Transcript IB Psychology

IB Psychology
Internal Assessment
IB Psychology
Internal Assessment
Students are required to plan and undertake a simple
experimental study and to produce a report of their
study. A simple experiment study involves the
manipulation, by the student, of a single
independent variable and the measurement of the
effect of this IV on a DV, while controlling the
other variables.
Step 1: Choosing an experiment to
replicate
Guidelines:
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Ensure that the study has an IV that you can
manipulate (not gender/age/culture)
Your research question should be significant. If
you can not find at least a few sentences in a
standard psychology text about the research you
plan to replicate, think again.
You must clearly state your hypotheses (SL).
You must clearly state your null hypotheses
(HL)
Step 1: Choosing an experiment to
replicate
Guidelines:
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You can not deceive, harm, or ask your
participants to eat or drink any substances
You are not expected to conduct a ‘perfect’
experiment. This does not mean that all parts of
the IA will not be included.
Step 2: Proposal
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Locate a copy of the
original experiment
Analyze all of these studies
by breaking them down
into research design
elements, theory and
conclusions
Avoid too many internet
sources
Receive written approval
of your proposal.
Step 3 Modifying the Research Design
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You will have to
modify the original
experiment
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Sampling (smaller size)
Reduce the number of
variables
Simplify the DV
Step 3 Modifying the Research Design
cont’
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Independent measures
design Versus repeated
measures design . (Be able
to justify this in your
report)
Independent measures is
usually best as you do not
have to undertake
counterbalancing to avoid
the test-retest confounding
variable
Step 3 Modifying the Research Design
cont’
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An independent measures design is a type of method used
during an experiment that involves two or more separate
groups, each containing different individuals, where each
participant only takes part in each condition once.
A repeated measures design refers to studies in which the
same measures are collected multiple times for each subject
but under different conditions.
Step 3 Modifying the Research Design
cont’
Confounding variables are any factors other than
the independent variable that could have affected
the dependent variable.
Step 4 Obtaining your sample of
participants
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The JSRHS student body
will be your target
population.
Randomly sample
You can select an
opportunity sample but you
will have to justify why
you did this
An ideal sample is 50
students giving you two
groups of 25. If you have
some no-shows you will
still have 20 per group
Step 4 Obtaining your sample of
participants
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Signed informed consent forms
must be obtained (You will
provide a copy of the consent
form in your appendix)
Students younger than 16 will
require parental consent
You must keep all forms and
ensure the confidentially of data
You must collect relevant biodata from the participants e.g.
age, first language etc. You will
report any relevant
characteristics
You must randomly assign
participants
Step 6 Ethical Considerations
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Remind participants
that they are free to
leave the experiment at
any time
Debriefing: All
participants must be
informed of the results
of your experiment
Step 7 Analyzing the Data
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Use non-parametric
statistical tests of
significance (Mann
Whitney U-test)
Your small sample size
prohibits parametric tests
like the t-test.
Best to calculate your test
yourself but double check
with online sites
Raw data and calculations
should be included in the
appendix
Writing Your Report
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You MUST follow the IB guidelines.
Common omissions: no abstract; data not
displayed in three ways i.e. words, tables and
graphs; sources not cited, no Works Sited
page; no appendices (sample informed
consent form, raw data, statistical test
calculations, scripted instructions)
You must write like a social scientist
Student Advice
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Do not underestimate the amount of time required to
complete the IA
Do not choose a study that is too obscure
Scientific writing is “way harder” than you think
Think about the best time to hold your experiment so
that students will turn up
Time management is the key
It is okay if you do not accept your hypothesis