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Jan 17, 20245 min read

IB DP Digital Society IA Inquiry Project - Criterion B

Updated: Nov 22, 2024

Digital Society IA Criterion B: A Guide

This guide is designed to assist IB DP Digital Society students in crafting their Internal Assessment (IA) Inquiry Project for Criterion B. It provides a clear framework for presenting research findings, analysing claims and perspectives, and justifying the usefulness of sources in your inquiry.

Overview of Criterion B

What is Criterion B? Criterion B focuses on demonstrating your research process and critically evaluating three high-quality sources in a logical and structured manner. It requires a discussion of the claims and perspectives from each source, with a justification of their relevance and utility in your inquiry.

Key Expectations:

Present your sources in a logical progression (e.g., Source 1: Big-picture study (content and context focussed); Source 2: Focused study (concept focussed); Source 3: Alternative perspective(s).
Move beyond description—show your ability to analyse, evaluate, and synthesize evidence.
Address alternative viewpoints and biases (subjective or ideological).
Demonstrate critical thinking, conceptual awareness, and knowledge of Digital Society concepts.
Cite sources accurately and provide a well-organized bibliography.

Structure Options for Criterion B

You may choose one of the following structures to guide your work:

Option 1: CRAAP (+ Justification) Structure

CRAAP is a framework to evaluate the reliability of sources. Each source should address:

Currency – Is the information up-to-date?
Relevance – How is it connected to your research?
Authority – Who is the author, and are they credible?
Accuracy – Is the information well-supported by evidence?
Purpose – What is the intent behind the source?

Headings/Subheadings for Each Source:

Reference: Provide the MLA citation or similar.
Origin and Purpose: Discuss the source’s background and objectives.
Meaning and Methods: Explain the data type (qualitative/quantitative), how it was collected, and its significance.
Corroboration and Use: Highlight how this source is supported or challenged by others (with citations).
Justification: Clearly explain how this source supports your research question and relates to Digital Society concepts and contexts.

Option 2: OPVL (+ Justification) Structure

OPVL evaluates the strengths and weaknesses of a source. Address the following for each source:

Origin – Discuss when, where, and by whom the source was created.
Purpose – What is the source’s goal or intent?
Value – What unique insights does this source provide for your inquiry?
Limitation – What are the source’s biases or gaps?

Headings/Subheadings for Each Source:

Reference: Provide the MLA citation or similar.
Origin: Explain the background and data collection methods.
Purpose: Outline the overarching aim of the source.
Value: Discuss its significance to your inquiry.
Limitation: Identify any constraints or biases.
Justification: Link the source directly to your research question, concepts, and contexts.

Option 3: Assessment Criteria Focus

Address the key components of Criterion B directly:

Origin and Purpose – Expand on the creation and intent of the source.
Meaning and Methods – Explain how the source works and its methodologies.
Corroboration and Use – Highlight connections to other sources or concepts.
Claims and Perspectives – Analyse and evaluate differing viewpoints.
Justification – Provide a robust explanation of the source’s relevance to your inquiry.

Justification: What It Should Include

A strong justification connects your sources to the Digital Society concepts and contexts while explaining their value to your research.

Key Components of a Justification:

Research Question: Directly link the source to your question.
Concepts: Reference relevant Digital Society concepts (e.g., Identity, Power, Space, Systems).
Contexts: Address the social, economic, political, cultural, or technological relevance of the source.
Significance: Explain the importance of the source to understanding your research problem.

Example: Research Question: "To what extent does algorithmic content recommendation on TikTok influence the formation of political views among teenagers (16–18) in Singapore?

"Justification:“ This source explores algorithmic systems on TikTok and their role in shaping youth political identity. It directly connects to Digital Society concepts: Systems (algorithms), Power (platform influence), and Identity (teen identity formation). The study is valuable because it examines Singapore’s unique digital landscape, where 98% of teenagers use social media. Its focus on local contexts and algorithmic systems provides critical insights into digital platforms’ role in political socialization.”

Bibliography Requirements

Your bibliography must have three sections:

References for Ideas and Words: List the sources of intellectual content quoted or used in the inquiry.
References for Multimedia: Acknowledge images, videos, graphs, and other visuals used.
References for Tech Tools: List the tools (e.g., Canva, Prezi) used to create your presentation.

Assessment Criteria for Criterion B

Criterion B is assessed out of 6 marks:

Level	Descriptor
0	The work does not meet any standard.
1–2	Limited, descriptive discussion; fewer than three sources or no justification.
3–4	Partial discussion of claims and perspectives; some justification but not fully developed.
5–6	Thorough discussion of claims and perspectives with clear justification.

To achieve a Level 7, Digital Society students need to demonstrate:

Conceptual awareness and insight.
Critical thinking with logical and coherent arguments.
Analysis, evaluation, and synthesis of knowledge.
Awareness of biases and alternative perspectives.
Subject-specific terminology and familiarity with literature.

Digital Society IA Inquiry Project – Criterion B Template

Introduction to Criterion B

(Optional)

Briefly state the purpose of this section (e.g., "In this section, I will analyse and evaluate three sources, discussing their claims, perspectives, and relevance to my research question.")

Source 1

1. Reference

MLA or APA citation (e.g., Author, Title, Publication, Year).

2. Origin and Purpose

Where does this source come from?
Who created it and why?
What are its fundamental objectives?

3. Meaning and Methods

What type of data does the source use (qualitative or quantitative)?
How was this data collected and analysed?
Why were these methods chosen, and how do they support the purpose?

4. Corroboration and Use

How does this source align with or contradict other research?
Include citations from additional sources if needed.

5. Claims and Perspectives

What are the main claims made by the source?
What perspectives are presented? Are alternative viewpoints included?
Identify any biases or subjective/ideological influences.

6. Justification

How does this source support your research question?
Why is it useful for understanding Digital Society concepts and contexts?

Source 2

(Repeat the structure from Source 1)

Source 3

(Repeat the structure again from Source 1)

Conclusion