Background Information

This is often the area that students tend to find particularly difficult to structure and reference. The truth is it shouldn't be so hard! You need to frame this area so you can build all knowledge needed to understand how your research question will be answered.

6 mark Background Information has to include:

• Information that is Appropriate and Relevant
• Enhances understanding of the topic
• Enhances understanding of the context

It is also worth noting that - as the key area where the following can be assessed:

• Secondary Data can be identified and used
• Referencing of Material
• Organisation and Structure of Report

In this area the IB are looking for you to explain this to a scientist who has no prior knowledge of the experiment. This includes the topic!

The only difficult caveat in this area is making sure you reference any statements that you make. IB students often forget to reference all statements - the background information is likely to be heavily referenced material as you will be either directly quoting or paraphrasing secondary sources all the way through the section. References also need to be included for Graphs, Tables and Figures - in this case a Maxwell Boltzmann Curve or a Rate Order Graph would have to be referenced from a secondary source.

There is a general feeling that this falls under two categories - what SL students should include and what HL students should include:

The main background science for this topic is found here

To go beyond the SL syllabus you should also speak about the understandings in the HL syllabus - namely:

• Link the Reaction Mechanism to the Rate determining Step (you will have to research what this means)
• Discuss how to formulate a Rate Equation for this experiment - including discussing the Order of Reactants and Overall Order of the Reaction and these explanations can be found here

The main background science for this topic is found here and here

1. Rate of Reaction
2. Collision Theory
3. Maxwell-Boltzmann Distribution and how Temperature and Concentration affect the curve
4. Activation Energy
5. The balanced equation for reaction between thiosulphate and HCl - including any further steps in the mechanism and the rate determining step
6. Are there any other determining factors? Is the reaction in dynamic equilibrium? If so then temperature will also effect the concentration so check this
7. Orders of Reaction (this is rate theory - you will need to look this up)
8. Rate-Order graphs
9. Calculating rate from 1/t (Concentration of Thiosulphate is EQUAL to 1/t)

A Hypothesis is a short statement that links the Independent Variable, Dependent Variable and Background Science into a Prediction.

Types of Hypothesis

First, we must take a moment to define independent and dependent variables. Simply put, an independent variable is the cause and the dependent variable is the effect. The independent variable can be changed whereas the dependent variable is what you're watching for change. For example: How does the amount of makeup one applies affect how clear their skin is? Here, the independent variable is the makeup and the dependent variable is the skin.

The six most common forms of hypotheses are:

• Simple Hypothesis
• Complex Hypothesis
• Empirical Hypothesis
• Null Hypothesis (Denoted by "HO")
• Alternative Hypothesis (Denoted by "H1")
• Logical Hypothesis
• Statistical Hypothesis

A simple hypothesis is a prediction of the relationship between two variables: the independent variable and the dependent variable.

• Drinking sugary drinks daily leads to obesity.

A complex hypothesis examines the relationship between two or more independent variables and two or more dependent variables.

• Overweight adults who 1) value longevity and 2) seek happiness are more likely than other adults to 1) lose their excess weight and 2) feel a more regular sense of joy.

A null hypothesis (H0) exists when a researcher believes there is no relationship between the two variables, or there is a lack of information to state a scientific hypothesis. This is something to attempt to disprove or discredit.

• There is no significant change in my health during the times when I drink green tea only or root beer only.

This is where the alternative hypothesis (H1) enters the scene. In an attempt to disprove a null hypothesis, researchers will seek to discover an alternative hypothesis.

• My health improves during the times when I drink green tea only, as opposed to root beer only.

A logical hypothesis is a proposed explanation possessing limited evidence. Generally, you want to turn a logical hypothesis into an empirical hypothesis, putting your theories or postulations to the test.

• Cacti experience more successful growth rates than tulips on Mars. (Until we're able to test plant growth in Mars' ground for an extended period of time, the evidence for this claim will be limited and the hypothesis will only remain logical.)

An empirical hypothesis, or working hypothesis, comes to life when a theory is being put to the test, using observation and experiment. It's no longer just an idea or notion. It's actually going through some trial and error, and perhaps changing around those independent variables.

• Roses watered with liquid Vitamin B grow faster than roses watered with liquid Vitamin E. (Here, trial and error is leading to a series of findings.)

A statistical hypothesis is an examination of a portion of a population.

• If you wanted to conduct a study on the life expectancy of Savannians, you would want to examine every single resident of Savannah. This is not practical. Therefore, you would conduct your research using a statistical hypothesis, or a sample of the Savannian population.

Parameters of a Good Hypothesis

In order for a hypothesis to be sound, hold tight to these tips:

Ask yourself questions.

• Brainstorm. Define the independent and dependent variables very specifically, and don't take on more than you can handle. Keep yourself laser-focused on one specific cause-and-effect theory.

Be logical and use precise language.

• Keep your language clean and simple. State your hypothesis as concisely, and to the point, as possible. A hypothesis is usually written in a form where it proposes that, if something is done, then something else will occur. Usually, you don't want to state a hypothesis as a question. You believe in something, and you're seeking to prove it. For example: If I raise the temperature of a cup of water, then the amount of sugar that can be dissolved in it will be increased.

Make sure your hypothesis is testable with research and experimentation.

• Any hypothesis will need proof. Your audience will have to see evidence and reason to believe your statement. For example, I may want to drink root beer all day, not green tea. If you're going to make me change my ways, I need some sound reasoning and experimental proof - perhaps case studies of others who lost weight, cleared up their skin, and had a marked improvement in their immunity by drinking green tea.