Other Links: [How to Write an Inquiry]
Planning a
1. Background Info: Defining the problem or research question
a) Write a page or so about what this experiment is about. It should be like an introductory page for a term paper rather than a list of definitions.
b) Consider key terms.
c) Describe how these processes occur.
d) Use diagrams with written descriptions to show how the processes occur if needed.
e) If you did a study of drinks, what are their claims? Describe how the drinks would work. (Should info about vitamins and electrolytes be explained in any depth?
f) What did the labels on each drink state? (This could be done in the hypothesis step instead.)
g) State your question.
2. Hypothesis or prediction.
a) State clearly what you think will happen for all of your experimental setups. Rank them if that helps. Speak in terms of the dependent variable you have selected.
b) Explain why you think each experimental setup will get the predicted results. (Explain water movement for each.)
c) Use data from the labels if needed to support your prediction.
3. Selecting Variables
a) Identify the Independent Variable
b) Identify the Dependent Variable
c) Identify the variable you are measuring data from.
d) Identify as many variables as you can that might affect the accuracy of your results. (What are sources of mistakes, or places where different people might do things differently?)
i. consider variables using equipment, & nhow precise the data is.
ii. consider variables in measuring technique
iii. consider all variables that affect the rate of osmosis
iv. any other procedural variables not listed above
Identify which of the above variables are the most important to keep constant for this experiment since they might greatly affect the experimental outcome?
1. Select appropriate apparatus or materials
a) Identify all equipment or apparatus used. Specify numbers and sizes of equipment and quantities used.
2. Describes a method that allows for the control of the variables
a) A 6 or 7 step procedure probably is inadequate!
b) Describe completely but concisely any steps where people may do that procedure differently.
c) A step or steps which clearly shows where & how to use each piece of equipment or chemical should be included.
d) Consider steps which deal with the variables to keep constant from planning a above!
e) Where possible, use the phrase "Repeat step/s........" where the procedural step is the same as one earlier in the procedure.
Completeness as well as Clarity are both very important!
3. Describes a method that allows for the collection of sufficient relevant data.
a) How many trials were run.
b) How can you identify good data from bad during the experiment.
c) What might be done if a trial appears to not be accurate?
1. Records appropriate raw data. 2. Presents raw data clearly, allowing for easy interpretation.
a) Devise a table that contains the unprocessed data collected from your experiment. The table may include processed data too!
b) All data collected should be shown. Outliers should be included although if they were later removed, you might identify them somehow.
c) Label what each column and row in the table show. Include units and precision (+/- x ml, g, etc) where appropriate.
d) Write a descriptive title for the table. It probably has something to do with your question/hypothesis. A simple independent variable vs dependent variable will probably not earn you a top score!
You may want to include a brief statement below the table that describes what the table is showing or explains anything that might later be relevant to your conclusion/ analysis.
1. Processes the raw data correctly.
a) This is the mathematical part of analysis. Show equations used. Identify what all symbols are. Give one example, using your data, of how to use this equation. You may also want to state why this mathematical method helps analyze or display your data more clearly!
b) Consider other ways to analyze your data than average. See the Analyzing Data Portion of this website for other ideas. Not all analysis methods from that site are relevant for this study, but some may be very useful for clarifying what happened!
c) If you use an analysis tool here, you should include it and discuss its relevance as part of the conclusion.
d) As part of this section, consider discussing what you did with specific outliers in terms of your analysis. Discuss how this might affect your data.
2. Presents processed data appropriately, helping interpretation and where relevant, takes into account errors & uncertainties.
a) This is where you graphically present your results. How you do this should be as clear, precise and concise as possible. Label all axes and include units with precision if applicable. Use a clear key. Include a descriptive title. If you have done this correctly, the graph or chart should have a title related to the question or hypothesis!
b) Show all results on one graph or chart! Convert numerous trials into one number for display.
c) Select the form of graph or chart that best shows what happened. Select between line, pie, bar graphs, etc for your display. This is very important!
d) The only way graphs of separate trials might be included would be to show the effects of outliers. If this is done, show one example only. You can discuss the rest as part of your results.
e) Consider a description below the graph that discusses what it shows. Be as complete, but as concise as possible.
1. Gives a valid conclusion, based on the correct interpretation of results, with an explanation.
a) Restate your hypothesis again. The reader shouldn't have to go back to the beginning to see what you predicted would happen.
b) State your results. This should include only processed data. Results involving all of the analysis methods listed in the Analysis section above should be presented here.
c) Indicate how your results support your hypothesis. Indicate how your results don't support your hypothesis.
d) Explain your results. This will involve discussing water movement for each result!
e) What is the relevance or importance of your results?
2. Evaluates procedure (s) and results including limitations, weaknesses or errors.
a) Consider that your experiment shows valid results. At the same time, consider that your experiment does not show valid results, even if the results support your hypothesis. As a check of this, consult other groups who tested similar substances! All experiments have limitations and weaknesses or errors, especially those that are preliminary like the one you just ran!
b) Discuss your procedure in terms of where mistakes may have been made, which could potentially yield improper data. Especially consider the variables to keep constant!
c) Discuss your procedure in terms of how the experiment progressed. Your group may have encountered a difficulty, or a procedure that needed to be changed. This should be discussed here.
3. States realistic suggestions to improve the investigation.
a) Using the potential problems identified in the section above, suggest specific ways to improve the procedure. Be specific!
b) Yes, time for the experiment to run is an important factor, but IB doesn't care alot about that. There are things your group could have done to get around the time problem!