Personality is a popular subject in psychology, so it’s no surprise that this broad area is rife with fascinating research topics.1 There are many psychology questions about personality that can be a great topic for a paper, or just help you get to know others a little better.
Are you looking for a great topic for a paper, presentation, or experiment for your personality psychology class? Here are just a few ideas that might help kick-start your imagination.
At a Glance
If you are writing a paper, doing an experiment, or just curious about why people do the things they do, exploring some different psychology questions about personality can be a great place to start. Topics you might choose to explore include different personality traits, personality tests, and how different aspects of personality influence behavior.
Possible Topics for Personality Psychology Research
The type of psychology questions about personality that you might want to explore depend on what you are interested in and what you want to know. Some topics you might opt to explore include:
Personality Traits
- How do personality traits relate to creativity? Are people with certain traits more or less creative? For your project, you might try administering scales measuring temperament and creativity to a group of participants.
- Are certain personality traits linked to prosocial behaviors? Consider how traits such as kindness, generosity, and empathy might be associated with altruism and heroism.
- How does Type A behavior influence success in school? Are people who exhibit Type A characteristics more likely to succeed?
- Is there a connection between a person’s personality type and the kind of art they like? For example, are extroverts more drawn to brighter colors or art that depicts people vs. abstract, non-representational art?
- Do people tend to choose pets based on their personality types? How do the personalities of dog owners compare to those of cat owners?
Personality Tests
- How do personality assessments compare? Consider comparing common assessments such as the Myers-Briggs Temperament Indicator, the Keirsey Temperament Sorter, and the 16PF Questionnaire.
- How reliable are personality test results? If you give someone the same test weeks later, will their results be the same?
Family and Relationships
- Do people tend to marry individuals with similar personalities? Do people who marry partners with personalities similar to their own have more satisfying relationships?
- What impact does birth order have on personality? Are first-born children more responsible, and are last-borns less responsible?
Personality and Behaviors
- Is there a connection between personality types and musical tastes? Do people who share certain personality traits prefer the same types of music?
- Are people who participate in athletics more likely to have certain personality characteristics? Compare the personality types of athletes versus non-athletes.
- Are individuals with high self-esteem more competitive than those with low self-esteem? Do those with high self-esteem perform better than those who have lower self-esteem?
- Is there a correlation between personality type and the tendency to cheat on exams? Are people low in conscientiousness more likely to cheat? Are extroverts or introverts more liable to cheat?
- How do personality factors influence a person’s use of social media? For example, are people high in certain traits more likely to use Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter? Are individuals who use social media frequently more or less extroverted?
List of Personality Topics
You can also come up with questions about your own about different topics in personality psychology. Some that you might explore include:
- Big 5 personality traits
- The id, ego, and superego
- Psychosocial development
- Hierarchy of needs
- Myers-Briggs Type Indicator
- Personality disorders
What to Do Before You Begin Your Research
Once you find a suitable research topic, you might be tempted just to dive right in and get started. However, there are a few important steps you need to take first.
Most importantly, be sure to run your topic idea past your instructor. This is particularly important if you are planning to conduct an actual experiment with human participants.
In most cases, you will need to gain your instructor’s permission and possibly submit your plan to your school’s human subjects committee to gain approval.2
How to Get Started With Your Research
Whether you are doing an experiment, writing a paper, or developing a presentation, background research should always be your next step.
Consider what research already exists on the topic. Look into what other researchers have discovered. By spending some time reviewing the existing literature, you will be better able to develop your topic further.3