IB Internal Assessment
Design
Designing an Experiment
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Formulate a research question.
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Read the background theory.
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Decide on the equipment you will need.
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Design a method.
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Decide what safety and environmental
considerations there are.
IB Design Criteria
Research Question
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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
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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
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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

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State your variables,
and how you will
measure / control
them:
Independent
variable.
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Dependent variable.

Control variables.
Method
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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

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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 Assessment
Manipulative Skills
IB Internal Assessment
Data Collection & Processing
IB DCP Criteria
Recording raw data

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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 averages

Calculation of standard deviation
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Other statistical analysis
Production of a graph with a line of
best fit.
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Production of a summary table.
Presenting processed data
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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 Assessment
Conclusion & Evaluation
IB CE Criteria
Concluding

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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

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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
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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
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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 subsections
Present a professional document
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Tables with titles (Table 1. Title….)
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Graphs with titles (Figure 1. Title….)
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References: List your sources (from your
footnotes) in alphabetical order, by author’s
surname, use the Oxford referencing system.