1. IB BIOLOGY INTERNAL ASSESSMENT
DESIGN

2. What should be included?
Title page
Introduction
Research question
Hypothesis
Materials
Variables
Method for controlling variables
Method for collection of data
What should be included?

3. Title page State: your research question your name your student number
the date of the investigation
You may also wish to include a table of contents. MS Word will compile one for you automatically if you have made use of the Headings: (Insert  Object  Indexes and tables  TOC)
Title page

4. Introduction Do some research!
If you are using a specific plant, look it up.
If you are discussing a particular enzyme, discuss enzyme action and your enzyme.
If you have based your work on a reaction, provide it here.
Introduction

5. This research question needs to be specifically targeted to your investigation, referring clearly to your variables:
eg. “What is the effect of increasing temperature on the vertical growth of lima bean seedlings?”
Research question

6. Hypothesis Make an educated guess as to what you think will happen.
You do not need to justify your predictions, but it is more correct to do so.
Always start with, “It is expected that...”
Again, be specific to your research Q
Hypothesis

7. Be specific!
State quantities, volumes, dimensions, shapes, instrumental error, etc
eg.
water
100cm3 distilled water
Materials

8. Variables INDEPENDENT DEPENDENT CONTROLLED What did you CHANGE?
What did you MEASURE?
What did you KEEP THE SAME across all trials and conditions to ensure that you obtained accurate and reliable results?
There may be things that you were unable to control and you list these also.
Variables

9. Method for controlling variables
Ideally presented as a list of subheadings or a table:
VARIABLE
WHY WAS IT CONTROLLED?
HOW WAS IT CONTROLLED?
State variable
Why?
How?
Eg.
Volume of water used
Water is essential for plant growth, thus each seedling needs to be provided with the same volume of water.
100cm3 of water was used for each trial. A measuring cylinder was used for accuracy.
Method for controlling variables

10. Method for collecting data
This just needs to be sequential and detailed.
Aim for a range of conditions (5 is ideal) and a number of trials (10 is ideal).
If you are using an electronic device, include the steps for its calibration.
You can include diagrams here to help you.
Ideally, should be written in third person, past tense - but this is not essential.
Method for collecting data

12. Other handy dandy hints...
Always ask for help if you are unsure!
The more thorough your Design, the more reliable your data will be and the more you will have to talk about in the later sections of your report!
Ms Werba’s pet peeve:
Never use the word amount unless you are counting eg. an amount of sheep...
Otherwise, there is a better word! eg. volume, mass, etc
Other handy dandy hints...