IB Psychology ERQ Format and Structure

IB Psychology ERQ Format and Structure

Under the 2027 IB Psychology syllabus, Paper 1 Section C contains two concept-based extended response questions. Students must choose one of the two questions, with each question focusing on a different psychological context. The ERQ is worth 15 marks and is completed by both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL) students.

Unlike the previous Psychology syllabus, which placed greater emphasis on describing and evaluating specific research studies, the new ERQ focuses on conceptual understanding and critical thinking. The IB explicitly states that knowledge of specific details of research studies is not assessed in Paper 1 Section C. The questions draw on the four psychological contexts:

• Health and well-being – Psychological factors influencing physical and mental health, health-related behaviours, and well-being.

• Human development – Psychological processes influencing human development and changes in behaviour throughout life.

• Human relationships – Psychological explanations of interpersonal relationships, group behaviour, and social interactions.

• Learning and cognition – Psychological processes involved in learning, memory, thinking, and other cognitive functions.

Students are also expected to understand the six key psychological concepts introduced in the new syllabus, which include bias, causality, change, measurement, perspective, and responsibility. A successful ERQ should demonstrate how relevant concepts connect to psychological theories and the context identified in the question.

Paper 1 Section C: Concept-Based ERQ (15 Marks)

For Paper 1 Section C, we recommend organizing your ERQ into four main sections, as outlined below:

Introduction

• Begin by directly addressing the question. Identify the main psychological issue, theory, or concept being discussed and establish the focus of your response.

• Define the relevant psychological concepts and terminology. For example, if the question focuses on causality, briefly explain what causality means in psychological research and why establishing cause-and-effect relationships can be challenging.

• Introduce the psychological context relevant to the question, such as human relationships or learning and cognition. Explain how the concepts relate to the behaviour being investigated.

• Identify the main psychological theories or explanations that will form the basis of your discussion. Make sure these are directly relevant to the question.

• Present a clear argument or overall position that you will develop throughout the essay. This should establish the direction of your response rather than simply listing the topics you plan to discuss.

• Keep your introduction concise and focused. Avoid including detailed descriptions of theories or examples that would be more appropriate in the main body of your essay.

Explanation of Psychological Knowledge

• Begin by explaining the main psychological theory, model, or concept relevant to the question. Demonstrate accurate knowledge of its important components and how they contribute to our understanding of human behaviour.

• Explain how the theory or concept relates to the psychological context identified in the question. For example, if the question concerns human relationships, explain how the relevant psychological processes influence interpersonal behaviour.

• Use accurate psychological terminology throughout your explanation. Important terms should be explained clearly rather than simply mentioned.

• Discuss the relevant biological, cognitive, or sociocultural explanations where appropriate. Explain how these approaches contribute to understanding the behaviour or issue being discussed.

• Identify connections between the psychological concepts relevant to the question. For example, when discussing causality, you could consider how measurement or bias influences researchers' ability to establish causal relationships.

• Use relevant psychological examples to support your explanation. These could include real-world situations, theoretical applications, or findings from psychological research.

• Explain how each example supports the psychological knowledge being discussed. Avoid simply describing an example without demonstrating its relevance to your argument.

• Remember that detailed knowledge of specific research studies is not required under the 2027 syllabus. Instead, focus on demonstrating your understanding of psychological concepts and explaining how they relate to the question.

Critical Analysis

• Critically analyze the psychological theories or concepts discussed in your explanation. Consider what they help us understand about human behaviour and whether there are limitations to their explanatory power.

• Examine the relationships between relevant psychological concepts. For example, you could discuss how bias affects measurement, or how different perspectives influence explanations of causality.

• Explain these connections in detail rather than simply identifying them. Demonstrate how the concepts interact and why their relationship is important for understanding the question.

• Consider alternative psychological explanations or perspectives where relevant. For example, a behaviour explained through cognitive processes may also be influenced by biological or sociocultural factors.

• Discuss the strengths and limitations of the explanations being considered. Ensure that these points are directly relevant to the question rather than providing generic evaluations.

• Develop your arguments using logical reasoning and appropriate psychological knowledge. Each analytical point should contribute to your overall response.

• Where appropriate, consider the implications of psychological explanations for understanding or addressing real-world behaviour.

• Avoid writing a purely descriptive response. The highest ERQ markband requires well-developed critical analysis, so make sure you explain the significance of your arguments rather than simply presenting information.

• Link your analysis back to the question throughout the response. This helps ensure that your discussion remains focused and contributes to a coherent argument.

Conclusion

• Summarize the main arguments presented in your response. Focus on the most important psychological explanations and conceptual connections rather than repeating every point.

• Directly answer the question using the arguments developed throughout your essay.

• Draw a reasoned conclusion based on your critical analysis. Your conclusion should be consistent with the evidence and explanations discussed in the main body.

• Where appropriate, acknowledge the complexity of the psychological issue. For example, you could explain why multiple psychological perspectives may be necessary to understand a particular behaviour.

• Avoid introducing new theories, examples, or arguments in your conclusion.

• Ensure that your final statement clearly communicates your overall position. A strong conclusion should demonstrate that your response has developed a coherent argument rather than simply summarizing psychological information.

IB Psychology Paper 2 Section B: Extended Evaluation Response

In addition to the concept-based ERQ in Paper 1, students must complete an extended evaluation response in Paper 2 Section B. This question is also worth 15 marks, but its structure and focus differ from Paper 1 Section C. Paper 2 Section B requires students to evaluate an unseen psychological research study using at least two concepts selected from those specified in the question. The stimulus material will provide the research study, which may use an experimental or non-experimental method and will relate to one of the four psychological contexts. Unlike Paper 1 Section C, the focus here is on evaluating a particular study rather than developing a broader conceptual argument. We recommend using the following structure:

Introduction

• Briefly introduce the psychological research study provided in the stimulus material. Identify its main aim, research method, and the behaviour being investigated.

• Identify at least two of the psychological concepts specified in the question that you will use to evaluate the study.

• Explain why these concepts are relevant to evaluating the research. For example, measurement may help assess how effectively a study investigates a psychological variable, while bias may help assess the credibility of its findings.

• Establish the main direction of your evaluation by briefly identifying the aspects of the study that you will examine.

Evaluation of the First Concept

• Begin by defining the first psychological concept and explaining its relevance to psychological research.

• Identify specific information from the stimulus material that relates to this concept. For example, if discussing measurement, examine how the researchers operationalized and measured the variables.

• Evaluate the strengths and limitations of the study in relation to the selected concept.

• Explain how these strengths and limitations may influence the quality, interpretation, or credibility of the findings.

• Support your evaluation with explicit references to the research study. Avoid providing generic statements about psychological research methods without connecting them to the stimulus material.

• Develop a balanced argument that considers both the positive and negative implications of the research decisions where relevant.

Evaluation of the Second Concept

• Introduce the second psychological concept and explain how it relates to the study.

• Identify relevant details from the stimulus material that demonstrate the importance of this concept.

• Critically evaluate how the concept influences the study's research design, methodology, findings, or conclusions.

• Explain the implications of the identified strengths and limitations. For example, if discussing responsibility, consider how the researchers addressed ethical considerations and whether their decisions were appropriate.

• Make clear connections between your evaluation and the specific information provided in the stimulus material.

• Where appropriate, discuss how the two concepts interact. For example, researcher bias may influence how variables are measured, creating a connection between bias and measurement.

Conclusion

• Summarize the main strengths and limitations identified through your evaluation of the selected concepts.

• Explain how these considerations influence the overall quality or credibility of the research study.

• Draw a reasoned conclusion that is consistent with the evidence and evaluation presented in your response.

• Avoid introducing new information or discussing additional concepts that have not been developed in the main body.

• Ensure that your conclusion directly addresses the question and provides an overall judgment of the study based on the concepts discussed.

We hope you found this post helpful! For more useful materials associated with the IB, check out the wide variety of IA, EE and TOK exemplars available at Clastify and other guides available on our blog.