critical thinking in psychology ib

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How to study for Paper 2 in IB Psychology

Travis Dixon July 30, 2020 Assessment (IB)

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Revising or Paper 2 in IB Psych can be challenging because it’s not always clear what the questions will be. Unlike the Paper 1 topics, Paper 2 topics are bit more ambiguous. However, the same requirements as Paper 1 essays are still needed. This means we can approach studying for Paper 2 in a similar way as Paper 1, we just need to tweak the order a bit. 

IB Psych revision guide available now.

Studying for Paper 2 in IB Psychology is simple, but it’s not easy. Make sure you start your revision a few months before your exam dates. Bear in mind also the following is just a suggestion – it’s how I would study for the exam if I were you.

• How to study for Paper 1 in IB Psychology SAQs
• How to study for Paper 1 in IB Psychology Essays
• Exam Question Bank: Paper 2 Human Relationships
• Exam Question Bank: Paper 2: Abnormal Psychology

1. Choose your Option(s) and Topic(s)

Standard level (SL) students need to choose one option, whereas Higher level (HL) students choose two. There are four options:

• Human relationships
• Abnormal psychology
• Developmental psychology
• Health psychology

The first task is easy – simple figure out which one (SL) or two (HL) options you’re preparing for the exams.

The next task is to choose one or two topics   from each option you’re preparing. Each option has three topics. The Paper 2 exam questions will definitely have one question based on each topic. This means you don’t have to study all three. This is really important to remember because it saves you hours of revision time.

IB Psych Guide, pg 35

I recommend choosing one topic and becoming an expert in that topic ready for any possible question. You could study a second as a back-up. Studying all three would be wasted effort. Having said that, I teach all three topics to my students but one or two are usually done for interest purposes only and to develop their understanding of psychology. When it comes to exam time the focus is on the one topic they want to master.

My recommendations?

• Abnormal psychology – Etiologies of disorders
• Human relationships – Personal relationships
• Developmental psychology – Developing as a learner
• Health psychology – Explanations of health problems

I’ll write more later about why I recommend these topics, but if you compare them to the other options you can probably figure it out for yourself.

The four options and their topics. Taken from the IB Psych guide.

2. List the exam question topics 

Just like in Paper 1 and the approaches, in the Paper 2 Options topics there are a list of supporting “content” points for each topic. Any of the topic/content points (hereafter just called topics) could be the basis of an exam question. This means it’s important you know the topics that could be asked in the exam.

For example, in Abnormal Psychology one of the topics is “Etiologies of disorders.” This has two sub-content topics: (i) Explanations of disorders and (ii) Prevalence of disorders. I then need to write out all three topics as any could be the basis of the exam question.

The exam question will be based on the topic title, the sub-content topics, research methods or ethics.

Furthermore,  the broader  topic  heading (e.g. Etiologies of disorders) could be asked about in relation to the three approaches (biological, cognitive, sociocultural). They might also ask about research methods used to study this topic or ethical considerations relevant to research on this topic. Therefore, I will have a list of topics about 7-10 items long. Here’s what it might look like for Etiologies of disorders in Abnormal Psychology (which is the topic I recommend for students to write about in this option):

• Etiologies of disorders
• Explanations of disorders
• Prevalence of disorders
• Biological approach to understanding etiologies of disorders
• Cognitive approach to understanding etiologies of disorders
• Sociocultural approach to understanding etiologies of disorders
• Research methods used to study etiologies of disorders
• Ethical considerations relevant to studies on etiologies of disorders

Exam Tip: You might find in writing out your list of topics that there are some overlaps. This is important to look for because it might help you simplify your list. For example, Etiologies of disorders is simply another way of saying Explanations of disorders. Therefore, I would simplify this topic by writing it like this: Etiologies/explanations of disorders. It’s important to keep all the exam topic key terms in my notes because either might appear in the exam question. Imagine crossing out etiologies and only studying explanations of disorders, only to forget what the word “etiology” means on exam day!

3. Find one example (or explanation) for each topic

You can see example exam answers in this pack.

This is the same process as you learned when studying for the SAQs in Paper One. You want to be able to write about one relevant example for every topic. Therefore, you need to find the specific topic you are going to write about.

For my example using Etiologies/explanations of disorders, I would first need to choose the disorder I’ve studied (e.g. PTSD) and the one etiology/explanation for PTSD. So my example for this topic could be: “Brain abnormalities is an explanation/etiology of PTSD.”

Go down the list and write the specific examples for every topic you plan on writing about.

If you have a topic that doesn’t have a clear “example” per se, then come up with a good explanation of the topic. For example, there’s a topic just titled “Bystanderism” in the Human Relationships option. Coming up with an example of bystanderism (e.g. Kitty Genovese case) is not a good idea because this is anecdotal. You are better off to come up with an explanation of bystanderism (e.g. diffusion of responsibility). If you’re not sure if you need an example or explanation, ask your teacher or pop a comment below.

4. Match one (or two) key studies to each example

Just like with Paper 1, key studies are important to know because they are the building blocks of your psychological knowledge. Therefore, for every example you need to find a relevant study. For example, I would need to find a study that shows abnormalities of the brain are an etiology of PTSD (you can read about some here ).

Because Paper 2 is about essays, I would recommend having at least two relevant studies for each topic. Perhaps a good strategy would be to go through your list and find one study per topic. Once you’ve done that, go back through the list and add a second. Be sure to find as many overlaps as possible. For example, you might find a study that links biological and cognitive etiologies and this can be used for both topics (e.g. Urry et al.’s study on cognitive appraisal and the vmPFC-amygdala connection ).

5. Identify one (or two) key terms for each topic

It’s a good idea to revise your key studies first because these are the easiest way to score marks in the exam. However, another equally easy way to score marks is to revise and memorize really concise and clear definitions of one or two relevant key terms for every topic you’re planning.

For example, if you’re studying a disorder for Abnormal it’s obvious you’d want to have a really good definition of that disorder (e.g. PTSD). For example,  “PTSD is a psychological disorder that occurs after experiencing a traumatic event and has symptoms characterized by arousal, avoidance and re-experiencing the trauma.”)  If you started off your essay on etiologies of PTSD with that definition you’re going to win instant points with your examiner.

So this 5th step is key – go through your topics and find one or two key terms you want to define for each topic. Don’t repeat yourself, either. For example, PTSD might be relevant to every topic so I don’t need to write it down 8 times.

Remember also your key term might be the topic title itself (e.g. etiology) and/or a specific example (e.g. cognitive appraisal). Some topic titles you won’t need to define (e.g. research method) but the specific example is more appropriate (e.g. correlational study).

Exam tip:  Make flashcards of key terms (or keep your eyes on our store to see when our new key studies, theories and flashcard series will be released).

6. Write a key question for each topic

• Group dynamics
• Prejudice/discrimination
• Bystanderism
• Co-operation and competition

If you were choosing this topic for Human Relationships, in order to study effectively and score top marks you’d need to figure out what exactly it is you need to know. This is where it’s disappointing the IB guide doesn’t give us more clarity about this in Paper 2 topics. If you’re not sure, ask your teacher for help or again, pop a question in the comments. Even better, buy your very own copy of our Revision Guide and find all this done for you 🙂

Tip:  Avoid mentioning studies or research in your key questions. Focus on the psychological explanations of the topic instead and use the studies as supporting evidence. “How and why” are good ways to start your key questions (but it might not always work).

7. Answer your key question 

Have you noticed how I’ve never mentioned the command terms yet, nor do I rarely ever in my exam revision tips? That’s because so much attention has been placed on command terms that I think the most important aspect of any IB psych exam answer has been ignored – the central argument.

A good psychologist has a strong conceptual understanding of a range of psychological phenomena. They can expain psychological terms and concepts and offer explanations of complex cognition, behaviour, research methodology and ethics. This is why every good SAQ and essay should contain a clear central argument in response to the question that clearly shows you understand the topic being asked about.

For example, why do we learn about etiologies of disorders? It’s not so you can remember studies, it’s so you can explain how and why people develop disorders like PTSD and depression. Therefore, in order to score top marks you need to be able to answer the key questions you put forward in number 6.

8. Add your butts! buts!

Woops. I meant to say “Buts.” This is your critical thinking. Critical thinking in psychology can be summarized in one simple word – BUT….( read more here ). If you’re aiming for a 7, you have to show in your essays that you’re able to pick holes in your central argument and see its weaknesses. Nothing in psychology is straightforward and to understand any topic requires careful, nuanced thinking. Offering a central argument for a top

ic is great, but you also need to show you’re not blindly regurgitating what you’ve been taught and you can independently evaluate said argument. The same goes for the evidence – you have to show that through the course of your IB Psych’ career you’ve developed a great bullsh*t detector and you’re able to find flaws or limitations in some of the studies andhow they might be used to support arguments.

I hope that was helpful.

Travis Dixon is an IB Psychology teacher, author, workshop leader, examiner and IA moderator.

How to incorporate critical thinking in your Extended Response Questions for IB DP Psychology: some advice from a Vaid Tutoring IBDP Psychology tutor

If you are an IB DP Psychology student, you have probably been wondering how to add critical thinking to your IB Extended Response Questions. After all, it is the critical thinking that differentiates the strong essays from the rest. 

Let’s take a look at what critical thinking is and how you can incorporate it in your essays.

What is critical thinking? 

Simply put, it is the process of a learner actively processing information – by evaluating it, breaking down its assumptions, thinking about its implications as well as its applications. 

Critical thinking is asking questions such as: 

• What are some assumptions that the theory is making?
• Are there any situations or circumstances where the findings would be different?
• What are some factors that could have biased the results?
• What are the strengths of the methodology used to create this knowledge?
• What are the limitations of the methodology used to create this knowledge?
• How credible is the source of the knowledge?
• Can the findings be replicated under different circumstances or with different populations?
• Where can we use the findings? Are there any real world applications of the findings?
• What behaviours or phenomena can the theory explain? 
• What behaviours or phenomena can’t  the theory explain?
• What are some conclusions from the theory that are not explicitly stated?
• What are some of the consequences of the conclusions drawn from the study or theory?

Why is critical thinking so difficult?

It is difficult as it takes time and effort! It is easier to learn content description than to think about analysis, evaluation and application. 

But you can make it slightly easier by: 

• Keeping the above list of questions handy for ALL your lessons and simply asking yourself these questions when you have learnt a new research study or theory. 
• For each theory, try and answer at least some of these questions and keep them ready in your notes! This way, come IB exam time, you will not have to spend any time pondering over critical thinking points as you will have them ready. 
• Spend your lesson and study time to hone your Critical thinking skills and that will help improve your ability to incorporate it in your IB essays. Critical thinking cannot and should not be done the night before the IB exam. 

It is more of a habit and skill that needs to be practiced and developed, like riding a bicycle. 

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IBDP Psychology

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Psychology textbook

This section of the site serves as a textbook for the IB psychology curriculum. The textbook includes videos, vocabulary resources, quizzes, and full references. You may also want to look through the personalized learning modules which simplify the units and focus more directly on exam preparation.

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The Many Benefits of Studying Psychology

How and why an understanding of psychology can be essential for anyone..

Posted May 18, 2024 | Reviewed by Ray Parker

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• Find a career counsellor near me
• Understanding the scientific method helps to make more informed decisions.
• Studying psychology helps better understand relationships in the home and at work.
• Contrary to popular belief, psychology can be a very employable college degree.

Even though psychology is one of the most popular undergraduate majors, many people question the benefits of a psychology degree. This is partially due to the fact that a career in the field of psychology typically requires a graduate degree. Yet, I am going to argue that there are many benefits to studying psychology that are beyond simply finding a rewarding career. Here are several:

A Good Understanding of the Scientific Method

Psychology provides a good grounding in the scientific method. Being a social science, psychology teaches us that rather than operating on our hunches or our own biased experiences, it is important to look for objective evidence to gain a better understanding. Psychology students learn that science strives to make informed decisions but also acknowledges that science is not “black and white” thinking. The scientific method relies on the ”best possible evidence,” meaning that as new evidence is gathered, conclusions may change.

We saw this at play during the COVID-19 pandemic and vaccine skepticism. Rather than relying on the best possible evidence of the vaccine’s effectiveness in preventing serious illness and death, skeptics relied more on biased information from uninformed sources or from their own observed (non-scientific) experiences.

Critical Thinking

A great deal of psychological content, and the methods taught and used by psychologists, focus on how to think critically. Critical thinking is considered to be essential to being an educated person. These critical thinking skills can benefit a variety of careers in business, law, and other professions.

Understanding of Relationships and Psychological Well-Being

Although studying psychology doesn’t necessarily make you psychologically healthier any more than studying medicine makes you physically healthy, psychology majors do have this knowledge at their fingertips and should be more aware of the fact that good interpersonal and family relationships require attention and hard work. Psychology also tells us that when we are having difficulties in relationships or in coping with life, it is important to seek out professional help and counseling.

A Better Understanding of Workplace Dynamics

Studying psychology, particularly the area of industrial/organizational psychology provides insights into the world of work. Knowledge of psychology can lead to improved work relationships, and it can benefit professionally, as well. A knowledge of human behavior is one of the "selling points" for psych majors when it comes to gaining employment, and a knowledge of basic psychology makes you a more effective supervisor/manager

Improved Employability

Contrary to popular belief, psychology is a very good general major for careers in law, social services, education , business, and many other occupations. The trick is knowing how to “sell” your psychology degree and background to a potential employer (the employer may hold to stereotypes that psychology is an "empty" major without real skills). However, savvy employers (and savvy job applicants) know that an understanding of human behavior is essential to success in the workplace.

Ronald E. Riggio, Ph.D. , is the Henry R. Kravis Professor of Leadership and Organizational Psychology at Claremont McKenna College.

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