IB Psychology IA experiment requirements

IB Psychology IA Study Checker

Psychology IA should investigate a published study, theory, or model through a true experiment. Correlational, quasi-experimental, natural-experiment, placebo, ingestion, deprivation, or demographic-variable designs are high risk.

Check this sourceCheck sources for other subjects

AI source auditor

Psychology IA source check

Marksy reads the links or source notes you provide, applies the selected IB assessment profile, and only stops for clarification when the score depends on it.

Profile
2Sources
3Clarify
4Score

Selected profile

Psychology IA

Source rules

What usually works for Psychology IA

Usually strong

  • Published experimental psychology studies that can be simplified safely.
  • A theory or model supported by a clear empirical study.
  • Low-risk classroom experiments with consent and appropriate debriefing.

Needs review

  • Studies that rely on naturally occurring demographic groups as the independent variable.
  • Correlational designs, surveys-only studies, or studies requiring clinical populations.
  • Classic studies that cannot be ethically or practically adapted.

Avoid or replace

  • Placebo, ingestion, inhalation, deprivation, or high-stress procedures.
  • AI-generated descriptions of studies without the original source.
  • Unpublished blog summaries as the only study source.

Examples: strong, risky, weak

Strong

A published memory experiment that can be adapted using word lists and a controlled independent variable.

Review

A textbook summary of a study, useful only if the original published study is also found.

Weak

A survey asking whether age correlates with stress.

Where to find better Psychology IA sources

If your current source gets a warning, do not just add more websites. Use searches that match the assessment rule and replace weak evidence with sources that can actually carry analysis.

Replacement moves

Replace placebo, ingestion, inhalation, deprivation, or high-stress procedures. with published experimental psychology studies that can be simplified safely..

Use studies that rely on naturally occurring demographic groups as the independent variable. only as context unless your teacher confirms they can carry evidence.

Add one source that gives direct evidence for the IA, not just general background.

Strong places to look

Published experimental psychology studies that can be simplified safely
A theory or model supported by a clear empirical study
Low-risk classroom experiments with consent and appropriate debriefing