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Extended Essay: Step 5 - Creating Research Questions

Coming up with a Research Question

First piece of advice from the Chief Examiner..

Students should not work with a research question that is too broad or too vague, too narrow, too difficult or inappropriate

A note on topic, title and research question (IB, 2016)

It is important that students understand the distinction between the terms topic, title and research question.

  • The topic of the extended essay is the subject, issue or theme that you are investigating within a specific DP subject or world studies area of study. The topic, which develops during the initial thinking about the EE, should later be reflected in the wording of the title.
  • The title of the EE is a clear, summative statement that specifically focuses the topic being researched. It appears on the title page. A title should:
    • be short, descriptive and succinct
    • not be phrased as a question
    • use key words that connect with the topic and the DP subject or world studies area of study
    • attract the interest of the reader.
  • The research question derives from the title and is expressed as a question that is intended to be answered through researching and writing the EE. It appears on the title page and could also be visible as a header throughout the essay. It should:
    • be clear and focused
    • provide a path through which you can undertake achievable research
    • use key words that connect with the topic, the title, and the DP subject or world studies area of study
    • support the development of an argument.

Sample Research Questions

All the individual guides have examples of what is a good and bad research Question - Read yours. This is from the History Guide

The table below gives some examples showing the difference between unclear and unfocused research questions and those that are appropriately clear and focused, lending themselves to in-depth research.

Unclear, unfocused, and unarguable research questions
Clear, focused, narrow research questions lending themselves to in-depth research
What was the impact of Ho Chi Minh's allegiance to Lenin? To what extent was nationalism the guiding factor in Ho Chi Minh's adoption of Leninism in 1920?
What is the history of Chinese theatre? How does the legacy of Mei Lan Fang contribute to modern Jingju?
How important is chlorophyll to plant life? What is the effect of different concentrations of kinetin on leaves aging and the biosynthesis of chlorophyll?
How can the US government's spending policy be reformed? To what extent did the rising COE prices affect the demand for new and used cars by the consumer population and hence affect the revenue generated by the Singaporean economy for the period 2012-16?

Important place to Go in the IB Guide

Go to the Individual Section of the IB guide for your subject and read both these sections. This will help you find out how to Refine your topic area and also be ready for your first meeting.

You should be able to come with

a) A general topic Area

b) Your first attempt at an RQ

c) An approach that you might take.

 

Go to the Individual guide for your subject area and look at these two sections very carefully

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