EPQ Ideas for Psychology: 30+ Research Questions

By Michael Thompson · Education Specialist; 10 years teaching the IB at Bromsgrove School · Published 24 October 2026 · Updated 25 October 2026

EPQ ideas for psychology are among the most searched by UK sixth-formers, and for good reason: psychology sits at the intersection of biology, society, and behaviour, giving you genuine room to go beyond what any A-level specification covers. The challenge is not finding a topic - it is narrowing one down to a question that can be answered within 120 guided learning hours using sources a student can actually reach. The Cambridge OCR moderators' report from summer 2024 found that candidates who did well 'selected a topic which genuinely interested them' and 'refined a research question which was targeted and focused', while those who struggled 'selected a generic topic' and 'researched broadly and shallowly'. This guide gives you thirty-plus ready-to-refine questions grouped by area, three worked examples showing how a vague topic becomes a focused title, and practical notes on feasibility and ethics for psychology specifically.

Key Takeaways

• Focus beats breadth: The OCR summer 2024 moderators' report explicitly flags projects that are 'too large in scope' for 120 guided learning hours as a recurring problem.
• Your title needs centre approval: Per the OCR H857 specification, project titles must be approved by centres; AQA likewise requires students to draft a title and aims for formal approval.
• Most psychology EPQs analyse published research: Primary research is not compulsory; the moderators' report notes effective primary research included interviews and email exchanges with experts, never surveys for their own sake.
• Source evaluation is required: The OCR moderators' report says source evaluations should address both the usefulness of a source for the project and its credibility and reliability - a checklist of hyperlinks does not meet this standard.
• Universities notice the EPQ: The University of Cambridge and the University of Manchester both have statements printed in the OCR H857 specification welcoming the qualification as evidence of independent research skills.
• Experiments and questionnaires on sensitive topics need supervisor approval: Any primary research involving children, vulnerable people, or sensitive mental-health topics should be discussed with your supervisor before you begin, and is usually better replaced by analysis of published studies.

In This Article

1. What makes a good psychology EPQ question
2. Three worked examples: from vague topic to focused EPQ question
3. 30+ psychology EPQ ideas grouped by area
4. Feasibility and ethics for a psychology EPQ
5. How to use your psychology EPQ in a university application
6. What to do next

1. What makes a good psychology EPQ question

The best EPQ ideas for psychology start with a question, not a topic. "Mental health" is a topic. "To what extent does social comparison on image-based social media platforms worsen body dysmorphic symptoms in adolescent girls?" is a question - focused, arguable, and answerable through published research a sixth-former can actually reach.

The OCR summer 2024 moderators' report for the Cambridge Extended Project H857 is worth reading carefully before you settle on anything. It describes candidates who did well as those who "refined a research question which was targeted and focused", "narrowed and deepened research as they progressed", and "produced well-formatted in-text citations and bibliographies." Those who scored lower "selected a generic topic", "researched broadly and shallowly", and "omitted in-text citations and bibliographies OR used hyperlinks or URLs instead of formatting references" - a specific gotcha worth noting: a list of web addresses does not count as a bibliography because hyperlinks cannot be followed once a page is printed, as the OCR moderators' report states directly.

The same report flags a scope problem that catches many psychology candidates: projects that were "too limited or too large in scope" for the 120 guided learning hours the qualification carries, and where "at least some aims should relate to the steps needed to achieve planned outcomes." A rough title test: could you write a focused 5,000-word dissertation on this question - or would you run out of material at 1,500 words, or still be summarising textbooks at 8,000? If either extreme applies, narrow or reframe.

One structural point that matters for question design: a "What is..." question describes rather than argues. It gives you less room than a question requiring analysis or evaluation, because description on its own does little to show the critical selection and analysis that the assessment objectives ask for.

Both the OCR specification and the AQA specification require the centre, not the student, to approve the final title. The ideas in this guide are written for this guide and labelled as such. They are phrased as questions or research briefs to prompt your thinking - not as finished, approved titles. Your supervisor will help you shape and sign off the actual version.

2. Three worked examples: from vague topic to focused EPQ question

The OCR moderators' report for summer 2024 is direct on this point: candidates who struggled had "selected a generic topic" and "researched broadly and shallowly." The fix is not to research more, it is to narrow the question before you start. Four moves do most of the work: pin down what (the concept), who (the population), where (the setting or evidence base), and compared with what (the contrast that makes the question arguable).

The three examples below are written for this guide. They are not real student submissions and not exam-board exemplars.

Example 1: Mental health

• Vague topic: Mental health
• Focused question: To what extent do cognitive behavioural therapy and mindfulness-based approaches differ in their effectiveness for adolescent anxiety, as shown in published clinical reviews?

Example 2: Memory

• Vague topic: Memory
• Focused question: How do elaborative encoding strategies compare with spaced repetition in improving long-term recall of factual information, according to experimental studies published since 2010?

Example 3: Criminal behaviour

• Vague topic: Criminal behaviour
• Focused question: To what extent does attachment theory account for patterns of recidivism in young adult male offenders, based on the published psychological literature?

Notice that each focused question names a contrast ("compared with what") rather than simply describing a phenomenon. That contrast is what makes the question arguable. A question without a contrast tends to produce a report that describes rather than analyses, and description alone gives you little chance to show the analysis and evaluation the assessment objectives ask for.

3. 30+ psychology EPQ ideas grouped by area

All ideas below are written for this guide. They are phrased as questions rather than topics, because a question forces you to take a position and structure an argument - the difference between "memory" (a topic) and "How does sleep deprivation affect procedural versus declarative memory, according to published experimental research?" (a question with a clear scope and a built-in method). The OCR moderators' report for summer 2024 notes that stronger candidates "refined a research question which was targeted and focused" and "narrowed and deepened research as they progressed" - both things a well-formed question makes easier from the start.

One practical note before you read: the OCR moderators' report singles out surveys as the form of primary research that most often fell flat - there were 'instances of effective surveys in appropriate areas, but these were outweighed by the ineffective surveys'. The ideas below are built for library-based investigation using published sources. Where primary research genuinely adds something, the note at the end of each group says what kind.

Memory, Learning and Cognition

1. How does the spacing effect compare with massed practice for vocabulary retention in bilingual learners?
2. To what extent do eyewitness testimony studies support the reliability of memory reconstruction?
3. How does sleep deprivation affect procedural versus declarative memory, according to published experimental research?
4. What does the psychological literature suggest about the effectiveness of retrieval practice compared with re-reading for A-level students?

Research this needs: peer-reviewed cognitive psychology journals and published meta-analyses. An email exchange with a university memory researcher could add a practitioner perspective, but it is not necessary - the experimental literature is substantial.

Mental Health and Wellbeing

1. To what extent does cognitive behavioural therapy reduce symptoms of generalised anxiety disorder compared with pharmacological treatment, based on published meta-analyses?
2. How effective are school-based mindfulness programmes for reducing adolescent stress, according to published evaluations?
3. What does the psychological literature suggest about the relationship between social media use and body image dissatisfaction in teenage girls?
4. To what extent is the diagnosis of ADHD in children influenced by cultural and socioeconomic factors, as shown in published research?

Research this needs: systematic reviews, published clinical trial data, and NHS or NICE guidance documents. Primary research is rarely appropriate here; an interview with a school counsellor or CAMHS practitioner (with supervisor approval) could contextualise published findings, but avoid anything that approaches clinical advice or personal disclosure from participants.

Developmental and Child Psychology

1. How does attachment style in infancy predict social competence in middle childhood, based on longitudinal studies?
2. To what extent does bilingual upbringing affect executive function development in early childhood, according to published cognitive research?
3. What does the psychological literature suggest about the long-term effects of parental divorce on children's emotional regulation?
4. How do published studies account for gender differences in language acquisition during the first three years of life?

Research this needs: longitudinal studies, developmental psychology journals, and published systematic reviews. Primary research involving children needs your supervisor's approval and should normally be avoided at sixth-form level - the ideas above are designed to be answered entirely through published sources.

Social Psychology and Behaviour

1. To what extent do Milgram's obedience studies retain explanatory value for understanding authority and compliance in contemporary institutional settings?
2. How does bystander intervention behaviour differ across group size, according to published social psychological research?
3. What does the psychological literature suggest about the effectiveness of anti-prejudice interventions in reducing implicit bias?

Research this needs: classic and contemporary social psychology journals, replication studies, and published critiques. An email exchange with a social psychologist could provide useful commentary on contested findings such as the replication of Milgram's work, and is worth considering.

Forensic and Criminal Psychology

1. To what extent does the psychological profile of serial offenders support the use of offender profiling as an investigative tool?
2. How reliable are false confession studies as evidence for reforming police interview techniques?
3. What does the published literature suggest about the relationship between childhood trauma and adult criminal behaviour?
4. To what extent can restorative justice approaches, evaluated through published studies, reduce reoffending among juvenile offenders?

Research this needs: forensic psychology journals, published case studies, and Home Office or Ministry of Justice research reports. A visit to a youth justice organisation or an email exchange with a probation officer could add grounded context, particularly for question 19. These EPQ ideas about criminal psychology are well-suited to a dissertation that critically evaluates competing evidence rather than reaching a definitive verdict.

Neuroscience and Biological Psychology

1. How does published neuroimaging research account for structural brain differences associated with psychopathy?
2. To what extent do twin and adoption studies support a genetic basis for schizophrenia?
3. What does the biological psychology literature suggest about the role of the HPA axis in stress-related mental health conditions?

Research this needs: neuroscience and biological psychology journals, published twin studies, and neuroimaging research. The technical vocabulary here is demanding - a focused question helps you avoid breadth that cannot be covered in 120 guided learning hours, as the OCR moderators' report flags scope problems as a recurring issue.

Psychology of Technology and Social Media

1. To what extent does published research support the claim that social media use is causally linked to increased loneliness in adolescents?
2. How do published studies evaluate the psychological effects of smartphone screen-time limits on wellbeing in young people?
3. What does the psychological literature suggest about the impact of algorithm-driven content on political polarisation?

Research this needs: recent peer-reviewed studies (post-2015 to ensure relevance), published systematic reviews, and media psychology journals. This is a fast-moving area, so checking publication dates carefully matters - older studies may predate the platforms whose effects you are examining.

Sport, Health and Performance

1. How does pre-performance anxiety affect athletic performance in individual versus team sports, based on published psychological research?
2. To what extent does self-talk as a psychological intervention improve performance outcomes, according to published meta-analyses?
3. What does the psychology of motivation literature suggest about the relative effectiveness of intrinsic versus extrinsic reward systems for sustained physical activity?
4. How do published studies account for the psychological impact of injury on an elite athlete's identity and recovery?
5. To what extent does the published literature support the effectiveness of mindfulness-based stress reduction for pain management in chronic illness?

Research this needs: sport and exercise psychology journals, published meta-analyses, and health psychology literature. An interview with a sport psychologist or a university performance coach could add genuine value for questions 26 to 29, provided it supplements rather than replaces published evidence - this is one area where well-planned primary research, as described in the OCR moderators' report, can meaningfully contribute to the outcome.

4. Feasibility and ethics for a psychology EPQ

What sources can you actually reach?

Most psychology EPQs are built on published research rather than original data collection, and the sources you need are more accessible than you might expect:

• Peer-reviewed journal articles via open databases such as PubMed, open-access repositories, or institutional access provided by your school
• Systematic reviews and meta-analyses, which are ideal because they summarise and compare multiple studies on one question
• Government and public health reports, freely available online from bodies such as the NHS, ONS, and Home Office
• Published case studies from textbooks and journals
• Books available through your school library or local public library interloan service

One non-obvious advantage of building a psychology EPQ around published research: you are working with sources that already have credibility signals you can evaluate. Per the OCR moderators' report, source evaluations must address two separate things: how useful a source is for your specific project, and how credible and reliable it is. A list of URLs does not meet this requirement, because hyperlinks cannot be followed once a page is printed. You need in-text citations and a properly formatted bibliography; the report also identifies as good practice keeping a reference list of the sources you cite separate from a bibliography that includes sources you read but did not directly quote.

Ethics and what to avoid

Most psychology EPQs should not involve collecting data from other people. Experiments on participants, questionnaires on sensitive topics such as mental health or trauma, and any research involving children or vulnerable groups need explicit supervisor approval and typically should not go ahead at sixth-form level without it. If you are uncertain whether your planned approach crosses a line, talk to your supervisor before committing to it.

The ideas throughout this guide are written for analysis of published research, which avoids these problems entirely.

Primary research: when it helps and when it doesn't

Primary research is not compulsory. The OCR moderators' report is explicit on this: primary research is encouraged but not required, and should contribute meaningfully to the project outcome. The report notes that effective primary research often took the form of interviews, email exchanges with experts, or visits to relevant organisations. Surveys, by contrast, produced ineffective results more often than effective ones.

For a psychology EPQ, that means an email interview with a researcher whose published work you are analysing, or a visit to a relevant organisation, can add genuine value. A general survey sent to classmates rarely does.

Dissertation or artefact?

A written dissertation of roughly 5,000 words is the most common route, but it is not the only one. The OCR specification lists artefacts and other outcomes as valid project types, each requiring a supporting written piece. For psychology, this opens up options: a well-researched podcast series, an annotated critical review of a body of literature, or an educational resource on a psychological topic, each accompanied by the required written component. These formats suit some EPQ ideas better than a straight essay, particularly in areas such as child psychology or mental health communication where the artefact can demonstrate application.

Talk to your supervisor early about which route fits your question and your strengths.

5. How to use your psychology EPQ in a university application

A well-chosen psychology EPQ gives you something concrete to discuss in your UCAS personal statement and at interview, beyond your A-level syllabus. The non-obvious point: the value is not just the grade but the process. Being able to describe how you framed a research question, evaluated conflicting sources, and revised your approach is exactly the kind of evidence of independent study that the university statements printed in the OCR specification describe.

The OCR H857 specification prints statements from two universities directly. The University of Manchester states that students 'can refer to the Extended Project in their UCAS personal statement and at interview to demonstrate some of the qualities that universities are looking for.' The University of Cambridge states: 'We welcome the Extended Project and would encourage applicants to undertake one as it will help to develop independent study and research skills valuable for higher education.'

On conditional offers, the WJEC EPQ student guide (2021) notes that 'Increasingly, universities are including the EPQ in their UCAS offers. Very often an A/A* grade in the EPQ will lead to a lower A Level grade requirement.' That reflects WJEC's own observation, not a universal rule.

Always check individual course pages. Some courses factor the EPQ into offers; others do not. Requirements vary by university, by department, and by year of entry, so do not assume any particular outcome without verifying directly with the institution.

6. What to do next

The most important step is not picking a question from a list. It is getting your supervisor to approve one. Both AQA and OCR require the centre to formally approve your title before you begin, so a question you have not yet discussed with your supervisor is not a project title, it is a rough idea.

This week, take two or three candidate questions from the psychology areas that interest you most and book a conversation with your supervisor to test them. Come with a sense of the sources you could reach and a rough idea of scope. The supervisor conversation is where a broad interest becomes an approvable, focused brief.

Book that conversation before the end of this week. Do not wait until you feel certain about your question, because the refinement happens in that meeting, not before it.

FAQ

Is psychology a good subject for an EPQ?

Psychology is well-suited to the EPQ because the published literature is extensive and freely accessible, the field spans biology, social science, and clinical practice, and a focused question can go well beyond what any A-level specification covers - all of which gives a student room to demonstrate independent analysis.

Can I do primary research for a psychology EPQ?

Primary research is encouraged but not compulsory; the OCR summer 2024 moderators' report notes that effective primary research included interviews, email exchanges with experts, and visits to appropriate locations, but that surveys were often ineffective - and any research involving children, vulnerable people, or sensitive topics needs supervisor approval and is usually better replaced by analysis of published studies.

How focused does a psychology EPQ question need to be?

The OCR summer 2024 moderators' report identifies projects that are 'too limited or too large in scope' for 120 guided learning hours as a recurring problem; a strong question names a specific population, intervention, or comparison, and can be answered in depth using sources the student can actually reach.

Do universities consider the EPQ for psychology degree applications?

The University of Cambridge and the University of Manchester both have statements printed in the OCR H857 specification welcoming the EPQ as evidence of independent study skills; the WJEC EPQ student guide also states that some universities include the EPQ in their UCAS offers, but students should check individual course pages since practice varies.

What referencing format does a psychology EPQ need?

The OCR summer 2024 moderators' report requires in-text citations and a bibliography; lists of hyperlinks or URLs do not meet the standard because they cannot be followed once a page is printed, and source evaluations must address both the usefulness and the credibility or reliability of each source.

Can a psychology EPQ be an artefact rather than a dissertation?

Yes - both the OCR H857 and AQA 7993 specifications permit artefact outcomes; an artefact still requires a supporting written piece (a minimum of 1,000 words under OCR rules), so a psychology student could produce an educational resource, podcast, or annotated critical review alongside a written report.

References

• Cambridge OCR Extended Project H857 Moderators' report - Summer 2024 - https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/727849-moderators-report.pdf
• Cambridge OCR Level 3 Extended Project Qualification H857 Specification v2.2 (October 2026) - Assessment, PPR, marking criteria bands, overlap with other qualifications - https://www.ocr.org.uk/Images/414382-specification.pdf
• AQA Level 3 Extended Project Qualification (7993) Specification v1.4 - 2.5.1 Assessment evidence and project product - https://filestore.aqa.org.uk/subjects/AQA-W-7993-SP-19.PDF