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TOPSS Competition for High School Students

The 2027 TOPSS Competition topic will be announced by mid to late fall 2026. Please check this site at that time for the updated topic.

Deadline:  Spring 2027

Sponsor: TOPSS

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The following prompt was from the 2026 competition. The 2027 TOPSS Competition topic will be announced by mid to late fall 2026.

Artificial Intelligence (AI) is transforming the world around us. Students are asked to create a video no longer than three minutes that demonstrates what psychological science reveals about the benefits and drawbacks of AI as it relates to learning. Up to three students will receive $300 awards each for their winning submissions.

Required elements

Submissions should include the following:

  1. An example of how high school students are currently using AI in a way related to learning.
  2. Definition of one or more key psychological constructs (e.g., theory, concept, or term) from the Cognition pillar of APA’s National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula* involved in learning, and a description of how AI might either facilitate or hinder this construct as it relates to learning.
  3. Summary of at least one published psychological research study on learning strategies and/or metacognition as it relates to the use of AI. 
    1. The study or studies must showcase how AI either facilitates learning (e.g., promotes critical thinking, connecting ideas) or encourages surface-level learning (e.g., memorization, shortcuts).
    2. The summary should include critical features of the research such as the goal or research question, participants, and conclusion, described in the students’ own words. Direct quotations are discouraged.
  4. A response to the following prompts, based on the research study or studies read and summarized:
    1. What question(s) interests you (the student) the most that you suggest psychological scientists should try to answer next when it comes to AI and learning? Why does this question(s) interest you?
    2. How do you (the student) recommend high school students could use AI as it relates to learning, in a way that is responsible and ethical?
  5. A closing slide with at least one APA-style reference (see Publication Manual of the American Psychological Association, Seventh Edition).
    1. Students are encouraged to visit the APA Style blog for instructions on reference formatting.
    2. This APA Style blog post shares reference examples.

*The National Standards do not provide specific terms; constructs included in submissions should align or fit under any of the content standards or learning targets within the Cognition Pillar of the National Standards. The Cognition Pillar includes units on Cognition, Memory, Perception, and Intelligence.

This APA webpage on artificial intelligence and machine learning may be of use to students.

Eligibility

  • Only current high school students can compete. International students are eligible to participate in the competition.

  • Team submissions are not eligible.

Rules

Please read these rules carefully. Submissions that do not adhere to the rules will be disqualified.

  • Submissions must be complete and include all required elements.
  • All information must be accurate and supported by psychological theory and/or research.
  • Students’ real-world examples of how students are using AI cannot include the names of specific people currently living or deceased. 
  • Videos may not be longer than 3 minutes maximum. This time limit includes the amount of time the reference slide appears on screen. 
  • Students can incorporate a slide show (e.g., Google slides, PowerPoint) into their video, but this is not required beyond the closing reference slide.
  • Videos must represent completely original, independent work. The student contestant is solely responsible for the development, recording, and editing of the video. Only their voice and image are allowed in the video.
  • Original, student-drawn art, graphics, and music is not required, but are allowed, but students must clearly state in text on their end reference slide that any included artwork, graphics, or music is original and drawn or developed by the student. Submissions with any type of artwork without such a disclaimer will be disqualified from the competition. Students who submit original artwork must also attest on the application form that the work is their own.
    • Besides original art, graphics, and music, no outside photographs, images, emojis, clip art, designs, sound effects, music or video is permitted regardless of whether the material is copyrighted, available in the public domain, or generated by artificial intelligence.
    • No screenshots or video of actual AI platforms should be used in the video.
  • Students may not use generative artificial intelligence (AI) in the creation of the video, which includes, but is not limited to, summarizing research articles, generating text/a script, and creating artwork or graphics.
  • All contest entrants must read and approve of the terms, conditions, and rules of the contest per the submission form.
    • If a contest entrant is under 18, their parent or legal guardian must also read, approve of, and sign the terms, conditions, and rules of the contest per the submission form.
    • A teacher must also review the competition rules and approve the student submission to ensure the submitted content follows competition rules. This teacher would ideally be a high school psychology teacher, but any teacher at or outside of the student’s school is eligible for this review. 
  • Entries must be submitted by March 20, 2026.

By submitting your video to the contest, you grant APA a non-exclusive right to use, promote, or display your video as it relates to this project at the sole discretion of APA. APA will not be held responsible for any costs, claims, damages, liabilities, and expenses arising out of or generally related to this submission.

Tips to consider

  • The judges will look for evidence that you understand the psychology concepts and research you are citing and can explain them in your own words.

  • Be sure to convey your excitement and enthusiasm for your subject.

  • Practice your presentation to make sure you can cover all the key points in 3 minutes.

  • Speak clearly.

Please contact Emily Leary Chesnes if you have any questions.

Pending for 2027

Pending for 2027

2026 TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

TOPSS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2026 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. Each winner received a $300 scholarship award.

In 2026, students were asked to create a video no longer than 3 minutes demonstrating what psychological science reveals about the benefits and drawbacks of AI as they relate to learning. Videos also had to correspond to National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula.

2025 TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

TOPSS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2025 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. Each winner received a $300 scholarship award.

In 2025, students were asked to create a video not longer than 3 minutes demonstrating how psychological science can be utilized to understand and counter the spread of misinformation. Videos also had to correspond with content in the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula.

2024 TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

TOPSS is pleased to announce the winners for the 2024 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. Each winner received a $300 scholarship award.

  • Clara Choi of Orange County School of the Arts (California), The War on Teenage Attention and the Switch-Cost Effect
  • Chih-Syuan Lin of Kaohsiung American School (Taiwan), Bilingualism Meets Memory
  • Amasha Samaraweera of Classen High School of Advanced Studies at Northeast (Oklahoma), Stop Vaping with Framing

In 2024, students were invited to create a video not longer than 3 minutes that demonstrated their understanding of how a topic in psychological science has the potential to benefit their school and/or local community and improve people’s lives. The topic had to be related to the content covered in the cognition pillar of the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula (i.e., a topic related to cognition, memory, perception, or intelligence). 

2023 TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

TOPSS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2023 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. Each winner received a $300 scholarship award.

In 2023, students were invited to create a video not longer than three minutes that demonstrates their understanding of how a topic in psychological science has the potential to benefit their school and/or local community and improve people’s lives. The topic was required to be related to content covered in the Social and Personality Pillar of the National Standards for High School Psychology Curricula (i.e., a topic related to social psychology, personality, multiculturalism and gender, motivation and emotion).

2022 TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

TOPSS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2022 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. Each winner received a $300 scholarship award.

Students were asked to write an essay of up to 1,500 words to address the following five points:

  1. Describe a societal systemic problem of your choice, such as racism, discrimination, poverty, educational disparities, health disparities, or climate change (this list is not inclusive).
  2. Discuss how this problem impacts a specific group of people through personal or more general examples.
  3. Describe one way that the study of psychology can help you and others understand an aspect of human behavior related to this systemic problem. You must state, describe, and provide an example relating to at least one specific concept in psychology.
  4. Discuss one way in which the study of psychology can help you understand an aspect of human thought related to this systemic problem. You must state, describe, and provide an example relating to at least one specific concept in psychology.
  5. Discuss one way in which a concept in psychology can help inform a solution to this systemic problem. You must state, describe, and provide an example relating to at least one specific concept in psychology.

Students were asked to cite research from at least two peer-reviewed journal articles in their essay.

2021 TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

TOPSS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2021 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. Each winner received a $250 scholarship award.

Students were invited to write an essay of no more than 3,000 words that addressed the topic of resilience in relation to stress or trauma. The essays described the current psychological understanding of resilience and could use recent events to support student ideas. Students could draw upon any approach to psychology that could include, but was not limited to, topics such as cognition, personality, biopsychology, and health psychology. Students discussed identifiable psychological concepts that have contributed to the definition of resilience and discussed, using identifiable psychological concepts, how resilience can be developed. Students also described ways in which applying psychological science’s understanding of resilience and the development of resilience can be made available to societies and individuals.

2020 TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

TOPSS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2020 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. Each winner received a $250 scholarship award.

  • Richard Chen of Solon High School (Solon, Ohio)
    The American Political Climate: Psychological Concepts and Their Application to Politics 
  • Stephanie Chung of Crean Lutheran High School (Irvine, California)
    A Psychological Perspective on Political Polarization and Possible Mitigating Treatments 
  • Mary Goncharenko of Pine Crest School (Pompano Beach, Florida)
    Understanding Explaining and Reducing Intergroup Conflict in Politics 
  • Teresa Padilla of Pennsylvania Homeschoolers (Kittanning, Pennsylvania)
    Negativity, Bias, and Misinformed Partisans in the 2016 Presidential Elections: Understanding Political Polarization 
  • Roy Rao of Oaks Christian School (Thousand Oaks, California)
    Psychology in Politics: Inherent Biases in Polarized Views on Immigration 

Students were invited to write an essay of no more than 3,000 words that addressed the topic of psychology in politics. The essays described the role and relevance of psychology in politics by referencing peer-reviewed research that could include but was not limited to topics such as cognition, data exploration techniques, and social psychology. Students were also asked to discuss identifiable psychological concepts that can help understand political polarization and how psychological science can explain how different individuals and groups of like-minded individuals might look at identical information and draw different conclusions. Students were finally asked to describe ways in which applying psychological science to specific aspects of politics might improve the current political climate.

2019 TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students

TOPSS is pleased to announce the winners of the 2019 APA TOPSS Competition for High School Psychology Students. Each winner will receive a $250 award.

  • Samuel Hansen of Pennsylvania Homeschoolers (Kittanning, Pennsylvania)
    Understanding the Neurobiology of Fear Extinction through Nonhuman Animal Research

  • Seung Bin Hong of Mountain View High School (Mountain View, California)
    Effects of OPRM1 and OPRD1 Genes on Delay Discounting Impulsivity a Study of Impulsivity in Mice

  • Joseph Petchauer of Pennsylvania Homeschoolers (Kittanning, Pennsylvania)
    Psychology’s Living Research: The Past, Present, and Future of Animal Studies

  • Aman Singh of Central Peel Secondary School (Mississauga, ON, CN)
    Placebo-Induced Treatment for the Chronic Mild Stress Animal Model of Depression

Students were invited to write an essay of no more than 3,000 words that addresses the topic of research with non-human animals in psychology. The essay was to describe the role and relevance of nonhuman animal research in psychology, by referencing peer-reviewed research with non-human animals. Students were to describe a hypothetical study that complies with and references non-human animal research guidelines. The essay was to address the implications of not conducting psychological research with non-human animals.

Last updated: September 2026Date created: 2014

Contact Information

Teachers and students should contact Emily Leary Chesnes at (202) 572-3013 with any questions.

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