International Baccalaureate: EE Prep

• Research is an ongoing, messy process that is not linear.
• Research is inquiry and learning.
• Research is a scholarly conversation that you are an active participant in.

Hold onto these words by Albert Einstein:

"If we knew what we were doing, it wouldn't be called Research." - Albert Einstein

"Asking the right question is half the answer." - Aristotle

A solid research question should be specific, open-ended, concise, and feasible.  

• Weak: How are children affected by exposure to social media?
• Better: What is the effect of Instagram Likes on the self-esteem of young children under the age of 14?
• Weak: Has there been an increase in bullying over the last 10 years in the United States?
• Better:  What has been the effect of after-school and community programs on bullying among elementary students? 
• Weak: What are the effects of climate change on extreme weather events, rising sea levels, and warming temperatures on the relatively poorer countries of the world; which countries in the world generate the most CO2 and how is that reflective on global inequality, and can we identify economically viable and sustainable preventative measures these countries can potentially implement to mitigate the adverse effects of climate-induced weather?
• Better: How are rising global temperatures impacting the extreme weather events in the Global South, and what affordable prevention measures could these countries implement?

Researchers must also consider whether or not their research questions are feasible, or practical and possible within the research parameters. For example, real-world researchers must consider funding and equipment, among other considerations. For the Extended Essay, you must make sure your research question meets all requirements set by the International Baccalaureate program and your instructors.