Need A Beginner-Friendly Psychology Experiment?

Coming up with a psychology experiment can feel harder than actually conducting one. If you’ve ever found yourself staring at a blank document wondering, “What should I investigate?”, you’re definitely not alone.

To help you get started, I’ve put together 50 psychology experiment ideas that are simple, ethical and suitable for many high school and university psychology assignments.

Rather than providing full methods, these ideas are designed to spark inspiration. For each one, I’ve also included a few ways you could measure the outcome using simple tools at home or in the classroom.

Memory & Learning

1. Does background music affect memory recall?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Number of words remembered
• Quiz score
• Recall accuracy

2. Does handwriting improve memory compared to typing?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Quiz score
• Recall accuracy
• Number of correct answers

3. Does colour-coding notes improve learning?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Test score
• Information recalled
• Time taken to study

4. Does fidgeting improve retention?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Quiz score
• Recall accuracy
• Long-term retention

5. Does studying in shorter sessions improve retention?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Delayed quiz score
• Number of facts remembered
• Recall accuracy

Attention & Concentration

6. Does phone presence reduce concentration?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Number of mistakes
• Time to complete a task
• Attention test score

7. Does background noise affect concentration?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Accuracy
• Completion time
• Number of distractions

8. Does multitasking reduce task performance?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Errors made
• Time taken
• Task completion score

9. Does caffeine improve concentration?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Reaction time
• Attention test score
• Self-rated focus

10. Do short breaks improve focus?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Productivity
• Number of completed questions
• Concentration rating

11. Does being outside or inside improve concentration?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Reaction time
• Attention test score
• Self-rated focus

Perception

12. Does colour influence mood?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Mood rating (1–10)
• Emotion questionnaire
• Positive emotion score

13. Does font style affect readability?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Reading speed
• Comprehension quiz
• Difficulty rating

14. Does lighting influence enjoyment of reading?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Comfort rating
• Enjoyment score
• Mood rating

15. Do optical illusions affect everyone equally?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Accuracy
• Response time
• Participant responses

16. Does attractiveness influence first impressions of people?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Likeability rating
• Trust rating
• Impression score

Emotion & Wellbeing

17. Does eating certain foods improve mood?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Mood rating
• Stress rating
• Wellbeing questionnaire

18. Does gratitude journalling increase happiness?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Happiness rating
• Gratitude scale
• Wellbeing score

19. Does laughter reduce stress?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Stress rating
• Heart rate
• Mood score

20. Does mindfulness improve emotional wellbeing?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Anxiety rating
• Mood rating
• Mindfulness questionnaire

21. Does spending time in nature improve mood?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Mood rating
• Stress score
• Wellbeing questionnaire

22. Do colours impact our mood?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Mood rating
• Happiness rating
• Wellbeing questionnaire

Social Psychology

23. Does eye contact increase trust?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Trust rating
• Likeability rating
• Willingness to cooperate

24. Does smiling influence first impressions?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Friendliness rating
• Likeability score
• Trust rating

25. Does clothing influence perceived intelligence?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Intelligence rating
• Professionalism rating
• Competence rating

26. Does group size influence helping behaviour?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Number of people who help
• Time until help is offered
• Helping frequency

27. Do compliments improve social connection?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Connectedness rating
• Mood rating
• Friendliness score

28. Do different types of compliments have greater effects?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Self esteem rating
• Mood rating
• Confidence scores

Personality & Individual Differences

29. Does personality predict procrastination?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Personality questionnaire
• Procrastination scale
• Task completion time

30. Do affirmations improve self esteem?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Self-esteem questionnaire
• Confidence rating
• Qualitative responses

31. Does perfectionism affect stress levels?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Perfectionism questionnaire
• Stress rating
• Anxiety score

32. Does emotional intelligence relate to wellbeing?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Emotional intelligence questionnaire
• Wellbeing scale
• Happiness rating

33. Does resilience predict stress levels?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Resilience scale
• Stress rating

34. Can the MBTI predict prosocial behaviour?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Recycling scores
• Pro-social behaviour questionnaire
• MBTI test

Technology & Social Media

35. Does social media use affect self-esteem?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Screen time
• Self-esteem questionnaire
• Confidence rating

36. Does screen time affect sleep quality?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Sleep diary
• Sleep quality rating
• Hours slept

37. Does phone use before bed affect concentration?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Attention task
• Concentration rating
• Quiz score

38. Do notifications reduce productivity?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Number of completed tasks
• Time taken
• Errors made

39. Does social media use affect self esteem?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Self esteem questionnaires
• Body positivity scores
• Self efficact scores
• Life satisfaction ratings

Health & Lifestyle

40. How do different types of exercise impact appetite?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Hunger rating
• Calories consumed in the day/week
• Energy rating

41. Does sleep duration affect memory?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Recall test
• Quiz score
• Memory accuracy

42. Does eating breakfast improve concentration?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Attention task
• Quiz score
• Focus rating

43. Does exercise before bed affect sleep quality?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Sleep diary
• Sleep quality rating
• Hours slept

44. Does chewing gum improve concentration?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Quiz score
• Attention test
• Task completion time

45. Does room temperature affect sleep quality?

• Sleep diary
• Sleep quality rating
• Hours slept

Behaviourism & Conditioning

46. Does pairing chocolate with studying increase motivation?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Motivation score
• Time spent procrastinating before commencing task
• Energy levels rating

47. Will taking away screen time decrease a negative habit?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Number of times habit occurred during
• Craving intensity score

48. Will only allowing someone to watch Netflix when working out increase exercise consistency?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Number of exercise days in a week
• Time spent exercising
• Consistency score

49. Does adding salt to desserts decrease sugar cravings?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Cravings score
• Number of desserts consumed

50. Will aesthetic stationary increase study time?

Possible ways to measure it:

• Hours studies
• Motivation score
• Number of tasks completed