Environmental systems and societies (ESS) - Old IA Exemplar: Country… | RevisionDojo
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IB Environmental systems and societies (ESS) - Old SL Internal Assessment Example
To what extend does country of residence affect perception of climate change
and action towards reduction of environmental impact?SL
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3
Official IB Result
12/30
Criteria A: Identifying the Context (CXT)
4/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
A.1Research question formulation
Excellent
A.2Environmental issue context
Excellent
A.3Connection between issue and research
Good
Criteria Feedback
Clear, focused research question defining both independent and dependent variables
Substantive, sourced discussion of climate change with multiple authoritative references
Effective use of real-world examples to link the environmental issue to the research question
Minor phrasing imprecision in the research question (“extend” vs “extent”)
Abrupt ending to the context section—needs completion of mitigation discussion
Some asserted connections (e.g. “Germany or Sweden more engaged”) lack supporting evidence
1.1·Strength
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The research question clearly identifies the independent variable (country of residence) and dependent variables (perception and action), making it focused and manageable.
1.2·Suggestion
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Replace “extend” with the correct term “extent” to improve precision in the research question phrasing.
1.3·Suggestion
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The context section ends abruptly; complete the last sentence to ensure the discussion of mitigation measures is fully developed.
1.4·Strength
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The environmental context is supported by multiple authoritative sources (NASA, UN, WMO), which strengthens the justification of climate change as a relevant issue.
1.5·Weakness
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Assertions like “Germany or Sweden more engaged” lack citation or evidence. Provide a reference or data to support this claim.
1.6·Strength
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The use of real-world examples (island states, fossil-fuel economies) effectively links the environmental issue to the research question.
Criteria B: Planning (PLA)
2/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
B.1Method design
Moderate
B.2Sampling strategy
Moderate
B.3Risk and ethical considerations
Poor
Criteria Feedback
Repeatable survey method via Google Forms with standardized Likert scales
Transparent description of convenience sampling and adaptive use of Instagram for recruitment
Insufficient justification of sampling choice—no discussion of representativeness or bias
Risk assessment is minimal and off-topic, lacking ethical considerations like consent and anonymity
Key methodological details (sample size targets, exclusion rationale) are missing
2.1·Weakness
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The controlled variable lists only age. Consider controlling for language and digital access to reduce additional confounding variables.
2.2·Strength
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Using Google Forms with standardized Likert scales makes the method repeatable and transparent.
2.3·Suggestion
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The method description lacks detail on sample size targets and rationale for question choices. Add specifics to enhance repeatability.
2.4·Suggestion
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The hypothesis statement bundles three factors. Narrow the hypothesis to focus on one or two key predictors for clarity and testability.
2.5·Strength
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Acknowledging the workaround via Instagram demonstrates adaptability in data collection.
2.6·Weakness
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Ethical considerations address only computer energy use. Add discussion on informed consent, anonymity, and data protection.
2.7·Suggestion
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Convenience sampling is justified only by response maximization. Discuss representativeness and potential demographic biases.
2.8·Weakness
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The risk assessment focuses on energy use, which is minimal and off-topic. Include risks such as survey fatigue, data misuse, or participant discomfort.
Criteria C: Results, Analysis and Conclusion (RAC)
2/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
C.1Data presentation
Moderate
C.2Data analysis
Moderate
C.3Conclusion drawing
Moderate
Criteria Feedback
Appropriate use of tables and pie/bar charts to present data
Formatting errors: missing labels, legends and placeholder tables left blank
Data analysis omits statistical tests, excludes two regions without justification
Conclusions are general and lack direct citation of key data trends
3.1·Strength
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Converting raw counts to percentages is an effective way to standardize comparisons across regions.
3.2·Suggestion
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The large table has empty cells and missing labels. Ensure every cell has a value or explanatory dash and include complete headers.
3.3·Weakness
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The placeholder table on this page is blank. Insert the processed data or remove the placeholder to avoid confusion.
3.4·Strength
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Splitting responses into five regions with a bar chart is an effective visual of sample distribution.
3.5·Weakness
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The pie charts lack a legend or data labels; include clear legends and percentage labels for each slice to aid interpretation.
3.6·Strength
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The interpretation correctly identifies regional differences (e.g., Eastern Europe vs North America) and aligns them with the data patterns.
3.7·Weakness
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A value of “–0%” appears in the text. Verify whether this is an error in data formatting and correct it.
3.8·Suggestion
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Link trend statements directly to specific percentages (e.g., “38.10% in Eastern Europe”) to strengthen the evidence base.
3.9·Strength
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Interpreting the last question responses according to regional economic and cultural drivers is insightful and shows deep analysis.
3.10·Suggestion
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The conclusion restates the hypothesis outcome but is too general. Cite key data trends (e.g., percentage differences) to fully support the claim.
Criteria D: Discussion and Evaluation (DEV)
2/6
0
3
6
Criteria Strands
D.1Conclusion evaluation
Moderate
D.2Method evaluation
Good
D.3Improvements and extensions
Moderate
Criteria Feedback
Balanced identification of method strengths (clear question, standardized responses) and multiple limitations (convenience sampling bias, small sample)
Awareness of sampling limitations demonstrated through uneven response-rate discussion
Evaluation of the conclusion is brief and lacks exploration of wider implications or alternative explanations
Improvement suggestions, while relevant, do not fully address global sampling bias or methodological complexity
4.1·Suggestion
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Excluding Middle East and South America reduces the breadth of conclusions. Discuss how this omission might bias the findings further.
4.2·Strength
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The discussion of uneven response rates demonstrates awareness of sampling limitations and their impact on reliability.
4.3·Strength
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The evaluation section thoroughly discusses strengths and limitations of the method, demonstrating clear critical reflection.
4.4·Suggestion
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Expand on how the convenience sampling bias specifically affects each country group and suggest mitigation strategies.
Criteria E: Applications (APP)
1/3
0
2
3
Criteria Strands
E.1Application proposal
Good
E.2Solution evaluation
Good
Criteria Feedback
Proposes region-specific educational strategies linked to differing levels of awareness
Justification for the application is basic and not tightly linked to specific findings
Evaluation of solution feasibility, cost and unintended consequences is superficial
5.1·Strength
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Identifying region-specific educational strategies (practical action vs basic science) demonstrates a thoughtful link between findings and application.
5.2·Suggestion
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Applications propose region-specific education but the justification is basic. Relate proposed policies directly to observed data patterns.
Criteria F: Communication (COM)
1/3
0
2
3
Criteria Strands
F.1Structure and organization
Good
F.2Terminology and concision
Good
F.3Logic and coherence
Good
Criteria Feedback
Consistent use of discipline-specific terminology
Comprehensive table of contents that aids navigation
Fragmented legend descriptions and occasional formatting glitches disrupt flow
6.1·Strength
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The table of contents is comprehensive and helps the reader navigate the report’s structure effectively.
6.2·Suggestion
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Headings in the contents vary in capitalization style. Standardize heading formats (sentence or title case) for consistency.
6.3·Weakness
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Sentence structure is often long and contains minor grammar errors (e.g., “climate have never been stable”). Break complex sentences and proofread for subject–verb agreement.
6.4·Suggestion
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Multiple spelling errors (e.g., “enviromental”, “immidiatly”) distract the reader. Conduct a thorough spelling and grammar check.
6.5·Weakness
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The legend description is confusing and fragmented. Rewrite concisely, explaining colour mapping for each question clearly.
6.6·Suggestion
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Citations in the bibliography vary in format. Standardize to APA or another recognized style for consistency.
6.7·Strength
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The bibliography draws on a wide range of reputable sources across agencies and research centers.