2022 IB Diploma Extended Essays

Methodology

The method of investigation was to corroborate secondary data to prove/disprove my

hypothesis. By completing research tasks throughout my schooling years, I have developed

the ability to effectively evaluate secondary sources and select the most reliable and credible

information available. A critical analysis of sources will be conducted within this task. The

world studies essay subject allows me to utilise an interdisciplinary approach, providing a

more insightful analysis task. For the purpose of this paper, the data presented on breast

cancer statistics during SARS-CoV-2 is on the United Kingdom (UK) rather than England as

not enough data has been collected on breast cancer statistics during this global health crisis.

However, the data presented is near analogous to England as it constitutes roughly 85% of the

population of UK (Office for National Statistics, 2012).

Skills from both biology and economics will allow me to gather trustworthy data, whilst

being able to interpret and analyse the statistics and breast cancer management plans for

effective comparison. Specifically, the subject of biology provides the knowledge and

understanding of the motives for ceasing non-essential services. Furthermore, the

development of cancer, as taught in the IB Biology Syllabus, highlights the cruciality of early

diagnosis in the treatment of the cancer. Contrastingly, economics explores the allocation of

resources which is significant when analysing the economic motives for healthcare resource

allocation. The welfare loss and economic wellbeing of the economy due to the reduction in

positive externalities such as mammograms, in both long-term and short-term, is undertaken

by the IB Economics syllabus. Scientific graphs can be interpreted through the knowledge

accumulated through the IB Biology course while economics diagrams are drawn and

examined through the application of IB Economics.

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