IB Biology Individual Investigation Checklist

In order to be able to achieve high marks for the individual

investigation criteria you need to be able to answer YES to the
following questions.
PERSONAL ENGAGEMENT
QUESTIONS
Does the report show evidence of your personal
engagement with the chosen topic?
Does your report demonstrate clear evidence of
independent thinking, initiative and insight?
Have you justified your reasons for choosing the topic you
are investigating?
Does your report demonstrate personal input and initiative
in the design, implementation and presentation of the
investigation?

YES

EXPLORATION
QUESTIONS
Does the title clearly identify what the investigation is
about?
Is the research question relevant and fully focused?
Is the research question carefully worded to include the
dependent and independent variables?
Are the dependent, independent and controlled variables
fully specified in detail?
Is your research question accompanied by appropriate,
relevant and properly referenced background theory that
enhances the context of the investigation?
You may write a hypothesis but you must explain it.
Has all the apparatus been listed to include details of sizes
and uncertainties of measurement?
Is there a clear, labelled diagram of the experimental
apparatus?
Have you stated the reasons for using the
apparatus
chosen?
Have all chemicals and materials been listed with specific
amounts, units and concentrations?
Does your report show appropriate evidence of the
significant safety, ethical and environmental issues that
are relevant to the methodology of the investigation?
Have you stated the dependent variable clearly and
specified precisely what you will be measuring? (NB it
must be quantitative)
Have you stated the independent variable(s) clearly and
specified details of quantities/concentrations/temperatures
etc?
Are there at least 5 different independent variable groups?
Are there at least 5 repeats of each independent variable
group?
Are all relevant controlled variables stated and how they
are to be kept constant explained?
Have you explained the likely effects of these variables on
the results and conclusions expected?
Are all the runs and repeats of the experiment clearly
stated?

YES

Have you included any preliminary experimental evidence

in your planning?
Is you method clear and does it include all relevant
details?

ANALYSIS
QUESTIONS
Does your report include sufficient relevant quantitative
and qualitative raw data that will support a detailed and
valid conclusion to the research question?
Is the raw data presented in neat and easy to follow tables
with appropriate titles, clear row and column headings and
units?
Is each table printed on one page only?
Are all uncertainties of measurement and degrees of
precision of any measuring devices used (+/-) clearly
stated?
Does the report fully and appropriately consider the
impact of measurement uncertainty on the analysis of the
data?
Is the use of decimal places consistent throughout?
Has any relevant descriptive/qualitative data been
included?
Has the raw data been properly and appropriately
processed with the degree of accuracy required to enable
a conclusion to the research question to be drawn that is
fully consistent with the experimental data?
Have you described the processing (state the formulae
used and give sample calculations) and given reasons for
your choice?
Calculations of means and standard deviations and the
drawing of graphs should be done as a matter of course.
Other relevant data processing can included statistical
analysis (t-test, X-squared, correlation coefficients, rate
calculations, diversity index etc.)
Is the processed data presented properly in tables and/or
graphs?
Are the graph axes clearly labelled with units and
uncertainties?
Do the graphs have clearly identified error bars?

YES

EVALUATION
QUESTIONS
Have you analysed the raw and processed data to identify
any trends and patterns?
Have you described your findings?
Have you described and justified a clear conclusion which
is relevant to the research question and supported by the
data presented?
Have you scientifically justified your conclusion and
compared your findings and conclusions to the accepted
scientific context (eg literature values)?
Have you properly referenced the literature used in
footnotes on each page and in the references stated at the
end of the account?
Have you stated the strengths and weaknesses in the
experimental method that may impact on the conclusion
reached?
Have you discussed the quality, reliability and limitations
of the data collected and presented and considered any
possible sources of error?
Have you discussed any systematic and random errors
present in the experimental design or in the data
collected?
Have you suggested realistic and relevant modifications
and improvements to the experiment?
Are these modifications and improvements directly related
to the weaknesses identified earlier?
Are your suggestions for improvement specific and
detailed?
Have you suggested possible ways in which the

YES

investigation could be extended?

COMMUNICATION
QUESTIONS
Is the presentation of your investigation clear so that a
reader can fully understand the methodology, data,
conclusions and evaluation?
Are there any errors that hamper the readers
understanding of the focus, process and outcomes of the
investigation?
Is your report well structured and clear with all relevant
information on focus, process and outcomes presented in
a coherent way?
Is your report relevant and concise so that it facilitates a
ready understanding of the focus, process and outcomes
of the investigation?
Is your use of subject specific terminology appropriate and
correct?
Have you followed the correct conventions for
presentation of raw and processed data?
Have you followed the correct conventions for length of
report (6 to 12 pages), references, footnotes, page
numbering, appendices?

YES