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Once you have a broad area that interests you, the next stage is to narrow it into something that can support a focused, analytical and feasible Extended Essay. This step is about shaping your curiosity into a researchable direction.
You are still not writing your proposal yet. You are strengthening your idea so that it can eventually become a strong research question.
Move from topic to problem
Move from topic to problem
Broad topics are interesting, but they are too large for an Extended Essay. To narrow your focus, look for a specific issue within your topic that genuinely deserves investigation.
Ask yourself:
What is unclear or debated in this area
What do researchers disagree about
What has changed over time
What seems surprising or inconsistent
Examples:
Biology: conflicting findings about how salinity affects a particular algal species
Literature: readers interpret the same narrator in contrasting ways
History: two groups of historians offer different explanations for the same event
Psychology: studies draw different conclusions about the role of rehearsal in memory
Economics: policy changes seem to produce unexpected consumer responses
A strong EE begins where something is not fully understood.
Begin shaping possible questions
Begin shaping possible questions
Once you have identified a meaningful problem or tension, you can start exploring possible question shapes. These are not final questions, only early attempts at focusing your ideas.
Useful question openers include:
To what extent
In what ways
How effective is
Why might
What is the relationship between
How far does
These frames encourage analysis rather than description.
For example:
To what extent does pH influence the temperature sensitivity of amylase
In what ways does fragmented narration shape the reader’s understanding of memory
How effective was the 2019 plastic bag levy in changing purchasing behaviour in Hong Kong
What is the relationship between cognitive load and spaced learning in secondary students
Why might two historians interpret the Great Leap Forward differently
You are looking for something focused, analytical and answerable.
Check subject alignment
Check subject alignment
Every Extended Essay must follow the methods and expectations of one subject. Before you go any further, confirm that your emerging idea matches the subject you want to write in.
Here are accurate reminders based on the Extended Essay Guide 2027:
Ask yourself:
Does my idea fit squarely within one DP subject
Does it use the methods and approaches of that subject
Are there any restrictions I must follow
Psychology
An EE in Psychology must be based entirely on secondary sources.
Collecting your own primary data is not permitted.
This means no surveys, experiments, interviews or observations.
You may analyse existing peer-reviewed research.
Studies in Language and Literature
Essays must focus on specific works.
You must analyse authorial choices, structure, form and technique.
Themes alone are not enough.
Biology
Essays must use scientifically valid approaches.
You may carry out an experiment or analyse secondary data, but your question must allow for measurable variables, scientific reasoning and appropriate methods.
History
Your essay must analyse historical sources, interpretations and debates.
You may discuss recent events because time-based restrictions have been removed, but the essay must still use historical method.
If you are unsure whether your idea fits the subject, check the subject-specific guidance or ask your teacher.
Checking alignment now prevents disappointment later.
Look for early sources
Look for early sources
To narrow your question further, find three to five credible sources that relate to your topic and the emerging problem. These do not need to be perfect yet. You are exploring what is possible.
Suitable sources include:
peer-reviewed journal articles
academic books or chapters
reputable organisations or datasets
primary texts (for Literature)
historical sources
review articles or meta-analyses (excellent for Psychology)
As you skim these sources, look for:
the approaches researchers use
gaps in knowledge
disagreements
possible methods
useful concepts or theories
If high-quality sources exist, your idea is becoming viable.
Test early feasibility
Test early feasibility
A strong question is not only interesting. It must be realistic.
Ask yourself:
Can I access the data, texts or sources I would need
Does the question allow real analysis
Is the scope manageable in four thousand words
Are there ethical issues I must consider
Does this question clearly belong to a single subject pathway
If you cannot answer “yes” to these questions, refine your focus further.
Task to Try
Task to Try
Choose one developing question and answer these three prompts:
What tension, problem or puzzle does this question explore
Which subject-specific methods could help answer it
Which early sources support this direction
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