IB Internal AssessmentDesign

Designing an Experiment

Formulate a research question. Read the background theory. Decide on the equipment you will need. Design a method. Decide what safety and environmental

considerations there are.

IB Design Criteria

Research Question

This is the purpose of your experiment.

Concisely state what you are trying to find out.

It is good practice to write a hypothesis too.

Background Theory

A literacy search is usually carried out to find out what work has been done that is similar to your research question.

This may give methods that have been used previously and will provide the ”science” behind the experiment (this backs up your hypothesis).

Remember to add full references in footnotes.

Equipment List

List the equipment you intend to use, include the size (e.g. 25ml measuring cylinder).

It is good practice to state the uncertainty of your measuring equipment (e.g. ± 1ml).

Include chemicals in your list, their concentration and volumes / masses to be used.

Method State your variables,

and how you will measure / control them:

Independent variable.

Dependent variable. Control variables.

Method

Write out your intended procedure (like a recipe).

Be sure to plan to take enough repeats to make your experiment reliable.

Be sure to plan to collect relevant measurements.

Safety and Environmental Considerations

Assess the risks and write down any precautions necessary.

Write down any environmental issues that may arise from your experiement.

Remember the basic lab rules (no need to write these down).

Investigating osmosis in potatoes

IB Internal AssessmentManipulative Skills

IB Internal AssessmentData Collection & Processing

IB DCP Criteria

Recording raw data

Record all data in a suitable table. Check table headers are clear,

containing units and uncertainties.

Give the table a number and a full title.

Record your qualitative data.

Processing raw data

This may include some of the following:Calculation of averagesCalculation of standard deviationOther statistical analysisProduction of a graph with a line of best fit.Production of a summary table.

Presenting processed data

This means you present the data using the most appropriate graph(s).

Graphs have correct title and labels.

Graph labels include units and uncertainties.

Error bars may be included.

IB Internal AssessmentConclusion & Evaluation

IB CE Criteria

Concluding

Give a detailed description of your results, referring to your data and graphs.

Explain your results with reference to cited sources (in a footnote).

Evaluating procedures

Describe the factors that were weaknesses or limited the accuracy or scope of your investigation (try NOT to look incompetent).

An evaluation describes how the mentioned weaknesses may have effected the results you recorded.

Improving the investigation

Improvements need to be detailed and should relate to the weaknesses previously identified.

Always suggest an increase in sample size (reliability).

Always suggest an increase in the range of your independent variable (trends).

Present a professional document

Title page containing your information. Set up your document with appropriate headers

and footers. Contents page, with page numbers. Break your document up into numbered sub-

sections

Present a professional document

Tables with titles (Table 1. Title….) Graphs with titles (Figure 1. Title….) References: List your sources (from your

footnotes) in alphabetical order, by author’s surname, use the Oxford referencing system.