Data on psychological research from college-aged women?

I've been doing some research and I’ve found a lot of studies cite college-aged women as their main source of data. I am curious though, for those who know more about this, why is there such a focus on this demographic? Does anyone have any resources or insight on this? I'm kind of interested in psychology for a potential major, so this would really help me understand the field a bit better!

There are a few potential reasons why research studies may often cite college-aged women as their data source. One is convenience. Scholars at institutions of higher education often recruit subjects for psychological research studies from the available student populations. Since women have made up the majority of college students in recent decades, it stands to reason they'll be overrepresented in such data.

Another reason could be the area of study. Some psychological research topics are more pertinent to women or young adults. Topics around mental health, eating disorders, body image, academic stress, sexual health, and gender identity can disproportionately affect young women, making them a vital demographic for these studies.

However, researchers also understand the need to broaden their subject pool beyond just college-aged women for better generalizability. While it's easy to draw from an immediate, available population, it restricts the study outcomes to a pretty narrow, and potentially not very diverse, group. A good researcher will aim to include various demographics in their studies to account for different life experiences and perspectives. This is one of the many challenges in the field of psychology research.

As a potential psychology major, these are all factors you’d learn to consider when conducting or interpreting research. Understanding why a dataset was chosen or why a certain demographic is used can help clarify the findings and the impact of the study. The key to all research, and a fundamental principle of studying psychology, is the ability to question and understand the structure of the study including the demographics, procedures, and results.

Remember, the choice of subjects in any study, including college-aged women in many psychological studies, may influence the overall interpretation and applicability of the study. As a budding researcher, you'll learn how to account for these variables and design inclusive and generalizable studies.