From an interest to a research question · 从兴趣到研究问题
| English | 中文 | Pinyin · 拼音 |
|---|---|---|
| research question/rɪˈsɜːtʃ ˈkwestʃn/ | 研究问题 | yán jiū wèn tí |
| method/ˈmeθəd/ | 方法 | fāng fǎ |
An interest is a starting point
- “I am interested in rivers” is a broad topic. A research question 研究问题 states what you will investigate and what kind of answer you seek.
- Narrow the place, period or variables. “How does distance downstream relate to nitrate concentration at these six sampling sites?” gives a clearer task.
Which is the more focused question? · 哪一个更聚焦的问题？
The question specifies a measurable relationship, place and period. · 该问题规定了可测量的关系、地点和时期。
Make the question answerable
- Ask whether you can obtain suitable evidence with your time, equipment and access. A question about every river in a country is unlikely to fit one student’s investigation.
- Choose a subject approach that can answer the question. An ecological measurement, a literary interpretation and a historical argument use different methods.
A question requires interviews with people you cannot contact. What is the best next step? · 若一个问题需要对无法联系的人进行访谈，最佳下一步是什么？
Feasibility should shape the question and method; evidence cannot be invented. · 可行性应塑造问题和方法；证据不可编造。
Plan the evidence
- List what each source or measurement will contribute. Six water samples may reveal a local pattern, but one visit cannot show how the river changes through a year.
- Note missing evidence before you begin. Explain which limits you can reduce and which limits your final conclusion must acknowledge.
One sampling visit can establish a whole year’s seasonal pattern. · 一次采样访问即可确定全年的季节性模式。
A single visit cannot provide evidence for variation across the year. · 单次访问无法提供全年变化的证据。
Check the method before collecting
- Discuss safety, permission and research ethics with your supervisor before fieldwork or research involving people. Do not collect personal information simply because it is easy to obtain.
- A method 方法 should be consistent enough for another reader to understand your choices. Record instruments, timing and the decisions used to select evidence.
Refine without hiding changes
- Keep a short research log. If early evidence changes the question, record what changed and why the new question is more useful.
- Use the guide for your assessment session. The 2027 Extended Essay changes are not automatically the rules for an earlier examination cohort.
The 2027 brief should always replace the guide for a 2026 assessment. · 2027 简短指南应始终替代 2026 评估的完整指南。
The applicable guide is determined by the assessment session. · 适用的指南由评估场次决定。
Match each term to its role in this lesson. · 将每个术语与其在本课中的作用相匹配。
The distinctions help you explain your decisions clearly. · 这些区分有助于你清晰地阐述自己的决策依据。
Which actions belong before fieldwork? · 哪些行动属于田野调查之前？
Choose actions supported by the evidence and the purpose of the task; reject shortcuts that hide limitations or invent information. · 选择有证据支持且符合任务目标的行为；拒绝掩盖局限性或编造信息的捷径。
A question about nitrate at six accessible sites allows a defined local investigation. It still needs consistent sampling and cannot establish an annual pattern from one visit.
A question can sound sophisticated and still be impossible to answer with the available evidence.
Make the question focused, feasible and suitable for a subject method. Plan evidence and ethics before collecting data, and use the correct assessment-session guide.