# IA [Official IA rubric](https://xmltwo.ibo.org/publications/DP/Group4/d_4_physi_gui_2302_1/dp_physics_IA_criteria_en.pdf) ### Checklists {% tabs %} {% tab title="Step 1" %} **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? {% endtab %} {% tab title="Step 2" %} **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? {% endtab %} {% tab title="Step 3" %} **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)? {% endtab %} {% tab title="Step 4" %} **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? {% endtab %} {% tab title="Step 5" %} **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. {% endtab %} {% tab title="Step 6" %} **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? {% endtab %} {% endtabs %} [Clastify](https://www.clastify.com/ia/physics) and [NailIB](https://nailib.com/ia-sample) have a exemplars. [Example](https://www.docdroid.net/MS2dmk3/physics-ia-pdf). [Structure details](https://gradepod.com/blog/ib-physics-ia-subtitles-and-structure/). [Advice](https://gradepod.com/blog/ib-physics-scientific-investigation-guide/) when writing. For the [introduction](https://gradepod.com/blog/ib-physics-ia-introduction/). **RevisionDojo resources** [Checklist](https://cdn.sanity.io/files/wla69xp2/production/e7f3ec6c34f2052c4a8a1f4e8f78a86246226faf.pdf). [Planning sheet](https://cdn.sanity.io/files/wla69xp2/production/a3dca49c0f066ec1174a9ea67efd07bad6020b44.pdf). [Exemplars](https://www.revisiondojo.com/coursework-exemplars/physics-ia). *** My [practice IA](https://docs.google.com/document/d/e/2PACX-1vSmJ0wQ5I5yvFPb1eb7uv1GdtaQeHau5yNQB5YSuQw-BObEUozsMfIQnddgGnTh3d_VJBwK7nsvxzi2/pub) on SHM of a pendulum. [7 scoring IA with advice](https://yuvalamichay.wordpress.com/2020/07/14/ib-physics-internal-assessment-22-24/) ### Oxford
IA resources (digital access)
**IA book**