Introduction
The research question is the backbone of your Internal Assessment (IA). A well-crafted question guides your analysis, shapes your methodology, and gives examiners a clear sense of focus. But many IB students struggle with extremes: their research question is either too broad to analyze in depth or too narrow to sustain a meaningful investigation.
Examiners look for precision, clarity, and manageability in research questions. If your question is weak, even the strongest analysis may not earn top marks. This article will help you identify when your question is too broad or too narrow — and how to refine it so your IA is both focused and rich in analysis.
Quick Start Checklist
Use this checklist to evaluate your IA research question:
- Can I realistically answer it within the IA word count?
- Does it connect directly to my subject syllabus?
- Is there enough (but not overwhelming) data available?
- Can I analyze rather than just describe the answer?
- Does the question encourage multiple perspectives or evaluation?
What Makes a Question Too Broad
A research question is too broad when it:
- Covers an entire field: “What are the effects of climate change on ecosystems?”
- Lacks specificity: “How does marketing affect consumer behavior?”
- Requires excessive word count: If you’d need an essay, not an IA, to cover it.
- Leads to general description: Broad questions often encourage surface-level answers rather than analysis.
Why it’s a problem: You’ll end up writing vague generalizations or summarizing textbook information rather than conducting focused, original research.
