Research Question

"I gained the ability to formulate arguments in a coherent manner and to be disciplined in writing."

Developing a suitable research question is vital to your EE - you want a question that:

is clear and focused
provides a path through which you can undertake achievable research
uses key words that connect with the topic, the title, and the DP subject/world studies area of study
supports the development of an argument

Avoid using a research question that is unclear, vague, or too broad because you will most probably end up writing a descriptive or narrative essay which will not score well against the assessment criteria.

Common problems with research questions

Too broad
- Ensure your essay is not too broad to be treated effectively within the 4000 word limit.
- Don't look at multiple factors, e.g. economic, social, and political reasons. It's much better to narrow your essay down to addressing one factor.
- Students whose research question is too broad will be penalising themselves from the outset as it will affect their marks across all aspects of the assessment criteria.
Too simplistic or too complicated
- Titles that are too simplistic are easily accomplished but with an insignificant conclusion as the outcome was probably self-evident and should have been predicted in advance.
- Titles that are too complicated do not generate an outcome (or one that has any true purpose or meaning) due to the impossibly intricate nature of the topic.
Not a question
- Statements with an implied focus (e.g. An investigation into the Volkswagen scandel) do not seek to prove anything. This sort of title naturally leads you to write a purely descriptive account.
- 'What'-based questions commonly fall into this category as they lead to simplistic narrative accounts. They are not open-ended as the extent of the answer is limited.
- A good research question is not just a question; it should enable you to focus on the analysis and evaluation of the chosen topic, in order for you to generate an original conclusion.

Developing a focused research question

Step 1. Choose your subject area

Which subject area is of most personal interest to you? Is there something you are especially curious about in one of your IB courses? Have your CAS experiences sparked an idea that can be researched?

Step 2. Choose a topic that interests you

Describe your work in one sentence.

I want to learn about __________________________.

Example: I want to learn about public funding for the arts.

Step 3. Suggest a question

Try to describe your research by developing a question that specifies something about your topic.

I am studying ______________________ because I want to find out (who, what, when, where, whether, why or how) ___________________________.

Example: I am studying public funding for the arts because I want to find out how accessible the arts are to those people who are on low incomes.

Direct question: To what extent are the arts accessible to people who belong to the class of the working poor?

Include a command term from your subject area to help form the research question.

Will you be able to argue a specific position? What are some possible issues or arguments?

Step 4. Evaluate your question

Answer the questions:

Is there a range of perspectives on this topic?

Does the research question allow for analysis, evaluation and the development of a reasoned argument?

I am studying __________________ because I want to find out ____________________________ in order to understand (how, why or whether) ________________________________________________.

Example: I am studying public funding for the arts because I want to find out how accessible the arts are to the working poor so I can determine whether tax dollars support cultural enrichment for all citizens regardless of their socio-economic status.

Step 5. Restate your question using a different command term

Asking the question in a different way might help you view your topic in a different way.

How does analysing …

To what extent …

Step 6. Review with your supervisor

Is your supervisor able to understand the nature of your research?

Is it clear to your supervisor how and why your topic is relevant in your subject area?

Step 7. Reflection

If you can adequately respond to the “so what?” question, you may be on your way to a clear and focused research question using your initial topic idea.

"My research papers have been much better than they would have been otherwise."

Group 1 - English Literature

To what extent does the portrayal of transgenderism in Virginia Woolf's 'Orlando: A Biography' serve as a form of empowerment, especially for women?
How does Thackeray convey the idea that 19th-century English society prioritised external appearance over moral principles in 'Vanity Fair'?

Group 2 - Language Acquisition

Spanish

What is the importance of women in 'The house of Bernarda Alba' and 'Blood Wedding' by Garcia Loca?
To what extent is the extensive use of the diminutive –ito in Quito, Ecuador, a reflection of class and/or ethnic differences?

French

Is the law of 2010 that prevents covering the face in public spaces a necessary measure in order to preserve the Republic's values?
How does Camus use sensory imagery in his novel L’Etranger?

German

How do the various terms used to refer to foreigners and immigrants in popular media reflect various shades of discrimination in German society?
To what extent does geography influence the use of German idiomatic expressions?

Group 3 - Individuals and Societies

Environmental Systems and Societies

To what extent does the length of time after an exotic plant has been introduced to an area, and the latitude from which it originates, affect the diversity of herbivores found feeding on it?
To what extent are the philosophical principles and objectives of a local conservation group being fulfilled in protecting the local environment?

Geography

To what extent has the environmental levy on plastic bags been successful worldwide? A study based upon two different regions.
How did the Hong Kong SARS outbreak affect social and economic features of the region?

Global Sociology (Social and Cultural Anthropology)

What cultural traits and processes of cultural change in American health care are accountable for the present lack of universal health insurance in the United States?
To what extent do they theoretical concepts of agency and structure suffice to explain veiling among Muslim women in the two chosen ethnographies?

History

To what extent was the ideology of 'continuous Revolution' the main cause of the Chinese Cultural Revolution?
To what extent can Lenin's rise to power in 1917 be attributed to foreign intervention?

Philosophy

To what extent has Simone de Beauvoir's existentialism challenged western patriarchal views of female sexuality?
Can metaphysical interpretations of gender be effectively applied?

Psychology

What factors contribute to females being perceived as attractive?
To what extent does personality affect relative levels of stress in the medical profession?

Group 4 - The Sciences

Biology

How does the variation in pigmentation in three different leave vary the rate at which photosynthesis occurs?
To what extent does the tar content of different Marlboro brand cigarettes vary when measured by tar content in cotton wool?

Chemistry

How does increasing the number of the methylene group when ascending the alcohol group affect its ability to dissolve fatty acids as a solvent when finding the iodine number?
To what extent is there a variation in caffeine content in black teas across different brands?

Environmental Systems and Societies

How do people's attitudes to the environment vary according to income? A case study in the Fo Tan region of Hong Kong.
What is the cological value of Jone's Cove at Sai Kung Peninsula and to what extent is it managed sustainably?

Physics

How does the speed of the blades affect the lift of a drone?
How does the number of layers of padding affect the impact force of a falling mass?

Group 5 - Mathematics

What is the relationships between Poisson and exponential distributions?
To what extent do musical scales follow a mathematical geometric progression?

Group 6 - The Arts

Film

How does John Wells use camera movement, framing, and blocking to portray the concept of leadership in the individual in the film 'Burnt'?
How does lighting contribute effectively to film production?

Music

To what extent is the original flavour of rural Mexican mariachi music retained in its modern urban variant?
How does Northern classical Indian music impact upon modern Western heavy metal musical structure?

Theatre

What are the prominent production values that serve to promote the intentions of Theatre of Comedy and Theatre of the Absurd?
What are the means by which Drama makes a positive impact on primary years children?

Visual Arts

To what extent is traditional Ukiyo-e printmaking in Japan reflected in contemporary Manga cartoons?
To what extent has linear perspective become obsolete in contemporary art?

Literature and Performance

How does the Jerome Robbins choreography of West Side Story transform the original meaning and effect of Shakespeare’s Romeo and Juliet?
What elements of the original James story has Britten successfully delivered in the operatic version?
How is Flaubert’s portrayal of Emma in Madame Bovary delivered and affected by the costuming in the film version by Claude Chabrol (1991) or that of Vincente Minnelli (2014)?
How have the changes in Watson in the television production Elementary affected the portrayal of both Holmes and Watson?

World Studies

To what extent has the Norwegianization of Sami culture changed the significance of "joik" as an expression of Sami identity through the modernization of the music?
To what extent do geographical factors play a role in the distribution of multiple sclerosis cases in Canada and Iran?
How has globalization contributed to dietary changes and obesity in developed and developing countries?

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