Sensitive Topics & Ethics

Undertaking an extended essay provides students an opportunity to engage with interesting, stimulating

and personally relevant topics and issues. However, it should be noted that often such topics and

issues can also be sensitive and personally challenging. Diploma Programme and/or extended essay

coordinators and supervisors should be aware of this and provide guidance to students on how to

approach and engage with such topics and issues in a responsible manner. The IB’s ethical guidelines

should be consulted.

All students undertaking an extended essay must be aware of and read the relevant policies related

to ethical guidelines for carrying out research and those relating to academic honesty. Additionally,

students must ensure that they follow the policies related to specific subject areas, such as in the sciences,

psychology, and social and cultural anthropology. In the sciences, this refers specifically to the animal

experimentation policy, and in psychology and social and cultural anthropology it refers to ethical

guidelines for undertaking research.