1. IA Projects
Tips Towards Success

2. IB Physics SL Assessments

3. IA Assessment Objectives
1. Demonstrate knowledge and understanding of: facts, concepts and terminology; methodologies and techniques; methods of communicating scientific information.
2. Apply: facts, concepts and terminology; methodologies and techniques; methods of communicating scientific information.
3. Formulate, analyze and evaluate: hypotheses, research questions and predictions; methodologies and techniques; primary and secondary data; scientific explanations.
4. Demonstrate the appropriate research, experimental, and personal skills necessary to carry out insightful and ethical investigations.

4. The Internal Assessment
The internal assessment task will be one scientific investigation taking about 10 hours lab time and the write-up should be 6 to 12 pages long. (not longer or shorter)
It should require a purposeful research question and the scientific rationale for it.
The project should be broad enough to reflect significant engagement, and narrow enough to be completed in the time allowed with the equipment available.

5. Valid IA Project Types
A hands-on laboratory investigation (most often)
Using a spreadsheet for analysis and modelling
Extracting data from a database and analyzing it graphically
Producing a hybrid of spreadsheet/database work with a traditional hands-on investigation
Using a simulation, provided it is interactive and open-ended
Some tasks may consist of relevant and appropriate qualitative work combined with quantitative work.

6. Valid IA Project Types
The topic you select must fall under the umbrella of the IB Physics curriculum.
You do not need to be restricted to our subset of SL and Option B Engineering.
You may explore HL content and Options A Relativity, C Imaging, and D Astrophysics (pdfs posted on Request)

7. IA Rubric Personal engagement (0-2 pts) 8% Exploration (0-6 pts) 25%
Analysis (0-6 pts) 25%
Evaluation (0-6 pts) 25%
Communication (0-4 pts) 17%
Total (0-24 pts)
See Handout

8. IA Rubric Personal engagement Exploration Analysis
Related to interests; YOU design and do it
Exploration
Background info; Variables involved; experimental design; hypothesis; methodologies
Analysis
Data; Data summaries; Data analysis; Graphs; Tables; Stats; Error analysis

9. IA Rubric Evaluation Communication
Conclusions, sources of error, further directions, comparisons to accepted
Communication
Paper is complete, concise, free of errors
Abstract (optional)
See Slosberg’s Science IA Document to maximise your score

10. Classroom Grading and Pacing
Besides IB IA assessment rubric grading, the stages of the project will be assessed as follows.
3 Ideas (15 pts) May 30 Year 1
Project Selection (10 pts) Sept 15
Group Mock IA Project about Gases (65 pts) Sept 30
Proposal/First draft (30 pts) Oct 15
First Trials (20 pts) Nov 15
Data Complete peer presentations (20 pts) Jan 15
2nd draft for Teacher Written Feedback (30 pts) Feb 1
Group 4 project for Cover Page (30 pts) Mar 1
Final IA Paper (50 pts) Mar 15

11. The Research Process Choosing a project
Experimental design (aka Using the scientific method)
Collecting data
Data analysis
Presentation / Paper

12. Choosing a project Narrow your topic to a specific question
Consider previous projects or labs done
Consider your personal interests
Review a textbook, lab book, or a related book
Look through magazines and newspapers for current issues in the sciences
Surf the internet on your topic
Look for something in your everyday life that grabs your attention
Develop at least 3 possible projects

13. Choosing a project Decide on a tentative project
Discuss practical aspects with your teacher
Is the scope too narrow?
Is the scope too wide?
Is the needed equipment available?
Are there experts who can be contacted?
What resources can you use?

14. Choosing a project Do some background reading
What have other researchers studied on this topic?
What did they find?
What other variables can be studied?
Identify at least 3 sources of information.
Prepare the first draft of your project (Intro, background and planned method)
Note: You may switch projects at this time. You will not be allowed to change topics after you complete the draft.

15. Special Clearances
If you are working with vertebrate animals, you must obtain special permission and follow ethical guidelines for their humane treatment
For projects involving people, you must obtain consent from your subjects
If your subjects are minors (<18), you will need parental consent
Mild deception is sometimes necessary when doing a psychological project
Special permission must be obtained and subjects must be debriefed immediately after the experiment
No project needing special clearances will be approved!

16. Choosing a project (Summary)
Brainstorm ideas (at least 3 by May 15)
Narrow your topic to a specific question
Discuss practical aspects with teacher
Do some background reading
Choose a topic (by Aug 20)
Commit your project and register your project with your teacher. (by Oct 1)

17. First Assignment
Check out the resources posted online for help with your IA:
Explore 300 IA ideas document
Read Nature of Science part 1, p1-7
Read Slosberg Ch 1, p1-4 and the Appendix C list of physics labs
3 Ideas by day of the final (15 pts)

18. The Scientific Method
A procedure based on observations that is used to answer questions
Identify variables
State a hypothesis
Perform an experiment
Accept/reject/revise the hypothesis
Repeat as needed

19. Experimental design
Identify your Independent Variables (IV), Dependent Variables (DV) and Extraneous Variables
Independent variables are those that you control directly
Dependent variables are those that are measured in an experiment
Extraneous variable are those that need to be controlled and held constant.

20. Experimental design Develop your hypothesis
A hypothesis should include the independent variable, the dependent variable and a prediction about the effect of the IV on the DV
If you have multiple IVs or DVs, you will have multiple hypotheses

21. Experimental design
Operationalize the IV and DV (decide how exactly they will be measured or determined)
Control the Extraneous variables (specify how exactly you will prevent these variables from influencing your measurement of the DV)
Describe the Control condition (a Control is a case for the IV for which the IV is absent or set to zero, if possible)

22. Experimental design About CONTROL – 2 meanings
You must control the values of extraneous variables so they are the same for all trials.
A Control trial is one which is performed without the IV present or with IV = 0.
When you compare the effect of an IV vs a control trial, you can infer a cause and effect relationship between the IV and DV
Strongest scientific conclusion possible

23. Experimental design Number of trials
An experiment should give the same results upon replication regardless of who does the experiment or where it is done
5 is a minimum to use for averaging data
7 is a minimum to use for equation fitting
10-30 is desired for statistical analysis
Consider time available and scheduling (remember to shoot for 10 of lab time)

24. Experimental design Standardize the experimental conditions
If you have more than one IV, vary one at a time keeping the other constant
Consider the “First pancake principle” – when making pancakes there are so many variables involved, it’s best to just try out something. Then modify the method based on the results of the first pancake.

25. Experimental design
Sometimes a baseline measurement is subtracted from experimental data to obtain the effect of the independent variable on the dependent variable

26. Experimental design Write your intended procedure
Be specific (anyone should be able to follow the directions)
Include how you will find the needed materials
Include any equipment you will need
Do a sample trial and adjust the procedure as needed
Prepare the first draft of your IA paper (Intro, background and planned method) (By Oct 15)

27. Experimental Design (Summary)
Identify your Independent and Dependent Variables
Operationalize your variables
Develop your hypothesis
Consider number of trials needed
Consider control conditions / control trial
Standardize the experiment
Do a single trial run
Write your final procedure

28. Collecting Data Use a single notebook for this purpose
Work in pen (If mistakes are made, strike through them with a single line)
Never throw away any measured values
If you are collecting data electronically, keep an experimental journal (written or digital) describing what was done and how it is saved
Back-up any electronic data in two places

29. Collecting Data
Record the procedure actually used for each trial including any deviations from the written procedure
Record the IV of each trial and the corresponding DV next to each other
Make a data table for multiple trials
Record all quantitative and qualitative observations you can make even if they seem irrelevant at the time
Record all trials, even preliminary studies and failed trials

30. Collecting Data All data collected by Jan 1.
Prepare a PowerPoint to share your raw data with the class the first week of Second semester.
Receive peer feedback.
Hand in a draft of paper by Feb 1. This draft should include as much as possible including data analysis, error analysis, and conclusions.
Receive written feedback from the teacher (only allowed once during the year) including advice on data analysis specific to your project

31. Data analysis
Types of data
Nominal
Ordinal
Interval
Rational

32. Data analysis Descriptive Statistics Inferential statistics Accuracy
Precision

33. Data analysis Descriptive statistics – Central tendency
Mean (or average)
Median
Mode
Bar graph

34. Data analysis Descriptive statistics – Dispersion
Minimum, Maximum, Range
Rank, Quartiles
Standard deviation
Variance
Relationships between variables
x-y graphs
Slope, intercept
Straightlerizing nonlinear graphs

35. Data analysis Inferential statistics – Significance!!!
Did the different levels of the IV affect the DV in a significant way?
Many different tests are available (see me)
Most result in a p-value
A p-value is the probability that the differences you observed were due purely to chance
A p-value<0.05 is statistically significant

36. Data analysis What test do I use? Type of data # IV conditions
# trials/condition
Test to use
Nominal/Ordinal
Any number
Chi-square
Interval/Rational 2
3-30
t-test
>30
z-test
>2
>3
ANOVA
>7
Linear Regression

37. Data analysis
Linear regression results in a correlation coefficient, r, between 0 and 1
If r=0, there is no relationship between the two variables
If r=1, there is a perfect linear relationship
For the hard sciences, r must be above 0.9 for significance and it should be at least 0.99
For the social sciences, an r value of 0.4 is sufficient to show that some relationship exists

38. Data analysis
Percent error
Percent difference

39. Error Analysis/Propagation
Assess uncertainty present in measured quantities.
Propagate this uncertainty through the calculations done to find the uncertainty in your results.
If: 𝑦 = 𝑎 ± 𝑏 then: 𝛥𝑦 = 𝛥𝑎+𝛥𝑏
If: 𝑦=𝑎𝑏𝑐 then: 𝛥𝑦/𝑦=𝛥𝑎/𝑎+𝛥𝑏/𝑏+𝛥𝑐/𝑐
If: 𝑦=an 𝑛 then: Δ𝑦/𝑦=𝑛(Δ𝑎/𝑎)

40. IA Paper (See also: Slosberg)
Title
Abstract (optional)
Introduction
Background
Hypothesis
Procedure
Data
Results
Conclusions
Each project should be
Written up into a 6-12 page paper
Prepared in presentation form for class

41. Paper
Title
Specific title that clearly explains what your project is about.
Should be able to get an idea about the IV and DV
Do not put your name on the title page

42. Paper
It IS your paper in a single paragraph executive summary.
Someone should be able to read the abstract only and get the main points of your paper.
Think of it as a collection of one sentence statements of how you have met each of the objectives on the IA rubric
It is ALWAYS written last and should not be included in drafts until the penultimate one.
It is optional, but looks really good and professional if you can do it.
Abstract

43. Paper
Introduction
No need for a subheading unless you use an abstract. Then label both.
Include your personal influence for the project
Include global, ethical, or safety issues.
End with the research question

44. Paper
Background
Provide the physics background needed to understand the project.
Define variables, explain operationalization
Describe experimental design (including control variables and control trial)
General methods to be used, not a step by step procedure
End with the Hypothesis.

45. Paper
Procedure
Explain what you actually did in enough detail that anyone could duplicate your experiment without needing additional resources.
Consider using pictures of you doing the experiment if a process if difficult to explain or of any unusual apparatus.
In general IB prefers hand drawn images of apparatuses

46. Paper
Data
Include tables of raw data that connect directly to the procedure.
Label units and identify measured uncertainties.
You may include averages for identical trials only or graphs to display the raw data prior to processing

47. Paper Data Analysis Averages Std deviation Graphs / Charts Correlation
Statistics for significance
Error propagation

48. Paper
Conclusion
Results either support or do not support the hypothesis
Specify how the data corresponds to your conclusion
Do the results answer the research question?
Consider sources of error
Further directions

49. Paper
References
Include any resources you used to write the introduction, develop your methodology or process your data.
Use APA formatting for citations. See Purdue OWL for help.

50. IA Paper – First draft (Oct 15) For clearance to start trials
Title
Introduction (why this project for you)
Background ( >3 links to use, general ideas, part of IB curriculum related)
Hypothesis (IV and DV identified and a guess about how DV depends on IV)
Procedure (tentative including equipment, # of trials and a possible schedule)
References

51. IA Paper – Second draft (Jan 15) Presented for peer feedback
Title (complete)
Introduction (complete)
Background (complete)
Hypothesis (complete)
Procedure (what you actually did, materials used)
Data (Raw data tables, Visual representations of data, graphs, averages)
References

52. IA Paper – Final Draft (Feb 1) For Single Teacher Feedback
Title (From 2nd draft)
Abstract (draft)
Introduction (From 2nd draft revisions from peers)
Background (From 2nd draft)
Hypothesis (From 2nd draft)
Procedure (complete)
Data (complete)
Data analysis (draft) – teacher feedback really helps
Conclusions (draft)
References (complete)

53. IA Paper – Final (March 15) For submission, pdf emailed
Title (complete)
Abstract (complete)
Introduction (complete)
Background (complete)
Hypothesis (complete)
Procedure (complete)
Data (complete)
Data analysis (complete)
Conclusions (complete)
References (complete)

54. Presentation
“Good afternoon. I am Sally Jones. My IB Physics project is entitled….”
Title Page
Title
Your Name
Your School

55. Presentation Introduction slides What is your research questions? 2-3
Important equations or derivations
What is your research questions?
What are the variables of interest?
Why are they important to our lives? To You?
What basic theory is necessary to understand your project?

56. Presentation Hypothesis You may read this overhead directly
Number each of your hypotheses
You may read this overhead directly
“My hypothesis is /hypotheses are…”
Pause for a short while after you read these

57. Presentation Procedure
Number the steps
Use past tense and passive voice
Show pictures of any unusual apparatus
“The hypothesis was tested in the following way. First…”

58. Presentation Results “This procedure lead to the following results….
Table showing the raw data obtained
Talk through data pointing out averages and patterns
Show the data as a graph
“This procedure lead to the following results….
“These data can be better displayed as a graph…

59. Presentation Acknowledgments Resources Citations Questions….
“I’d like thank the following people…
“I found these resources helpful…
“Do you have any questions?”

60. Due Dates Last possible graded
March 15 IB Deadline (non-negotiable) FINAL IA Paper complete in digital pdf form ready for upload ed to teacher. (Before spring break)
March 1 Group 4 Physics/Bio Project performed and IA Cover sheet completed and ed.
Feb 1 Second draft due Paper/projects complete with Data analysis. (Teacher written feedback by Feb 15 – one time only)
Jan 15 Schedule individual conferences as needed for questions about data processing or statistics
Jan All data collected. (Peer feedback for revision from class presentations.)

61. Due Dates Last possible
Nov First Trial Run conferences as needed. Modifications of procedures as necessary.
Oct Proposal/First draft. (Includes background, hypothesis, research question, experimental design, time table for data collection, expected data processing and references.)
Sept 30 Mock IA Project start to finish with groups of students for a required lab about gases
Sept Topic selection (pending equipment)
May Research Ideas (conferences for focus)
May First training during first year.

62. Classroom Grading and Pacing
Besides IB IA assessment rubric grading, the stages of the project will be assessed as follows.
3 Ideas (15 pts) May 30 Year 1
Project Selection (10 pts) Sept 15
Group Mock IA Project about Gases (65 pts) Sept 30
Proposal/First draft (30 pts) Oct 15
First Trials (20 pts) Nov 15
Data Complete peer presentations (20 pts) Jan 15
2nd draft for Teacher Written Feedback (30 pts) Feb 1
Group 4 project for Cover Page (30 pts) Mar 1
Final IA Paper (50 pts) Mar 15

63. First Assignment
Check out the resources posted online for help with your IA:
Explore 300 IA ideas document
Read Nature of Science part 1, p1-7
Read Slosberg Ch 1, p1-4 and the Appendix C list of physics labs
3 Ideas by day of the final (15 pts)