IB Physics Internal Assessment (IA): Research Design

1. Overview & General Requirements

• The Task: A single, individual experimental report where students design an investigation, collect and analyze data, and evaluate their findings.
• Time Allocation: Designed to take approximately 10 hours of class/lab time. The method must collect sufficient data within this realistic timeframe (including trialling and redesign).
• Word Count: Strict maximum of 3,000 words. Examiners are instructed to stop reading exactly at the 3,000-word mark.
• Excluded from Word Count: Charts, graphs, data tables, equations, formulas, sample calculations, diagrams and their labels, citations, references, bibliography, headers, and titles.
• Page Limit: No strict page limit, but concise scientific communication is expected. A well-formatted 3,000-word report with tables and graphs averages 12-15 pages.
• Weighting & Levels: Counts for 20% of the final IB Diploma grade. Assessment criteria are exactly the same for both Standard Level (SL) and Higher Level (HL). All students can explore topics outside the syllabus.
• Assessment Criteria: 4 criteria total (24 marks). Research Design is worth 6 marks.

2. First Page Formatting

• Title of the Investigation: Clear, descriptive, outlines the scope.
• IB Candidate Session Number: Alphanumeric (e.g., xyz123). CRUCIAL: The student's actual name and the school's name must NOT appear anywhere. Ensure photos of setups do not show textbooks or labels with names.
• Subject and Level: State "Physics SL" or "Physics HL".
• Assessment Session: e.g., May 2026.
• Word Count: Exact word count of the IA.
• Research Question (Recommended): Place the explicit RQ on the first page immediately below the title to set clear focus.

3. Research Question (RQ) and Context

• Uniqueness: The RQ must be unique to the student.
• Variables: Must include an independent and dependent variable (or derived dependent variable) that are quantifiable. Focus almost exclusively on exactly one independent and one dependent variable.
• Quantitative Nature: Variables must be quantitative (measurable numerical amounts/continuous, or distinct integer counts/discrete). Non-quantitative/categorical variables (like type of metal or color) cannot be mathematically operated on to linearize curves and should be avoided as the primary independent variable.
• Focused Question Requirements:
  • Pinpoint Scientific Vocabulary: Replace everyday words (e.g., "bouncy", "bending of light") with measurable physics terminology (e.g., "coefficient of restitution", "lateral displacement").
  • Precisely Defined Physical System: Specify the exact object and static parameters (e.g., instead of "a wire", use "a 30 SWG constantan wire").
  • Clear Boundaries (Scope): Imply a manageable scope for standard high school equipment within 10 hours. Adding the specific range of the independent variable provides focus.
• Background Context & Theory: The context should help understand the specifics of the RQ and its implementation. General overviews (e.g., broad summary of electric circuits) will not score high. Focus reading on the exact RQ. The context must establish the link between variables (e.g., referencing Faraday's Law or damping coefficients).
• Hypothesis (Optional): Not obligatory, but helps set the RQ in context. If a hypothesis is included, it MUST be addressed in the conclusion.

4. Recommended Report Structure

1. Title & Research Question: Clear, descriptive, and defining the variables.
2. Introduction & Scientific Context: Brief background theory and hypothesis.
3. Methodology: Apparatus list (with precision), Variables list, Safety considerations, Step-by-step procedure, and annotated diagram.
4. Data Collection (Raw Data): Formatted tables with units, uncertainties, and qualitative observations.
5. Data Processing & Analysis: Sample calculations, uncertainty propagation, processed data tables.
6. Graphical Presentation: Main graph(s) with max/min lines of best fit to determine gradient uncertainty.
7. Conclusion: Justifying results against background theory.
8. Evaluation: Limitations, impact on data, and realistic improvements.

5. Methodology and Experimental Design

• Reproducibility: The methodology must read like a precise manual that another physicist could reproduce without asking questions.
• Variables & Range:
  • Independent Variable: Define the range and increments. Minimum of 5 data points across a broad enough range to reveal a trend (4 accepted in exceptional cases).
  • Dependent Variable: Detail exactly HOW it is measured, using standard protocols where appropriate (cite them). Provide rationale for sampling rate to ensure meaningful, non-excessive data.
  • Controlled/Confounding Variables: Listing is not enough. Explicitly state the physical method used to keep each variable constant (e.g., "monitored using a digital thermometer and kept at 22.0 ± 0.5 °C by..."). Identify variables that cannot be controlled but must be monitored.
• Apparatus and Setup:
  • Instrument Precision: List every piece of measuring equipment with its absolute uncertainty (e.g., Digital caliper, ±0.01 mm) and sizes.
  • Annotated Diagram: A clear, labeled 2D schematic of the setup is superior to lengthy paragraphs describing placement. Use photographs if they add value. Avoid superfluous images (e.g., a standalone picture of a stopwatch).
• Procedural Reproducibility:
  • Data Collection Steps: Outline the step-by-step sequence in a logical order without unnecessary repetition. Ensure correct scientific terms (spelling not penalized if unambiguous).
  • Trials & Repeats: Explicitly state the number of trials. A minimum of 3 trials is standard for calculating mean and random error, though 5 is preferable for robust error bars. If the data reflects repeats, lack of explicit mention won't necessarily be penalized, but it is expected practice.
  • Calibration: Note steps taken to calibrate sensors, zero balances, or check for zero errors.
  • Preliminary Trial: A preliminary or trial investigation should be described and assessed to refine range, intervals, and sampling rate.

6. Risk Assessment (Safety, Ethical, & Environmental)

• Requirement: A brief risk assessment is explicitly required, checking for safe handling of chemicals/equipment, application of IB guidelines, judicious consumption of materials, and proper waste disposal.
• Mitigation: Identify specific hazards (e.g., high currents, lasers, heavy masses) and the practical mitigation steps taken. Stating a risk is not enough; it must be addressed.
• Zero Risk Scenarios: If an investigation genuinely has no safety, ethical, or environmental considerations (e.g., certain database or simulation work), the student MUST include a statement to this effect.
• Ethics in Databases: Ethical issues can arise in the use of databases; raising them is to the student's credit.
• Unsafe Experiments: Setups constituting a severe risk will be referred to the IB, and the school may be contacted.