1. IB Psychology
Internal Assessment

2. IB Psychology Internal Assessment
Students are required to plan and undertake a simple experimental study and to produce a report of their study. A simple experiment study involves the manipulation, by the student, of a single independent variable and the measurement of the effect of this IV on a DV, while controlling the other variables.

3. Step 1: Choosing an experiment to replicate
Guidelines:
Ensure that the study has an IV that you can manipulate (not gender/age/culture)
Your research question should be significant. If you can not find at least a few sentences in a standard psychology text about the research you plan to replicate, think again.
You must clearly state your hypotheses (SL).
You must clearly state your null hypotheses (HL)

4. Step 1: Choosing an experiment to replicate
Guidelines:
You can not deceive, harm, or ask your participants to eat or drink any substances
You are not expected to conduct a ‘perfect’ experiment. This does not mean that all parts of the IA will not be included.

5. Step 2: Proposal Locate a copy of the original experiment
Analyze all of these studies by breaking them down into research design elements, theory and conclusions
Avoid too many internet sources
Receive written approval of your proposal.

6. Step 3 Modifying the Research Design
You will have to modify the original experiment
Sampling (smaller size)
Reduce the number of variables
Simplify the DV

7. Step 3 Modifying the Research Design cont’
Independent measures design Versus repeated measures design . (Be able to justify this in your report)
Independent measures is usually best as you do not have to undertake counterbalancing to avoid the test-retest confounding variable

8. Step 3 Modifying the Research Design cont’
An independent measures design is a type of method used during an experiment that involves two or more separate groups, each containing different individuals, where each participant only takes part in each condition once.
A repeated measures design refers to studies in which the same measures are collected multiple times for each subject but under different conditions.

9. Step 3 Modifying the Research Design cont’
Confounding variables are any factors other than the independent variable that could have affected the dependent variable.

10. Step 4 Obtaining your sample of participants
The JSRHS student body will be your target population.
Randomly sample
You can select an opportunity sample but you will have to justify why you did this
An ideal sample is 50 students giving you two groups of 25. If you have some no-shows you will still have 20 per group

11. Step 4 Obtaining your sample of participants
Signed informed consent forms must be obtained (You will provide a copy of the consent form in your appendix)
Students younger than 16 will require parental consent
You must keep all forms and ensure the confidentially of data
You must collect relevant bio-data from the participants e.g. age, first language etc. You will report any relevant characteristics
You must randomly assign participants

12. Step 6 Ethical Considerations
Remind participants that they are free to leave the experiment at any time
Debriefing: All participants must be informed of the results of your experiment

13. Step 7 Analyzing the Data
Use non-parametric statistical tests of significance (Mann Whitney U-test)
Your small sample size prohibits parametric tests like the t-test.
Best to calculate your test yourself but double check with online sites
Raw data and calculations should be included in the appendix

14. Writing Your Report You MUST follow the IB guidelines.
Common omissions: no abstract; data not displayed in three ways i.e. words, tables and graphs; sources not cited, no Works Sited page; no appendices (sample informed consent form, raw data, statistical test calculations, scripted instructions)
You must write like a social scientist

15. Student Advice
Do not underestimate the amount of time required to complete the IA
Do not choose a study that is too obscure
Scientific writing is “way harder” than you think
Think about the best time to hold your experiment so that students will turn up
Time management is the key
It is okay if you do not accept your hypothesis