Is your investigation feasible?
You might like to use the following check list. If your topic / question does not meet the criteria then you may need to choose another investigation or find a way to modify so that it is feasible.
- Do you understand the scientific context of the investigation?
- What kind of experiment will you conduct? Experiments can be traditional ones done in the lab or could involve collecting data from databases, simulations/”virtual” experiments.
- Is the experiment sophisticated enough for IB level (SL or HL)
- Does the method allow you to generate sufficient relevant data (generate graphs, and analysis that shows pattern/trends in the data)?
- Do you know what type of data you will collect?
- Do you know what measuring device/s you need to collect the data? Are they available?
- Do you know chemicals, equipment, and materials you need? Are they available?
- Do you need to learn any special practical techniques or how to use specialized equipment?
- Have you done a risk assessment? What safety precautions are needed? Have you reviewed the material safety data for any chemicals you plan to use. An unsafe experiment would be one that uses or produces toxic substances, uses concentrated solutions (acids and bases) and is highly exothermic.
- Will the action phase (set-up, preparation and data collection) will take 6-10 hours to complete.
- Are there any ethical considerations? IB Ethical Guidelines from May 2013-
NOTE: An experiment where the outcome is already known and an experiment that is replicated without any modification is not suitable for investigation.