From an interest to a research question
| English | 中文 | Pinyin |
|---|---|---|
| research question/rɪˈsɜːtʃ ˈkwestʃn/ | 研究问题 | yán jiū wèn tí |
| method/ˈmeθəd/ | 方法 | fāng fǎ |
An interest is a starting point
- “I am interested in rivers” is a broad topic. A research question 研究问题 states what you will investigate and what kind of answer you seek.
- Narrow the place, period or variables. “How does distance downstream relate to nitrate concentration at these six sampling sites?” gives a clearer task.
Which is the more focused question?
The question specifies a measurable relationship, place and period.
Make the question answerable
- Ask whether you can obtain suitable evidence with your time, equipment and access. A question about every river in a country is unlikely to fit one student’s investigation.
- Choose a subject approach that can answer the question. An ecological measurement, a literary interpretation and a historical argument use different methods.
A question requires interviews with people you cannot contact. What is the best next step?
Feasibility should shape the question and method; evidence cannot be invented.
Plan the evidence
- List what each source or measurement will contribute. Six water samples may reveal a local pattern, but one visit cannot show how the river changes through a year.
- Note missing evidence before you begin. Explain which limits you can reduce and which limits your final conclusion must acknowledge.
One sampling visit can establish a whole year’s seasonal pattern.
A single visit cannot provide evidence for variation across the year.
Check the method before collecting
- Discuss safety, permission and research ethics with your supervisor before fieldwork or research involving people. Do not collect personal information simply because it is easy to obtain.
- A method 方法 should be consistent enough for another reader to understand your choices. Record instruments, timing and the decisions used to select evidence.
Refine without hiding changes
- Keep a short research log. If early evidence changes the question, record what changed and why the new question is more useful.
- Use the guide for your assessment session. The 2027 Extended Essay changes are not automatically the rules for an earlier examination cohort.
The 2027 brief should always replace the guide for a 2026 assessment.
The applicable guide is determined by the assessment session.
Match each term to its role in this lesson.
The distinctions help you explain your decisions clearly.
Which actions belong before fieldwork?
Choose actions supported by the evidence and the purpose of the task; reject shortcuts that hide limitations or invent information.
A question about nitrate at six accessible sites allows a defined local investigation. It still needs consistent sampling and cannot establish an annual pattern from one visit.
A question can sound sophisticated and still be impossible to answer with the available evidence.
Make the question focused, feasible and suitable for a subject method. Plan evidence and ethics before collecting data, and use the correct assessment-session guide.