IB World

This guide is designed to help you build effective research skills for your IB Extended Essay.
As you move from exploring a topic to shaping your final argument, this guide offers tools and tips to help you find trustworthy sources, evaluate them thoughtfully, and keep your research on track.

By using this guide, you can:

• Understand the difference between popular, scholarly, and peer-reviewed sources

• Recognize how search engines, AI tools, and social media influence what you see online

• Use library databases to find credible academic material

• Turn a research question into strong keywords and search strategies

• Write thoughtful annotations to reflect on your sources