IB Biology Internal Assessment Lab Format

Do not cram sections together leaving me no room to make comments.

Do not complete sections out of order (like attaching graphs at the end)
The following titles and subtitles should be used for your lab report.
Planning (a)
Question must be focused and not ambiguous in any way
make it clear what you are investigating (use a little how and
why)
The reader should be able to deduce the point of the investigation
from this sentence alone.
e.g. Osmosis investigating the effect of solute concentration on the
weight of potato discs! when submerged in a range of concentrations
of salt solution for " hours#.
Hypothesis make your prediction then give a logical supported rationale
$cademic %onesty remember to cite your sources of information
properly
Variables chart identifying !ndependent" Dependent" #ontrolled $ariables
Variables %nits &ange
!ndependent $ariable
Dependent $ariable
Controlled Variables %nits 'ossible effect(s) on
results
(ethod for #ontrol
Planning (b)
Protocol Diagram draw label a diagram which best shows the protocol you used
most likely in the form of a flow chart
Photograph o Lab !etup annotate this to show how "ariables were
!nstituted" especially the controls. Do not )ust label e*uipment.
&ou may use a cell phone for this but let me know in advance what
you are doing so ' dont take you phone from you(
Procedure write in paragraph form" passive voice" and past tense+.be sure to
emphasi,e how many times each data set is being repeated (- is minimum)
'nclude details of how to measure your independent and dependent
variables.
)ive precise details of values! units and e*uipment
+ake sure you are collecting enough data , how large does your
sample si-e need to be.
%ow many times will you repeat your investigation to ensure reliable
results.
Data Collection
#a$ Data %able & (ake sure this is raw data only. Data table design clarity is
important. . title should be given (&aw Data Table is not a data table title" it is a lab report
section title) (ake sure that all columns" etc. are properly headed units are given. /orgetting
one unit or misidentifying one unit is enough to drop your score in this section. Do not split a
data table (putting part of a table on one page and finishing it on another). !f you absolutely have
to split a table (due to *uantity of data)" make sure that you re0do the title and all column
headings. %ncertainties can be given within column headings for e*uipment precision and as
footnotes beneath data tables for other types of uncertainties.
1olute
#oncentration
(2) (340 5.62)
&epeat !nitial 7eight
of discs
(g) (340 5.6g)
/inal 7eight
of discs
(g) (340 5.6g)
5
8
9
-
Data Processing & Presentation
'"er"ie$ this is a short paragraph section that gives an overview of how and why you
decided to process and present the data in the form that shows up later in this section.
!ample Calculation neatly lay out and e:plain one e:ample only of any one type of
manipulation that was done to the raw data to help make it more useful for interpretation. +ake
sure you have checked all your calculations to avoid any silly mistakes.
Presentation this is typically one or more data tables (of your now processed data) and
one or more graphs of this processed data. ;nce again" the design clarity of data table(s) is
important and the *uality of graphs is also very important. <ive careful consideration to the
choice of graph style(s) that you choose to do. Think about doing a scatter plot or perhaps a
bo:4whisker plot or any number of other creative graphing styles rather than )ust a simple line
graph. /hen graphing on e0cel choose the scatter option instead of the best fit graph and
complete the line of best fit by hand , it will look much better. (ake sure that you follow good
standard rules for doing graphs (valid title" a:is= labeled including units" etc.) 7eak e:perimental
design can sometimes limit you to pie graphs and4or bar graphs> avoid this by good e:perimental
design in which you have a *uantitative independent variable (with well chosen values) as well as
a *uantitative dependent variable.
1olute
#oncentration
(2) (340 5.62)
&epeat 7eight #hange
(g)
2 7eight
#hange
(g) (340 82)
(ean 2 #hange
(340 82)
5
8
9
-
Conclusion & Evaluation
Conclusion 0 This is a paragraph section in which you get a chance to discuss the
results of your e:periment. 1tart by addressing whether your data seems to support or refute your
hypothesis. This should be discussed and not )ust stated. 1pecifically refer to your graphs to
give support to this discussion. .void the use of the word proof or proves within your
conclusion" as your data will not prove anything.
'nterpret your results! based on the data collected and with reference
to your hypothesis or background information.
/hat (if any) general trends do you observe. /hat do they suggest.
$re there any anomalous (unusual) results. /hat might be their
significance.
1oes the data you collected support your hypothesis. /hy2 /hy
not.
/hat does your data suggest about the outcome of your research
*uestion.
1o other sources of information or investigations support your
findings. (3ite your sources(()
%ow could you develop this investigation for further study.
Limitations o ()perimental Design this paragraph section discusses how well your
e:perimental design helped answer your e:perimental *uestion. 7hat worked well (and why)
and what did not work well (and why). This must be a worthwhile evaluation of the method
chosen" rather than a superficial commentary on poor lab techni*ues and sloppy work. ! should
measure more accurately is a problem with your practical skills" rather than the method of
investigation.
1id you record any anomalies in your practical work. %ow did they
affect your results and what did you do to minimi-e their adverse
effects.
/hat weaknesses were present in the method chosen for the
investigation and how could they have affected the outcome.
1id anything occur during the investigation to comprise the reliability
of your results.
!uggestions or Impro"ement 0 this section should be used for two purposes.
8) what minor improvements could be made to the design features that you )ust
mentioned in the previous section that would perhaps lead to better results
ne:t time
9) what suggestions do you have for other possible e:perimental designs that
may work better for answering this *uestion