IB Theory of Knowledge Topic 3.2.1 How We Study People Revision Notes (SL/HL)

IB Theory of Knowledge Topic 3.2.1 How We Study People Revision Notes (SL/HL) | RevisionDojo

Written by official IB examiners

Using Human Minds to Study Human Behavior

When you observe a chemical reaction, molecules won't change their behavior because they know you're watching but humans would.
They might act more politely, exaggerate their responses, or try to figure out what you want to hear.
This observer effect makes human sciences fundamentally different from the natural sciences, with the deeper challenge being that humans are simultaneously the subject and object of investigation.

Definition

Human sciences

Systematic study of human behavior, societies, and mental processes using empirical methods adapted to account for the complexity, variability, and self-awareness of human subjects.

Note

In the natural sciences, the objects of study are inanimate (e.g. rocks, cells, planets), and therefore do not change their behaviour depending on the observer.

True Control is Impossible

The fundamental trade-off in human sciences is: the more you control human behavior to study it rigorously, the less authentic it becomes.
And vice versa, the more you preserve its authenticity, the less you can control for confounding factors.

Analogy

This is like trying to study how people behave at parties by bringing them into a laboratory and telling them to "act natural" while researchers take notes behind one-way glass.
The data won't tell you much about actual party behavior because real parties happen in familiar spaces with friends, music, alcohol, and social expectations that can't be replicated in a lab setting.

Note

This limitation connects to questions about knowledge and certainty.
Think about it, if our methods for studying human behavior are inherently flawed, what does this mean for knowledge claims in psychology, sociology, and economics?

Hint

So, instead of discovering timeless truths about how all people think and act, human sciences might only be able to describe patterns that work for specific groups in particular circumstances.
This challenges the assumption that rigorous research should produce knowledge that applies everywhere and always, maybe some knowledge is inherently limited to certain contexts and time periods.

The Reflexivity Problem

Humans think about thinking, worry about being judged, and modify their behavior based on expectations.
This reflexivity means that the act of studying people changes what you're studying.
Survey respondents might give socially desirable answers rather than honest ones and interview subjects might unconsciously adjust their stories to seem more interesting or sympathetic.

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Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

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Using Human Minds to Study Human Behavior

When you observe a chemical reaction, molecules won't change their behavior because they know you're watching but humans would.
They might act more politely, exaggerate their responses, or try to figure out what you want to hear.
This observer effect makes human sciences fundamentally different from the natural sciences, with the deeper challenge being that humans are simultaneously the subject and object of investigation.

Definition

Human sciences

Note

In the natural sciences, the objects of study are inanimate (e.g. rocks, cells, planets), and therefore do not change their behaviour depending on the observer.

True Control is Impossible

The fundamental trade-off in human sciences is: the more you control human behavior to study it rigorously, the less authentic it becomes.
And vice versa, the more you preserve its authenticity, the less you can control for confounding factors.

Analogy

This is like trying to study how people behave at parties by bringing them into a laboratory and telling them to "act natural" while researchers take notes behind one-way glass.
The data won't tell you much about actual party behavior because real parties happen in familiar spaces with friends, music, alcohol, and social expectations that can't be replicated in a lab setting.

Note

This limitation connects to questions about knowledge and certainty.
Think about it, if our methods for studying human behavior are inherently flawed, what does this mean for knowledge claims in psychology, sociology, and economics?

Hint

So, instead of discovering timeless truths about how all people think and act, human sciences might only be able to describe patterns that work for specific groups in particular circumstances.
This challenges the assumption that rigorous research should produce knowledge that applies everywhere and always, maybe some knowledge is inherently limited to certain contexts and time periods.

The Reflexivity Problem

Humans think about thinking, worry about being judged, and modify their behavior based on expectations.
This reflexivity means that the act of studying people changes what you're studying.
Survey respondents might give socially desirable answers rather than honest ones and interview subjects might unconsciously adjust their stories to seem more interesting or sympathetic.

Definition

Paywall

(on a website) an arrangement whereby access is restricted to users who have paid to subscribe to the site.

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Note

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit, sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua. Ut enim ad minim veniam quis nostrud exercitation.

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Tip

Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, consectetur adipiscing elit.
Sed do eiusmod tempor incididunt ut labore et dolore magna aliqua.
Ut enim ad minim veniam, quis nostrud exercitation ullamco laboris.
Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit in voluptate velit esse cillum.

1. Core Theme: Knowledge and the Knower2 subtopics

2. Optional Themes5 subtopics

3. Areas of Knowledge5 subtopics

4. TOK Assessments2 subtopics

6. Nov 2026 TOK Titles7 subtopics

IB Theory of Knowledge 3.2.1 How We Study People Notes

1. Core Theme: Knowledge and the Knower2 subtopics

2. Optional Themes5 subtopics

3. Areas of Knowledge5 subtopics

4. TOK Assessments2 subtopics

6. Nov 2026 TOK Titles7 subtopics

Using Human Minds to Study Human Behavior

True Control is Impossible

The Reflexivity Problem

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account

Using Human Minds to Study Human Behavior

True Control is Impossible

The Reflexivity Problem

anim nostrud sit dolore minim proident quis fugiat velit et eiusmod nulla quis nulla mollit dolor sunt culpa aliqua

Duis aute irure dolor in reprehenderit

Excepteur sint occaecat cupidatat non proident

Unlock the rest of this chapter with a free account