How To Write An Ib Psychology Ia

How to Write a Killer IB Psychology IA: A Step-by-Step Guide

The Internal Assessment (IA) is a crucial component of your IB Psychology course, accounting for 20% of your final grade. A well-structured and insightful IA can significantly boost your overall score. This guide provides a step-by-step approach to writing a compelling IA that will impress your examiner.

1. Choosing Your Research Question: The Foundation of Your IA

This is arguably the most important step. Your research question needs to be:

• Focused: Avoid broad, unanswerable questions. Instead, narrow your focus to a specific aspect of a psychological concept. For example, instead of "How does stress affect health?", consider "What is the relationship between exam stress and cortisol levels in IB students?"
• Feasible: Ensure you can realistically collect data within the timeframe and resources available. Consider your access to participants and the practicality of your chosen methodology.
• Original: While you can draw inspiration from existing research, strive for originality in your approach or application.
• Ethical: Your research must adhere to ethical guidelines, ensuring informed consent, confidentiality, and the right to withdraw. Always consider the potential impact on your participants.

Examples of Strong Research Questions:

• Cognitive Psychology: "Does the use of mnemonics significantly improve the recall of word lists in adolescents?"
• Social Psychology: "How does the presence of others influence conformity levels in a simple line judgment task?"
• Biological Psychology: "Is there a correlation between sleep deprivation and reaction time in young adults?"

2. Designing Your Methodology: Collecting Reliable Data

Your chosen methodology should directly address your research question. Common methods include:

• Experiments: These involve manipulating an independent variable to observe its effect on a dependent variable. Control groups and random assignment are essential.
• Correlational Studies: These examine the relationship between two or more variables without manipulating any of them. Causation cannot be inferred.
• Case Studies: In-depth investigation of a single individual or group. They provide rich qualitative data but are limited in generalizability.
• Interviews and Questionnaires: These are useful for collecting self-reported data, but the validity and reliability depend on careful questionnaire design.

Remember: Clearly describe your sample, procedure, and materials. Justify your choice of methodology and address any limitations.

3. Analyzing Your Data: Drawing Meaningful Conclusions

Once you've collected your data, you need to analyze it appropriately. This may involve:

• Descriptive statistics: Calculating means, medians, modes, standard deviations, etc. to summarize your data.
• Inferential statistics: Using statistical tests (e.g., t-tests, chi-squared tests) to determine the significance of your findings. Your choice of statistical test will depend on your data type and research design.
• Graphs and Charts: Visually represent your data to aid understanding and interpretation.

4. Writing Your IA: Structure and Content

Your IA should follow a clear structure:

• Abstract: A concise summary of your entire IA (usually written last).
• Introduction: Introduce your topic, state your research question, and provide relevant background information.
• Method: Describe your methodology in detail, including participants, materials, procedure, and ethical considerations.
• Results: Present your findings clearly and objectively, using tables, graphs, and statistical analyses.
• Discussion: Interpret your results, discuss their implications, relate them to existing research, and acknowledge limitations.
• References: List all sources cited using a consistent referencing style (e.g., APA).
• Appendices (if necessary): Include any supplementary materials, such as questionnaires or interview transcripts.

5. Refining Your IA: Polishing for Perfection

Before submission, thoroughly review your IA for:

• Clarity and conciseness: Ensure your writing is easy to understand and free of grammatical errors.
• Accuracy: Double-check your data and calculations for accuracy.
• Ethical considerations: Make sure you have adhered to ethical guidelines throughout your research.
• Referencing: Ensure all sources are correctly cited and included in your reference list.

By following these steps, you can significantly improve your chances of writing a high-scoring IB Psychology IA. Remember, thorough planning, careful execution, and clear communication are key to success. Good luck!