Essential Guide to Designing and Evaluating Scientific Investigations in IB Psychology
This comprehensive guide covers the fundamental aspects of designing and evaluating scientific experiments in International Baccalaureate (IB) Psychology. It includes methodologies for formulating focused research questions, identifying independent, dependent, and controlled variables, and ensuring effective data collection and processing. Key considerations on errors, uncertainties, and statistical presentation of data are explored. The guide also emphasizes the importance of drawing justified conclusions, evaluating procedural weaknesses, and recommending realistic improvements.
Essential Guide to Designing and Evaluating Scientific Investigations in IB Psychology
E N D
Presentation Transcript
Internal Assessment IB PSOW- THE BASICS Design(D), DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING(DCP), CONCLUSION AND EVALUATION(CE), MANIPULATIVE SKILLS(MS), PERSONAL SKILLS (PS)
DESIGN (D) • ASPECT 1 – Formulate a focused problem/research question and identify the relevant variables • Ex. The effect of blow-drying on the breaking force of human hair
ASPECT 2 – Design a highly specified replicable method for the effective control of variables • INDEPENDENT, DEPENDENT and CONTROLLED VARIABLES
DESIGN (D) cont’d • ASPECT 2 – Design a method for the effective control of the variables
DESIGN (D) cont’d • ASPECT 3 - Develops a method that allows for the collection of sufficient relevant data
DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING (DCP) • Aspect 1 – Records appropriate RAW data (quantitative or qualitative), including units and uncertainties where relevant • Errors – tend to be 2 types • Equipment errors (systematic) and • measurement errors (random)
DCP cont’d • Degrees of precision – ALL MEASURED VARIABLES HAVE AN ASSOCIATED UNCERTAINTY – ALL COLUMNS IN DATA TABLES AND ALL GRAPH TITLES AND AXIS LABELES ARE REQUIRED TO HAVE AN ACCOMPANYING UNCERTAINTY COMPONENT: • (+/- X units)
DCP – Uncertainty cont’d • Rules – simplified: • For non-electronic devices (graduated cyclinder, syringes..etc) = +/- one half the last whole number or decimal place. • Exception: Ruler = +/- 1 unit of the last decimal place • For electronic instruments (stop watches, sensors, …etc) = +/- 1 unit of the last decimal place
Errors and uncertainties when processing and presenting data • Standard error, standard deviation, error bars • Must designate which…we use sd
DCP cont’d • Aspect 2 & 3 – Statistically process data and appropriately Present it (tables and graphs) …include errors and uncertainties where appropriate. • All titles for graphs and tables would be descriptive enough as to stand on its own. This includes units, error bars, and uncertainties
Ex • Fig 1. The mean (+/- 1 sd) amount of time (in secs +/- 0.05 sec) for leaf discs submerged in a test tube of bicarbonate solution to float to the top. • Table 1.
CONCLUSION AND EVALUATION (CE) • Aspect 1- State a conclusion, WITH JUSTIFICATION, based on a reasonable interpretation of the data • ASPECT 2 – Evaluate weakness and limitations in the procedure • ASPECT 3 – Suggest realistic improvements with respect to identified weaknesses and limitations • Literature Cited
Sample write-ups • See page 405 of Ch 35 • See examples from prior students ---to be given
