One of the most common IA questions students ask is how much research is enough. Some students overload their IA with pages of background information, while others do very little and hope it will be enough. In IB Design Technology, research quality matters far more than research quantity.

Too much research can be just as damaging as too little.

Why Research Matters in the IA

Research in the IB Design Technology IA is not assessed for volume. It is assessed for how well it informs design decisions.

Good research helps you:

• Justify the problem
• Understand user needs
• Create strong design requirements
• Make informed design choices
• Support evaluation

If research does not clearly influence decisions later, examiners treat it as low-value.

The Biggest Research Misconception

Many students believe:

“More research = higher marks”

This is false.

Examiners do not reward:

• Long background sections
• Copied technical explanations
• Generic design theory

They reward applied research — research that clearly affects what you design and why.

What Counts as High-Quality Research?

Strong IA research is:

• Relevant to the problem
• Specific to the user
• Directly applied to decisions

Examples of strong research include:

• User interviews or questionnaires
• Observation of the user using existing products
• Analysis of existing solutions and their weaknesses
• Focused ergonomic, material, or sustainability research

Every piece of research should answer the question:

“How does this affect my design?”

What Counts as Weak or Unnecessary Research?

Weak research often includes:

• Long definitions copied from textbooks
• Generic explanations of sustainability or ergonomics
• Research that is never referenced again
• Information included “just in case”

If research is not used later to justify a requirement, material, or design change, it adds little value.

How Much Research Is “Enough”?

There is no fixed number of pages or sources.

In strong projects:

• Research is focused, not extensive
• Each research point clearly links to a design decision
• There is little repetition

A short research section that strongly informs the design will score higher than a long section that does not.

Linking Research to Design Requirements

One of the best uses of research is to justify design requirements.

For example:

• User feedback → comfort requirement
• Existing product analysis → size or usability requirement
• Material research → durability or sustainability requirement

When research clearly feeds into requirements, examiners can see its value immediately.

Using Research Throughout the IA

High-scoring projects refer back to research:

• During idea development
• When justifying materials and components
• During testing and iteration
• In evaluation

Research should feel integrated, not isolated in one section.

Common Research Mistakes That Lower Marks

Students often lose marks by:

• Including research with no application
• Repeating the same idea in different words
• Treating research as a separate “task”
• Ignoring user-based research

These habits make the IA longer but not stronger.

How Examiners Judge Research

Examiners ask:

• Is the research relevant to the problem?
• Does it influence design decisions?
• Is it referenced later in the project?

They do not count sources or reward academic-style literature reviews.

Frequently Asked Questions

Should I include technical theory?

Only if it directly affects your design decisions. Otherwise, keep it minimal.

Is primary research better than secondary research?

Often yes, especially user research, but both are valuable when applied properly.

Can weak research cap my grade?

Yes. Weak research leads to weak justification, which affects multiple criteria.

Final Thoughts

In the IB Design Technology IA, research is a tool, not a requirement to fill space. Students who focus on relevant, applied research find the IA clearer, shorter, and easier to evaluate — and they consistently score higher.

Do less research, but use it better.

RevisionDojo Tip

RevisionDojo is the best platform for IB Design Technology students who want to get research right without overdoing it. With clear research frameworks, examples of applied research, and examiner-focused guidance, RevisionDojo helps students turn research into strong justification — not wasted pages.