1. HOW TO MAKE AN ESSAY OUTLINE FOR I.B. PSYCHOLOGY PAPER 1B AND PAPER 2 500-800 WORD ESSAYS

2. Paragraph 1  Restate the question in your own words, include the theory as an answer.  This shows you understand the question  Define the essential definitions, then explain them and give an example  This shows ‘comprehension’ on the essay rubric  State the theory(s) you intend to present and give an example

3. 2 nd paragraph - Proof of theory 1  Cite the aim/procedure/findings of the research which supports the theory  2-3 sentences are fine  Critique the research  Use the evaluation of studies list (pick 1-2 MAX)  Explain how the research links in with the theory

4. Evaluation of studies list (IB Prepared pages 12-14)  Advantages/disadvantages of the method (check orange book or PSYCHSCI notes)  Experiments: artificiality means a lack of ecological validity, and is not ‘real life’  Qualitative: how effective are the measures used to record the data?  Predictive validity: does the study consistently and accurately predict human behavior?  Validity errors: Researcher bias / demand characteristics / order effects / contamination

5. Evaluation of studies list (IB Prepared pages 12-14)  Inter-rater reliability – if multiple researchers, how did they verify consistency?  Placebo effect?  Other studies support the conclusions?  Representative sample? Watchout for a gender or class bias  Cross-cultural validity? Or is there ethnocentrism?  Correlations: bidirectional ambiguity (concluding causality where it is not supported)  Do other Levels Of Analysis support the theory? Ex: biological support of SLT  Ethics issues: consent / confidentiality / stress & harm / brief and debrief / withdrawal

6. 3 rd paragraph – support or critique research for theory 1  Choose research which EITHER bolsters the theory in a different way than OR critiques the theory in some way  Aim/procedure/findings  Critique the research  This one can be shorter, but keep the important information  Explain how it bolsters or critiques the theory

7. More theories?  Repeat paragraphs 2 & 3 for each

8. Evaluation of theories  Be sure to evaluation the theory itself (choose ONE )  Basic strategies (IB Prepared page 12-14):  Descriptive value – is is consistent with existing data?  Heuristic value – to what degree does your theory stimulate investigators to do further research?  Falsifiability value – does it use concepts and definitions that can be tested (is there a problem with construct validity?)  Breadth – does the theory explain a wide or limited diversity of phenomena?  Applicability – does it help psychologists understand everyday behavior?