Mini IA

General Information

The mini internal assessment consists of one scientific investigation. The investigation should cover a topic that is commensurate with the level of the course of study. The performance in mini internal assessment is marked against common assessment criteria, with a total mark out of 24. The mini internal assessment task will be one scientific investigation taking about 10 hours and the write- up should be about 6 to 12 pages long. Investigations exceeding this length will be penalized in the communication criterion as lacking in conciseness. The task produced should be complex and commensurate with the level of the course. It should require a purposeful research question and the scientific rationale for it.

Some of the possible tasks include:

• a hands-on laboratory investigation
• using a spreadsheet for analysis and modelling
• extracting data from a database and analysing it graphically
• producing a hybrid of spreadsheet/database work with a traditional hands-on investigation
• using a simulation provided it is interactive and open-ended.

Mini IA Criteria

The assessment model uses five criteria to assess the final report of the individual investigation with the following raw marks and weightings assigned:

• Personal engagement- 2 (8%)
• Exploration- 6 (25%)
• Analysis- 6 (25%)
• Evaluation- 6 (25%)
• Communication- 4 (17%)

Mini IA Criteria

Deciding on a Research Question

The biggest obstacle to doing well in the investigation for most students is not putting enough thought and effort into coming up with a good question.

Key considerations when thinking up a research question should be:

• The question interests you
• The question maybe based on a well used method/protocol, but it is unique or changed in someway that makes it very much your own work
• The question can be used to form hypotheses and can answered by gathering and analysing data
• In coming up with your question you researched the theory surrounding it and so can talk about it like an expert

Stuck for ideas? Need help developing a method?

All good investigations will be based on theory and prior investigations, but they will develop what has been done previously, not simply repeat it. Two things you must bear in mind when using theory or methods developed by others:

1. If you use a webpage or document you must cite it.
2. It is highly recommended that is your investigation is based on a published one that you put sufficient effort into developing making it your own and differentiating it from the source. If you don't, the marks you can gain under the exploration criteria will be limited.

The below websites are known to contain information/ideas for research questions about methods that produce good results:

• Practical Biology brings together lots of different biology practicals for all ages of student
• Mr. Rothery publishes a list of practicals commonly done to support his A-level teaching
• Vernier dataloggers can be used in investigations and vernier publishes ideas and details of how they can be used

http://www.bioknowledgy.info/individual-investigation.html

Mini IA Group #

Group Assignment: Mini IA Group Members form

Mini IA Group #

Example: Mini IA Write- Up

Template for Mini IA Write- Up

Mini IA: Enzymatic Activity

Mini IA Write- Up: Enzymatic Activity

Exploration

This criterion assesses the extent to which the student establishes the scientific context for the work, states a clear and focused research question and uses concepts and techniques appropriate to the Middle Years Programme level. Where appropriate, this criterion also assesses awareness of safety, environmental, and ethical considerations.

Research Question

Definition: A research question is an answerable inquiry into a specific concern or issue.

What is the effect of the [IV] upon the [DV] in [XXXX]?

[IV]: Independent Variable

[DV]: Dependent Variable

[XXXX]: The organism or biological material being studied.

Group Assignment: Research Question form

Background Information

Discuss your Research Question.

*Discuss: Give an account including , where possible, a range of arguments for and against the relative importance of various factors, or comparisons of alternative hypotheses.)

Define vocabulary.

*Define: Give the precise meaning of a word, phrase or physical quantity.

CITE YOUR SOURCES USING MLA!

Hypothesis

Definition: A hypothesis is an educated prediction that provides an explanation for an observed event.

If the [IV], then the [DV], because [OOOO].

[IV]: Independent Variable

[DV]: Dependent Variable

[OOOO]: Explanation for an observed event.

Group Assignment: Hypothesis form

Variables

Definition: A variable is defined as anything that has a quantity or quality that varies.

Independent Variable [IV]: An independent variable is a variable believed to affect the dependent variable.

Dependent Variable [DV]: The dependent variable is the variable a researcher is interested in.

Control Variables [CV]: Control variables are defined as any variable other than the independent and dependent variable.

Group Assignment: Variables form

Apparatus

Method

Safety and Ethical Considerations