in Northern Nigeria
  • The challenging roles played by women in modern Africa
  • Investigating how religious beliefs influence the African cultures
  • How superstitions affect the African way of life
  • The evolution of sexual discrimination in modern times
  • The influence of cultural and social backgrounds on gay marriage
  • Explain the existence of racism in modern times
  • Assess the causes of homelessness among the Indian people
  • How can India deal with homelessness?
  • How homosexuality influences the cultural and social landscape
  • Influence of homosexuality on societal attitudes in Africa
  • How culture influences human society
  • The link between cultural anthropology and political science
  • Cultural imperialism and contemporary media
  • Describe culture shock and how to overcome it
  • How to minimize cultural baggage
  • The key points of any culture
  • How religious practices and beliefs affect culture
  • How language acquisition influences culture

These are interesting cultural anthropology research paper topics you can explore. Nevertheless, take your time to research any of these ideas before you write about them.

Linguistic anthropology entails the study of the link between culture and language. This includes how a language relates to social action, thought, power, and identity. Here are interesting topics to explore if interested in linguistic anthropology.

  • Discoveries and events that led to the emergency of linguistic anthropology
  • Important changes in theories behind linguistic anthropology
  • Dell Hymes’ contribution to linguistic anthropology
  • How some methodological changes affected linguistic anthropology from the 1980s
  • The language with the most social life’s influence among the Bengali immigrants
  • Language rediscovery and culture renaissance
  • What is language endangerment?
  • Language is an abstract concept
  • Exploring Latin America’s indigenous languages
  • A detailed analysis of language classification

Explore these topics if you love learning and writing about language and its development over time.

Forensic anthropology entails studying human remains with a focus on skeletal analysis. This field is commonly used to solve criminal cases. Here are topics to consider in this category.

  • Discuss the primary agents that cause biological changes in the human body
  • A critical assessment of radioactive carbon dating accuracy
  • Recent improvements in crime detection
  • Evidential support for evolutionist and creationist views about human origin
  • Recent evidence that supports Homo habilis’ existence in the past
  • How accurate is DNA evidence in matching and testing on criminology?
  • The effect of radioactivity on different forms of life because of the 1986’s atomic catastrophe Chernobyl
  • A review of the latest archaeological dating methods
  • Exploring migratory paths and environmental influences on Neanderthals appearance and survival
  • How effective were the methods used in Egyptian mummification?

Any of the topics listed here can be a good idea for an essay or research paper. Nevertheless, understand your assignment requirements first, and then take your time to research your chosen topic extensively before writing.

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IMAGES

  1. 140 Best Anthropology Research Topics to Focus On

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  2. 259 Captivating Anthropology Research Topics: Cool Concepts

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  3. 180 Amazing Anthropology Research Topics for Students

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  5. 150+ Best Anthropology Research Topics for Students

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  6. Anthropology-Research-Proposal-Topics-list.pdf

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VIDEO

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  4. What is Medical Anthropology?

  5. Social Anthropology (सामाजिक मानवशास्त्र)

  6. 50 Important Topics For HCS Mains

COMMENTS

  1. Social anthropology

    Social anthropology articles from across Nature Portfolio. Social anthropology is the subdiscipline of anthropology that investigates the cultural properties of human societies. Topics include ...

  2. List Of 110 Research Paper Topics & Ideas On Anthropology

    The Excellent List Of 110 Anthropology Research Paper Topics. Without further ado, here are 110 anthropology research paper topics for free! With 18 topics each from the six main subcategories of anthropology, you can't get it wrong! Physical Anthropology Research Paper Topics. Eugenics — its merits and demerits in the 21st-century world.

  3. 195 Leading Anthropology Topics For High Quality Papers

    Social anthropology: Focuses on patterns of human behavior. Cultural anthropology: This branch mainly focuses on culture, including values and norms in the society. Linguistic anthropology: Unlike the other two, this branch of anthropology targets determining how language impacts people's lives. Biological anthropology: This branch focuses on ...

  4. Top 300 Anthropology Research Topics

    Top 15 Research Topics On Visual Anthropology Areas of Study. Ethnographic Filmmaking and Storytelling. Visual Ethnography and Cultural Representation. Anthropology of Photography. Visual Arts and Cultural Identity. Media and Visual Culture in Anthropological Contexts. Visual Documentation of Rituals and Traditions.

  5. Social Anthropology

    The graduate program in Social Anthropology focuses on issues of globalism, ethnic politics, gender studies, "new" nationalisms, diaspora formation, transnationalism and local experience, medical anthropology, linguistic and semiotic anthropology, and media. Our mission is to develop new methodologies for an anthropology that tracks cultural developments in a global economy increasingly ...

  6. Anthropology Research Paper Topics

    Anthropology Research Paper Topics. This collection of anthropology research paper topics is aimed to provide students and researchers with a comprehensive list of topics within this vast field of study. Anthropology is a multidisciplinary field, covering a wide range of topics that include cultural practices, human evolution, language, and more.

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    Social Anthropology - Science topic. Explore the latest full-text research PDFs, articles, conference papers, preprints and more on SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY. Find methods information, sources ...

  8. Social Anthropology

    Sociocultural anthropology is concerned with the comparison of different cultures, ethics, patterns of consumption, technology, social cohesion, ethnicity, gender, communication, and language. Integration of indigenous people into society, their relations with the state and society, and communication are common topics of anthropology and social ...

  9. Social Anthropology research

    Social Anthropology research Anthropological research at the School of Global Studies builds on a tradition of detailed empirical fieldwork. At the core of our research are lived life, everyday praxis, and the workings of power. ... Specific projects spanning topics from witchcraft and legal pluralism to religious wars and the social life of ...

  10. Anthropology Research Topics: 100+ Ideas

    100+ Anthropology Research Paper Topics. There are a few subjects that intrigue the majority of students. These are anthropology, psychology, mythology, sociology, and other good ethnography topics. Drafting a research paper on anthropology comes with a wide spectrum of special subtopics. These subtopics include linguistics, biology, current ...

  11. Social Anthropology

    Anthropology Online (Harvard Key required) Brings together a wide range of written ethnographies, field notes, seminal texts, memoirs, and contemporary studies. Ethnographic Video Online (Harvard Key required) A large video streaming library of ethnographic films and documentaries. Google Books (some content free / open access) A useful tool ...

  12. Social anthropology

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  13. What is Social Anthropology?

    Social anthropology is the study of human society and cultures through a comparative lens. ... you will have a chance to conduct your own ethnographic research in ... Contemporary social anthropology tackles an enormous variety of topics. These range from the social implications of new reproductive and information technologies through the ...

  14. Sociology and Anthropology Research Paper Topics

    In the 1940s and early 1950s, the focus of social anthropology changed to the study of social structure, the relationship between groups. Major works of this period were The Nuer (1940), by E. E. Evans-Pritchard, and African Political Systems (1940), which was influenced by classification systems by Lewis Henry Morgan and Henry Maine.

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    121+ Highly Informative Anthropology Research Topics. Anthropology is a broad field of study about human beings, and it spans various subjects that deal with the past, present, and future. Curious students, those who want to become researchers, or just learners love this subject as there are numerous fascinating things to discuss.

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    Physical Anthropology Research Topics. The advantages and consequences of eugenics in today's society. Analyze five pieces of literature on the stages of drowning till death. Aging in Asian countries and what it means for them. Analyze the physical concept of re-adjusting newborn babies by nursing mothers.

  18. 83 questions with answers in SOCIAL ANTHROPOLOGY

    2 answers. Oct 8, 2013. In Ecuador the government decides to extract petroleum from the Yasuni, a place with one of the biggest biodiversity in the world who is a natural reserve and intangible ...

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    Social Science Research Paper Topics are subjects, questions, or themes within the realm of social sciences that students investigate and write about in research papers. These topics cover a broad spectrum of disciplines, including sociology, psychology, anthropology, economics, political science, and more.

  20. Behavioral & Social Sciences

    Linguistics & Language Behavior Abstracts (LLBA) abstracts and indexes the international literature in linguistics and related disciplines in the language sciences. The database covers all aspects of the study of language including phonetics, phonology, morphology, syntax and semantics. Complete coverage is given to various fields of ...

  21. Top 100 Anthropology Topics For Research Paper Writing

    Here is a medical anthropology research topics list worthy of your exploration. The health ramifications of adapting to ecology and maladaptation. Local interpretations of different bodily processes. Domestic health care and health culture practices. Body projects' changes and the valued attributes.

  22. Social Anthropology

    Research areas of the most cited articles at Social Anthropology: The published papers mainly tackle studies in Ethnology, Politics, Gender studies, Epistemology and Humanities. While work presented in the most cited articles provide substantial information on Ethnology, it also covers topics in Globalization, Ideology and Immigration.

  23. Projected Courses

    Multiple courses offered by the department fulfill many CORE Education Requirements: Science Group (SC), Social Science Group (SSC), and Global Perspectives; and US: Difference, Inequality, Agency) requirements, as listed on the Course Descriptions page.*Please note that the lists below are tentative and meant for general planning purposes.