A strong research question is the foundation of a successful IB Digital Society internal assessment (IA). Even well-chosen topics can underperform if the research question is unclear, too broad, or poorly framed. In IB Digital Society, the research question must guide analysis, conceptual application, and evaluation, not just description.
This article explains how to write a strong IB Digital Society IA research question and how to avoid the most common mistakes.
Why the Research Question Matters
The research question determines:
- The direction of the investigation
- Which concepts can be applied
- Whether evaluation is possible
- How focused the IA remains
Examiners do not assess the topic alone — they assess how effectively the research question enables analysis of a digital system and its impacts on people and communities.
A weak research question limits what students can demonstrate, even if the topic is interesting.
What Makes a Good Digital Society IA Research Question?
A strong IA research question is:
- Focused on a specific digital system
- Analytical rather than descriptive
- Linked to people and communities
- Open to evaluation and judgment
The question should encourage exploration of how, why, or to what extent, rather than simply asking what something is.
Start With a Clearly Defined Digital System
The research question must clearly identify the digital system being investigated. Vague references to “technology” or “social media” weaken analysis.
Strong research questions:
- Refer to a specific system or feature
