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The Importance of Background Reading

Before diving into writing the research question, students must first immerse themselves in extensive background reading. 

The IB Psychology Extended Essay is a literature review of peer-reviewed studies, so students should explore academic journals to find at least six quality studies on their topic of interest. 

This ensures that their research question will be grounded in real, contemporary research, and allows them to gauge whether there are enough academic materials to support their essay.

Encourage students to explore niche areas of psychology that intrigue them, ensuring they aren’t overwhelmed by topics that are too broad. 

For instance, they could focus on a specific aspect of cognitive biases or a specific effect of social media on adolescent well-being. 

The research question can only be properly formed once they have a clear understanding of the available research, so remind them to take their time with this stage.

Choosing a Topic with Balance and Debate

One key criterion for a strong extended essay is that it addresses both sides of an argument, allowing for a well-rounded analysis. 

Students should avoid straightforward, one-sided topics and instead look for areas with some contention or differing viewpoints. 

This will enable them to weigh evidence critically and present a balanced argument. 

For example, instead of focusing on the simple benefits of mindfulness, they could explore "To what extent does mindfulness-based therapy outperform traditional cognitive-behavioral therapy in treating adolescent anxiety?" 

This allows for comparison and debate.

Additionally, steer students away from "pop-psychology" topics like serial killers or pseudoscientific theories. 

These areas often lack enough solid, peer-reviewed research for an academically rigorous essay and can lead to superficial analysis. 

Instead, encourage a focus on areas of psychology with academic depth and empirical support.

Formulating the Research Question

After completing their background research and finding a balanced topic, students will be ready to formulate their research question. 

As a supervisor, your role is to ensure the question is both focused and academically appropriate. 

A broad question like "What are the effects of social media on adolescents?" will lead to an unfocused essay, so guide students toward a more specific, targeted approach. 

Questions that start with "To what extent..." are particularly useful for the extended essay as they prompt critical evaluation of research.

An example of a well-structured research question might be: “To what extent does the use of social media exacerbate symptoms of anxiety in adolescents compared to traditional face-to-face interactions?” 

This question is specific, addresses a current psychological issue, and invites analysis of existing studies from multiple perspectives.

Final Thoughts

Helping students write a strong research question for the IB Psychology Extended Essay requires patience and careful guidance. 

Ensure they have done extensive reading, chosen a balanced topic, and formulated a focused question. 

By following these steps, they’ll be well on their way to producing a successful and academically sound extended essay. 

I hope this has helped ease your stress if you are supervising a Psychology Extended Essay for the first time this year.

See you next week,

Thes

Future articles in this series:

• How to ensure students evaluate in the EE.
• The secrets to top marks for reflection in EEs.
• A guide to EE referencing.