IB ESS IA Research Question Sentence Frames

What a Good IA Research Question Should Include

✔ A clear independent variable
✔ A clear dependent variable
✔ A specific ecosystem or location
✔ A measurable relationship
✔ A limited scope (small scale, fieldwork-friendly)

1. Basic Cause-and-Effect Frames (Highly Supported)

Sentence Frames

• How does __________ affect __________ in __________?

• To what extent does __________ influence __________ in __________?

• What is the effect of __________ on __________ in __________?

Examples

• How does soil moisture affect plant species richness in the school garden?

• To what extent does light intensity influence moss coverage on tree trunks?

• What is the effect of foot traffic on grass cover in the school field?

2. Gradient / Transect-Based Frames

Sentence Frames

• How does __________ change along a __________ gradient in __________?

• How does __________ vary with increasing __________ along a transect in __________?

Examples

• How does plant height change along a distance-from-path gradient in a local park?

• How does species richness vary with increasing distance from a road in a woodland area?

3. Abiotic Factor–Focused Frames

Sentence Frames

• How does variation in __________ affect __________ in __________?

• What relationship exists between __________ and __________ in __________?

Examples

• How does variation in soil pH affect plant species richness in a grassland ecosystem?

• What relationship exists between temperature and invertebrate abundance under logs?

4. Human Impact–Focused Frames

Sentence Frames

• To what extent does human activity affect __________ in __________?

• How does __________ (human activity) influence __________ in __________?

Examples

• To what extent does trampling affect vegetation cover along a footpath?

• How does litter density influence invertebrate diversity in an urban park?

5. Comparative Research Question Frames

Sentence Frames

• How does __________ differ between __________ and __________?

• What differences exist in __________ between __________ and __________?

Examples

• How does species richness differ between shaded and unshaded areas of a woodland?

• What differences exist in soil moisture between disturbed and undisturbed grassland areas?

6. Time-Based (Succession or Change) Frames

Sentence Frames

• How does __________ change over time in __________?

• What trend is observed in __________ over __________ in __________?

Examples

• How does plant species richness change over time in an abandoned field?

• What trend is observed in soil nitrate concentration over 10 meters of a transect?

7. Refining Frames (To Improve Weak Questions)

Sentence Frames

• How does __________ (specific, measurable) affect __________ (specific, measurable) in __________ (specific location)?

Weak Question → Improved Example

• ❌ How does pollution affect plants?

• ✅ How does soil nitrate concentration affect grass species richness in the school field?

8. IA-Ready Final Examples (Strong Models)

• How does soil compaction affect plant species richness along a footpath in Oak Park?

• How does light intensity influence moss coverage on north-facing versus south-facing tree trunks?

• To what extent does distance from a water source affect invertebrate abundance in a riparian zone?

Student Self-Check Before Submitting a Research Question

☐ Can I measure both variables?
☐ Is the location specific and realistic?
☐ Can this be completed within class fieldwork time?
☐ Does it avoid being too broad?