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Research Question This is the purpose of your experiment. Concisely state what you are trying to find out. “Investigate the effect of X on Y using Z”
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IB Internal AssessmentExploration
Designing an Experiment
Formulate a research question. Read the background theory. State the variables. Decide on the equipment you will need. Design a method. Decide what safety and environmental
considerations there are.
Research Question
This is the purpose of your experiment. Concisely state what you are trying to find out.
“Investigate the effect of X on Y using Z”
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.
It's good practice to finish your 'background theory' with a hypothesis.
Remember to add references.
Variables State your variables:
Independent variable. Dependent variable. Control variables.• Explain in detail how you will control
your variables.
Equipment List
List the equipment you intend to use, include the size (e.g. 25ml measuring cylinder).
State the uncertainty of your measuring equipment (e.g. ± 1ml).
Include chemicals in your list, their concentration and volumes / masses to be used.
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 (how precise will they be? can you calc a mean from them?).
Safety and Environmental Considerations
Assess the risks and write down any precautions necessary.
Write down any environmental / ethical issues that may arise from your experiement.
Remember the basic lab rules (no need to write these down).
Investigating osmosis in potatoes
IB Internal AssessmentAnalysis
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 summary table.
Presenting processed data
Present the processed data using the most appropriate graph(s), not raw data.
Graphs have correct title and labels. Graph labels include units and uncertainties. Add a line (curve?) of best fit. Error bars should be included (state what they
show).
Measurement uncertainties
State the uncertainty (precision) of each piece of equipment that you used.
Include chemicals, if appropriate.State how the uncertainties affect the data in your experiment
IB Internal AssessmentEvaluation
Concluding
Give a detailed description of your results, referring to your data and graphs.
Explain your results with reference to cited sources.
Compare your result(s) to literary values.
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, be quantitative if possible.
Improving the investigation
Improvements need to be detailed and must 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).
IB Internal AssessmentCommunication
If I can't understand what you are saying when I read your report, you
can't get full marks!
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(?).
Referencing
BooksM Henninger, Don’t Just Surf: Effective Research
Strategies for the Net, UNSW Press, Sydney, 1997, p. 91.
Referencing
Journal articleM. Doyle, ‘Captain Mbaye Diagne’, Granta, vol.
48, August 1994, pp. 99-103.
Referencing
WebsitesN Curthoys, ‘Future directions for rhetoric –
invention and ethos in public critique’, in Australian Humanities Review. March-April 2001, viewed on 11 April 2001, <htttp://www.lib.latrobe.edu.au/AHR/archive/Issue-April- 2001/curthoys.html>.
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