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Coursework B - Student Investigations
These investigations account for 25% of the students final Junior Certificate grade. 2015 Coursework B Titles. Biology Investigate and compare the quantitative effects of changing (a) wavelength of illumination and (b) either intensity or duration of illumination on the photo-tropic growth response of recently germinated plant shoots/seedlings. Chemistry Investigate and compare the quantitative effects of changing (a) metal types and (b) fruit/vegetable type on the emf (voltage) produced across two metals, when the electrolytes take the form of fruits and/or vegetables. Physics Investigate and compare the quantitative effects of changing (a) material type and (b) material thickness on the level of sound insulation provided by a range of materials. 
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Resources to help with your write up are uploaded and linked below.
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Where do I Start?
1. The Independent Variable (what I will change - 1 thing)
2. The Dependent Variable (what I will measure - 1 thing)
3. The controlled Variable (what i will keep the same - as many as you can!)
Writing Up
Part 1 (Introduction)
(i) Statement or problem to be investigated - This is what you are going to do but in your own words
(ii) Background research undertaken - No doubt you will have to look up a few website and books to find information for your investigation. You may even have to ask your teacher or someone at home for information. This is your background research you will need to give at least 3 pieces of background research.
Make sure for all three you mention where you got the piece of information and what you used it for.
Part 2 (Preparation and Planning)
(i) Variables1. The Independent Variable (what I will change - 1 thing)*
2. The Dependent Variable (what I will measure - 1 thing)*
3. The controlled Variable (what i will keep the same - as many as you can!)
*In an experiment were you have investigate two factors, you would only change one at a time (essentially do two separate investigations and compare the results of both)
(ii)Equipment: Be sure to list every piece of equipment you use, leave nothing out!
(iii)Tasks: This is the list of jobs that need to be done, here are a few examples..
I will juice and filter the juice from 3 types of fruit
I will measure out equal amounts of each type of juice.
I will make sure all of the juices are at the same temperature before I start the experiment
and so on you should have at least 5 or 6 of these.
Part 3 (Procedures, apparatus etc.)
(i) Safety - don't just say I wore safety glasses say why! For example I wore safety glasses and a labcoat becuse acids are corrosive. (you need at least two safety precautions)
(ii + iii) Procedure with diagram - The best advice I can give is to write it like a recipe if a person cannot copy the experiment using what you have written its no good and you need to do it again
(iv) Data and observations -Decide what results you are going to take and when you are going to take them before the experiment.
Make up a data table before you start your experiment so you can record your measurements assoon as you observe them. This will ensure that you are consistent in the way that you record your results and it will also make it easier to analyse
Measurements should be clearly laid out in a graph and/or table form.
If your experiment involves any colour changes this is where you mention it. Was there anything else you noticed when doing the experiment whatever it is no matter how small, include it.
Other observations to note include
· Did you encounter any problems with the experimental method?
· Did you notice any interesting patterns happening?
Part 4 (Analysis) THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT BIT
(i) Calculations and Data Analysis - Make sure you outline any calculations or formulae that you used.
Some useful sentence starters in this section are:
· I can see from my results that …………………………..
· When I changed …........., ………………….. changed by…………
· From the graph I can see that ……………………………….
(ii) Conclusion and Evaluation of resultAnswer some of the following questions in your written report.
· Do your results answer the question you were asking at the start?
· Were the results what you were expecting?
· Is there a trend in your results or did anything unusual happen?
· If you got an unusual result why do you think this happened?
· If you drew a graph did you get a straight line or a curve – what does this show?
Part 5 (Comments)
(i) Refinements, extensions and sources of error
· Do your results answer the what you were trying to find out
· Were you surprised by these results
· Was there anything that might have affected your results.
· Are there any changes you would make if you could do the experiment again.
· Is there any way of making it more accurate.
· Does your investigation have any real life applications.
· Could you develop your experiment further, how?
1. The Independent Variable (what I will change - 1 thing)
2. The Dependent Variable (what I will measure - 1 thing)
3. The controlled Variable (what i will keep the same - as many as you can!)
Writing Up
Part 1 (Introduction)
(i) Statement or problem to be investigated - This is what you are going to do but in your own words
(ii) Background research undertaken - No doubt you will have to look up a few website and books to find information for your investigation. You may even have to ask your teacher or someone at home for information. This is your background research you will need to give at least 3 pieces of background research.
Make sure for all three you mention where you got the piece of information and what you used it for.
Part 2 (Preparation and Planning)
(i) Variables1. The Independent Variable (what I will change - 1 thing)*
2. The Dependent Variable (what I will measure - 1 thing)*
3. The controlled Variable (what i will keep the same - as many as you can!)
*In an experiment were you have investigate two factors, you would only change one at a time (essentially do two separate investigations and compare the results of both)
(ii)Equipment: Be sure to list every piece of equipment you use, leave nothing out!
(iii)Tasks: This is the list of jobs that need to be done, here are a few examples..
I will juice and filter the juice from 3 types of fruit
I will measure out equal amounts of each type of juice.
I will make sure all of the juices are at the same temperature before I start the experiment
and so on you should have at least 5 or 6 of these.
Part 3 (Procedures, apparatus etc.)
(i) Safety - don't just say I wore safety glasses say why! For example I wore safety glasses and a labcoat becuse acids are corrosive. (you need at least two safety precautions)
(ii + iii) Procedure with diagram - The best advice I can give is to write it like a recipe if a person cannot copy the experiment using what you have written its no good and you need to do it again
(iv) Data and observations -Decide what results you are going to take and when you are going to take them before the experiment.
Make up a data table before you start your experiment so you can record your measurements assoon as you observe them. This will ensure that you are consistent in the way that you record your results and it will also make it easier to analyse
Measurements should be clearly laid out in a graph and/or table form.
If your experiment involves any colour changes this is where you mention it. Was there anything else you noticed when doing the experiment whatever it is no matter how small, include it.
Other observations to note include
· Did you encounter any problems with the experimental method?
· Did you notice any interesting patterns happening?
Part 4 (Analysis) THIS IS A VERY IMPORTANT BIT
(i) Calculations and Data Analysis - Make sure you outline any calculations or formulae that you used.
Some useful sentence starters in this section are:
· I can see from my results that …………………………..
· When I changed …........., ………………….. changed by…………
· From the graph I can see that ……………………………….
(ii) Conclusion and Evaluation of resultAnswer some of the following questions in your written report.
· Do your results answer the question you were asking at the start?
· Were the results what you were expecting?
· Is there a trend in your results or did anything unusual happen?
· If you got an unusual result why do you think this happened?
· If you drew a graph did you get a straight line or a curve – what does this show?
Part 5 (Comments)
(i) Refinements, extensions and sources of error
· Do your results answer the what you were trying to find out
· Were you surprised by these results
· Was there anything that might have affected your results.
· Are there any changes you would make if you could do the experiment again.
· Is there any way of making it more accurate.
· Does your investigation have any real life applications.
· Could you develop your experiment further, how?
