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IB Lab Report Rubric

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neehar yalamanchi
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8 views

IB Lab Report Rubric

Uploaded by

neehar yalamanchi
Copyright
© © All Rights Reserved
Available Formats
Download as PDF, TXT or read online on Scribd
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DESIGN (D)

Research Question
Clearly stated and answerable; the question should refer clearly to the two variables you plan to
investigate.

Variables
Independent variable(s) clearly identified and explained (the variables you control)
Dependent variable(s) clearly identified and explained (the variables that depend on the
independent variable)
Controlled variable(s) clearly identified and explained (the variables that might affect results but are
held constant by you)

Hypothesis
A scientific prediction or supposition based on prior observations and which you assume to be the
explanation to the problem or research question. It should be stated such that the dependent and
independent variables are clearly recognisable. ‘If/then’ hypotheses make this easier to do.

Background Information
An explanation and justification of the hypothesis.

Justification of your hypothesis based on what you know from other people’s work - literature and
textbooks from at least 3 sources. This shows that you have looked at other peoples’ work before
doing this and have a better idea of what you are doing. Referencing other peoples’ work and ideas
increases the validity of what you are saying (shows you are not just making it up).
Clear in-text or parenthetical references and with a complete works cited list following MLA
formatting. The ‘works cited’ should be on the last page of your report.

Apparatus/Materials

Completely listed materials and special apparatus described.


Include clearly labeled diagrams only if needed (don’t use up unnecessary space).

Method (Methodology)

Using paragraphs, write a realistic and complete description of your procedure explaining why you
did each step and how the variables were controlled. Explain what you did and why. Any procedures
coming from another source must be referenced and included in the works cited.

Clearly describe how you controlled the variables to make a ‘fair’ test.
Allow for the collection of sufficient data.

Works Cited
MLA format including all sources used in the reports. A variety is required, at least three.

DATA COLLECTION AND PROCESSING (DCP)


Data Collection
Appropriate raw data collected and recorded including units and uncertainties.
Raw data presented clearly (with carefully organised tables or drawings).
Data must be your own, which YOU have observed, counted and measured BY YOURSELF. Any data
from another person or group must be referenced to them.

Data Analysis
Raw data processed/analysed carefully and completely, keeping in mind uncertainties.
One full calculation for each calculated quantity needs to be clearly shown, step by step.
Remember: errors and uncertainties taken into account at all stages.

Data Presentation
Results presented appropriately and effectively. Almost always this will be a graph but may also
include some sort of chart, graphical representations table, or annotated drawing.
Your presented graphs should clearly show a title, axes labels with units, data points with error
bars, and a best-fit line with equation determined by the program algorithm as appropriate.
Maximum and minimum lines of best fit are also required for linear analysis, best shown with
different colours and with the equation clearly shown on the graph.
BE CAREFUL with the scale on your axes. Sometimes a program can zoom in on the data,
suggesting a non-linear or random relationship between two variables. It is up to you to decide
what scale to use. Generally, the bottom left hand corner of your graph should be the origin (0,0).

CONCLUSION AND EVALUATION (CE)

Conclusion

Make a valid conclusion based on correct interpretation and explained.


Unless you are given the particular relation (i.e., linear, quadratic, inverse, etc), you should only
make generalisations about how the variables might be related.
(“It is clear from the graph that as the length decreases, the period also decreases....”)

A discussion of the validity and how far the conclusion can be generalised based on the method
used. A discussion of the trends seen and how far they would be expected to continue.
Restate the research question (“This experiment was trying to determine...”)
Restate your hypothesis and decide whether it was supported by your findings.
(“I expected that if... then...” “This hypothesis was supported because.....”)
Briefly describe the method.
(“The change in period of the pendulum swing was determined by maintaining the same mass and
varying the string length by... ”)
Summarise the data collected and note any irregularities.
(“It was found that as the length of the pendulum string increased, the period...”
“One the data points was suspect and I decided to throw it out, because....”)

Evaluation

The method must be evaluated for both validity and reliability. Address the question: Is the method
sufficient for producing appropriate data and to what extent does the method produce data showing
meaningful trends?
Suggestions for modifications of the method based on the evaluation.
Describe the limitations of the method in terms of its validity and reliability.
(“A limitation in the method was that it was hard to control the initial displacement (angle from the
vertical) of the pendulum mass for each trial....)
Make realistic recommendations for how to improve the experiment if you were to repeat it.
(“This limitation could be addressed by carefully lining up the mass at the beginning of the swing
with some fixed object perpendicular to the table top....)
Two questions for realistic further research (two related experiments). These should be relevant to
the lab you just did, and mention what the variables would be (even if the same).
(“It would be interesting to repeat this experiment with the pendulum mass under water. The
variables would again be the length of the string and the period...” )

Getting a 7 on an IB Physics lab is easy if you refer to this rubric when preparing your lab.

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