This document contains questions and research ideas for several controversial topics including animal research and testing, texting and driving, childhood immunization, school uniforms, beauty pageants, English as a national language, ADD/ADHD medications, home schooling, and alternative fuel vehicles. For each topic, questions are provided to consider different perspectives on the issues and potential research ideas are outlined to explore various aspects of each debate in more depth.

2. Animal Research and Testing
Questions to Consider:
• Is animal testing justified if humans benefit?
• Under what circumstances should animal research be used?
• Is there sufficient oversight and regulations for animal testing?
• Is testing on animals really necessary, or are there alternatives?
Research Ideas:
• What laws and oversight currently exist to regulate testing on animals?
• What types of products and research use animal testing?
• Where do researchers get the animals?
• What are some advances that have been made due to animal research?
• What are alternatives, such as computer models, to testing on animals?
• Should consumers be informed if a product or service involved animal testing?

3. Texting and Driving
Questions to Consider:
• Is texting and driving really a problem?
• Should texting and driving be considerd a crime on the level
of drinking and driving?
• Are texting and driving laws too harsh? Too lenient?
• Why do people text and drive even though it is dangerous?
Research Ideas:
• What are the laws about texting and driving in your state?
• How do the laws compare to other states?
• What are recent statistics of accidents involving texting and driving?
• What are some real-life examples of people who have been prosecuted for
crimes related to texting and driving (negligent driving / manslaugher)?
• What is the science behind how people become distracted while texting and
driving?
• What are the differences/similarities between drinking and driving and texting
and driving?
• What are the demographics of people who text and drive (age, gender etc...)

4. Childhood Immunization
Questions to Consider:
• Why are some people against routine childhood immunizations?
• Should immunizations be required for school attendance?
• Should immunizations be mandatory for all children?
• Should the government or parents decide whether children should be
immunized?
• Is public safety or individual rights more important in regard to immunizations?
Research Ideas:
• What are the risk factors of routine immunizations?
• What are the requirements for immunizations in your school
district? Your state?
• Can parents opt out of immunizing their children?
• What are some of the risks of immunization?
• What are some diseases that have been eradicated or
greatly reduced because of immunizations?

5. School Uniforms
Questions to Consider:
• Should uniforms be required in schools?
• What problems could be avoided by schools requiring uniforms?
• What problems could be caused by schools requiring uniforms?
• Who should decide whether school uniforms should be required?
• Does a dress code accomplish the same goals as requiring uniforms?
Research Ideas:
• What percentage of public schools require uniforms? Private schools?
• Do uniforms cut down on behavior problems in schools?
• Are uniforms more costly than a regular wardrobe?
• For schools that require uniforms, what reasons do they cite for the requirement?
• Is there a trend toward uniforms, or a trend away from uniforms?

6. Beauty Pageants
Questions to Consider:
• What purpose do pageants serve in society?
• Do pageants promote the objectification of women?
• Do pageants produce healthy role models for young girls?
• Should pageants eliminate swimsuit competitions?
• Are child beauty pageants positive or negative competition?
• Should transgendered people be allowed to compete in pageants?
Research Ideas:
• What are the requirements for different local and national pageant contestants?
• How much money do contestants typically spend on preparing for a pageant?
• How many pageant contestants have plastic surgery?

7. English as National Language
Questions to Consider:
• What would be the benefits of declaring English the national language of the
United States?
• What would be the drawbacks of declaring English the national language?
• Is it important for a country to have a national language?
• Why doesn’t the United States have a national language?
• How important is language in a national identity, culture, or values?
Research Ideas:
• What changes would be made if English was declared the national language?
• Why have attempts to make English the national language failed in the past?
• What are some of the savings or costs to having a national language?
• Which other countries have national languages? Which do not?
• How would English as a national language affect non-English speaking citizens?

8. ADD / ADHD Medications
Questions to Consider:
• Are doctors too quick to prescribe medications for ADD / ADHD?
• Should other avenues of treatment be explored before medications are
prescribed?
• Is ADD / ADHD overdiagnosed?
• Some preschoolers are being diagnosed with ADD / ADHD. Is this too young to
be diagnosed or medicated?
• How do ADD / ADHD prescription medications help patients?
Research Ideas:
• Why do some researchers think ADD / ADHD is overdiagnosed?
• What are the benefits to ADD / ADHD medications?
• What are the side effects?
• How many children are diagnosed with ADD / ADHD every year?
• What are alternative treatments besides prescription medication?
• What other diseases or disorders should be ruled out before a child
is diagnosed with ADD or ADHD?

9. Home Schooling
Questions to Consider:
• What are some reasons parents choose to home school their children?
• Can students get a quality education at home?
• Should home schools be regulated or monitored?
• Should home schooled children be required to participate in state testing?
• Why has home schooling been increasing in popularity?
Research Ideas:
• What are the laws in your state regarding home schooling?
• How many students in the United States are home schooled?
• What are college acceptance and graduation rates for home schooled students?
• What types of home schools exist?
• What resources are available for home schools?
• What reasons do parents or students give for choosing to home school?

10. Alternative Fuel Vehicles
Questions to Consider:
• Why are alternative fuel vehicles not already mainstream?
• Is the extra cost of alternative fuel vehicles worth the savings in fuel costs?
• Should the sales and use of alternative fuel vehicles be mandated by the
government?
• Are alternative fuel vehicles really more environmentally friendly than fossil
fuel vehicles?
• What are the consequences of continued dependence on fossil-fuel vehicles?
• Should the government fund research and development of alternative fuel
vehicles, or should it be left to private industry?
Research Ideas:
• What types of alternative fuels are currently available? What kind are in
development?
• Will consumers spend the extra money for alternative fuel vehicles?
• What is the average cost and savings of an alternative fuel vehicles?
• What are the obstacles to mass production and conversion to alternative fuel
vehicles?
• Does the government support development and research of alternative fuels?

11. Bottled Water
Questions to Consider:
• Is bottled water a necessary product, or is it manufactured demand?
• Is the convenience of bottled water worth the cost to the environment?
• Is bottled water necessary in places where a clean water supply is not
guaranteed, or are there alternatives?
• Is bottled water actually cleaner and healthier than tap water?
• Is the availability of bottled water a necessary, healthy alternative
to soft drinks?
Research Ideas:
• How much plastic ends up in landfills because of bottled water?
• What is the environmental impact of bottled water compared to other bottled
beverages?
• What are the differences between bottled water and tap water?
• What are alternatives to bottled water?

12. Illegal Immigration
Questions to Consider:
• Should illegal immigrants have access to public services funded by taxpayers?
• What should the process be for naturalization or citizenship?
• If one member of a family is in the U.S. illegally, should he or she be allowed to
stay in order not to break up a family?
• Should children who entered the U.S. illegally become legal as adults if living
in the U.S. is all they know?
Research Ideas:
• Why have some advocacy groups and news organizations dropped the term
“illegal” and use alternatives such as “undocumented workers” instead?
• Is the U.S. economy dependent on labor performed by illegal immigrants?
• What are the immigration policies of the U.S?
• What are the immigration policies of other countries?
• How many people enter the U.S. illegally every year?

13. Genetically Modified Foods
Questions to Consider:
• Should genetically modified foods be labeled as such?
• Why are genetically modified foods controversial?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages ot genetically modified foods?
• What should the government’s role be in oversight, testing, and labeling?
Research Ideas:
• Which foods are genetically modified?
• Why is labeling not currently required?
• What do studies show about the safety of genetically modified foods?
• What is the history of genetically modified foods?
• Why do producers want to modify certain foods?
• What measures have European nations taken against genetically modified
foods?

14. Organic Food
Questions to Consider:
•Why do people choose to eat organic foods?
• What is the environmental impact of producing organic food?
• Are organic foods worth the extra cost?
• What does “organic” really mean?
Research Ideas:
• What are the labeling laws for foods purported to be organic?
• Do organic foods have more nutritional value than conventional foods?
• Why do organic foods cost more than conventional foods?
• What are some organic food growing methods?
• Are there disadvantages to organic foods?

15. Childhood Obesity
Questions to Consider:
• Who or what is to blame for childhood obesity?
• What role does fast food play in childhood obesity?
• What should be done to combat the childhood obesity problem?
• What are some of the health and social issues surrounding
childhood obesity?
• Why has childhood obesity become a current issue?
Research Ideas:
• What percentage of children are considered overweight
or obese?
• How much have obesity rates risen in the past few decades?
• What are some causes of childhood obesity?
• Are genetic or environmental factors more important?
• What are the long-term affects of childhood obesity?
• What percentage of obese children become obese adults?

16. School Lunches
Questions to Consider:
• Should schools provide free lunch and breakfast? To whom?
• Should schools be able to dictate nutrition criteria for lunches brought from home?
• Are school lunches healthy?
• Do school lunches contribute to childhood obesity?
• Should children be required to take foods, such as vegetables, that they don’t like?
Research Ideas:
• What changes have been made recently to improve nutrition in school lunches?
• What is the cost of the school lunch program to taxpayers?
• Have changes in nutritional value of school lunches helped with the obesity
problem?
• Why do parents rely on school lunches rather than sending lunch from home?
• Are lunches brought from home more nutritious than school lunches?

17. Rising Cost of Higher Education
Questions to Consider:
• Does the cost of higher education pay off financially?
• Is cost the main consideration in pursuing higher education?
• What options are available for reducing the cost of higher education (online
etc...)
• How can parents and students prepare for the high cost of college?
• Does it make sense to go into debt to fund a college education?
Research Ideas:
• What has caused the recent increase in tuition and other student fees?
• Which schools are the best bargain? Which schools are the worst?
• How should a student decide how much to take out in loans?
• Is working while attending school feasible?
• What is the average overall lifetime financial benefits of a
degree in your chosen field?

18. Concussions in Youth Sports
Questions to Consider:
• Should there be age restrictions on contact sports such as football?
• What can be done to help prevent concussions and head injuries in youth sports?
• Should action be taken to diagnose, recognize, and manage this problem?
• Who is responsible for making sure players are safe?
• Is the risk of head injury simply an inherent risk that has to be taken to play
sports?
Research Ideas:
• How many youth sports-related head injuries are reported each year?
• Are repetitive head impacts dangerous even if they don’t result in a
concussion diagnosis?
• What are the current guidelines / restrictions for different local
or national youth sport programs?
• What are the long-term consequences of youth concussions?

19. Outsourcing
Questions to Consider:
• How does outsourcing affect the U.S. economy?
• What responsibility do U.S. companies have for employees of other countries
who are not subject to U.S. labor laws?
• Does outsourcing make sense for certain industries?
• Would better education and training in the U.S. make outsourcing unnecessary?
• What affect does outsourcing have on the culture and economy of the countries
where work is outsourced?
Research Ideas:
• Is all outsourcing based on a company saving money, or are there other issues
such as quality?
• Which industries use the greatest amount of outsourcing?
• What are the costs and savings to outsourcing?
• Which countries are most likely to have outsourced work from the U.S?
• What are some strategies companies use to oversee labor conditions for
outsourced work?

20. Young Children and Competitive Sports
Questions to Consider:
• What are the benefits of competitive sports for young children?
• What are the drawbacks of competitive sports for young children?
• Should “winning” and “losing” be de-emphasized before a certain age?
• Should parents require their children to participate in sports?
Research Ideas:
• What do studies show about the benefit of competitive sports for children?
• What does the research show about the drawbacks of competitive sports for
children?
• Is free play better for children than organized games?
• Are children who participate in competitve sports more fit than other children?
• How many children participate in competitive sports every year?

21. Online Security
Questions to Consider:
• What precautions should consumers take to protect
their personal information online?
• Is online shopping safe?
• Is online banking safe?
• What are the biggest threats to online security?
Research Ideas:
• How have large companies such as Target become victims of security breaches?
• Are there any foolproof systems to protect consumers?
• How much online fraud is documented each year in the U.S.?
• Is online shopping or banking really more dangerous than conventional
shopping and banking?

22. Weight Loss
Questions to Consider:
• What kind of diets work best?
• What is the role of exercise in weight loss?
• Why do so many people who start a diet fail to lose weight?
• Why do most people who lose weight regain it?
• What are the keys to successful weight loss?
Research Ideas:
• What are the factors that determine successful weight loss?
• What percentage of people who lose weight keep it off?
• What are the risks of a “crash diet”?
• What are the long-term health benefits to losing weight?

23. Academic Integrity
Questions to Consider:
• Has the problem of cheating in school gotten worse in recent years?
• What role does technology play in cheating?
• What motivates students to cheat?
• What are reasonable consequences for violations of academic integrity?
• What role does peer pressure play in academic integrity?
• What are some ways to encourage academic integrity?
Research Ideas:
• What policies and procedures regarding academic integrity are in place at your
school?
• What are some recent examples of plagiarism or breach of academic integrity
that have been publicized?
• What percent of students have admitted to cheating?
• What do students cite as reasons for cheating?
• Which policies at schools are most effective in preventing cheating?

24. Human Trafficking
Questions to Consider:
• What can be done to bring awareness to the problem of human trafficking?
• Why is this problem so widespread, even in the U.S?
• How do people become victims of traffickers?
• What help and resources should be provided to victims?
• How can the public recognize this problem?
Research Ideas:
• Which cities are “hot spots” for human trafficking in the U.S?
• How many victims come from overseas? How many victims are domestic?
• How many people per year are victimized?
• What programs or resources are available to victims?
• What are the laws and punishments for those who engage in this crime?
• How has this crime been able to flourish in the U.S?

25. Foster Kids – Aging Out
Questions to Consider:
• Why do so many foster kids who age out of the system become homeless?
• Is 18 years old too young to age out of the system?
• What resources should be offered to foster kids to ease the transition
out of foster care?
• How can we increase the rates of foster kids who go on to get
a college education?
Research Ideas:
• How many former foster kids are unemployed?
• How many former foster kids are homeless?
• How many former foster kids get a college education?
• What are the factors that cause foster kids to have high rates
of unemployment and homelessness?
• What kinds of programs have proven effective to help foster
kids transition out of the system?

26. Secondhand Smoke
Questions to Consider:
• What are the rights of smokers versus the rights of people
who wish to avoid secondhand smoke?
• San Rafael, CA, has banned smoking in certain private homes and apartments. Is
this going too far, or is it necessary to protect non-smokers and children?
• Some areas such as Houston, TX, have banned smoking in public housing. Is
this reasonable?
• Should parents have the freedom to smoke around their children?
Research Ideas:
• What are the health risks of secondhand smoke?
• Are there risks specific to babies and children who are exposed to secondhand
smoke?
• What laws and regulations are in place in your city regarding smoking in public
and private areas?
• What is the financial impact of secondhand smoke to the healthcare system?

27. Minimum Wage
Questions to Consider:
• What is a fair minimum wage?
• Should a full-time minimum wage worker expect a livable salary (above the
poverty line)?
• Should the government dictate raises in the minimum wage, or should market
forces be left to work?
• In determining a raise in the minimum wage, what factors, such as inflation,
should be taken into account?
Research Ideas:
• What are some of the possible negative effects from a raise in the minimum wage?
• What are some of the possible positive effects from a raise in the minimum wage?
• What is the minimum wage in your state and city?
• Why do some argue that raising the minimum wage could be counterproductive for
the working poor?
• When the minimum wage is raised, what strategies might companies use to help
defray the extra cost?

28. Social Media Addiction
Questions to Consider:
• How would you define addiction to social media?
• What adverse effects come from spending too much time on social media?
• Should parents and schools limit access to phones and social media?
• Why are some people more interested in social media than real-life interaction?
Research Ideas:
• What is the definition of “addiction”?
• What are the clinical reasons someone might become
addicted to social media?
• What are symptoms of social media addiction?
• What are some of the social consequences of social
media addiction?

29. Autotune
Questions to Consider:
• Are consumers being duped when they purchase music that has been autotuned?
• Are consumers being duped when they attend a live show that is being
autotuned?
• Is there any harm in autotuning someone’s voice so they sound better?
• Should consumers be told that a recording or live performance is autotuned?
• Is our culture and use of autotune idealizing people who promote a certain
image
rather than people with real talent?
Research Ideas:
• Which popular artists use autotune in live concerts?
• How does the autotune technology work?
• Is autotune allowed in talent competitions?

30. EBT (Food Stamp) Fraud
Questions to Consider:
• How can the government prevent people from selling their EBT cards?
• How can the government prevent stores from engaging in EBT fraud?
• What should be the reprecussions of food stamp fraud?
• Should food stamp fraud be considered a serious crime?
Research Ideas:
• What is the dollar amount of food stamp fraud each year in the U.S?
• What types of food stamp fraud exist?
• How can authorities crack down on food stamp fraud?
• Is part of the growth of the food stamp program in recent years partly because of
the ability to sell EBT cards for cash?

31. Prescription Drug Abuse
Questions to Consider:
• What role do patients, doctors, and pharmaceutical companies play in
prescription drug abuse?
• What precautions should doctors take to make sure their patients aren’t abusing
prescription drugs?
• Why is the abuse of prescription drugs so widespread?
• Are consumers aware of the risks of prescription abuse?
Research Ideas:
• What types of drugs are typically abused?
• What regulations are in place to control prescription drug abuse?
• What are some of the health effects of long-term prescription drug abuse?
• How many deaths each year in the U.S. are attributed to prescription drug
abuse?

32. Daycare vs. Parental Care
Questions to Consider:
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of stay-at-home parental care for
preschoolers?
• What are the advantages and disadvantages of daycare for preschoolers?
• At what age can children benefit from daycare?
• What factors should parents take into consideration when making care
decisions for their children?
• How can parents determine whether a daycare is good quality?
Research Ideas:
• What do studies show about children’s development in day care versus stay-at-
home care?
• What is the cost associated with daycare?
• Are there long-term benefits or consequences to either choice?

33. Fast Food Advertising and Kids
Questions to Consider:
• How do companies make their products appealing to children?
• How do companies make their packaging appealing to children?
• Do advertisements affect children’s food choices?
• Should there be regulations on what advertisements can be
shown during kids’ programming?
• Are fast food companies partly responsible for the high obesity
rates in children?
Research Ideas:
• How much do children affect a family’s purchasing decision?
• What methods do advertisers use to appeal to children?
• How much money does the fast food industry spend on marketing to children?
• What is the impact of fast food advertising on obesity rates in children?

34. Cyber Bullying
Questions to Consider:
• Is bullying more pervasive now with social media?
• Is there a way to prevent cyber bullying?
• Should schools get involved with cyber bullying cases even if they
are not happening on school grounds?
• Should parents be held responsible for their child’s cybe rbullying?
• Should cyber bullying be a crime?
• Should bullies be criminally charged if their bullying
leads to the victim’s psychologial damage or suicide?
Research Ideas:
• How many people claim to be victims of cyber bullying?
• Which social media are commonly used for cyber bullying?
• How can parents find out if their children are being cyber bullied?
• What types of behaviors are defined as cyber bullying?
• How can young people protect themselves from becoming victims?

35. Reality TV
Questions to Consider:
• How much of “reality TV” is actually true-to-life?
• What stereotypes might be promoted by reality TV shows?
• Is “reality” skewed when TV cameras and producers are present?
• Why are reality shows so popular?
• What are the positive aspects to reality TV?
• What are the negative aspects to reality TV?
Research Ideas:
• How has the show “Teen Mom” on MTV purportedly affected pregnancy rates
among teens?
• What percent of television programs are now reality shows?
• For what reason would someone want to appear on a reality show?
• Do reality TV shows script much of their programming?
• Do producers create false “characters” through editing?
• Are participants on the show encouraged to act a certain way in order to create
drama?

36. School Shooters and the Media
Questions to Consider:
• Does media coverage of school shooters lead to copycat crimes?
• Does showing pictures of the shooter and analyzing his or her life and motives
necessary for a news story, or is it sensationalism?
• Can the media cover a story effectively without mentioning the shooter’s name
or showing pictures of him or her?
• What responsibility does the media have not to sensationalize crimes such as
school shootings?
• Can the media be self-policing, or should there be limits on freedom on the press
if its proven that copycat crimes result from coverage?
Research Ideas:
• Do school shooters cite media coverage of previous events as motivation?
• Which school shootings seem to be copycat crimes?
• Do experts see a connection between media coverage and motivation of these
criminals?
• Do media professionals have a code of ethics that would prevent this type of
coverage?

37. Sweatshops
Questions to Consider:
• What responsibility do U.S. companies have to monitor labor
conditions in factories overseas where products or services are outsourced?
• Are consumers partly at fault for the problem because they demand cheaper
prices?
• Whose responsibility is it to make sure workers have reasonable working
conditions and hours?
Research Ideas:
• Where do sweatshops exist?
• What labor laws are in place in these countries, and are they enforced?
• Why do U.S. companies outsource labor to countries that may employ
sweatshops?
• Do U.S. companies have to outsource to be competitive in their industries?

38. Hate Crimes
Questions to Consider:
• What are hate crimes?
• Why are hate crimes in a separate category than other crimes?
• Can a hate crime only be committed against a minority group?
• Why do hate crimes occur?
Research Ideas:
• How is a hate crime defined?
• How many hate crimes occur each year?
• Where do hate crimes typically occur?
• Why is it difficult to track the prevalance of hate crimes?

39. Doping in Sports
Questions to Consider:
• What motivates athletes to use illegal substances in competition?
• Should athletes’ results be removed from the records if they are caught doping?
• What are appropriate sanctions against athletes who use illegal substances?
• Should coaches or teams be held responsible if their athletes are caught doping?
• Is doping most prevalent among professional athletes, or does it also happen
at the amateur level?
Research Ideas:
• Who are some high-profile athletes who have been caught doping?
• Are the current testing methods sufficient?
• What organizations are responsible for monitoring doping
among athletes?
• What are the methods of doping and how do they work?
• What are the long-term health risks of doping?
• Do severe sanctions act as a deterrent to doping?

40. Eating Disorders and Media Images
Questions to Consider:
• Do images of ultra-thin, perfect-looking models contribute to eating disorders?
• What responsibility does the modeling industry have to promote healthy body
images?
• Why do young people internalize media images of ideal beauty?
• Why does U.S. culture idealize underweight females?
• Do media images also contribute to eating disorders in males?
Research Ideas:
• How many females and males are diagnosed with eating
disorders each year?
• What are the contributing factors to eating disorders?
• What are the long-term consequences of eating disorders?
• What affect with would more normal-sized models in media have
on young people’s self image?
• Is there a correlation between exposure to media images and eating disorders?

41. Illegal Music Downloads
Questions to Consider:
• If a song is available free online, is it unethical to download it if it violate
copyright?
• Should online sites that host illegal downloading be shut down?
• Is it unethical to share music files with a friend?
• How can copyright laws keep up with current technology?
Research Ideas:
• What are the specific copyright laws protecting artists?
• What is the Digital Millenium Copyright Act?
• What are the consequences of illegal file sharing?
• How will artists earn a profit if their music is downloaded for free?
• Why do some artists encourage free downloads?

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