100+ Excellent Geography Research Topics For PhD Students

Geography is a study with a wide spectrum of subjects. It shows the relationship between the environment and people. The subject includes environmental geography, physical geography, cultural geography, human geography, etc, with geospatial technologies. This wide range makes it difficult for students to narrow down the topic for their research paper. 

Students are often provided with broad assignments to promote intellectual development. It helps to enhance the knowledge of the world. But sometimes students don’t understand where they should start the process of research paper writing. Many students struggle with finding a good topic, along with resources from credible sources. 

To help you start somewhere, we have listed the most relevant geographical topics for your research paper. What’s more, we have also dished out tips for choosing the most relevant topic.

So, let’s dig in!

How to Choose the Best Geography Research Topics?

The first challenge student often face is choosing the right topic for their assignment. Here are a few top research techniques that will help you to find the right research topic for you:

Background Research:

Researching the background of the topic helps to understand the effectiveness of the topic. You can change the topic accordingly to use it more appropriate way. You can search by clicking on the map window or narrowing it down by date. 

Narrow the Topic:

Choose a topic that is neither too vast nor too narrow. Choose a topic that is feasible. Let’s check what is broad topic and a narrow topic are:

• Broad Topic: A broad topic refers to a wider range of information and ideas. Finding too much information can lead to confusion. For example, Urban Geography, Cultural Geography, Political Geography, or Population Geography are vast areas of geography. If you start writing any of these topics, you won’t be able to understand where you should start writing. So, choose any of these subjects and use these as a keyword. It will help you to find relevant topics that come under these spheres. 
• Narrow Topic: A narrow topic is specific. It covers a limited area. You will not find many resources and information related to the narrow topics. Suppose Biodiversity in a specific place like ‘South Africa’. You can write about it only for the specific place. Another example is the ‘destruction of rain forest.’ There is no specific area mentioned based on which you can structure the essay. 

So, both these types can be confusing for you. You have to choose a topic accordingly so that you get proper resources to research.

Use Keywords for Topic Research:

Suppose your university has asked you to write an essay on the geography subject. However the instructor has not provided any topic. You can choose a topic from the interesting geographical spectrum of yours. Then, search the particular subject as a keyword. You will find a lot of resources to write down.

For example: ‘ Climate Change’ is the subject you like most in geography. It is a very popular subject for graduate and post-grad geography students. Use that as a keyword. You will find topics like global warming, climate crisis, carbon offsetting, pollution, fossil fuel, and many more topics to write about.

Understand the Scope of the Topic:

The scope of a research topic refers to the methods, limitations, populations and boundaries, and extent of the study. So, considering it can help you in finding a geography research topic.

Select a Research Question:

Select a research question that is interesting for readers and you too. That will make the research process engaging for you. 

For example: ‘What is the impact of climate change in coastal areas?’. This can be considered as an interesting topic for the reader and you, too, because this topic is related to multiple areas like pollution, human activity, ecosystems, eliminating wetlands, etc. You will get a scope to write and explain a lot about the impact and all.

You can consider 5W’s while selecting the research topic. Those are- 

• What,
• Where,
• When,
• Why,
• Who 

Use Proper Resources:

While researching a topic, understand that is there adequate resources and information. You can rely on credible sources like the Encyclopedia Of Geography, the Association Of American Geographers, and the National Council Of Geographic Education. As you write, list down the citation information of the resources that you have gathered information. 

From these guidelines as mentioned above, you get an idea about how to choose a topic for your assignment. So don’t make a delay in submitting your assignment, as you will receive a plethora of fantastic research topics.

If you have any confusion about how to write the research paper or which is the topic convenient for you, reach out to MyassignmentHelp.com for professional expert assistance.

Top 100+ Topics for Geography Research:

World Regional Geography Research Topics

1. Write a research paper on deforestation. What is its impact on the communities in Amazon?
2. Explain volcanic eruptions. Do you find that there is any probability of volcanoes in the near future?
3. Write a research paper on climate adaptation strategies. Would it be effective in vulnerable regions?
4. Public health is affected by the quality of the air. Justify it with geographical distribution.
5. The sea level is rising in the Pacific islands. Explain it.
6. What is water resource management? How do arsenic and other hidden contaminants affect it?
7. What are the key reasons for landslides all around the world?
8. The impact of globalization and its impact on livelihood
9. How does soil erosion affect agricultural productivity?
10. A variety of landforms are seen on Earth’s surface due to the synergy of historical patterns and tectonic plates. Explain in detail.
11. How has COVID-19 impacted the travel industry?
12. Discuss the importance of major exporting countries

Physical Geography Research Topics

1. How does arsenic affect the food chain of humans?
2. What is classical geography? How is it practiced from the ancient Greek period?
3. A reduction is seen in the area and volume of the earth that is resulting in the rise of sea level. Why?
4. What are the key concepts of physical geography? Explain the importance of it.
5. Write a research paper on volcanic phenomena alkong with its details related to ground deformation, lava, etc.
6.  Research on the ocean’s chemical, physical, and biological characteristics. How does it create an impact on different types of climate?
7. How can the quality of the air be assessed and the management plan can be implemented? 
8. What is the potentiality of wind power in the ever-changing climate?
9. What are the characteristics of the river system and drainage systems in the US?
10. Research paper on landform formation and the characteristics of landforms in detail.
11. What is the history of the evolution of volcanic islands?
12. Write about desertification in the dry region.

Human Geography Research Topics

1. Write a research paper on the influence of gender, which affects the pattern of migration.
2. What are the effects of overfishing? Explain the effects of it.
3. Gender inequalities effects on socio-economic outcomes. Explain how.
4. Write a research paper on the policies related to child labor in businesses.
5. How to protect yourself from the infectious disease that spreads from man to man?
6. Write a research paper focusing on infectious diseases and preventive actions to get rid of them.
7. Write a research paper on forest plantations in this modern era
8. Do you find that there is any relation between geographical location and human body
9. Is there any contribution of geography in forming human behavior
10. Natural disasters have a huge impact on humans. Write about the human settlement after a natural disaster.
11. Evaluate the quality of air in megacities
12. What is ecotourism? What is the impact of it on sustainable development?

Political Geography Research Topics

1. What do you understand about political geography? Explain any three key themes about political geography.
2. Write about the impact of citizen participation in electoral politics
3. Research paper on food security in the US
4. What is the impact of road initiatives in the China belt
5. Research on the political parties in the US
6. How geopolitics creates impact in the 21st century
7. The history of geographical perspective on development studies
8. What is the foundation of international studies and various disciplines of geography
9. The intervention of feminism in political geography in today’s digital era
10. The Effects of policy change on Common people in the US 
11. The contribution of international organizations to resolve the confliction
12. Is there any geopolitical implication in the case of the artic resource extraction

Urban Geography Research Topics

1. What is the importance of studying urban geography related issues?
2. Write a research paper on the global perspective of malarial ecology
3. Write a research paper on the conflict between usage of public land and private profit 
4. What is the role of urban agriculture in the case of food security 
5. What is sustainable urban development? Write the scenario of the USA.
6. Physical and social impacts on urbanization adaption strategies
7. What was the paradigm of American urban geography 
8. Research on the impact of smart city technologies on urban living
9. The contribution of green infrastructure to develop urban resilience
10. Research on the micromobility? Is it creating any impact on urban life?
11. Why public health plays an important role in urbanization
12. How geography can formalize the informal slums

Cultural Geography Research Topics

1. Does agriculture create any impact on the pattern of weather
2. How global warming creates impact on cultural choices
3. Food creates a sense of connection and brings people together. Explain how.
4. Explain the role of cultural heritage in tourism.
5. Write a research paper on the impact of global warming on different cultural choices.
6. How does agriculture affect air, animals, and soil
7. What is the impact of food on traditions and cultural practices
8. Research on cultural festivals and events in the US
9. How is geography contributing to music? Write about the regional variations in detail
10. Research paper on the nutritional value of the food culture from all around the world
11. How the tourism industry developed through cultural heritage
12. The social and cultural geography in rural areas

Few Research Topics For High School Students

1. Write an essay on environmental management and its effects on climate
2. Write an essay on clean fuel technologies and 
3. What is the impact of biofuels and bioenergy on climate
4. Analyze the food insecurity risks in the US
5. How human beings create an impact on climate change
6. Evaluate and write an essay on the production of milk in the USA
7. Understand the statistics of meat production in the USA
8. Write an essay on hydropower development 
9. What was the reason for desert land formation?
10. Ecosystem management is considered as a holistic approach- Why?

Few Research Topics for College Students

1. How to manage water in various regions on the earth
2. Why is acid rain dangerous? 
3. What is reforestation? How is it creating an impact on the environment? 
4. Analyse the key reasons for groundwater pollution
5. Do you think that recycling can save the earth?
6. The effects of greenhouse gases on human
7. The formation of a tsunami 
8. Do you find that fishing somehow affects human existence
9. How were fossils formed? How are fossils connected to the world geography?
10. Analyze global biodiversity and explain it within a research paper.

Few Research Topics for University Students

1. Research paper on the contribution of geography in all kinds of disaster risk reduction 
2. A proper understanding of urbanization and migration dynamics- explain
3. Understand the economic and social implications in case of political borders
4. Demographic issues and socioeconomic factors create issues in travel behavior; how?
5. Write a research paper on the sustainable management of natural resource
6. Examine and explain the political disputes and conflicts in the US
7. What is the scenario of public transportation in the USA?
8. What were the reasons for migration to the United States?
9. What are the safety measures that should be taken after the earthquake
10. Write a research paper on the key factors that affect the behavior of travel in the most developing countries

Other Interesting Geographical Topics

1. Write a research paper on star formation in magnetic fields
2. Explain potential market growth in Space Tourism
3. What is the contribution of geography to renewable energy resources
4. Analyze geopolitical conflicts – Why is it a strategy for geographical events?
5. Cultural landscapes and local economies create an impact on globalization. How human can we prevent it?
6. What are the challenges people face due to renewable energy?
7. Write a research paper on the spatial pattern of population density
8. Industrial pollution impacts on environment and the health of common people. Is it possible to get rid of it?
9. What is land degradation? How does it affect agricultural productivity? 
10. What is human-environment interaction? Explain in detail
11. A basic understanding of cities and their classification
12. Evaluate the geography of territorial disputes 

In Conclusion,

Geography is a subject with a wide range of topics. So, research from authentic sources can help you write good content for your geography research paper. Understand the assignment and choose the right topic at your convenience. Write a thesis statement in the introduction. Include supporting evidence in the body paragraph. Conclude the paper by restating the thesis statement. Don’t forget to proofread before you submit your academic paper.

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Most Popular Questions Searched By Students:

What is the importance of studying geography?

Ans.

• Geography helps us comprehend the basic physical systems that impact daily life.
• It helps in mastering the location of places and the physical and cultural characteristics of the places that enable us to function effectively in our increasingly independent world.
• It helps in comprehending the geography of the past era and how it serves crucial roles in the growth of people, their ideas, places and environments.
• It helps us make sensible judgments about things that involve relationships between physical society and the environment.
• It helps us comprehend global interdependence and become remarkable global citizen.

How do I choose a geography research topic?

Ans.

• Go for a topic from your field of interest.
• Select a subject which is engaging and informative to a group of targeted readers.
• Choose a topic that comprises a wide research scope
• Refrain from selecting a topic that is too broad or vast
• Go for a subject that has countless references, sources and supporting evidence.

How do I organise my research paper in geography?

Ans.

• Establish the topic
• Search for sources of information
• Organise the ideas
• Go through sources and take notes
• Craft a detailed outline
• Write a first draft
• Utilise footnotes or endnotes to document sources
• Craft a bibliography
• Proofread and edited the final draft

What are some common data sources used in geography research?

Ans.

• Statistics about spatial patterns
• Maps
• Paintings of landscapes
• Landform photographs
• Images of satellites
• Data of population
• Fieldwork
• Archives and databases

How do I analyse data for a geography research topic?

Ans.

Analysing data for a geography research topic demands looking for patterns, relationships, and connections. When you evaluate and interpret information, significant patterns or processes will come to notice. Then you can easily synthesise your investigations into coherent explanations.

What are some ethical considerations in geography research?

Ans.

• Informed consent
• Confidentiality and anonymity
• Researcher behaviour
• Environmental impact of research

Q7. How can I make my geography research accessible to a wider audience?

Ans.

• Know your targeted audience.
• Make the research informal.
• Eliminate the jargon
• Understand where you are communicating
• Try to communicate inclusively

What are some potential career paths in geography research?

Ans.

• Geographer
• Cartographer
• Environmental specialist
• Teacher
• Geospatial analyst
• Computer programmer
• Travel writer
• Market researcher
• GIS specialist
• Geopolitical analyst

How can I stay up-to-date with the latest research in geography?

Ans.

• Go through the journals.
• Scour social media
• Conduct extensive research on Google Scholar, PubMed, or ResearchGate
• Research reviews

How can I incorporate qualitative methods in my geography research?

Ans.

• Conduct in-depth interview
• Employ semi-structured interview
• Use biographical methods
• Form focus groups
• Conduct participatory observation
• Perform action research
• Design case studies