Internal Assessment Necessities
Internal Assessment
• Criterion A: Introduction, 5 marks, 3.6% of IB Grade
• Criterion B: Method: Design, 2 marks, 1.4% of IB Grade
• Criterion C: Method: Participants, 2 marks, 1.4% of IB
Grade
• Criterion D: Method: Procedure, 2 marks, 1.4% of IB
Grade
• Criterion E: Results: Descriptive, 2 marks, 1.4% of IB
Grade
• Criterion F: Results: Inferential, 3 marks, 2.1% of IB
Grade
• Criterion G: Discussion, 8 marks, 5.7% of IB Grade
• Criterion H: Citation of sources, 2 marks, 1.4% of IB
Grade
• Criterion I: Report format, 2 marks, 1.4% of IB Grade
Criteria A: Introduction
• Purpose: To provide background information
& rationale for the investigation.
• This section should first introduce the AREA of
research (level of analysis: cognitive, biological,
or socio-cultural) followed by the more
SPECIFIC STUDIES that are directly related
to the experiment (Kahneman & Tversky, 1979)
Advice for Writing your Introduction
• Give a general introduction of the psychological
subject area you are investigating.
• Include a brief summary of the theory and KEY
pieces of research associated with the topic in which
you are investigating.
• DO NOT include more than 3 pieces of relevant
research (more is not always better).
▫ This is NOT the same as sources!
• Research must be focused on your TOPIC and must
logically lead to the investigation.
Relevant Research and Theories MUST Be Included
THEORY
RESEARCH
• Ideas
• Explanation about a specific
topic
• Must be able to be tested,
proved/disproved
• Broad range of concepts on a
given topic
• Example: Big Bang Theory
• Evidence
• Used to prove or disprove the
theory
• Gather facts on a subject/topic
• Deals with some type of
argument/debate
End of Introduction
• Statement of specific research hypothesis which
is clearly justified by research
• Aim is stated
▫ Due to suggestions by Loftus and Palmer’s study,
the aim of this experiment is to determine…
▫ Our experiment will be carried out by…
• Be sure to write it in operationalized form and is
precisely testable
• Null hypothesis should state that results found
were due to chance not manipulation of the IV
Method Sections:
• Where you describe how your study was
designed and carried out
• Demonstrate your understanding of the
experiment as a QUANTITATIVE
METHODOLOGY (not qualitative.)
• Divided into four parts each with a LABEL
▫
▫
▫
▫
Design (Criteria B)
Participants (Criteria C)
Materials (Criteria D)
Procedure (Also, Criteria D)
Design: Criteria B
Depending on what you are investigating, you need
to choose between two basic designs
Independent Samples Design
Repeated Measures Design
• Two different groups of
participants: Control group
& experimental group
• Used when it is not possible to
use the same participants in
the two experimental
conditions
• N=20 (10 participants for
each group; even numbers
in each group)
• SAME participants in both the
treatment and the control group.
• Ex. Group is first asked to
memorize and recall a list of
words without music (control)
• Then they are asked to
memorize and recall a list of
words while listening to music
(treatment)
• Order effect : using same
participants and they learn what
the first trial was therefore
affecting the second trial
• N=10 (same 10
participants)
Strengths
Independent Samples Design
• Participants are less likely to
guess the hypothesis
• Less boredom and tired
• Won’t improve skill due to
repetition (example of order
effect)
• Same materials may be used
for both groups (example:
same list of words)
Repeated Measures Design
• Eliminates participant
variability (differences
between the two groups
are due to natural
situations as opposed to
manipulation of the IV)
• Requires fewer participants
Limitations
Independent Samples Design
Repeated Measures Design
• May be participant variability
• Doing the same task twice may
cause order effects
• Demand characteristics
(discover the aim and
don’t act naturally in
order to “help” or
“hinder” your research)
may occur
• Doesn’t work on studies with
performance tasks
The Experiment
• Goal: To establish a cause-and-effect
relationship between two variables.
• Performed under HIGHLY controlled conditions
• Quantitative research, generates numerical data
▫ Can be statistically tested for significance in order
to rule out the role of CHANCE in the results.
• Aim: Purpose of the study
▫ Indicates which behavior or mental process will be
studied.
▫ To see if one variable has an effect on another
variable.
Experimental Variables
Independent (IV)
• Is manipulated, all
other variables
remain constant
Dependent (DV)
• Measured after the
manipulation
Both the IV and DV must be operationalized:
Need to be written in a way that it is CLEAR what is
being measured.
Example:
IV: High music at volume 35
DV: Number of words remembered from a list of 20
words.
Hypothesis: Prediction of how the IV
will impact the DV
Experimental (HI)
Null (H0)
• Predicts the exact result
of the manipulation of
the IV (noise) on the DV
(recall)
• Ex. Noise will decrease the
number of words that an
individual is able to recall
from a list of words.
• Must have TWO conditions
• Control condition is not
exposed to the IV
▫ No noise is used
• Predicts that there will be no
results or that the result will
be due to chance
• Ex. Noise has not effect on an
individual’s ability to recall a list
of words
• Any change in the individual’s
ability to recall a list of words is
due to chance
• Research is carried out to
refute the null hypothesis to
show that the predicted
cause-and-effect relationship
between the IV & DV actually
exists.
Goal Regarding the Hypotheses
• We can never PROVE anything, we can only
DISPROVE things.
• Sometimes the null hypothesis will be accepted
▫ Example: There was no relationship between noise
and recall of words
• To accept the null hypothesis
▫ We have to accept that there is NO RELATIONSHIP
between the two variables
• Refute the null hypothesis
• The experimental hypothesis can be
accepted ONLY if a researcher has
demonstrated that the effect was due to the
manipulation of the IV.
Cofounding Variables: Undesirable variables
that influence the relationship between the IV
& DV
• 1.) Demand characteristics:
▫ Participants act differently because they know that
they are in an experiment.
 May experience the Hawthorne Effect: Participants
may try to guess aim and act accordingly
▫ Use a single blind control: Participants do not know
what the study is about
• 2.) Research bias/Observer bias:
▫ Experimenter sees what he or she is looking for;
expectations of the researcher consciously or
unconsciously affect the findings of the study.
 Simple smile, nodding, treating the experimental group
differently
▫ Use a double-blind control to help reduce
 Both the researchers and participants do not know
whom is in the treatment or control group, and the
person carrying out the experiment does not know the
aim of the study
• 3.) Participant variability:
▫ Characteristics of the sample affect the DV.
 Controlled by using a random sample or randomly
selecting the participants in the treatment and control
groups
Reminders…in the Design section, be
sure to include…
• Explanation & justification of design used
(independent or repeated)
• Describe the controls you have taken in
order to avoid extraneous variables
(standardized instructions/briefing)
• Indentify the IV & DV
• Documentation of how ethical guidelines
were followed (consent, how briefing &
debriefing was conducted)
▫ Include in appendices
Consent Form
• Written in a way that informs participants of the
nature of the experiment
• If participants are 16+, informed consent only
• If participants are under 16, parental and
informed consent required
• Include a copy in appendices
Please DO NOT COPY and paste the
information and just switch out your
appropriate details!
Dear Participant,
As part of my IB psychology Internal Assessment, I am
conducting a study on _____________ (memory).
This study is going to test your ability to memorize a list
of words while listening to music. After the briefing, I
would ask you to sign the statement below:
• I have been informed of the nature of the experiment.
• I understand that I have the right to withdraw from the
experiment at any time, and any information /data
collected will remain confidential.
• My anonymity will be protected because my name will
not be identifiable.
• The experiment will be conducted so that I will not be
demeaned in any way.
• I will be debriefed at the end and have the opportunity
to find out the results.
• I give my informed consent to participating in this
experiment.
• Name___________________ Date____________
Standardized Briefing Notes
• Reasoning: To ensure that you control any
extraneous variables that may interfere with the
experiment.
• Written script of what you said to your
participants before conducting the experiment
▫ Include in appendices
• Must include:
• Aim and instructions regarding the procedure of
the study
• Information about the ethical issues
Standardized Debriefing Notes
• Written script that is used to debrief participants
after conducting the experiment
▫ Include copy in appendices
• Be sure to include:
• What you expected to find in your study
• Participants have the right to learn about the
conclusions drawn from the research once
analysis of data is finalized
• Remind them that they may withdraw their data
Participants: Criteria C
• Describes the sample and how it was obtained
• Sample size of 20, any larger is strongly discouraged
• Sampling procedure should be indentified and
justified
• Saying that it was the easiest is acceptable
• How the participants selected for control and
treatment group also needs to be explained
• Relevant characteristics of sample should be mentioned
(limited English speaking, color-blindness)
• Number of participants, age, and gender should be
included
• Target population needs to be indentified (who you are
interested in and draw your sample from; IB students,
non-native English speaking students, staff, etc.)
▫ Generalize the results to this specific group
Target Population
• The group whose behavior you are investigating
• Do not use quasi-experimental research because
they do not establish cause and effect relationships
due to cofounding variables
• YOU MAY NOT USE:
▫ Gender
▫ Age
▫ Ethnicity
Examples include:
 AP students
 Non-Psychology IB students
 Bilingual Students
 Staff
Sampling Techniques
• Goal: To obtain a sample that is representative
of the target population
• Types of Sampling Techniques:
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Opportunity sampling
Self-selected sampling
Snowball sampling
Random sampling
Stratified sampling
Opportunity Sampling
• AKA convenience sampling
• Pro: “Whoever happens to be there and agrees to
participate”
• Con: Can lead to bias results and can cause
problems for generalization
▫ Certain types of people are at certain locations for
reasons
Self-Selected Sampling
• Made up of volunteers (Sign-up sheet or
advertisement)
• Pro: Relatively easy to obtain, sample usually is
highly motivated since they volunteered their
time
• Con: Usually reflect a more general
population=hard to make generalizations about
target population
Snowball Sampling
• Participants recruit other participants
▫ “Bring a friend”
Random Sampling
• Every member of target population has an equal
chance of being selected
• Pull all names of target population and then
“draw” 20 names from a hat
• Pro: Easier to generalize findings to a larger
population
• Pro: Gets rid of selection bias
• Con: Chance of limited variety
Stratified Sampling
• Drawing random samples from subpopulations
of the target population
• Give variety and reflection of distribution of
actual population
Males
Bilingual
Females
AP
Students
Males
One
language
Females
Materials: Criteria D
• List materials used
• Basic materials should not included
▫ Pencils, chairs, paper, etc.
• Written materials used specifically for
experiment should be listed and referenced to a
sample that needs to be included in the
appendices
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Standardized briefing notes
Informed consent letter
Standardized debriefing notes
Links to videos
PowerPoint slides
Procedure: Criteria D
• Carefully and ACCURATELY describe how the
experiment was conducted, STEP by STEP
• Enough details should be provided for
replication
• Reference any ethical issues that were addressed
▫ When briefing and debriefing was carried out
▫ Reference materials such as briefing notes,
consent forms, debriefing notes, etc.
• May be written in paragraph or bullet-point
format (enough details still need to be provided)
Results: Descriptive (E) & Inferential (F)
• Must be in NARRITIVE form (written) & in
GRAPHIC form
• Each section should be able to stand alone and the
reader should be able to understand the results
regardless of which form they are reading
• Should reflect the aim of the research hypothesis
• Different levels of details should be represented
(levels/scales of measurement)
▫
▫
▫
▫
Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Ratio
Nominal
• Simplest form of data
• Count how many fall into each category such as:
▫ Males vs. females
• Provide the least amount of information
• Only the mode can be used as a measure of
central tendency
Ordinal
• Used to rank (1st, 2nd, 3rd, etc)
• Example: Likert scale:
▫
▫
▫
▫
1.) Strongly agree
2.) Agree
3.) Disagree
4.) Strongly disagree
Interval
• Measured on a scale which has exact and equal
intervals
• Example: Temperature
▫ 67 degrees, you know accurately what the weather
is like
• Carries more information than ordinal data
• Mean, median, & mode can be calculated
• When you rank interval data it becomes ordinal
data
▫ John is 179 cm tall and Max is 180 cm, so Max is
the tallest, John is the shortest
Ratio
• Has all the characteristics of interval data and
also has a TRUE zero point
• Weight, length, volume can have a zero point but
not a negative measurement
Results (Descriptive Statistics): Criteria E
• Calculate both Central Tendency & Dispersion
if the level of measurement allows it
• Raw data (Exact results/answers from
participants) SHOULD not be included in the
written section, but must be referenced in the
appendix
• Only summarized data should be included in the
results section
• Ratio and interval are usually more effective
• Calculated, but do not need to be included in
appendices
Measures of Central Tendency
Mean (average)
Median
(middle)
Mode (most)
Sum of data divided by
amount of data
•Most influenced by outliers
(extreme scores)
•Very precise; not useful if there
are many modes
Put in order, find middle
number (may need to
•Not distorted by outliers
take average of 2
•Can be distorted by small samples
numbers if even amount)
Which ever number is
repeated the most
•Most sensitive measure of central
tendency
•Can be distorted by outliers
Measures of Dispersion
Range
Standard Deviation
Highest score minus
lowest score
•Easy to calculate
•Distorted by outliers
The square root of the
variance (difference
between each value and
the mean, squaring the
difference between each Most sensitive measure of
value and the mean
dispersion using all data
(eliminates negatives),
summing the squared
differences and then
taking the average of the
sum of squared
differences)
Calculating Standard Deviation
• http://easycalculation.com/statistics/standarddeviation.php
Graphs
Level of
measurement of data
Possible descriptive
stat
Possible
tables/graphs
Nominal
•Percentages
•Mode
•Frequency table
•Pie graph
•Bar graph
Ordinal
•Percentages
•Median
•Frequency table
•Frequency polygon
•Bar graph
•Mean, median, mode
•Quartiles
•Range, standard
deviation
•Frequency table
•Box and whisker plot
•Bar graph
•histogram
Interval and Ratio
Frequency Table
Pie Graph
Bar Graph
Frequency Polygon/Histogram
Box Plot
Whisker Plot
Graphs
• Use a computer
• Data must be accurate and RELEVANT to the
prediction of the research hypothesis
• One graph per statistic is sufficient
• DO NOT include graphs showing each individual
participant’s score
• EACH PERSON MUST CREATE HIS/HER
OWN GRAPH…DO NOT MAKE MULTIPLE
COPIES!
Results (Inferential Statistics) Criteria F
• The use of inferential statistical test chosen must
be justified
• Calculations must be included in the appendices
(not in the results section)
• May use an online site that performs the
calculations for you (website must be referenced
and included in the appendix, actual calculations
then would not be needed)
Inferential Statistics Tests
Type of Test
Chi Square Test
Mann Whitney U Test
Wilcoxon Signed
Ranks Test
Level of
Measurement
Nominal data
At least ordinal data
At least ordinal data
Type of Design
Independent samples
design is used in an
experiment testing a
difference between two
conditions
Independent samples
design is used in an
experiment testing a
difference between two
conditions
Repeated measures
design in an
experiment testing a
difference between two
conditions
Calculators (All can be found here)
http://www.socscistatistics.com/tests
/Default.aspx
• Chi Square Test:
http://graphpad.com/quickcalcs/catMenu/
• Mann Whitney U-Test:
• http://elegans.som.vcu.edu/~leon/stats/utest.html
• http://psych.unl.edu/psycrs/handcomp/hcmann.P
DF
• Wilcoxon Signed Ranks Test:
• http://www.socscistatistics.com/tests/signedranks/
Discussion: Criteria G
• Last part of the IA paper 
• Interpret your own results in comparison to
original experiment/research
• Findings must be related back to the theories
and studies that were referred to in your
introduction
• Explain how results were similar and different
from study that was replicated/modified
• Explanation of why you think you achieved the
results that you did
• NO NEW STUDIES OR CITATIONS SHOULD
BE INTRODUCED
• Discuss limitations that may have affected the
outcome
• Possible extraneous variables are indentified
▫ Deeper than, “larger sample size…”
• Suggestions for “future” replications
• Finish the discussion with suggestions for
further research that may have risen during an
investigation but was not dealt with in the actual
study (topics for further investigation)
• Finally, brief conclusion, summarizing the
results
Citation of Sources: Criteria H
• In-text citations and references are provided
• DO NOT include works that are not cited!
• Consistent format is used in both the body of
the report and reference section
▫ APA
▫ British Psychological Society (I’m not familiar
with this, so don’t use it!)
Report Format: Criteria I
• Title Page: Info. about you and your IA
• Word count, name, candidate number, HL
Psychology, date submitted, and title (see checklist)
• Title is clear of the experimental method and the
specific type of study
▫ Hypothesis determines how this is worded
• Must include method used (experiment), topic
under investigation, and the variables
• Sufficient example:
▫ “An experiment on the recall of a list of
words.”
▫ “An experiment on memory.” =NOT SPECIFIC
• Abstract (200 words, max)
• Last section to be written, comes after title page
• Summary of important info. about the study
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
▫
Aim
Procedure
Results
Conclusion
IV
DV
• Appendices
• Must be numbered and have an appropriate title
▫ Appendix 4: Informed consent
• Be sure to include:
▫ Blank copies of supplementary information
(questionnaire/response papers)
▫ Standardized instructions
▫ Debriefing notes
▫ Informed consent letters (blank)
▫ Calculations (or website for inferential statistics)
▫ List of materials needed for replication
▫ Tables of RAW data
Reminders
• Please refer to your checklist and the rubric to
ensure you are including all required sections;
no need to miss unnecessary points!
• Word count does not include abstract,
appendices, or reference page
• I am here to help and guide you, I can only give
you feedback ONCE
▫ Whatever you turn in for your rough draft is what
I will provide feedback on; use this to your
advantage!
Good Luck
&
Happy IA Writing!

Remember, I get to grade all 47 of your IAs, so who
has the shorter end of the stick?