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Picking a Topic for the EE: What are the restrictions?


Singularityy

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I desperately want to write an EE on a topic related to psychology (the Myers-Briggs Scale specifically), however there are no psychology teachers at my specific school, and I am not taking psychology. Would I be breaking any rules if I wrote a psychology EE, and if so, can you cite the source your using to answer my question (if possible)?

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If you read the Extended Essay booklet it says that students can write an EE in a subject they are not taking. However, this requires that you get a hold of a good supervisor, and that you have sufficient knowledge to be able to write an EE in what you wish to write it in. I still think it is recommended to write the EE in a subject you take, but it's up to you.

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For Psychology, in the Extended Essay Guide's subject-specific guidelines I believe it specifically attempts to discourage students who don't actually study Psychology from trying to use it as the subject for their EE.

It is also necessary to have a supervisor -- usually you get a teacher who actually specialises in the subject you're writing in, although I'm not sure that's an absolute. It may be possible to have a teacher who doesn't deal with Psychology supervise you, but then you'd also have to find a teacher willing to try and supervise an essay which is outside their subject area.

There are some subjects where you can write your EE, not take the subject and not necessarily do badly (for instance I'm sure I've heard of people doing History EEs without taking the subject and doing very well) but there are others where this is much harder thanks to approach & terminology issues. Psychology is self-confessedly one of them.

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This is the exact quote from the EE guide:

"One further piece of advice is as follows: the more background a student has in the subject, the better

the chance he or she has of writing a good extended essay. Choosing to write the extended essay in a

subject that is not being studied as part of the Diploma Programme often leads to lower marks." (pg 12)

http://www.ibsurvival.com/index.php?app=downloads&showcat=13

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If you're resolute, and your IB coordinator allows you to write an EE in this subject area [because mine would not if I were in your shoes], then getting a supervisor will probably be harder but not too terribly so. You might even find a teacher or two who has a degree in an area of psychology or who has at least taken some courses. I'd go to the bio teacher first, if you have one. The teacher would need to take on the supervising aspects of the EE in making sure the work is your own and the teacher could help you with structure but not content. In fact, my history teacher is my supervisor, but he's told me he has no expertise in my area and can't help me content-wise.

I'd seriously consider doing another subject, but it's ultimately your EE and IB doesn't forbid you [although your school may add stipulations].

Edit: Good luck! =)

Edited by sweetnsimple786
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