For the IB World Religions SL investigative study, your plan should state a narrowly focused research question, define the investigation's scope, explain your research methods, and show how those methods will answer the question. This section is assessed under Criterion B: Plan for study, worth 3 marks.
What the plan should contain
| Component | What to include |
|---|---|
| Research question | Write the exact question your investigation will answer. It should focus on a specific religious experience, practice, or belief, rather than an entire religion. |
| Scope | Identify the community, individual, place, practice, or time period being studied. State clear boundaries so the investigation remains manageable. |
| Methods | Explain what you will do, such as observing worship, visiting a sacred place, interviewing adherents, examining artifacts, or analysing primary and secondary sources. |
| Evidence | Identify the evidence each method should produce, such as interview responses, observation notes, or contrasting scholarly interpretations. |
| Connection to the question | Explain why each method is relevant and how it will help answer the research question. |
| Ethics and practical arrangements | Include permission to quote interviewees, confidentiality, respectful conduct, and arrangements for visits or interviews where relevant. |
For example, if your question asks, "What significance does Ramadan have for one Muslim family?", your plan might combine preliminary reading on sawm with a confidential interview. It should explain that the reading establishes religious context while the interview investigates lived experience. Avoid presenting one family's account as representative of all Muslims.
Exam technique
A common misconception is that the plan is merely a schedule. Dates may be useful, but the examiner primarily rewards a clear relationship between the research question, scope, and method. For full Criterion B marks, make the question focused, the plan practical, and every method explicitly relevant.
These requirements are specific to the IB World Religions SL investigative study. Internal assessment formats and criteria used by other exam boards may differ.