IA Format and Guide

This is the format for your IA.

o KEEP ALL HEADINGS AND SUBHEADINGS AS THEY ARE HERE.

o Formatting – font: 12pt, Arial. Between sections double spaced, within sections single spaced.
Every diagram, table, figure must be given a number and title. Pages numbered as they are
here, bottom right-hand corner. Margins should not be larger than 1” or smaller than 0.5”. DO
NOT USE FIRST PERSON.
o Strictly 6-12 pages! Beyond 12 pages will be “penalized in the communication criterion as
lacking in conciseness”, as per IB. Be concise! Science papers aim to communicate big
ideas in the simplest way possible; K.I.S.S.

Name:
Date:

WRITE RESEARCH QUESTION/STATEMENT HERE (in all CAPs)

A research question or statement should be focused. It should NOT be ambiguous or general. It
MUST include both Independent Variable(s) and Dependent Variable(s). Should not include the
actual lab you are doing.
For example, if you are interested in factors affecting global warming, you must be specific
about what exact factor you will investigate:

Bad: What releases more carbon dioxide into the atmosphere? TOO BROAD!

Good: How does the temperature of sea water affect the amount of vaporized carbon
dioxide? More focused; the question focuses specifically on temperature as one factor that
might be affecting the rate of released carbon dioxide.

Bad: How does increasing the temperature of a fish tank affect the amount of dissolved
carbon dioxide in the fish tank?

Hypothesis:
Clear, concise statement that includes your independent and dependent variables of your
actual experiment! Your hypothesis should be a direct answer to your research question. “If,
then, because” is always a good way to write a successful hypothesis!

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Table 1: Variables Selected for this Experiment
Units Range
Independent State all IV
Variable
Dependent Variable

Control Variables Units (e.g. g, ºC, Possible effect on results

mm)

Note: adjust table as needed

Uncertainties/Errors
1. Report all errors or uncertainties and where you got them
2. Can be in table format if applies
3. Explain where you got your errors/uncertainty

Background Information:
1. Introduce your topic. What general idea/problem/circumstance is your research question
about? What is the problem that concerns you? Why should this problem be investigated (i.e.
are there any benefits to answering your research question?)? Put your experiment and
research question into context: why is it important to get to the bottom of this?

2. Explain your hypothesis and also defend it. Use journals and other approved references to
support your rationale for your hypothesis.

-Pay particular attention to what the “Exploration” mark scheme here in the introduction:
 The topic of the investigation is identified and a relevant and fully focused research
question is clearly described.
 The background information provided for the investigation is entirely appropriate and
relevant and enhances the understanding of the context of the investigation.
 The methodology of the investigation is highly appropriate to address the research
question because it takes into consideration all, or nearly all, of the significant factors
that may influence the relevance, reliability and sufficiency of the collected data.
 The report shows evidence of full awareness of the significant safety, ethical or
environmental issues that are relevant to the methodology of the investigation.
 The evidence of personal engagement with the exploration is clear with significant
independent thinking, initiative or creativity.
 The justification given for choosing the research question and/or the topic under
investigation demonstrates personal significance, interest or curiosity.
 There is evidence of personal input and initiative in the designing, implementation or
presentation of the investigation.

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Safety Precautions: State that standard science safety procedures will be taken nad
include below:
a) How might you or someone else be injured during the course of your data collection?
b) Especially if you are using human or any small animals, what steps are you going to take
to make sure that you will fully respect animal life and health?
c) Will your experiment have an impact on the environment? How will you
minimize/eliminate any negative effects?

Methodology:
a) Plan to collect between 5 and 10 replications. Your writing should allow repeatability if
someone else attempted to follow your exact procedure. You should ensure that your
procedure includes at least 5 different measurements of your independent variable. For
example, 5 temps, 5 pH’s, 5 concentrations; and of course an additional control
condition if applicable.
b) Write in paragraph form, passive voice, and past tense. Do not write in first person
EVER.
c) Be specific, but do not include things like, “collect materials” or “prepare to collect data”
or “wash glassware after experiment”. These steps are part of every experiment.

Data Collection and Processing

Table 2: Independent & Dependent Variables

-Make sure this includes raw data only.
o Raw data is data that has not been mathematically altered in any way and
has been obtained directly from a measuring devise of some sort.
-Data table design & clarity is important.
-A title should be given (Raw Data Table is not a data table title, it is a lab report section title)
-Make sure that all column, etc. are properly headed & units are given.
-Repetitive units within a single column should be given once only and in the column
heading……not with each number in the column.
-At the same time, uncertainty based on the measuring device can be given.
- If a meter stick was used, an example unit and uncertainty could be given as 2 (+/- 1 mm)
-Since all of the data within any one column was collected using the same measuring device,
all should be given to the same decimal place Forgetting one unit or misidentifying one unit is
enough to drop your score in this section.
-Do not “split” a data table (putting part of a table on one page and finishing it on another).
o If you absolutely have to split a table (due to quantity of data), make sure
that you re-do the title (stating Part 2) and all column headings.
-In addition to the uncertainty type mentioned above, other kinds of uncertainties (human
counting error, etc) can be mentioned as footnotes beneath a data table.

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Table 4: Qualitative Data
-During experimentation, you should always be on the lookout for any noticeable events that
might be useful when making sense of result.
o You may notice something visually or you might smell or hear something.
o Don’t assume that it will not be useful, write it down and include it within
this table
The inclusion of qualitative data is not optional; you will not receive the highest mark in
this section without a good set of qualitative data.

Presenting Processed Data

Presents processed data appropriately and, where relevant, includes errors and
uncertainties.
Overview – This is a short paragraph section that gives an overview of how and why you
decided to process and present the data in the form that shows up later in this section.
Sample Calculation – Neatly layout and explain one example only of any type of
mathematical manipulation that was done to the raw data to help make it more useful for
interpretation.

Processed Data & Graphs

-This is typically one or more data tables (of your now processed data) and one or more graphs
of this processed data.
-Once again, the design & clarity of data tables are more important and the quality of graphs is
also very important.
-Give careful consideration to the choice of graph style that you choose to do.
-Remember that demonstrating errors and uncertainties in your data is also mandatory for the
processed data.
o Plotting best fit lines with error bars is a good way to show uncertainties in
processed data.
o Even if the data does not support a best fit line, you can still do error bars
of the data points being plotted.
o Because each plotted point should be a mean of five or more replicates,
the error bars could be either the standard deviation of that mean or it
could be the range of data making up that mean.
-Make sure that you follow good standard rules for doing graphs (valid title, axis’ labeled
including units. Etc.)
-Do not graph raw data!
Note: Weak experimental design can sometimes limit you to pie graphs and/or bar graphs.
This is typically because only the dependent variable is quantitative with the independent
variable descriptive (eg. Cold. Cool, warm, hot, etc.) Avoid this by good experimental design in
which you have a quantitative independent variable (with well chosen incremental values) as
well as a quantitative dependent variable.

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Conclusion
States a conclusion, with justification, based on a reasonable interpretation of the data.
a. The relationship between the variables is correctly stated.
b. Students must justify their conclusion and note any systematic or unforeseen random
uncertainties (anomalies).
c. Connects to the research question, and hypothesis.

Strengths and Weaknesses

Evaluates weaknesses and limitations.
a. Comments on the overall ‘quality’ of the procedure used and data collected.
b. Significant weaknesses and limitations in the process, equipment used and management
of time are identified.
c. Has some appreciation of the significance of each weakness.
d. 3 Strengths of your procedures
e. Aim for identifying 3 weaknesses/limitations.

Improving the Investigation

Suggests realistic improvements in respect of identified weaknesses and limitations.
a. Weaknesses and limitations identified earlier are addressed.
b. Realistic improvements are suggested.
c. Suggestions state exactly what should be done to reduce random uncertainties or to
improve the quality of the data.
d. Suggestions on how to remove systematic uncertainties, if present, are made.

References

Make a list IN APA STYLE of any sources that you used. 3 sources minimum.