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Are you beginning your Extended Essay (EE) journey and wondering what the RRS is? This post is here to give you a detailed overview of the RRS so that you can effectively document your learning journey.
What is the RRS?
The Researcher’s Reflection Space (RRS) is a personal learning environment designed to support your journey through the Extended Essay (EE). Think of it as your own private workspace where you can record thoughts and reflections on what you are reading and writing as you conduct research on your EE topic and structure your essay. The RRS can either be physical (e.g. notebook) or virtual (e.g. Word/Google doc file). It is not a formal piece of work that you submit for assessment, but it is quite a valuable tool for tracking your progress and developing your ideas.
How can the RRS be used?
The RRS should be used to record various aspects of your research process, such as:
Brainstorming – You can use the space to write down initial ideas, record questions, and establish a timeline for your work.
Recording reactions – It is a great place to note your immediate thoughts to different sources you encounter during the research process, whether they are academic journal articles, newspaper clippings, or social media feeds, depending on the subject of your EE.
Tracking academic integrity – You can use the RRS to distinguish between your own original thoughts and notes taken from others, making it much easier to cite your sources accurately later on.
Preparation for supervisor meetings – Sharing excerpts from your RRS during formal reflection sessions helps you demonstrate how your thought process evolved. This can help you prove the integrity of your work in case your supervisor ever questions whether AI or other unauthorized sources were used.
Tips for Using the RRS to Support Criterion E
While the RRS is not submitted for assessment or externally marked, it is considered essential for completing the Reflection and Progress Form (RPF). The RPF requires a final 500-word reflective statement, which is assessed under Criterion E. To score well in Criterion E, your reflection must be evaluative and show personal growth. Here is how to use the RRS to make that happen:
Write down challenges and solutions – Record every major obstacle you face in the RRS right when it happens, as this provides authentic evidence of your problem-solving process for your final reflection.
Document changes in perspective – Use your RRS to track how your view of the topic evolves over time, which allows you to explain how new insights impacted your critical thinking and decision-making.
Identify transferable skills – Whenever you learn a new research technique, note it in your RRS so you can clearly describe how these specific skills will help you in future university studies. This will help you develop RPF reflections that show personal growth rather than just being descriptive.
Reflect after every supervisor session – Write a quick entry after every meeting to capture your supervisor's feedback as well as your own reactions. This will help you retain all important feedback, rather than leaving it for later and risking forgetting some of the feedback you received.
Use a variety of media – Paste photos, diagrams, or links to inspiring media in your RRS to help you show the personal significance of your topic and your engagement with the project. Other media, such as mind maps can also help you organize your thoughts, which will make writing the final reflection easier
We hope you found this post helpful in learning more about the RRS. 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.
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