Geography IA ideas: how do you choose one?
Choose an idea that fits the subject criteria and can be answered with evidence, a method, and resources you can access.
A strong Geography IA question is built around one clear relationship tested along a spatial or environmental gradient, with primary data you collect yourself. The best questions link a measurable driver to a measurable response and allow you to map or graph the trend across sites.
Which research questions fit Geography IA?
The questions below are starting points to adapt to your own variables, evidence, and assessment task.
How does distance from the city centre affect the intensity of land-use and building height, measured from a transect survey?
Variables · IV: distance from centre along a transect. DV: building-height index or land-use intensity score. Control: time of day, weather, observer, side of street.
How does slope angle affect soil depth and vegetation cover on a managed hillside?
Variables · IV: slope angle. DV: soil depth with a probe and % vegetation cover in quadrats. Control: aspect, soil type, land use, sampling area.
How does traffic count affect nitrogen dioxide concentration along a roadside transect?
Variables · IV: traffic count per interval. DV: NO₂ from diffusion tubes or a portable sensor. Control: time of day, wind direction, temperature, tube height.
How does distance downstream from an outfall affect dissolved oxygen and freshwater invertebrate diversity?
Variables · IV: distance downstream. DV: dissolved oxygen (mg/L) and BMWP biotic index. Control: time of day, substrate, flow rate, season.
How does distance from a footpath affect soil compaction and plant species richness in a grassland or woodland?
Variables · IV: distance from path centre. DV: penetrometer reading and species count per quadrat. Control: slope, aspect, quadrat size, time of year.
How does land-use type (residential, commercial, park) affect surface-runoff volume measured in a small catchment after a rain event?
Variables · IV: land-use category. DV: runoff volume per unit area over a fixed storm. Control: storm intensity, antecedent moisture, catchment area, measurement method.
How does altitude affect temperature and humidity along a hillside, and what does that imply for local climate?
Variables · IV: altitude. DV: air temperature and relative humidity at each site. Control: time of day, cloud cover, shelter, instrument calibration.
How does cliff or bank erosion rate vary with wave energy exposure along a coastline section?
Variables · IV: wave-energy proxy (fetch or measured wave height). DV: erosion rate from repeat cross-profiles or marker readings. Control: geology, beach width, tide state, storm history.
How does distance from an industrial site affect heavy-metal concentration in surface soil or sediment?
Variables · IV: distance from site. DV: metal concentration from soil samples or a field test kit. Control: soil type, depth, organic matter, sampling method.
How does urban surface type affect near-surface air temperature at night, and what is the urban heat island magnitude?
Variables · IV: surface type (grass, tarmac, gravel, water). DV: air temperature 5 cm above surface at night. Control: time, cloud cover, wind, thermometer height.
How does wetland pH and nutrient level vary across a successional gradient from open water to dry land?
Variables · IV: distance from open water / successional stage. DV: pH and nitrate/phosphate concentration. Control: depth, time of year, vegetation density, sample handling.
How does road width and traffic volume affect noise level and the number of people using an urban green space?
Variables · IV: distance from road / traffic volume. DV: dB level and user count per interval. Control: time of day, day of week, weather, green-space type.
Find questions that fit your resources
Filter the Geography ideas by time and equipment. This is a practical shortlist, not a judgement about the quality of a research question.
12 of 12 starting points match these time/equipment filters
- 01How does distance from the city centre affect the intensity of land-use and building height, measured from a transect survey?
- 02How does slope angle affect soil depth and vegetation cover on a managed hillside?
- 03How does traffic count affect nitrogen dioxide concentration along a roadside transect?
- 04How does distance downstream from an outfall affect dissolved oxygen and freshwater invertebrate diversity?
- 05How does distance from a footpath affect soil compaction and plant species richness in a grassland or woodland?
- 06How does land-use type (residential, commercial, park) affect surface-runoff volume measured in a small catchment after a rain event?
- 07How does altitude affect temperature and humidity along a hillside, and what does that imply for local climate?
- 08How does cliff or bank erosion rate vary with wave energy exposure along a coastline section?
- 09How does distance from an industrial site affect heavy-metal concentration in surface soil or sediment?
- 10How does urban surface type affect near-surface air temperature at night, and what is the urban heat island magnitude?
- 11How does wetland pH and nutrient level vary across a successional gradient from open water to dry land?
- 12How does road width and traffic volume affect noise level and the number of people using an urban green space?
Items with unspecified equipment or time remain visible. Check safety, ethics, available evidence and the current assessment guide before choosing.
Research question feasibility test →Sources & verification
Primary-source references used to verify key assessment facts on this page. Last source check: September 22, 2026.
These Geography ideas are original iBacalao starting points, not official IB research questions. Check the current Geography subject guide, your assessment session and your school's safety/ethics rules before committing to a question.
- IB: Diploma Programme assessment and examsOfficial overview of criterion-related assessment and internal assessment in the Diploma Programme.
- IB: current curriculum updatesOfficial hub for current and upcoming subject/assessment changes and subject briefs.
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