Unit 10 - The IB Curriculum - A Conceptual Model
Unlocking Psychology Research Tips For Crafting The Perfect Question
Table of content
The research question (RQ) - key to a great essay
-
Definition: An open-ended question related to a specific psychology topic.
-
Characteristics
- 🎯 Clear: No ambiguities!
- 🖊 Concise: Get to the point!
- 🧩 Complex: No yes/no questions here!
- 💭 Debatable: Sparks discussions.
-
Importance: Your RQ = ❤️ of your essay. A great RQ = A great essay.
-
How to Craft the Perfect RQ
- Start with 'how,' 'to what extent,' 'why.'
- Keep tweaking it; it doesn't have to be perfect from the get-go!
Real-world Example: Instead of "Do dreams affect our mood?", try "To what extent do our nightly dreams influence our emotional state throughout the day?"
Research - don’t get lost in the jungle of information 🌿📚
-
Start Broad, Go Narrow
- Start with your textbook 📖.
- Explore the internet 🌐: Use key terms from your topic.
- Dive into encyclopedias 📔.
- Tip: Wikipedia isn’t a direct source, but its references might be gold!
-
Trust, But Verify
- Always question a source's reliability 🕵️.
- Deep dive with Google Scholar 🎓.
- Avoid pop psychology and weak claims.
- If in doubt, ask your teacher or librarian 🤓.
Real-world Example: Ever tried baking a cake? Start with a basic recipe (like your textbook), then explore variations online. But, be cautious of that 'chocolate and chili' combo unless it's from a trusted chef!
Organization - your roadmap to success 🗺️
- Outline
- It’s your essay’s backbone!
- List main points + order they'll be in.
- Reflect the research you’ve already done.
- Feedback Time! Share your outline with your supervisor or peers for constructive criticism.
- Real-world Example: Think of your favorite movie. Now, imagine its plot. That's your outline! Without it, the movie would be just random scenes.
Unlock the Full Content! 
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Psychology SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟
Unit 10 - The IB Curriculum - A Conceptual Model
Unlocking Psychology Research Tips For Crafting The Perfect Question
Table of content
The research question (RQ) - key to a great essay
-
Definition: An open-ended question related to a specific psychology topic.
-
Characteristics
- 🎯 Clear: No ambiguities!
- 🖊 Concise: Get to the point!
- 🧩 Complex: No yes/no questions here!
- 💭 Debatable: Sparks discussions.
-
Importance: Your RQ = ❤️ of your essay. A great RQ = A great essay.
-
How to Craft the Perfect RQ
- Start with 'how,' 'to what extent,' 'why.'
- Keep tweaking it; it doesn't have to be perfect from the get-go!
Real-world Example: Instead of "Do dreams affect our mood?", try "To what extent do our nightly dreams influence our emotional state throughout the day?"
Research - don’t get lost in the jungle of information 🌿📚
-
Start Broad, Go Narrow
- Start with your textbook 📖.
- Explore the internet 🌐: Use key terms from your topic.
- Dive into encyclopedias 📔.
- Tip: Wikipedia isn’t a direct source, but its references might be gold!
-
Trust, But Verify
- Always question a source's reliability 🕵️.
- Deep dive with Google Scholar 🎓.
- Avoid pop psychology and weak claims.
- If in doubt, ask your teacher or librarian 🤓.
Real-world Example: Ever tried baking a cake? Start with a basic recipe (like your textbook), then explore variations online. But, be cautious of that 'chocolate and chili' combo unless it's from a trusted chef!
Organization - your roadmap to success 🗺️
- Outline
- It’s your essay’s backbone!
- List main points + order they'll be in.
- Reflect the research you’ve already done.
- Feedback Time! Share your outline with your supervisor or peers for constructive criticism.
- Real-world Example: Think of your favorite movie. Now, imagine its plot. That's your outline! Without it, the movie would be just random scenes.
Unlock the Full Content!
Dive deeper and gain exclusive access to premium files of Psychology SL. Subscribe now and get closer to that 45 🌟