Lecture Notes: Writing Psychology Essays in IB

Introduction

• Lecturer: Saskia, a first-year psychology student at the University of Southampton.
• Discusses personal experience with IB psychology (2018-2020).
• Achieved a 7 in IB psychology at higher level, specializing in short answer questions.

Focus of the Video

• Guidance on writing psychology extended response questions (ERQs) or essays.
• Emphasis on dealing with essays in Paper 1 and Paper 2.

Structure and Criteria of Essays

Essay Criteria

1. Focus (Criterion A):

   • Ensure the essay is focused on the question.
   • Streamlined and relevant content.
   • Often more difficult marks to achieve than assumed.

2. Knowledge (Criterion B):

   • Definitions and terminology critical.
   • Six marks available.
   • Define key terms clearly for the reader.

3. Research (Criterion C):

   • Use relevant research to support understanding.
   • At least two studies recommended, including counter-studies.
   • Research must relate directly to the question.

4. Critical Thinking (Criterion D):

   • Areas include research design, methodologies, assumptions, biases, etc.
   • Relevant critical thinking, not exhaustive lists of points.

5. Organization and Clarity (Criterion E):

   • Structure and coherence are key.
   • Harder to achieve full marks due to common structural issues.

Command Terms in Questions

• Discuss: Offer a balanced review.
• Evaluate: Assess strengths and limitations.
• To What Extent: Require a clear conclusion.
• Contrast: Focus on differences, not similarities.

Essay Structure

1. Introduction:

   • Define key terms and theories.
   • Set the stage without using personal pronouns like "I."

2. Main Body Paragraphs:

   • Explain the theory or model.
   • Present supporting evidence with studies.
   • Evaluate the supporting studies.
   • Link studies back to the theory.

3. Additional Analysis:

   • Include extra points that were not covered.

4. Conclusion:

   • Summarize without introducing new information.
   • Provide a balanced conclusion based on evidence.

Example Essay Question: Discuss One or More Biases in Thinking and/or Decision Making

• Introduction: Define biases and introduce theories like dual process model, anchoring bias, and availability heuristics.
• Main Body:
  • Discuss studies such as Kainman and Tversky, linking them to biases.
  • Evaluate each study.
• Conclusion: Summarize the evidence supporting the theories.

Advice for Improving Essay Skills

• Focus on practicing essays regularly.
• Essays require practice to improve, not just natural talent.
• Short answer questions are also important for scoring well.

Final Thoughts

• This guide provides a foundation for writing psychology essays.
• Continuous practice and understanding of structure will help in achieving better grades.