Category: My Research Work

Date: January – February 2025

Grade 9th

What Inspired Me to Explore This Topic?

As a high school student, I often observe how academic pressure, deadlines, and extracurricular commitments make it difficult for students to maintain healthy daily habits. Many students struggle with procrastination, irregular sleep schedules, poor time management, and a lack of balance between academics and personal well-being. This motivated me to investigate the relationship between habit management, productivity, and overall well-being among teenagers.

Project Overview

This research explores how poor time management and procrastination can disrupt essential habits such as sleeping, eating, exercising, and maintaining a healthy routine. Through surveys, interviews, literature review, and product analysis, I examined the challenges faced by high school students and evaluated potential solutions that could encourage positive behavioral change.

Based on the findings, I designed a physical habit-tracking system aimed at helping students build consistency, improve self-discipline, and develop healthier daily routines through visual progress tracking and habit reinforcement.

Key Outcomes

• Identified procrastination and poor time management as major barriers to habit formation among students.
• Explored the impact of disrupted habits on mental well-being, stress levels, and academic performance.
• Developed a habit-tracking solution that combines daily and long-term progress monitoring.
• Applied principles of user-centered design to create an engaging, practical, and accessible tool for students.

Real-World Relevance

The challenges explored in this project are experienced by students worldwide. Research consistently shows that effective habit formation and time management contribute to improved academic performance, reduced stress, and better overall well-being. The concepts investigated in this project can be applied in schools, homes, and personal development programs to help students establish sustainable habits and achieve long-term goals.

Critical Thinking | Research | Philosophy | Communication

TOK Prompt:

Can new knowledge change established values or beliefs?

Overview:

As part of the International Baccalaureate (IB) Theory of Knowledge programme, I explored how new knowledge influences established beliefs and values across different areas of society. Through independent research and critical analysis, I examined three real-world objects that demonstrate how scientific discoveries, ethical awareness, and technological advancements have challenged long-held assumptions and reshaped human understanding.

Exhibition Focus

The exhibition explored how knowledge evolves over time and how new discoveries can influence individual perspectives, societal values, and long-standing beliefs. The project required evaluating evidence, analysing different viewpoints, and connecting real-world examples to broader philosophical questions.

Objects Explored

Tony’s Chocolonely 🍫

Explored how increased awareness of unethical labour practices within the chocolate industry has influenced consumer behaviour and ethical decision-making.

Penicillin Mould

Examined how the discovery of penicillin transformed modern medicine by challenging existing medical practices and revolutionising the treatment of infectious diseases.

Galileo Galilei’s Telescope

Investigated how Galileo’s astronomical observations challenged centuries of accepted religious and scientific beliefs, fundamentally changing humanity’s understanding of the universe.

Research & Exhibition Process

The project involved Topic Selection | Independent Research | Evidence Analysis | Object Evaluation | Exhibition Design | Documentation | Oral Presentation. Each object was carefully selected and analysed to demonstrate a distinct perspective on how knowledge can reshape established beliefs and values.

Skills Developed

Throughout this exhibition, I strengthened my skills in Critical Thinking, Research & Analysis, Evidence Evaluation, Academic Writing, Public Speaking, Presentation Design, and Structured Communication while learning to examine complex questions from multiple perspectives.

Key Skills:
This exhibition taught me that knowledge is constantly evolving and that new discoveries often challenge accepted ideas, leading to changes in both individual perspectives and society as a whole. It strengthened my ability to analyse evidence critically, consider multiple viewpoints, and communicate complex ideas in a clear and structured manner.

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