Detailed check list for completing IBDP Science Internal Investigation

1. IBDP Sciences Internal Investigation Headings and Guidance Checklist
Research Question
□ A descriptiveyet concisetitleis given
□ A grammatically correctquestion abouta preciserelationship isasked
□ A sufficiently detailed question to stand aloneand be self-explanatory is asked
□ A specific measurabledependent variableis included
□ A specific independent variableto be manipulated is included
□ Preciselocations,measurements and Genus species names are given
Background Information
□ The introduction includes an observation thatleads to the research question
□ Thinking,initiativeor insightfor investigatingchosen topic is given
□ Justification indicates personal interest,significanceor curiosity for chosen design &
presentation is given
□ All information is clearly supported with references
□ At least3 appropriatesources with authors have been used
□ Both Internet and printsources areincluded
□ There is no plagiarism(this will givea zero)
Hypothesisand ScientificReasoning
□ A grammatically correctanswer to the research question is given
□ The hypothesis can be supported through scientific research and reasoning
□ A preciserelationship between the independent and dependent variables is predicted
□ The independent and dependent variables arewritten exactly the same as in the
question
□ The hypothesis is given as a scientifically reasonableanswer to the research question
□ The hypothesis is clearly justified and supported through a review of scientificliterature
Variables
□ All key variables relevantto the experiment are investigated
□ Subheadings of Independent Variable,Dependent Variableand Controlled Variables are
given
□ Independent and dependent variables arewritten exactly the same as in the question
□ A very brief description of how the independent variableis modified is given
□ A very brief description of how the dependent variableis measured is given
□ Controlled variables includeall significantvariables thatcould affect the dependent
variable
□ A very brief description of why each controlled variablemustbe kept constantis given
Apparatus
□ [List all equipment used] [Includeall items,quantities,concentrations,volumes,masses
etc., for measuringequipment uncertainties]
Method- manipulationand control of variables
□ An introduction establishes themethodology as a fair test of the hypothesis
□ The modification of procedures from other sources areclearly referenced in APA format
□ All materials areclearly listed with details (type, amount, size,volume, concentration…)
□ Diagrams and/or photographs clearly showingthesetup of apparatus isincluded
□ Diagrams and photographs arereferenced usingAPA or (Drawing/Photograph by
Author)
□ What was done and an explanation of why is given for each step
□ How the independent variablewas manipulated is clearly described
□ How the listed controlled variables werekept controlled in the experiment is described
□ The use and method of random samplingis described where relevant
□ Comment on possiblehazards,environmental,ethical and social impacts of the work,
and say how they will dealtwith to minimisethe impact]
Method- choice of data processingand presentation
□ The introduction establishes thedata collected is valid for answeringthe research
question
□ The reliability of the methodology is established through sufficientrepetition
□ How the dependent variablemeasurements were taken is precisely explained
□ The number of dependent variablemeasurements and why this amount is described
□ The sizeof the increments between each data pointand why this was acceptableis
described
□ The use of at least5 repeats to calculatestandard deviation for error analysisis
explained
□ The inclusion of a samplesizeof at least10 is described when the T-test was used
□ The collection of data from any other students or sources is clearly explained and
referenced

2. Data Collectionand Analysis:ProcessingData (raw includingqualitative data
and processeddata tables)
□ A shortintroduction is given to establish whatdata was collected and why itis
appropriate
□ Appropriate rawquantitativedata is recorded in a clearly designed and drawn table
□ A descriptivetitlewith the variables isgiven for the data table
□ Column headings includethe quantity, units and uncertainties
□ Data is recorded to an appropriatedegree of precision and consistentwith uncertainties
□ How the uncertainties were determined for measurements is stated below the data
table
□ Each data tablehas a shortparagraph establishingits relevance
□ Qualitativedata is recorded in the data table or separately as appropriate
□ A shortintroduction of how the data was processed is given
□ The relevance of this data processingto answer the research question is given
□ Calculations arecarried outcorrectly and allowconstruction of an appropriategraph
□ Calculations areincluded in a tableof calculationswhen appropriate
□ Data tablefrom collection is copied and pasted and modified to includecalculations
□ Sample calculationsaredemonstrated for the reader
□ Uncertainties are calculated and explained if necessary
Data Analysis:presentingand describingdata (graphs and descriptionoftrends)
□ The dependent variableis appropriately graphed againstthe independent variable
□ Graphs includedescriptivetitles of the variables and axisarelabeled includingunits
□ Error bars showingthe uncertainties areincluded on the graph for individual data points
□ How uncertainties were determined is stated below the graph and explained if not
included
□ Maximum and minimum lines of best fit aredrawn if appropriate
□ Each graph has a paragraph discussingthe relationship(s) and trends shown – no
conclusion
Conclusion
□ An introduction is given
□ A conclusion is clearly stated “In conclusion…”
□ The conclusion given is correctand clearly supported by the interpretation of the data
□ Key data from the analysisisgiven and trends in the data are discussed
□ The extent to which the hypothesis is supported by the data is explained
□ The variation in results isreported,showing the strength of the conclusion
□ Scientific reasoningis used to show the validity of the relationship
□ How far the conclusion can begeneralized is discussed
Evaluation
Evaluation
□ The appropriateness of the apparatus in obtainingrelevantdata is commented on
□ Weaknesses in the methodology are discussed
□ The reliability of the data is commented on
□ The quantity of the data is commented on
□ The precision and accuracy of the data is commented on
□ Outlier data or irregularities in thedata are addressed
□ The significanceof uncertainties in the trend lineis determined
Suggested Improvements
□ Where limitationsaredetermined to be significant,specific improvements are proposed
□ Improvements effectively address the limitations (notjustto be more careful)
□ Improvements are given which are possiblewithin the context of a school laboratory
Further Research Questions
□ At least2 further research questions are stated with clear independent and dependent
variables
□ The research questions arean extension from the conclusion and evaluation
□ A shortexplanation for each question is given to establish its importanceand relevance
References
□ Parenthetical in-text references/citations aregiven in APA format
□ A Works Cited Listwith APA formatting is given at the end of the report
□ Sources are written in alphabetical order by author’s lastname
□ Each sourceis listed with a hangingindent
□ A minimal of 5 correctly referenced sources is included in the report.
Overall Guidance for the Internal Investigation
Overall Presentation
□ No spellingor grammar errors arepresent
□ There areclear headings for each section,with consistentformatting
□ All tables and diagrams havea title and brief description with APA referencing if
required.
□ Arial or Times New Roman font size12 font is used
Methodology
□ A well-organized methodology written in pasttense with good paragraph/numbered
structure