IB Psychology SL 2.4.6 Research Methods Questions

Refer to the paper 2 assessment criteria when awarding marks.
The command term "discuss" requires candidates to offer a considered review of one or more research methods used to investigate the promotion of health.

Relevant research methods could include, but are not limited to
- experiments
- correlational studies
- case studies
- interviews (e.g. semi-structured)
- surveys
- meta-analyses.

Relevant studies relating to health promotion may include, but are not limited to:
- Golechha's (2016) meta-analysis on health promotion methods for smoking prevention and cessation
- Li et al.'s (2015) meta-analysis on health promotion interventions and policies addressing excessive alcohol use
- Langford et al.'s (2015) meta-analysis on effectiveness of the health promoting schools' framework
- Lowe et al.'s (2004) case study on "food dudes" programme
- Sanderson and Yopyk's (2007) experiment on promoting condom use
- Black et al.'s (2010) experiment on effectiveness of Challenge! health promotion model.

Critical discussion may include, but is not limited to:
- why the method(s) was/were selected and the appropriateness of the method(s) including strengths and weaknesses of the method(s)
- cultural and/or gender considerations
- comparing methods (for example, meta-analyses versus experiments)
- assumptions and biases in the research method
- the issues of validity, reliability and causality
- the issues of generalizability of findings
- the ease and cost of procedures
- the value of the empirical evidence generated by the research method
- short-term versus long-term effects of promotions of health
- ethical considerations related to how/why research method has been chosen and applied
- discussing how multiple methods complement each other (triangulation).

The question asks for a discussion of one or more research methods, marks awarded for criterion B should refer to definitions of terms and concepts relevant to the research methodology.

For questions asking for discussion of research methods, marks awarded for criterion B should refer to definitions of terms and concepts relevant for research methodology.

Marks for criterion B should be awarded as follows:
- 1-2 General knowledge of topic (promotion of health)
- 3-4 Knowledge of general research terms and concepts is provided but lacks detail. Some minor errors might be present
- 5-6 Relevant knowledge of specific research methods material is utilized and concepts are defined within the context of the specific study.

Marks awarded for criterion C assess the quality of the description of a study/studies and assess how well the candidate linked aspects of the study to the question.

Candidates may discuss one research method in order to demonstrate depth of knowledge, or may discuss a larger number of research methods in order to demonstrate breadth of knowledge. Both approaches are equally acceptable.

For studies where there may be more than one research method, candidates should not be penalized for discussing one of the research methods other than the main research method.