Guidelines for Ethically Managing Research in EE or IA for IB Students: Intelligent Strategies to Follow
Conducting Ethical IB Research: A Guide for Students
The International Baccalaureate (IB) Extended Essay (EE) and Internal Assessment (IA) projects demand strict adherence to ethical guidelines that prioritise the protection of human participants, respect for communities and environments, and academic integrity. Here are some key ethical requirements that students should follow:
Informed Consent
Researchers must ensure that participants fully comprehend the purpose of the study and willingly agree to participate without any coercion. Standardized Consent Form Templates are available to ensure transparency, and if a participant is under 18, parental or guardian consent is required. Written consent forms should be used, and clear records should be kept.
Confidentiality and Anonymity
Personal or sensitive information collected must be safeguarded to protect participant identities. After collecting data, participants' identities can be anonymized.
Minimizing Harm
Researchers should avoid causing psychological, social, or environmental harm. This includes refraining from intrusive or overly personal questions, and preventing cultural or environmental disruption during fieldwork. Power imbalances should be considered when surveying peers, classmates, or minors to prevent exploitation or undue influence.
Academic Honesty
Uphold integrity by avoiding data fabrication, plagiarism, and bias in reporting research findings.
Legal and Ethical Research Conduct
Follow accepted methods for data collection, analysis, and presenting results to ensure validity and compliance with legal standards.
These principles align with IB’s mission of responsible research and learner integrity and are underscored by tools such as RevisionDojo’s ethics checklist designed specifically for IB students to adhere to these expectations.
Preparing for Ethical Research
It is recommended to discuss research plans with a supervisor early to get guidance and pre-approval. A risk assessment should be conducted to evaluate potential impacts on participants or the environment before starting IB research.
Addressing Ethical Dilemmas
In case of a dilemma during research, consult the supervisor immediately and review processes to avoid harm or bias.
Resources for Ethical Research
Access RevisionDojo's Ethics Checklist, Consent Templates, and ethical reflection tools by visiting their website. Subscribe to RevisionDojo for guides on ethical case studies and university-ready IA templates.
Ethical Considerations in IB Research
Ethical issues in IB research can arise when research involves people, communities, environments, or sensitive data. Honest, transparent, and ethical research aligns with IB rules, builds trust, and enhances both methodology and marks.
[1] RevisionDojo Ethics Checklist [5] RevisionDojo Consent Form Templates
- Engaging in ethical IB research, which aligns with personal growth and education-and-self-development, requires adherence to principles such as informed consent, confidentiality, and minimizing harm, ensuring academic honesty, and respecting legal and ethical research conduct.
- Preparing for ethical research, by discussing research plans with a supervisor, conducting a risk assessment, and utilizing resources like RevisionDojo's ethics checklist and consent form templates, contributes to learner integrity and responsible research.
