PSYCHOLOGY

The topic may be an extension of an area covered on the Diploma Programme psychology course or a topic of interest outside the content covered.

When choosing their topic, students should remember that their EE must be based on secondary sources only. The collection of primary data is not permitted for the psychology EE.

What Sources?

Comparisons, case studies, discourse analysis, and critical analysis of a theory or concept. In a successful essay, you use subject-specific terminology and follow disciplinary style and structural conventions.

Tricky topics

Topics within the fields of “pop psychology” or “self-help” will not be appropriate for the EE as they are not supported by peer-reviewed research studies.

Topics that do not lend themselves well to analysis, evaluation and debate are unlikely to be the best choices for a student.

Topics such as eating disorders, dysfunctional behaviours (eg schizophrenia or depression) and forensic psychology are popular with students. However, they pose a challenge unless students focus their research question very tightly. These topics are extremely ambitious, requiring far more time and experience than students generally have at their disposal.

Examples

Topic: The struggles of a “perfect” athlete 

Research question: Does being a perfectionist have a detrimental effect on performance in team sports?

Outline of approach: Sporting performance is operationalised (giving an abstract idea a measurable set of criteria, which can be researched), and a single sport is investigated. This definition must be consistently applied throughout the essay. Evidence is provided to both support and challenge the idea that perfectionism may have a detrimental effect on performance.

Topic: The effectiveness of cognitive behaviour therapy (CBT) and mindfulness in stress management

Research question: Is mindfulness or CBT a more effective means of coping with stress?

Outline of approach: Although it is important to outline the key assumptions made by each of these two approaches to treatment, this should not be a significant part of the essay. The research should compare evaluated published research findings supporting each type of explanation, having linked the studies to relevant psychological theory. A balanced argument could evaluate evidence claiming support for partial and final conclusions.