INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN PSYCHOLOGY What’s coming up INTERNAL ASSESSMENT IN PSYCHOLOGY What is it? What is the role of the teacher? Differences between SL and HL students; Practicing IA into the classroom – the MINI – IA/Pilot study; Using assessment criteria for internal assessment;

Internal Assessment in Psychology What is it? Is an integral part of the psychology course; Is compulsory for both SL and HL students; Main purpose - students experience the research process by practising sound research methodology; Students plan, undertake and report a simple experimental study! There are differences between SL and HL students! Constitutes 25% of the grade for SL and 20% for HL; Is expected to form a «unit» of taught time in the classroom (HL – 40 hours / SL – 30 hours) The work will be internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB.

IA Differences between SL and HL 30 recommended teaching hours Weighting: 25% Replicate a published experimental study; Characteristics of SL simple experimental study: Limited in scope Involves the manipulation of only one independent variable Involves the measurement of only dependent variable Requires the use and interpretation of the descriptive statistics Does NOT require the use of inferential statistics ; State the aim of the study. 40 recommended teaching hours Weighting: 20% HL students: may undertake a replication or a modification of a published experimental study; Are required to undertake more extensive background research related to their simple experimental study; State an operationalized experimental hypothesis; State an operationalized null hypothesis; Apply inferential statistical test to their data and interpret the result of the test.

Role of the teacher in IA Responsability of the teacher to ensure that students are familiar with: The requirements of the type of work to be internally assessed; The psychology course ethical guidelines: Academic honesty – authenticity and intellectual property; Must explain clearly to students that internally assessed work must be entirely their own; The assessment criteria; Advising students: 1st draft – in terms of the way the work could be improved 2nd draft – must be the final one.

The MINI-IA / PILOT STUDY Students should NOT be introduced to the IA “cold”; Students should have the opportunity to practice research in an environment where they can make mistakes and find their research “feet”! General format of the Pilot Study: Title page Abstract (no longer then 200 words) Contents page A. Introduction (0 – 5 marks) Theories and findings relevant for the study (GMEC evaluation) Aim, Research Hypothesis, Null Hypothesis Method (300 words) B. Design (0 – 2 marks) C. Participants (0 – 2 marks) D. Procedure (0 – 2 marks) E. Results (0 – 2 marks / 200 words / descriptive only) F. Discussion (0 – 8 marks / 800 words) G. References and word count (0 – 2 marks)

Things to remember! Psychology IA Assessment Zero’s Policy (OCC) Correlational studies, quasi experiments and natural experiments (any research undertaken without control over IV and without a controlled sampling procedure) are NOT acceptable! Variables that are based upon pre existing characteristics of the participants are NOT suitable for the IA: Gender Age Native language Culture Socioeconomic status Handedness Psychology IA Assessment Zero’s Policy (OCC)

UNACCEPTABLE TOPICS Examples of experiments that are ethically unacceptable for SL and HL internal assessment include, but are not limited to: Conformity studies Obedience studies Animal Research Placebo experiments Experiments involving: ingestion (food, drink, smoking, drugs) Deprivation (sleep, food) Young children (teachers should pay attention to local laws guidelines in the relation with the involvement of children in psychological research)

Internal Assessment Criteria SL A – Introduction – 2 marks B – Method: Design – 2 marks C – Method: Participants – 2 marks D – Method: Procedure – 2 marks E – Results - 4 marks F – Discussion – 6 marks G – Presentation – 2 marks Total: 20 marks HL A – Introduction – 5 marks B – Method: Design – 2 marks C – Method: Participants – 2 marks D – Method: Procedure – 2 marks E – Results: Descriptive- 2 marks F – Results: Inferential – 3 marks G – Discussion – 8 marks H – Citation of sources – 2 marks I – Report format – 2 marks Total: 28 marks

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