IB Internal Assessment

The new Science IA for 2016• Each student testing in IB Biology (May 2016) will design, conduct, analyze,

and discuss their own unique research question.– You can use other students as “extra hands” (cannot contribute anything to the

design, etc.)– Other students can peer edit the IA and the teacher can give feedback one time.

• Can be an extension of your own interests or can use labs conducted in class from BioH, IB Year 1, and the very beginning of IB Year 2 as a springboard and explore the concepts further.

• 1 IA assessed in 5 areas– Personal Engagement (maximum 2 points)– Exploration (maximum 6 points)– Analysis (maximum 6 points)– Evaluation (maximum 6 points)– Communication (maximum 4 points)

24 points possible

20% of your IB score

PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT

• How engaged are you with the exploration?

• Were you creative in making it your own?

• Score of 0-2

Personal Engagement• Assessed by looking for:– Did you explain why your variables

have a relationship?

– Did you explain why this topic matters to you?

– Clear evidence of independent thinking, creativity, initiative in the design.

– Also included here Is the science correct in your explanation of personal engagement?

EXPLORATION• Did you establish the scientific context for your work?

• Do you have a clear and focused research question?

• How effective and complete is the design of your exploration?

• Did you address the significant factors that may influence the relevance, reliability, and sufficiency of your data.

• Did you show an awareness of ethics, safety for yourself and what is being explored, and the environment?

• Score of 0-6

Scientific Context (aka “Background”)

• How does your exploration relate to biology?

• What would someone need to know or understand about biology in order to understand your question?– Completely explained– Explained well

darn

Example:• Osmosis is the movement of water from

areas of high water availability (hypotonic) to areas of lower water availability (hypertonic) and it is an important process in all living things. 1 Without it, water would not enter roots cells from the soil nor would water be able to enter body cells. 2

1 http://arbl.cvmbs.colostate.edu/hbooks/cmb/cells/pmemb/osmosis.html

2 insert correct citation hereIMPORTANT! Part of “Communication”

Clear and focused research question

• Does it state exactly what you want to find out?• Levels of Independent Variable (IDV) stated?• Dependent Variable (DV) stated?

o Example of unfocused question: How do different concentrations affect osmosis?

o Example of a more focused question: How do different concentrations of sucrose affect osmosis?

o Example of a focused question: How do the following sucrose concentrations, 0M, 0.2M, 0.4M, 0.6M, 0.8M, and 1.0M, affect osmosis in 1cm2 apple cubes?

Hypothesis• Even though IB doesn’t specifically require a hypothesis, it is

best to write one as it will help with the PE portion of the assessment

• Write your hypothesis in a way that indicates how it will be tested (a testable hypothesis).

• Example: A worker on a fish-farm notices that his trout seem to have more fish lice in the summer, when the water levels are low, and wants to find out why. His research leads him to believe that the amount of oxygen is the reason - fish that are oxygen stressed tend to be more susceptible to disease and parasites.– Example: “I think rainbow trout will suffer more lice in low water

conditions because there is less oxygen in the water.”

Advantage to writing a testable hypothesis:

• Your hypothesis leads into your experimental design

• You may want to set up a null hypothesis and an alternative hypothesis.– statistical analysis of your data will allow you to

reject either the null or the alternative hypothesis– Allows you to offer an extension to your lab

exploration

Variables• any factor, trait, or condition that can exist in

differing amounts or types • An experiment has three kinds of variables:– Independent (IDV) what is different in order to

test the hypothesis/answer the question– Dependent (DV) the data that is collected

• What data are you collecting as you stand at the lab bench?

– Controlled these are all the other things that could be different but you want to keep constant • This ensures that the data you collect allows you to

answer the question with confidence.

IDV & DV• QUESTION: How do the following sucrose

concentrations, 0M, 0.2M, 0.4M, 0.6M, 0.8M, and 1.0M, affect osmosis in 1cm2 apple cubes?– Independent (IDV): what you are manipulating in

order to test your hypothesis/answer your research question• Levels of sucrose concentration

– Dependent (DV): the data you collect (NOT what you turn it into)• Correct DV example: mass of apple cubes• Incorrect DV example: percent change of mass

– (you had to do math to get this #)

Controlled variables• QUESTION 2: How do the following sucrose concentrations, 0M,

0.2M, 0.4M, 0.6M, 0.8M, and 1.0M, affect osmosis in 1cm2 apple cubes?

– Controlled variables: What things can you think of that must be kept constant? Brainstorm with a partner!• Temperature • Volume/amount of sucrose solution• Time apple cubes in solution• Equipment taking the reading• Type of apple• Method for preparing apple cubes for massing• Size and shape of cube

– What are things that are not really important to list here?• All IDV levels tested in the same room• Same level of humidity outside• Same amount of light • Same person cutting apple cubes

Controlled variables can be displayed in a chart or in list form. They should follow the IDV and DV.

Controlled Variables(state the variable; no

magic #; list what is needed

How Method Allows for the Control of these Variables

(explain how not “why”)Temperature All of the beakers containing sucrose solution

and apple cubes were all kept at room temperature (23ºC)

Y Z

Controlled Variables Chart:

Note the use of the metric system!

Another example, different format

Controlled Variables Chart:

• Temperature: All of the beakers containing sucrose solution and apple cubes were all kept at room temperature (23ºC)

• Volume/amount of sucrose solution: all beakers contained 100 mL of solution

• Time apple cubes in solution: all apple cubes submerged in solution for 24 hours

• Equipment taking the reading: --- (specific name)• Type of apple: (species)• Method for preparing apple cubes for massing: ---• Size and shape of cube: ---

“Method,” “Sufficient,” “Relevant”:• Develops a Method: Procedure is complete & explains all

necessary steps

• Sufficient: – different levels of IDV– at least 5 trials at each level of IDV (minimum of 5 trials allows

for standard deviation analysis of the data)• Need enough data points to run Chi Square, t-test, and/or st dev

• Relevant: – data collected will actually allow you to answer the question

• Ex: If you are trying to measure the amount of bacteria that is on your desk as the day progresses & it is used, you must sanitize the desk before you begin the experiment.

Other Exploration Design requirements:

• Specific list of all materials– NO: 2x3x4cm container – YES: 500mL clear glass beaker

• Draw (and label) or take a picture of experimental set up

• State step-by-step instructions on how to conduct the experiment

Fig 1: insert title here

Fig 1: insert title here

Step-by step in the procedure:– The rule of thumb in writing these steps is to

provide enough detail so that a competent scientist in the field can repeat, or replicate, the procedure.

Other Exploration Design requirements:

• If conducting fieldwork, how ensure your sample is random?– Will discuss a few ways in the Ecology unit.

• Must explain relevant safety, ethical, and environmental issues and how they were handled.– Must have signed permission slips for all human

participants– NO animal can be subjected to conditions outside their

normal range– If no safety issues, then state that.

Practice IA Scoring for PE and EXP

• PE:

• EXP:

Practice scoring: IB Sample #2

BACKGROUND?: YES!BACKGROUND?

Focused Question?

• Did they have a question?– yes

• Was it focused?– no

MAX SCORE FOR EXP?

NO HIGHER THAN A ----

Practice scoring: IB Sample #1*Before we look at the controls, let’s score their Background & Question.

QUESTION (this person embedded their question information in a hypothesis)

HAVE BACKGROUND INFO? YES

Method/Design tannin in leaves experiment (Ex #1)

• All steps included that allow another person to complete the experiment?• No; How were the leaves chosen?

• Sufficient Data?• No; only 3 levels of IDV and only 2 trials• Not really quantitative; more qualitative (better if he quantified the amount of light)

• Relevant Data• Yes; Student is equating bitter tannin taste to level of light & he is tasting for

bitterness.

QUESTION (this person embedded their question information in a hypothesis)

FOCUSED QUESTION?: YES!

FOCUSED QUESTION?

Example #2: Controlling the variables (pass out procedure handout)

• What controls do you see in this procedure?• Test tubes left in water bath for 30 minutes• All apple cube sizes are 1cm3

• Same pH• Same amount of substrate (2 cubes of apple)• Volume of enzyme (pectinase) in each tube

• What else is controlled but isn’t listed in the chart?• Total volume in each test tube• Same type of apple• Method of crushing the apple to extract juice

Method/Design pectinase & pectin (Ex #2)

• All steps included that allow another person to complete the experiment?• No; Students Introduction mentioned a rate of reaction for pectinase

& the experiment didn’t discuss how to measure the rate of the reaction.

• Sufficient Data?• No; only 1 trial completed for each level of IDV (need at least 3; 5 is

better)• Reality of how much juice 2 small apple cubes will yield small;

apparatus says to use 25mL beaker & this would be too big

• Relevant Data• Yes

EXP SCORE?: ----