Psychology is one of the most popular EE subjects — and one where the quality gap between good and great essays is immediately visible. Most Psychology EEs describe studies. The best ones evaluate them, connect them, and use them to build an original argument.
What Works for a Psychology EE Research Question
Strong Psychology RQs focus on a specific psychological phenomenon, behaviour, or intervention — measured in a specific context. They allow for analysis of research evidence, methodology, and limitations.
| Weak RQ | Strong RQ |
|---|---|
| "Does social media affect mental health?" | "To what extent does passive social media use predict symptoms of depression in adolescents aged 13–18?" |
| "How does stress affect memory?" | "To what extent does cortisol elevation during acute stress impair long-term memory consolidation according to current neuroscientific evidence?" |
| "Do stereotypes affect performance?" | "To what extent does stereotype threat account for the gender gap in mathematics performance in competitive academic environments?" |
The Psychology EE Approach
You cannot conduct primary research for a Psychology EE — IB ethical guidelines prevent running experiments on participants. Instead, your essay analyses existing research: you evaluate what studies have found, how they found it, and what their limitations are.
Biological Level of Analysis
Neuroscience, brain structure, hormones (cortisol, dopamine, oxytocin), genetic influences on behaviour. Strong for EEs on memory, stress, attachment.
Cognitive Level of Analysis
Mental processes, schema theory, cognitive biases, information processing. Strong for EEs on decision-making, memory, perception.
Sociocultural Level of Analysis
Social influence, group behaviour, cultural psychology, conformity, social norms. Strong for EEs on social media, group dynamics, cultural differences.
How to Evaluate Studies (This Is Where Marks Are Won)
The most important skill in a Psychology EE is evaluating research, not just reporting it. For every study you cite, address:
Findings
What did the study find? State it precisely — include effect sizes, sample sizes, and methodology briefly.
Strengths
Why is this study credible? Controlled conditions? Large sample? Replicated findings? Peer-reviewed?
Limitations
What can't this study tell us? Ecological validity? Cultural bias? Correlation vs causation? Ethical constraints on methodology?
Link to Your RQ
How does this specific finding support or complicate your argument? Every study must serve your RQ — don't include studies that don't directly contribute.
"Twenge et al. (2018) found that heavy social media use is associated with depression in teenagers."
"Twenge et al. (2018) found a significant correlation between heavy social media use and depressive symptoms in a sample of 500,000 US adolescents. However, the study's correlational design cannot establish causation — it is equally plausible that adolescents with pre-existing depression use social media more heavily, a directionality problem Coyne et al. (2020) partially address by using longitudinal data."
Data Sources for Psychology EEs
- 1Google Scholar — search for peer-reviewed psychology studies. Sort by relevance, not date.
- 2PsycINFO (if your school has access) — the definitive psychology research database
- 3APA (American Psychological Association) journals — Journal of Personality and Social Psychology, Psychological Science
- 4Frontiers in Psychology — open access journal with broad coverage
- 5Seminal textbooks (Atkinson & Hilgard, Myers' Psychology) for established theoretical frameworks
Tip
For Psychology, finding a study that contradicts another study is gold. Build your analysis around the debate: Study A finds X, Study B finds Y. The difference might be methodology, sample, cultural context. Explaining WHY the studies disagree is genuine critical thinking.
Unique to Psychology: The Ethical Consideration
Strong Psychology EEs mention the ethical implications of the research they discuss. Were participants fully informed? Were vulnerable populations involved? Could the findings be misused? This adds a layer of sophistication that weaker essays miss entirely.
Key Takeaways
- Your RQ must be specific: phenomenon + context + population or time range
- You're analysing existing research, not conducting new experiments
- Evaluate every study: findings, strengths, limitations, link to RQ
- Build around debates: when studies contradict, explain why
- Mention ethical considerations — this distinguishes sophisticated essays