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Research methods

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The following page outlines how to respond to research method essays.  This prompt is quite common and may be combined with any of the topics on papers 1 or 2.  It is important to have a strategy for approaching the question that is in line with the IB's assessment criteria.

Research methods question may ask you to evaluate, discuss or contrast research methods.

What is the question asking?

A typical research methods question looks something like this: Evaluate the use of one or more research methods used in the study of the brain and behaviour.

You are assessed on the following aspects of the question:

  • Have you identified and explained one or more research methods?
  • Is the research used relevant to the "study of the brain and behaviour?"
  • Are both strengths and limitations of the research method discussed?  - that is, is the command term met?

Below is an explanation of how the essay should be structured.  Although this is not the only possible way to structure the essay, this approach is a successful approach.

Structuring the essay

Introduction: Be sure to state the one or more research methods that you will be evaluating

Paragraph 2: Explain the first research method.

Paragraph 3: Explain one study of the brain and behaviour and link it to the method explained in paragraph 2.

Paragraph 4: Explain the second research method (or go to the next paragraph)

Paragraph 5: Explain a second study and link it to the method is paragraph 4 - or the method in paragraph 2.

Paragraph 6:  Evaluate the research method. What are the strengths and limitations of the research method?  Statement of conclusion.

Exam tips

  • One strategy for this is to focus only on experiments - and then have one paragraph look at "true" experiments and another paragraph look at quasi-experiments. 
  • When describing the research, it should be explained in terms of the research method - that is, if you are writing about experiments, you need to identify the IV and DV, as well as any controls.
  • The question is asking you to evaluate the research method.  You should not evaluate the research in any other way - for example, a discussion of ethics or cultural issues would be irrelevant and lower your marks.
  • When evaluating the methods, be sure to include both strengths and limitations!
  • Finally, remember that the only research methods you can use are: experiments, observations, interviews, questionnaires/surveys, and case studies.  Meta-analysis, twin studies, or brain scanning techniques are not research methods and will not earn any marks.

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