199 Potential Topics For a Communication Research Paper

Updated March 10, 2023

A communication research paper can help cap your academic career and position you for a postgraduate career. Communication research topics span a wide range of subjects and issues about how people convey information, allowing you to make unique discoveries about human behavior. If you learn more information about communication research topics, you can often better write a successful research paper that leads to a job in your area of study.

In this article, we discuss different approaches you can take to writing a research paper, provide you some potential topics and share some tips to help you compose one.

Approaches for writing a communication research paper

When writing a communication research paper, you can take several different approaches:

Behaviorist approach

This social science approach posits that human behavior is somewhat predictable. It relies on big data and quantitative research to make predictions about future human behavior. For example, a political scientist might predict that a certain area of a state is going to vote for a specific candidate for the next presidential election based on historical voting patterns. In writing a communication research paper, you use data and trust-based observations to support a theory regarding human behavior.

Interpretive approach

The interpretive approach to writing a research paper assumes that you often can't predict human behavior. Using qualitative measures, the researcher seeks to understand the reasons why a person behaves in a certain way, rather than attempt to predict these reactions. It also focuses on empathizing with others. For example, an interpretive research paper on a communication topic might evaluate why different social groups make different conclusions after perceiving the same information.

Subjective approach

A subjective approach to writing a research paper involves focusing on the lived, personal experiences of study participants or subjects. It also incorporates the researcher's perspective into the process. Many subjective research papers highlight power differentials within a society. A researcher might write a critical paper discussing current power structures or how political or economic structures have inherent biases. The researcher then might articulate examples to illustrate their points before making recommendations for change based on their own views.

Postmodern approach

The postmodern approach to writing a research paper involves evaluating multiple subjective experiences to identify true statements about human behavior. As social structures can shift over time, postmodern theorists often create topics to understand the underlying causes of any changes that occur. They may also focus on specific social constructs that affect communication trends and practices, including gender, nationality, class, race, and ethnicity.

199 communication research topics

Here are some examples of communication research topics for different career fields and areas of academic study:

Journalism research topics

Emerging spaces in journalism
People-powered journalism
Globalization and journalism
Journalism and social-political conflict
Science and the pursuit of truth in journalism
How to report on science when the public is skeptical
Checking the facts in science reporting
Connecting with others through journalism
How journalism and communication intersect
Ethics in journalism
Technology and journalism
The communication divide between political parties
The impact of socio-economic factors on voting
How journalism can help fuel change in society
Judgment and ethics in digital journalism
How virtual propaganda impacts journalism
Mass media trends and how people comment on them
Corporate interests and journalism ethics
Rise of politically driven or biased journalism
How fear can drive journalism decisions
Empowerment and journalism
How digital technology changed the field of journalism
Investigative journalism and the rise of technological development
Pop culture and journalism
How the media emotionally influences their audience
How bias can rise in news media
How the media decides what information to classify as news

Public relations research topics

Public relations management
Excellent practices to follow in public relations
Managing public relations in a global landscape
How public relations campaigns relate to communities
Public relations on a global scale
How interactive digital communities impact public relations
Comparing roles within public relations
Ethical practices in public relations
Major factors in successful public relations campaigns
Public relations and protecting confidential information online
How public relations uses social media to connect with individuals
Managing corporate reputations amidst conflict and controversy
Creating a reality-based positive image
How to make data-driven public relations decisions
How big data is changing how public relations functions
Influence of education on the public relations field
Power of influencers for public relations
How to convey public relations ideas in modern societies
How communities foster modern communication
Understanding demographics in public relations
How data can help shape messaging
How modern digital platforms influence how people communicate
Using data to plan a public relations strategy
Creating audience profiles to craft messaging
Public health and communicating about a society's fundamental needs
How to control and execute messaging

Advertising research topics

Communicating with the public through advertising
Creating effective messaging through advertising
Creating a positive corporate image through advertising
Impact of advertising on consumers
Impact of technology on the advertising industry
Managing culture differences through advertising
Targeted advertising in the digital age
Using geofencing as an advertising concept
Advertising and the influence of mobile devices
How to involve the audience in interactive advertising
Romantic relationships and advertising in the digital age
How the use of romance in advertising has changed
Social media versus traditional media in advertisement campaigns
Charting the future of advertising
How data and demographics influence advertisements
The importance of research in advertising
Using big data to craft advertising campaigns
Evolution of advertising and how it relates to advancements in communication
Advertising trends in the 21st Century
Ethics and messaging for children-based audiences

Cultural communication research topics

How to approach the exchange of intercultural information
Creating an intercultural dialogue
Intercultural communication and modern society
Encouraging intercultural communication
How studying abroad can broaden intercultural understanding
How corporate health insurance companies interact with marginalized communities
International students and U.S. college education
Assessing the effectiveness of intercultural communication
Understanding an intercultural dialogue
Assessing cultures and prophecies
Communication in culture and folklore
Modern communication in an intercultural world
Immigration and cultural integration
The socio-political influence of culture
Cultural customs and how they impact society
Defining ethnicity
Nationality versus nationalism
How race impacts modern communication
Racism and how it impacts communication in modern society
What is cultural appropriation and why it matters
Loss of individualism in modern society
How language can connect people
Cultural diversity in politics
How laws impact our cultural landscape
Why people unite within a culture

Digital communication research topics

Communicating in a global digital environment
Having a virtual dialogue about cultural expression
Mediating disputes virtually
Finding success in a virtual classroom
Virtual reality and the future of communication
Training a team to work in a virtual environment
Effective team communication in a digital workspace
Importance of communication in creating team interaction styles
Creating trust and teamwork in virtual teams
Interpersonal communication in digital spaces
Using digital tools to improve work communication
Learning from public interactive forums
The influence of blogs on consumer buying habits
Effective use of email communication
Importance of digital reviews in the modern marketplace
Using corporate digital communication tools
How video communication can affect relationships
How communicating virtually can impact your mental health
The ethics and legality of file sharing
The changing landscape of digital communication
Using messaging applications effectively to foster communication
Digital communication and free speech
Respecting privacy in the digital age
How to protect your privacy in the digital age
How digital technology has reshaped education

Social media research topics

Social media and its influence on social movements
Peer communication effects in social media on purchase patterns
How using social media affects mental health
Analyzing social interactions across various platforms
How social media changed the influence of the traditional media
How social media affected news consumption in different communities
Social media and confirmation bias
How social media can help during a crisis
How social media changed marketing
Creating brand identity on social media
Social media and its influence on consumer decisions
Social media and influencer marketing
Social media and organized social action
How social media has changed U.S. politics
Social media and political advertising
Social media and the consolidation of the internet
How social media replaced big media
Impact of social media advertising on traditional media
Using targeted advertising effectively
The future of cross-media communication
Social media and the end of traditional social events
How employers use social media to make hiring decisions
Cyberbullying on social media
Combating mistreatment on social media
Creating a safe environment online for children
Using social media to meet people
Rise of video content on social media
Influencers and ethics in advertising
Creating safe social media platforms for teenagers
Using consumer data for marketing ventures
Helping small businesses navigate social media platforms
How corporations use social media to create a brand identity

Leadership research topics

What communication skills make a strong leader
Effective communication styles of leaders
Positive leadership outcomes and how they happened
Effective internal communication for transforming an organization
Importance of strategic communication
Key leadership examples in modern societies
Effective strategies for leading a virtual team
Leadership styles and communication techniques
Creating an effective communication process
Relationship between communication styles and leadership
How personality traits affect leadership and communication
How communication leads to employee satisfaction
Ways leaders communicate with their followers
How leadership and effective communication can reshape an organization
Acquiring respect through communication
Strategies for communicating policy changes to an organization
Presenting a leadership vision to a company
How leaders shape and control a narrative
Modern-day leaders and how they communicate
Using past leadership practices to succeed in modern societies
How leaders use virtual communication tools
Communicating challenges to a team
Communicating ideas to a team and how to implement them

Negotiations Topics

How the media affects negotiation outcomes
Using persuasive dialogue in negotiation
Negotiation as a language-centered event
Intercultural dialogue in negotiations
Mediating disputes
Effective language to use during negotiations
Framing devices in a negotiation
Negotiating and mediating social change
Effective negotiating tactics in business
Differences between business and political negotiations
Negotiating environmental disputes
Handling bias in negotiations
Creating a negotiating process
Using diplomacy to build relationships
Mitigating corruption in modern communication
Using power in modern negotiation
Corporate negotiation tactics in modern societies
How legislation can influence future negotiations
How to get leverage in a corporate negotiation
How racism influences international affairs
Using modern communication tools in negotiations

Tips for writing a research paper

Here are some tips to help you write a research paper:

Stay focused on your topic

Create a specific thesis for your research paper. If you create a too-broad topic, your readers may have a limited understanding of your research findings. When you emphasize your topic, you can often stay on topic more easily. When editing your research paper, track any paragraph content that diverts into tangents or focuses on secondary information to see whether it's necessary for the final draft.

Use high-quality sources

The quality of your paper can depend on the quality of your sources, as they can provide accurate and in-depth information. Try to use peer-reviewed published articles from reputable sources. This can help you use sources of high quality that others have vetted. Also, consider checking the paper's cited sources to see whether they present accurate facts and can provide useful data.

Remain objective when presenting facts

It's important to stay objective when conveying facts in a research paper, even if you're presenting a subjective point of view. This approach allows you to analyze your topic fully and counter any arguments. Depending on the type of paper you write, you might also change your perspective based on your research. If the research counters your topic's point of view, consider connecting with your academic adviser or supervisor to learn how to best approach the next step.