IA
Internal assessment
Checklists
In this step you will:
✔︎ Create a mind map and/or list with initial ideas.
✔︎ Choose your independent and dependent variables.
✔︎ Formulate your research question.
✔︎ Think about the details of your experiment.
✔︎ Test your experiment.
Brainstorm Ideas:
✔︎ I have a mind map and/or a list with my initial ideas.
Create Your Research Question:
✔︎ I have an independent and a dependent variable for my experiment.
✔︎ I wrote a research question connecting these variables.
Think About and Test Your Experiment:
✔︎ I thought about the steps of my experiment based on the research question.
✔︎ I listed the equipment that I need for my experiment.
✔︎ I verified that I have access to all this equipment.
✔︎ I set up the equipment to test my experiment.
✔︎ I collected some data at the lowest value of my independent variable.
✔︎ I collected some data at the highest value of my independent variable.
✔︎ I verified that it is easy to change my independent variable
✔︎ I verified that it is easy to measure my dependent variable
✔︎ I verified that I get a good range of values for my dependent variable
Questions to ask your teacher
Create Your Research Question:
● Are the variables chosen correctly, given the context of the investigation?
● Is the research question formulated correctly?
Think About and Test Your Experiment:
● Is all necessary equipment available (at school) that is needed to carry out the experiment?
● Does the experiment have the potential to provide sufficient and relevant qualitative and/or quantitative data to carry out data analysis and evaluation?
In this step you will:
✔︎ Write your introduction/background information section.
✔︎ Refine and fully focus your research question.
✔︎ Create your hypothesis (optional).
✔︎ Complete your variables section.
✔︎ Include your apparatus diagram.
✔︎ Describe the data collection method.
✔︎ Address safety, ethical, and environemental issues.
The Context and the Research Question:
✔︎ I created a title by reformulating the research question into a statement.
✔︎ I briefly explained my specific personal connection to/interest in my topic.
✔︎ I briefly defined/explained key terms that might not be familiar to my audience.
✔︎ I stated what specific Physics topic I will investigate.
✔︎ I refined and fully focused my research question.
✔︎ I thought about my past Physics learning related to the topic (if applicable).
✔︎ I carried out research to find out about concepts and experiments related to my topic (if applicable).
✔︎ I wrote a background information paragraph explaining the Physics behind my investigation.
✔︎ My background information section includes past learning and/or information from my research.
✔︎ I referenced any outside sources (if applicable).
✔︎ I wrote a hypothesis based on the Physics concepts that are behind my topic (optional).
The Variables:
✔︎ I wrote down my independent and dependent variables and included units for them.
✔︎ I wrote down my control variables.
✔︎ I explained why my control variables must be controlled (reason).
✔︎ I explained how my control variables will be controlled (method).
The Data Collection Method:
✔︎ I created an apparatus diagram.
✔︎ My apparatus diagram shows the experimental setup, not simply the pieces of equipment that I will use.
✔︎ I wrote down a detailed step-by-step method; my method is concise and includes only necessary information.
✔︎ I created a section for safety, ethical, and environmental issues (even if my experiment has none of these issues).
✔︎ I explained how I will ensure that my experiment is safe (if applicable).
✔︎ I explained how I will ensure that my experiment is ethical (if applicable).
✔︎ I explained how I will ensure that my experiment does not harm the environment (if applicable).
Questions to ask your teacher
The Context and the Research Question:
● Is the title of the internal assessment clear?
● Does the introduction seem complete and concise?
● Is the research question relevant and fully focused?
● Is the background information relevant and correct?
● Does the background information give the reader a better understandingabout my topic?
● Does the hypothesis make sense based on the background information?
The Variables:
● Are the units for the independent and dependent variables correct?
● Are the control variables chosen correctly?
● Should any other control variables be included?
● Is the explanation about why each control variable should be controlled clear and correct (reason)?
● Is the explanation about how each control variable will be controlled clear and correct (method)?
The Data Collection Method:
● Is the apparatus diagram clear and correct?
● Is the method outline clear and detailed enough?
● Is the method outline concise enough?
● Will my method generate data that might help me answer the research question?
● If using a database: are my data sources correctly chosen and their reliability clearly explained?
● Are all relevant safety, ethical, and environmental issues clearly and correctly addressed?
In this step you will:
✔︎ Conduct your experiment and collect raw data.
✔︎ Consider and write about measurement uncertainties.
✔︎ Create your raw data table.
✔︎ Carry out uncertainty propagation calculations.
✔︎ Show example calculations where appropriate.
✔︎ Consider outliers (if applicable).
✔︎ Create your processed data table.
✔︎ Plot your data points on a graph including error bars.
✔︎ Draw the line of best fit.
✔︎ Linearize your data (if applicable).
✔︎ Draw maximum/minimum gradient lines (only for straight best-fit lines).
✔︎ Use the maximum/minimum lines to calculate uncertainties for your best-fit line (only for straight best-fit lines).
The Raw Data Table:
✔︎ I carried out my experiment with at least three trials (if applicable) at each value of the independent variable.
✔︎ I created my raw data table and recorded my raw data in this table.
✔︎ My raw data table headings include the name of and letter symbol for my variables.
✔︎ The letter symbols for my variables are in italics.
✔︎ My raw data table headings include units.
✔︎ My raw data values are given to a consistent number of decimal places, based on the precision of my measurements.
✔︎ My raw data table headings include measurement uncertainties given to one (or maybe two) significant figures.
✔︎ My independent variable values and independent variable uncertainty are given to the same accuracy.
✔︎ My dependent variable values and dependent variable uncertainty are given to the same accuracy.
✔︎ I explained and justified my raw data table (measurement) uncertainties, referring to my data collection method and instruments.
The Processed Data Table:
✔︎ I explained the choice of the variables for my graph axes (where relevant).
✔︎ I carried out appropriate uncertainty propagation calculations.
✔︎ I showed concise, relevant examples of my uncertainty propagation calculations.
✔︎ I justified my choice of processed data uncertainties.
✔︎ My processed data table headings include the name of and/or symbol for each value.
✔︎ All symbols in the headings of my processed data table are in italics.
✔︎ My processed data table headings include units where appropriate.
✔︎ All values in my processed data table (including uncertainties) are given to an appropriate accuracy.
✔︎ I considered and appropriately dealt with outliers (if applicable).
Graphing Your Data:
✔︎ I fully and correctly labelled my graph (title, variables, units).
✔︎ I plotted all data points from my processed data table.
✔︎ I added appropriate error bars to my data points.
✔︎ I tried to fit different curves/lines to my data and chose the most appropriate one.
✔︎ I briefly discussed the equation of the best-fit curve/line (if applicable).
✔︎ I considered linearizing my data (if applicable).
✔︎ I drew maximum/minimum gradient lines (if applicable).
✔︎ I used my maximum/minimum gradient lines to calculate uncertainties for my best-fit line (if applicable).
Questions to ask your teacher
The Raw Data Table:
● Are my raw data table headings complete and fully correct?
● Are my raw data values given to an appropriate number of decimapl places?
● Are my measurement uncertainty values given to an appropriate number of significant figures?
● Are my data values and uncertainties correctly given to the same accuracy?
● Are my raw data (measurement) uncertainties correctly explained and justified?
The Processed Data Table:
● Are the variables that I plan to plot on my graph axes make sense?
● Are my uncertainty propagation calculations (including the example calculations) correct?
● Are my processed data uncertainties correctly chosen and appropriately justified?
● Are my processed data table headings fully correct?
● Are all values in my processed data table (including uncertainties) given to an appropriate accuracy?
● Have I correctly addressed any issues related to outliers?
Graphing Your Data:
● Are my graph axes fully and correctly labelled?
● Are my data points and error bars plotted correctly?
● Is my choice of best-fit curve/line correct and justified?
● Is the equation of my best-fit line relevant and meaningful?
● Does it make sense to linearize my data and if yes, have I correctly done this?
● Are my maximum/minimum gradient lines drawn correctly (if applicable)?
● Have I correctly used my maximum/minimum gradient lines to calculate uncertainties for my best-fit line (if applicable)?
In this step you will:
✔︎ Explain any trends or patterns in your data.
✔︎ Discuss whether your data can be used to answer the research question or not.
✔︎ Discuss whether your data supports the hypothesis (if you had one) or not.
✔︎ Comment on any random and/or systematic errors that you see in your data.
✔︎ Compare your conclusion to the accepted scientific context, referencing reliable sources where applicable.
Answering the Research Question:
✔︎ I explained trends and patterns that are present in my data.
✔︎ I restated and answered my research question or I explained why the data is only partially conclusive/incloclusive and cannot be used to fully answer the research question.
✔︎ I discussed whether the data supports my hypothesis (if there was one) or not.
✔︎ I discussed the reliability of my data, addressing any random and/or systematic uncertainties, including the direction of systematic errors.
Comparing Your Results to the Scientific Context:
✔︎ I compared the results of my investigation to the relevant scientific context (for example, accepted values, models, etc).
✔︎ I referenced reliable scientific sources so that the reader can easily trace these sources.
Questions to ask your teacher
Answering the Research Question:
● Have I fully and correctly explaind the patterns and trends that are present in my data?
● Have I fully and correctly answered the research question/explained why my data does not allow me to (conclusively) answer the research question?
● Have I correctly discussed whether the data supports my hypothesis (if I had one) or not?
● Have I correctly discussed the reliabilty of my data and addressed uncertainties?
Comparing Your Results to the Scientific Context:
● Have I appropriately compared the results of my investigation to the relevant scientific context?
● Are my sources relevant and reliable and have I appropriately referenced them?
In this step you will:
✔︎ Explain specific methodological weaknesses and limitations in your investigation.
✔︎ Evaluate the impact of these weaknesses and limitations on your data.
✔︎ Suggest specific, relavant, realistic improvements to the weaknesses and limitations that you identified.
Weaknesses and Limitations:
✔︎ I discussed specific methodological and procedural weaknesses and limitations in my investigation.
✔︎ I provided evidence from my investigation that supports the specific weaknesses and limitations that I identified.
✔︎ I evaluated the impact of the weaknesses and limitations that I identified.
Improvements:
✔︎ I suggested improvements to my investigation.
✔︎ The improvements I suggested are relevant and are based on the specific weaknesses and limitations that I identified.
✔︎ The improvements I suggested are realistic and are feasible in my school’s lab or in my immediate environment.
Questions to ask your teacher
Weaknesses and Limitations:
● Have I correclty identified and discussed weaknesses and limitations that are specific to my investigation?
● Is the evidence I provided for my weaknesses and limitations clear and detailed enough?
● Have I fully and correctly evaluated the impact of the weaknesses and limitations that I identified.
Improvements:
● Are the improvements I suggested relevant and specific enough for the weaknesses and limitations I identified?
● Are the improvements I suggested realistic and are feasible in the school’s lab or in the immediate environment.
In this step you will:
✔︎ Make sure that your sources are cited and referenced correctly.
✔︎ Check in with a referencing expert (most likely your school librarian).
✔︎ Go through the checklists from all six steps of the PaperPlainz IA Guide.
✔︎ Proofread your work.
✔︎ Give your work to a friend/classmate to read and mark.
✔︎ Ask your teacher for some final feedback (if possible).
✔︎ Hand in your work, smile, and celebrate :)
Referencing Your Sources:
✔︎ I ensured that my citations and referencing are done correctly and that I included all sources that I used.
✔︎ I asked a referencing expert (for example, my school’s librarian) to check my citations and referencing.
Final Checks:
✔︎ I went through all checklists one last time from the six steps of the PaperPlainz IA Guide.
✔︎ I set my work aside for some time and proofread it with fresh eyes.
✔︎ I worked with an IA buddy, marked their work, and received feedback from them.
✔︎ I asked for any final feedback that my teacher is able to give me.
✔︎ I handed in my work and celebrated :)
Questions to ask your teacher
Referencing Your Sources:
● Are my citations and referencing clear and correct (this might be a question to your school’s librarian)?
Final Checks:
● Do you have any final feedback that you can give me before I hand in my work and if yes, what is this feedback?
Clastify and NailIB have a exemplars.
Advice when writing. For the introduction.
RevisionDojo resources
Checklist. Planning sheet. Exemplars.
My practice IA on SHM of a pendulum.
Oxford
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