The First Formal Reflection

The first formal reflection session should:

1. Last 20-30 minutes
2. Be recorded by the student in the Reflections on Planning and Progress Form and signed by the supervisor
3. Focus on progress made so far and set goals for moving forward

Possible Guiding Questions for First Reflection Session

Here are some suggested questions for your first reflection session. You may pick and choose questions as you see
fit. You are not required to use these questions.

● What are your passionate about? How does the question you have chosen fit in with your passions/interests?
● What is worthy of investigation in your area? Why do you think your question is important/worth answering?
● What are your future plans? Can we connect your EE with your future studies?
● Is there enough material out there? What kind of preliminary research have you done? What have you found?
Are there any obstacles to your research?
● How might you make your idea narrow and achievable? Is your research question answerable in 4,000
words? What are the limiting factors in your question?
● What is your Plan B if this doesn't work out?
● If possible to tell at this point, what challenges might you face? How might you mitigate these?
● What kind of data or research do you need? Let's have a look now - go to library shelves or access online
resources.

Guiding Student Reflection

In critically reviewing student engagement in the research process, it might help to think in terms of three levels of
reflection: descriptive, analytical and evaluative reflection. The table below gives examples of guiding questions to
help with this. They are not exhaustive.

Level of Example of the kinds of questions students may have asked and answered of themselves
reflection

Descriptive ● What did I do?

● How did I undertake my research?
● What were the problems I faced?
● Did my approach or strategies change throughout the process?
● What have been the high and the low points of the research and writing process?

Analytical ● Was my research successful?

● If I changed my approach or strategies during the process, why did I do this?
● What did I learn from the experience in terms of my understanding of the subject area
and/or the skills needed to undertake research?
● How has my understanding of the topic and research process developed throughout the
task?

Evaluative ● If I were to undertake this research again, would I do it differently—if so, why or why not?
● What has affected this?
● If I did do the research again, would I change the theories applied or the methodological
approach? Would this have led to a different outcome?
● What can I conclude from this?
 ● Were the strategies I used for undertaking my research the most appropriate for achieving
my outcomes?
● What, if any, questions emerged as a result of my research that I was not expecting?
Would these questions influence my approach if I were to undertake the research again?

FROM THE IB EE GUIDE

Preparation for the first reflection session (STUDENT)

As preparation for their first reflection session, students should do the following.

1. Think about subjects and areas of particular personal interest and do some initial background reading into a subject
and topic of their choice.

2. Using this as a starting point, explore a variety of possible research topics.

3. Read the subject-specific section of the Extended essay guide for the subject they are interested in, paying
particular attention to the nature of the subject and the treatment of the topic.

4. Undertake further background reading and begin to gather information around their area of interest. This exploration
should give rise to a variety of topics and questions that students can consider for further research. At this stage it is
important that students consider the availability of reliable and valid sources for the topic under consideration. All of
this should be recorded in their Researcher’s reflection space.

5. Begin developing a research proposal which might include a MindMap® of ideas, an annotated article or preliminary
bibliography. Additionally, students must already be thinking in terms of the following questions.

• Is my topic appropriate for the subject I am considering?

• Why am I interested in this area and why is it important?

• What possible questions have emerged from my initial reading?

• Are there any ethical issues that I need to consider?

• What possible methods or approaches might be used for research in this area and why?

It is recommended at this point that the student–supervisor relationship is formalized and the student can consider
himself or herself prepared for the first formal reflection session.

First formal reflection session

This initial reflection session should be a dialogue between the student and the supervisor based on the student’s
initial explorations. It is recommended that the student sends their supervisor an outline of their research proposal
ahead of the meeting in order to give the supervisor the opportunity to review their work. This will ensure that the
reflection session is focused and productive.

Topics of discussion that should arise during this session include:

• a review of the requirements and assessment criteria for the subject

• a review of ethical and legal implications, if applicable

• a dialogue about possible approaches and any potential problems that might arise

• a discussion of strategies for developing the student’s ideas for the essay and expanding the research so
that the essay starts to take form

• probing and challenging questions that will help the student focus their thinking; this should lead to the
development of the student’s working research question

• an outline of the next steps that the student should undertake in order to refine their question; this should
take the form of a research and writing timeline.
 Tip
Following this first session, the student is required to complete the first student comment section of the Reflections on
planning and progress form and submit it to their supervisor who must then sign and date the form. Please refer to the
section “Protocols for completing and submitting the Reflections on planning and progress form” for more information.