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Teaching the IB Psychology Internal Assessment (IA) can be challenging, but with the right approach, it can also be incredibly rewarding. 

The IA is a crucial component of the course, requiring students to design and conduct a simple experiment to test a psychological theory. 

Here’s how you can guide your students through the process using a systematic approach.

Breaking Down the Mark Scheme in a Checklist

The IB Psychology IA mark scheme is detailed and specific, making it essential to break it down into a comprehensive checklist. 

This checklist should cover each criterion, from the introduction and method to the results and discussion sections. 

By providing students with a clear, step-by-step guide, you ensure they understand exactly what is expected of them. 

This checklist can serve as a roadmap, helping students stay focused and organised throughout the process.  

Here is my checklist that you can use as a starting point (IB Psychology IA Checklist.pdf).

Teach Each Component in Depth

Once the checklist is established, dedicate time to teaching each component individually. 

Start with the introduction, where students must present the background and rationale for their study. 

Discuss what makes a strong hypothesis and how to connect it to psychological theories. 

Remember, the experiment should involve two independent variable conditions and one quantitative dependent variable.

It’s essential to clarify common misconceptions at this stage. 

For instance, students do not need to replicate an existing study—a misunderstanding that often trips them up. 

Instead, they can design their own experiment, provided it is simple and clearly tests a theory.

Move on to the exploration section, where students need to detail their experimental design, participants, controls and materials. 

Model the Writing Process and Provide In-Class Writing Time

Modelling is a powerful teaching tool. 

Show students examples of well-written IAs, highlighting what makes them successful. 

Walk through each section of the IA, demonstrating how to apply the checklist to ensure all criteria are met. 

After modelling, give students time in class to write up each section. 

This approach allows them to apply what they’ve learned immediately, with the added benefit of receiving real-time feedback.

Prepare for Analysis

While the focus here is on guiding students through the initial stages of the IA, it’s crucial to prepare them for the analysis section. 

This part of the IA often proves the most challenging for students, requiring a deep understanding of descriptive and inferential statistical measures and the ability to interpret data accurately. 

Stay tuned for a future article where I will delve into effective strategies for teaching the analysis section.

Tackling the Evaluation Section

The evaluation section of the IB Psychology Internal Assessment is where students demonstrate critical thinking and a deep understanding of their research. 

In this section, students must draw conclusions from their findings, evaluate the strengths and limitations of their study, and suggest practical improvements. 

It’s crucial that these improvements are not only realistic but also justified based on the study's design and outcomes. 

Encourage students to be specific—rather than suggesting generic improvements, they should link their recommendations directly to the issues identified in their evaluation. 

This reflective process is key to showcasing their ability to engage with the research critically.

The Benefits

By breaking down the mark scheme into a checklist, teaching each component in depth, and modelling the writing process, you can help your students master the IB Psychology IA. 

This method not only reduces anxiety but also fosters a deeper understanding of the subject matter, ensuring your students are well-prepared for success. 

I hope with this advice, you love teaching the IA component of the course as much as I do!

Have a super week, 

Thes

Future Articles in this series:

• Successfully teaching the Analysis Section of the IA.
• How to supervise a Psychology EE.
• Incorporating ToK into Psychology lessons