What is Psychology?

1. What is Psychology? The IB defines Psychology as, “the systematic study of the mind and behaviour.” It is a social science, so the study is scientific. Ideas and theories must be supported by evidence from empirical studies.

2. What is an Extended Essay in Psychology? • An Extended Essay in Psychology is: • An opportunity to investigate an area within the field of psychology that is based upon your personal interest, and which may well go beyond the Diploma Programme psychology course. • The active pursuit of a research question that will develop your analytical and communication skills, and your understanding of behaviour. • Psychology extended essays must be supported with careful and appropriate citation of relevant theories and/or studies within psychology. This implies that the best resources are academic and psychological research journals and texts. • Extended Essays in Psychology are an evaluation of existing psychological research on the topic you have chosen. You answer your research question by researching, reading and analysing critically and evaluating the findings of existing research.

3. What an Extended Essay in Psychology Is not • Psychology is not a “residual”, catch-all category for essays which do not fit into any other subject. That’s why it is essential to choose your subject first, then your topic and research question. • There is no place for your personal data collection, experiments, surveys, observations and case studies. Your essay is an investigative, analytical argument, not a research hypothesis to be uncovered by use of research methods. • You are analysing and evaluating existing empirical research, not conducting your own research. • Psychology is not about common sense! It is the scientific study of the human & animal mind and behaviour. Popular psychology and self-help have no place in your essay. • It is not what your family or your teacher want to write about. It is what you want to write about!

4. Your topic • Choose something you are really interested in. If you are not absolutely fascinated by the topic of stress among IB Diploma candidates now, I can promise you, you will not be fascinated by it in June and July next year when you are writing your first full draft. • Even topics that examiners warn against because they are so popular, such as eating disorders and depression, can make excellent essays if you compose a tightly worded and focused research question. • Choose a topic that can be broken down easily into sections, so that the essay structures itself. • You do not have to phrase your research question as a question, but it will help you if you do. • Use words and phrases such as: “to what extent,”‘how”, “why”. Remember, you are analysing, not simply describing.

5. Goals of a successful Psychology Essay • To focus on a narrow, tightly worded and focused research question that can be answered by evaluating existing empirical evidence. • To focus on a question that can be answered in 4000 words. • To demonstrate your understanding and use of psychological theories, concepts and models. • To demonstrate your command of the language of psychology.

6. Examples • How has westernization influenced the incidences of eating disorders, especially anorexia nervosa in South Africa among black adolescent females? • This research question is tightly worded and focused. The structure of the essay is clear: • What is westernization? • What is the significance of westernization in the context of South Africa? • How has westernization manifested itself in South Africa? • What are eating disorders? • What is anorexia nervosa? • What were the incidences of anorexia nervosa in South Africa among black adolescent females before westernization? • What are the incidences in response to westernization? • Conclusion. This essay gained an A grade.

7. Examples • How and to what extent can psychological theories of identity, social representation and stereotyping account for the breakdown in relationships between characters and the conclusion of the novel in Golding’s Lord of the Flies? • To what extent can the experience of being a third culture kid between the ages of 8 and 16 increase empathy for others and thus lessen stereotyping and prejudice? • To what extent can an understanding of the psychological basis of stereotyping and the formation of prejudice contribute to a reduction in prejudice and the practice of discrimination? • What role does team cohesion play in athletic success? • Why do athletes use performance enhancing substances and to what extent can the effects they seek be gained by legal means? • To what extent and how can the symptoms of Asperger’s Syndrome prove advantageous to sufferers?

8. Structuring your Essay • The introduction must include your research question, an explanation of your personal interest in this topic and an indication of why this is a question worthy of serious attention. (Interest is not the same as personal experience or views, although it may draw on personal experience.)You should also place your research question within the context of existing knowledge and understanding of the topic. If there is little research or understanding say so: your essay may be major new contribution to research on this subject.

9. Your investigation • The essay should present findings and theories from sources in an evaluative context and students should not necessarily accept their findings at face value. A healthy and informed scepticism should be maintained towards material from film, television, radio, newspapers and internet-based sources, until authoritative judgment allows their findings or theories to become accepted. Although the argument presented in the essay may be supported by the student’s own observations, the presentation or analysis of such material should be used for illustrative purposes only and should form no more than a very minor part of the evidence used. • Remember to take into account methodological considerations when you evaluate findings: ethical issues, choice of research method, sampling issues, cultural issues, gender, class etc.

10. Reasoned Argument . • Reasoned argument • The research question should be the central focus of the argument as it is developed throughout the essay. As the argument is constructed, it often creates conflict between varying theories and findings from studies. You should explain and analyse these different views and marshal those essential points that support the argument that is being advanced. • It is your task to persuade the reader of the reasons for, and validity of your view. This is best accomplished by using a logical approach where successive salient points are built up, one upon the other. • Application of analytical and evaluative skills appropriate to the subject Demanding cognitive effort is needed to apply analytical and evaluative factors created by you. The analysis and evaluation need to be covered in depth since these will lead to the crux of the argument. There is also an opportunity you to use reflexivity—a consideration of your own experiences and views that have contributed to the methods used in the investigation and the interpretation of points that have arisen. • Conclusion The conclusion is a synthesis of the argument that has preceded it. It is the end point of a logical process that has been established by employing a succession of psychological studies and theories to justify the case that has been presented.

11. What should I do now? • I know I want to write my essay in Psychology, but I don’t have a clue about the topic, let alone a research question.. • Read through your course companion & the Pearson Baccalaureate text book. There are examples of Extended Essay topics that may well interest you, or you may discover something that catches your interest in the options chapters. • There are Psychology journals in the library. • There are examples of excellent Extended Essays in the library and on my website. Read through for ideas and inspiration. • See Ms. Won or me for some advice. • I know my topic, but I need help with narrowing it down to a research question. • Go to see Ms. Won or come to see me for some help with this. Read through the assessment criteria in your EE booklet and the Guide to the EE First Examinations 2013, on my website, to gain a sense of how answering your question can be organized into an essay that will gain high marks.

12. I have my research question already and I am happy with it. • Excellent! Make sure you show it to your teacher in that subject, then complete the form in your booklet and hand in to the tray in Ms. Mortimer’s Office. Turn in your choice of subject, topic and research question to Turnitin.com. • Then I can match you with a supervisor. • Deadline 22nd November, but if you are ready now. Go for it! The sooner you begin, the better… • Good Luck!!

13. Important Dates • IB Contract will be posted home during the week of 17th October. Please read, discuss with your parents/guardians and sign. • Return to Ms. Mortimer by Tuesday 1st November. • Extended Essay. Subject, working topic, research question due 22nd November, copy to Ms. Mortimer’s Office. Submit to Turnitin.com. Use the form in your Extended Essay booklet. • More presentations on Wednesday 26th October, 2nd November, 9th November. You are all invited, but may choose not to attend if the subject is not relevant to you. • Extra copies of Extended Essay booklet on my website. • Guide to Extended Essay 2013, on my website. • Not sure what to do, totally clueless and overwhelmed…, see me!