IB Psychology SAQ and ERQ formats and tips

ERQ Outline

-Introduction: State the position with regards to the question. Outline how the question will be answered. Define any important terms. -Body Paragraph-PEEL: Point-what is the main idea of the paragraph. Evidence- What is the study or theory being used. Explanation-Analyze and evaluate your evidence. How does this support your point? What are the questions or issues that remain? Link: Link the argument back to the question or the position of the essay. -Conclusion: restatement of the argument, 2-3 sentences

SAQ Grading Criteria

-The response is fully focused on the question and meets the command term requirements. -Knowledge and understanding is accurate and addresses the main topics/problems identified in the question. -The response is supported by appropriate research which is described and explicitly linked to the question.

SAQ Outline

1) Describe: Tell what you know about the topic in as much detail as possible while using examples 2) Explain: explain a study, why it is useful for this topic and the possible cause and effect relationship 3) Outline: Give a brief summary to show understanding and explicitly link it all together to the question

ERQ Rubric

1) Focus on the question-2 marks 2)Knowledge and understanding(relevent psychology terms) 6 marks 3) Use of research -6 marks 4) Critical thinking - 6 marks 5) Clarity and organization - 2 marks

ERQ Evaluate Research questions - how to

Outline the strengths and limitations of the studies that are relevant to the question. You should not use the same evaluation strategies for all of the research. Redundant responses do not earn high marks. Try to use a range of evaluation strategies to earn the highest marks.

ERQ Ethical questions - how to

The only critical thinking that is relevant to the question is a discussion of the considerations. Remember, do not evaluate the study from an ethical standpoint; instead, choose an ethical consideration (e.g. informed consent), choose a study to explain (e.g. HM) and then make the link between the two. You need to explain the consideration (generally) and why it is important and then link it to what happened in the study you have chosen. You may also discuss why researchers made the choices that they did in the study that you have chosen.

ERQ To what extent questions - how to

To what extent asks you to look at two sides of an issue and then determine which is the stronger argument. In this sense, the evaluation of the research is relevant. However, ethical evaluation is not highly relevant in most TWE questions.

ERQ Evaluate Theory questions - how to

You may evaluate the research as a way to discuss the strength of the evidence that supports the theory. However, that is not enough for this question. Remember TEACUP. You should discuss such things as the operationalization of variables in the theory, cross-cultural validity, predictive validity and applications. If you only evaluate research, you will not earn high marks for either critical thinking or for the focus of the essay.

ERQ Discuss questions - how to

evaluate the research you used, but then to have a paragraph in which you answer the question by discussing methodological issues (in general) in the study of that topic, areas of uncertainty and implications of the research.

ERQ Contrast questions - how to

Contrast essays do not require you to evaluate the research unless it is a point of contrast. The critical thinking in this type of essay is all about the contrast. So, for example, how there is biological support for the MSM, but very limited biological support for schema theory.