The extended essay (EE) is a compulsory component of the DP core.
The EE is an opportunity for DP students to explore a topic of interest in their chosen subject.
It allows for the development of research skills, communication skills, and encourages critical thinking.
Although an EE can be taken in different subjects, this guide will focus on Digital Society.
Undertaking an EE in Digital Society allows students to research a topic of interest in this academic area.
This could involve the collection of primary or secondary data, depending on the chosen topic.
The EE has a word count of a maximum of 4000 words, together with a 500-word reflective statement.
Tip
It is expected that the EE will involve approximately 40 hours of student work.
The EE is externally assessed by IB examiners, against five criteria, which are listed below.
Criterion
Number of marks
A: Framework for the essay: research question, research methods, structure
6
B: Knowledge and understanding
6
C: Analysis and line of argument
6
D: Discussion and evaluation
8
E: Reflection: evaluative; growth
4
Total
30
For students undertaking an EE in Digital Society, this component offers a unique chance to explore the profound impacts of digital systems on people and communities.
The aims of the EE align closely with the inquiry-driven nature of the Digital Society course, requiring students to:
Engage in independent research with intellectual initiative and rigor.
Develop crucial research, thinking, self-management, and communication skills.
Reflect meaningfully on the learning that occurs throughout the research and writing process.
Together with TOK, the EE can contribute a maximum of three points to a student's overall Diploma score.
Note
A student must achieve a D or above for the EE to be awarded a Diploma.
A grade E in the extended essay is known as a failing condition.
The Two Pathways: Subject-Specific and Interdisciplinary Research
The updated EE framework introduces two clearly defined research pathways for students.
The choice of pathway will shape:
the research question,
the selection of theoretical frameworks,
the research methods, and
the overall structure of the essay.
Note
It is crucial to understand that these are not merely different types of topics but represent fundamentally different methodological approaches to the research project.
Subject-Specific Pathway
This pathway involves an in-depth study of a focused topic undertaken entirely within the disciplinary framework of Digital Society.
The research question is explored using the core components of the Digital Society course: its concepts, content, and contexts.
The essay's success depends on the student's ability to apply the Digital Society toolkit to a specific, real-world case study.
Hint
This approach requires a deep engagement with the specific theories, terminology, and analytical tools pertinent to the study of socio-technical phenomena.
The Interdisciplinary Pathway
This pathway is an evolution of the former World Studies EE and represents a broader, more flexible approach to interdisciplinary research.
It requires students to investigate an issue of global significance by integrating the analytical lenses of two distinct DP subjects, one of which can be Digital Society.
A key requirement is to explore the global issue through a specific, local manifestation, thereby linking the local to the global.
This pathway is not about simply juxtaposing two subjects; it is about synthesizing their concepts and methods to create new insights.
Tip
A critical component of the interdisciplinary pathway is the explicit justification for its use.
The introduction of the essay must contain a clear rationale explaining why the chosen topic requires an interdisciplinary approach.
It must also explain how the integration of the two subjects provides a more holistic understanding than either discipline could achieve alone.
Supervision and Academic Integrity in Digital Research
Every EE student is assigned a supervisor, typically a teacher at the school with expertise in the chosen subject.
The supervisor's role is to provide guidance and support throughout the process, but the EE must remain an independent, student-led piece of work.
The total supervision time is between three and five hours, which includes:
three mandatory formal reflection sessions, and
informal check-ins.
Supervisors are permitted to provide written feedback on one completed draft of the essay.
This feedback should be general, focusing on how the work can be improved, rather than a detailed edit.
Supervisors cannot:
Correct spelling, grammar, or punctuation.
Rewrite any part of the essay.
Indicate where specific sections should be moved.
Proofread the essay for errors.
Correct citations or bibliographies.
Academic integrity is of paramount importance.
All ideas, data, images, and direct quotations that are not the student's own must be acknowledged with a consistent and appropriate citation style.
Note
For a Digital Society EE, this extends to specific considerations:
Online Sources: All websites, social media posts, videos, and other digital artefacts must be cited correctly.
Primary Data: If collecting data from online communities or through surveys, ethical guidelines regarding informed consent and anonymization must be followed.
AI Tools: The use of generative AI for brainstorming or initial research must be acknowledged. Any text or ideas taken from an AI tool must be cited as such.
Choosing a Topic: Applying the '3 Cs' (Concepts, Content, Contexts)
A successful Digital Society EE begins with a well-chosen topic.
The topic should be of genuine personal interest to sustain motivation over the long research process.
For Digital Society, the most effective way to develop a strong, researchable topic is to use the course's core framework: the 3 Cs.
A high-quality topic exists at the intersection of these three elements:
Concepts: These are the theoretical lenses used to analyze the topic.
Content: This refers to the specific digital systems, technologies, or data being investigated.
Contexts: This is the real-world setting or situation where the investigation takes place.
This framework is more than just a syllabus outline; it is a powerful tool for generating a focused and analytical research question.
It guides students away from purely descriptive or technical topics (which was a common issue of Digital Society’s predecessor course, ITGS) and toward genuine socio-technical analysis.
By deliberately combining these elements, a student can formulate a topic that is inherently analytical.
Example
Instead of a broad topic like "The effects of AI," a student could investigate the content of AI-driven hiring algorithms, through the concept of Power, within the context of economic inequality for a specific social group.
That structure naturally leads to the kind of critical thinking required for high marks in Criteria C and D.
The following table provides guidance on topic selection.
Do
Don't
Choose a topic that is unique and original and that genuinely interests you (being interested in the topic significantly improves your research process and therefore the entire writing process).
Follow or copy an existing EE investigation.
Choose a topic that is specific and focused, often localized to a particular community, platform, or case study (the "Goldilocks Question": not too broad, not too narrow).
Choose a topic that is too broad (e.g., "The impact of the internet on society") or purely technical without a clear human/societal impact.
Ensure sufficient primary and/or secondary sources are available to support your research before finalizing your topic.
Choose a topic where the outcome is obvious or lacks room for genuine debate and evaluation.
The Researcher's Reflection Space (RRS)
It is strongly recommended that students use the researcher’s reflection space (RRS) to document the EE process.
The RRS is an important resource when writing the 500-word reflective statement and can take the form of a reflective journal, which can be an online resource or a physical resource.
Note
Students should discuss the RRS and the form that it could take early in the EE process.
Structuring and Presenting Your Essay
A professional and academic presentation is essential for the extended essay.
The structure and layout must adhere to formal conventions to ensure the research is communicated clearly and effectively.
Required Sections and Professional Layout
The EE must be written in the style of a formal academic paper.
The following sections are required:
A title page:
Must include the title of the essay, the student's session number (not name), the research question, the subject (Digital Society or Interdisciplinary), and the word count.
The title should be concise and descriptive.
A contents page:
Should list the sections (usually, headings and subheadings) of the essay with corresponding page numbers.
An introduction:
Should set the context for the research, state the research question, outline the scope of the investigation, and provide a brief overview of the argument and methodology.
The body of the essay:
This is the main part of the essay where the research, analysis, and argument are developed.
It should be structured into logical paragraphs and sections with clear headings.
A conclusion:
Should provide a clear answer to the research question, summarize the main findings, and include the discussion and evaluation of the research.
A bibliography or reference list:
Must list all sources cited in the essay in a consistent academic style (APA, MLA, Chicago…).
The essay should be presented with a standard 12-point font (such as Arial or Times New Roman) and be 1.5 or double-spaced to ensure readability.
Note
All pages should be numbered.
Managing the 4000-Word Limit
The word limit for the EE is a strict 4,000 words.
Careful management of the word count is crucial.
Hint
This is because examiners are instructed to never read beyond this limit, so any content exceeding it will not be assessed.
The following lists specifies what is included and excluded from the word count.
Included in the 4000-Word Limit
The introduction to the essay
The body of the essay
The conclusion
Any quotations used in the essay
Any footnotes or endnotes that are not references
Not Included in the 4000-Word Limit
The contents page
Maps, charts, diagrams, and annotated illustrations
Tables of data (though the analysis of the data is included)
Equations, formulas, and calculations
Citations/references (whether in-text, footnotes, or endnotes)
The bibliography
The RPF (Reflections and Progress Form)
Note
The RPF has its own separate word limit of 500 words inside of the reflection box.
Appendices
Appendices are not a required part of the EE, and examiners are not obligated to read them.
Any information that is essential to the argument must be included in the main body of the essay.
Appendices may be used for supplementary material such as:
full survey questionnaires,
interview transcripts, or
large raw datasets from a content analysis,
provided these are not central to following the argument.
Citing Digital and Non-Traditional Sources
A consistent citation style (such as APA, MLA, or Chicago) must be used throughout the essay for all sources.
In a Digital Society EE, students will frequently need to cite non-traditional, digital sources.
It is essential to find the correct format for these sources within the chosen citation style.
Example
This includes:
Social media posts (e.g., tweets, Instagram posts)
YouTube videos or other online videos
Blog posts and online forum discussions (e.g., Reddit threads)
Content generated by AI tools
Software and mobile applications
The citation should always include enough information for the reader to locate the exact source, which typically includes:
the author/username,
the date of publication,
the title or description of the content,
the platform, and
a URL.
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