A significant finding is a result of your investigation that helps answer your research question and develops understanding of the religious belief, practice or experience studied. It requires evidence, not merely an interesting fact.
How to Recognize a Significant Finding
In the IB World Religions SL investigative study, significance depends on relevance to the research question. Findings may come from observations, interviews or sources; they need not be statistically significant or original discoveries.
For example, consider: “How does participation in langar express equality at a British Sikh gurdwara?” Langar, the meal freely available to anyone, allows investigation of the connection between belief and behaviour.
The examples below are hypothetical:
| Evidence gathered | Why it is significant |
|---|---|
| Participants from different backgrounds share the meal. | This may show how the community expresses human equality through practice. |
| An interviewee calls serving food sewa, or altruistic service. | This links an adherent’s understanding of religious duty to behaviour. |
| Participation differs from your preliminary expectations. | This may expose mistaken assumptions, if you investigate the meaning without generalizing. |
A building’s opening date is usually background information unless it directly explains the practice investigated.
Presenting Findings for Assessment
Under Criterion C: Summary of significant findings, identify and outline each finding, then explain how it answers the research question. Also connect findings to your rationale and plan.
The common misconception is that “significant” means dramatic or surprising. An expected result can be significant when it is well evidenced and directly relevant.
For assessment, use this sequence: finding, supporting evidence, and explanation of relevance. Keep method evaluation, assumptions and limitations for Criterion D: Critical reflection and evaluation. Do not present one participant’s account as representative of an entire religion. This clear evidence-to-question chain is what examiners reward in the Criterion C markband.