IB Biology: Exploration IA
Aspect 1: Define the problem and selecting variables (2 marks)
What are you investigating?
___ Clearly write your research question (the research question should include your dependent and independent
variables)
___ Clearly state your hypothesis (prediction of what you will find
___ Explain your hypothesis. Why do you think this will happen?
___ Hypothesis supported with research ( in-text MLA citation)
What are the variables?
___ Name the independent variable (variable that was changed) – include units
___ State all of the controlled variables (variables that remained constant) – include units
___ Name the dependent variable (variable that was measured) – include units
Aspect 2: Controlling variables (2 marks) – This is often good to put in a table
___ State how you are going to change your independent variable
___Independent variable is discussed, including how it will be manipulated and level of precision and uncertainty
___Dependent variable is discussed, including how it will be measured and level of precision and uncertainty
___ State how you are going to control your controlled variables (in a table)
Aspect 3: Developing a method for the collection of data (2 marks)
How do you do the experiment?
___The data gathered enables the aim, the research question or the hypotheses to be adequately addressed. Each
piece of data collected is relevant to fulfill each of these.
___ All materials have been accounted for in detail (size of beaker, volumes of chemicals, units on the containers like
graduated cylinders etc.)
___ Steps are numbered and in the same order that they should be performed
___ Enough detail is given so that someone who doesn’t know what you are investigating can perform the experiment
and get valid results
___ Every step is included even though they may be obvious (i.e. zeroing the balance)
___ If any safety precautions need to be taken, mention it! (i.e. if working with corrosive chemicals)
Trials and Data
___ State how many trials will be performed
___ State the units and uncertainty that will be used to record the data collected
___ State how you will use the data showing an equation (i.e. the formula for average)
___Include a blank data table to collect the raw data (only if not completing the DCP/CE)
IB Biology: Analysis IA
Aspect 1: Recording Raw data (2 marks)
Tables
___ A table with all the raw data (data you collected) and class data (if applicable)
___ The table has a detailed title and headers for each column and/or row
___ All data has uncertainties (i.e. 22°C ± 1)
___ All units are included in the header (do NOT write the unit in each cell of your table)
___ Every data unit has the same precision (you should NOT have one measurement be 22 °C and the next be 23.78°C)
___ Record all the qualitative data you found (color, change in size etc.)
Aspect 2: Processing raw data (2 marks)
What did you notice from the data and experiment overall?
___ State the anomalies (data that did not fit with the trend you see), explain why they are anomalies and remove them
___Results are processed correctly and completely
___Processed data has the same precision as raw data
___ Process all your results
___ Show how you calculated the rates (amount/time) if applicable
___ Show how you calculated the percentages ((change/original) x 100) if applicable
___ Show how you calculated averages
___ Calculate the standard deviation of your results
___ Additional statistical tests
___ Show one full sample calculation for each step of data processing
___ State all technology that was used (Excel, calculators etc.)
Aspect 3: Presenting processed data
Presenting what you found
___ Plot the processed data in a suitable graph
___ Ensure independent variable is on the x-axis and dependent variable is on the y-axis
___ Title your graph and the axis (including the units and uncertainty)
___ Add error bars to the graph
___ Add a trend-line to the graph
___Add a figure number and title underneath your graph
All these numbers, now use words!
___ Describe the trend or pattern seen in the data
___ State in words what you found but do NOT explain it
IB Biology: Evaluation IA
Aspect 1: Concluding (2 marks)
Research question
___ Restate your research question and hypothesis (The purpose of this lab was to…)
Conclusion
___Did you come to an appropriate and reasonable conclusion based on your results
___ Include a general statement that summarizes what your results show ( link this back to your research question)
___Use your actual numbers in your explanation and refer to graph and figure numbers.
___ Include other sources (internet, books etc) that also support what you found – MLA format in-text citations
___ Compare your results to a similar experiment if applicable
___ Include a justification of your results that is consistent with your data (use correct biological terms) Include citation
here and explain why you got the results you did
___ If your results don’t support the generally accepted truth, mention that and explain in the limitation part (below)
why your results differ from the norm
___ Do NOT use the word “prove”
___ Accept or reject and modify your hypothesis
Aspect 2: Evaluating procedures (2 marks) – This is good to include in a table
Weaknesses and limitations
___ Mention the main weaknesses in the design of the experiment (did you control for all your controlled variables?
Were all the materials working correctly?)
___ State how those weaknesses affected your results
___ Evaluate limitations in the accuracy and precision of your data
___ Explain the reason for some of the anomalies in your results
___ State whether or not the weaknesses and limitations were serious enough to undermine the conclusion
___ Mention human error, random error, instrumental error, measurement error, replicate size, trial number, etc. as
applicable
Aspect 3: Improving the investigation (2 marks) – This is good to include in a table
Improvements
___ Suggest how the study can be improved and why those suggestions would allow you to get better results
___Every weakness or limitation mentioned above has an improvement. The specific errors mentioned are the ones
corrected.
___All modifications are realistic