Psychology Research Methods

An indispensable resource to help IB DP Psychology students ask the right questions and go deeper into the why of human behaviour as they carry out their class practicals. It equips students with skills to critically analyse and evaluate methods, interpret data, and to apply their understanding in the final assessment and write a research proposal.- Practical support: Guides students through the four practicals with essential tools and templates, enabling them to frame their aims and hypotheses, meticulously plan their approaches, record and present results, and thoughtfully analyse and reflect on their findings.- Key connections: Cultivates an in-depth understanding of key methodologies, ethical considerations, and psychological concepts in relation to each context and class practical.- Engaging features: Studies in focus exemplify each method, while Key concept boxes enhance psychological literacy. Compare and contrast it! sections empower students to critically evaluate and differentiate between methods.- Active learning: Each chapter includes scaffolded activities that guide students through the research process, complemented by reflection questions that encourage them to draw meaningful conclusions from their reading and practice.- Assessment connection: Links each context and class practical to the final assessment, with Apply It! practice questions and model responses that clarify how to analyse and evaluate research methods effectively for Paper 2 and interpret data for Higher Level Paper 3.- Internal Assessment guidance: The final chapter prepares students for the Internal Assessment, complete with guidance, examples, and templates to help students effectively plan their projects.

Rachael Thornton is IB Coordinator and Head of Psychology at the Dulwich School Shanghai Pudong in China. Rachael has previously taught psychology and sociology at schools in Mexico and the UK and leads professional development in these subjects.