Assessment of the Psychology Internal Assessment
Using Criteria in Assessment
For internal assessment, a number of assessment criteria have been identified. Each assessment criterion has level descriptors describing specific levels of achievement together with an appropriate range of marks. The level descriptors concentrate on positive achievement, although for the lower levels failure to achieve may be included in the description.
Teachers must judge the internally assessed work against the criteria using the level descriptors. The aim is to find, for each criterion, the descriptor that conveys most accurately the level attained by the student and award marks accordingly. Teachers should not think in terms of a pass or fail boundary, but should concentrate on identifying the appropriate descriptor for each assessment criterion. All assessment criteria should be made available to students.
Teachers must judge the internally assessed work against the criteria using the level descriptors. The aim is to find, for each criterion, the descriptor that conveys most accurately the level attained by the student and award marks accordingly. Teachers should not think in terms of a pass or fail boundary, but should concentrate on identifying the appropriate descriptor for each assessment criterion. All assessment criteria should be made available to students.
Simple experimental study
The SL experimental study is assessed against seven criteria that are related to the objectives for the psychology course and the sections of the report.
Criterion A: Introduction (2 marks)
Criterion B: Method - Design (2 marks)
Criterion C: Method - Participants (2 marks)
Criterion D: Method - Procedure (2 marks)
Criterion E: Results (4 marks)
Criterion F: Discussion (6 marks)
Criterion G: Presentation (2 marks)
TOTAL: 20 marks
The SL experimental study is assessed against seven criteria that are related to the objectives for the psychology course and the sections of the report.
Criterion A: Introduction (2 marks)
Criterion B: Method - Design (2 marks)
Criterion C: Method - Participants (2 marks)
Criterion D: Method - Procedure (2 marks)
Criterion E: Results (4 marks)
Criterion F: Discussion (6 marks)
Criterion G: Presentation (2 marks)
TOTAL: 20 marks
Criterion A: Introduction (2 marks)
0 = There is no relevant introduction. The study replicated is not identified. The aim of the student’s study is not stated.
1 = The study replicated is identified but not explained. The aim of the student’s study is not clearly stated.
2 = The study replicated is clearly identified and relevant details of the study are explained. The aim of the student’s study is clearly stated.
0 = There is no relevant introduction. The study replicated is not identified. The aim of the student’s study is not stated.
1 = The study replicated is identified but not explained. The aim of the student’s study is not clearly stated.
2 = The study replicated is clearly identified and relevant details of the study are explained. The aim of the student’s study is clearly stated.
Criterion B: Method - Design (2 marks)
0 = The independent variable and dependent variable are not accurately identified. No appropriate experimental design is identified. There is no evidence of appropriate application of ethical guidelines, for example, there is no evidence that informed consent was obtained from participants or their parents.
1 = The independent variable and dependent variable are accurately identified but are not operationalized. The experimental design is appropriate to the aim of the research but its selection is not appropriately justified. There is clear indication and documentation of how ethical guidelines were followed.
2 = The independent variable and dependent variable are accurately identified and operationalized. The experimental design is appropriate to the aim and its use is appropriately justified. There is clear indication and documentation of how ethical guidelines were followed.
0 = The independent variable and dependent variable are not accurately identified. No appropriate experimental design is identified. There is no evidence of appropriate application of ethical guidelines, for example, there is no evidence that informed consent was obtained from participants or their parents.
1 = The independent variable and dependent variable are accurately identified but are not operationalized. The experimental design is appropriate to the aim of the research but its selection is not appropriately justified. There is clear indication and documentation of how ethical guidelines were followed.
2 = The independent variable and dependent variable are accurately identified and operationalized. The experimental design is appropriate to the aim and its use is appropriately justified. There is clear indication and documentation of how ethical guidelines were followed.
Criterion C: Method - Participants (2 marks)
0 = No relevant characteristics of the participants are identified. No relevant sampling technique is identified or the sampling method is incorrectly identified.
1 = Some characteristics of the participants are identified but not all are relevant. Some relevant participant characteristics have been omitted. The sample is selected using an appropriate method but the use of this method is not explained.
2 = Relevant characteristics of the participants are identified. The sample is selected using an appropriate method and the use of this method is explained.
0 = No relevant characteristics of the participants are identified. No relevant sampling technique is identified or the sampling method is incorrectly identified.
1 = Some characteristics of the participants are identified but not all are relevant. Some relevant participant characteristics have been omitted. The sample is selected using an appropriate method but the use of this method is not explained.
2 = Relevant characteristics of the participants are identified. The sample is selected using an appropriate method and the use of this method is explained.
Criterion D: Method - Procedure (2 marks)
0 = No relevant procedural information is included. The information provided does not allow replication. There are no details of how the ethical guidelines were applied.
1 = The procedural information is relevant but not clearly described, so that the study is not easily replicable. Details of how the ethical guidelines were applied are included. Necessary materials have not been included and referenced in the appendices.
2 = The procedural information is relevant and clearly described, so that the study is easily replicable. Details of how the ethical guidelines were applied are included. Necessary materials have been included and referenced in the appendices.
0 = No relevant procedural information is included. The information provided does not allow replication. There are no details of how the ethical guidelines were applied.
1 = The procedural information is relevant but not clearly described, so that the study is not easily replicable. Details of how the ethical guidelines were applied are included. Necessary materials have not been included and referenced in the appendices.
2 = The procedural information is relevant and clearly described, so that the study is easily replicable. Details of how the ethical guidelines were applied are included. Necessary materials have been included and referenced in the appendices.
Criterion E: Results (4 marks)
0 = There are no results or the results are irrelevant to the stated aim of the student’s experimental study. Descriptive statistics have not been applied to the data. There is no graphing of data.
1-2 = Results are stated and accurate and reflect the aim of the research. Descriptive statistics (one measure of central tendency and one measure of dispersion) are applied to the data, but their use is not explained. The graph of results is not accurate, is unclear or is not sufficiently related to the aim of the study. Results are not presented in both words and tabular form.
3-4 = Results are clearly stated and accurate and reflect the aim of the research. Appropriate descriptive statistics (one measure of central tendency and one measure of dispersion) are applied to the data and their use is explained. The graph of results is accurate, clear and directly relevant to the aim of the study. Results are presented in both words and tabular form.
0 = There are no results or the results are irrelevant to the stated aim of the student’s experimental study. Descriptive statistics have not been applied to the data. There is no graphing of data.
1-2 = Results are stated and accurate and reflect the aim of the research. Descriptive statistics (one measure of central tendency and one measure of dispersion) are applied to the data, but their use is not explained. The graph of results is not accurate, is unclear or is not sufficiently related to the aim of the study. Results are not presented in both words and tabular form.
3-4 = Results are clearly stated and accurate and reflect the aim of the research. Appropriate descriptive statistics (one measure of central tendency and one measure of dispersion) are applied to the data and their use is explained. The graph of results is accurate, clear and directly relevant to the aim of the study. Results are presented in both words and tabular form.
Criterion F: Discussion (6 marks)
0 = There is no discussion or it is irrelevant to the aim of the research.
1-2 = Discussion of the results is very superficial. The findings of the student’s experimental study are not compared to those of the study being replicated. Limitations of the design and procedure are not accurately identified. No modifications are suggested and there is no conclusion.
3-4 = Discussion of the results is not well developed. The findings of the student’s experimental study are discussed with reference to the study being replicated. Some relevant limitations of the design and procedure have been identified, but a rigorous analysis of method is not achieved. Some modifications are suggested. The conclusion is appropriate.
5-6 = Discussion of results is well developed (for example, differences in the results of calculations of central tendency and/or dispersion are explained). The findings of the student’s experimental study are discussed with reference to the study being replicated. Limitations of the design and procedure are highly relevant and have been rigorously analysed. Modifications are suggested and ideas for further research are mentioned. The conclusion is appropriate.
0 = There is no discussion or it is irrelevant to the aim of the research.
1-2 = Discussion of the results is very superficial. The findings of the student’s experimental study are not compared to those of the study being replicated. Limitations of the design and procedure are not accurately identified. No modifications are suggested and there is no conclusion.
3-4 = Discussion of the results is not well developed. The findings of the student’s experimental study are discussed with reference to the study being replicated. Some relevant limitations of the design and procedure have been identified, but a rigorous analysis of method is not achieved. Some modifications are suggested. The conclusion is appropriate.
5-6 = Discussion of results is well developed (for example, differences in the results of calculations of central tendency and/or dispersion are explained). The findings of the student’s experimental study are discussed with reference to the study being replicated. Limitations of the design and procedure are highly relevant and have been rigorously analysed. Modifications are suggested and ideas for further research are mentioned. The conclusion is appropriate.
Criterion G: Presentation (2 marks)
0 = The report is not within the word limit of 1,000–1,500 words. Required sections of the report are missing, for example, no abstract is included. No references are provided. Appendices are missing or incomplete.
1 = The report is within the word limit of 1,000–1,500 words. The report is complete but not in the required format. The reference for the study being replicated is cited but it is not presented using a standard method of listing references. Appendices are not labelled appropriately and/or are not referenced in the body of the report. The abstract is poorly written and does not include a summary overview of the student’s experimental study, including the results.
2= The report is within the word limit of 1,000–1,500 words. The report is complete and in the required format. The reference for the study being replicated is cited using a standard method of listing references. Appendices are labelled appropriately and are referenced in the body of the report. The abstract is clearly written and includes a summary overview of the student’s experimental study, including the results.
0 = The report is not within the word limit of 1,000–1,500 words. Required sections of the report are missing, for example, no abstract is included. No references are provided. Appendices are missing or incomplete.
1 = The report is within the word limit of 1,000–1,500 words. The report is complete but not in the required format. The reference for the study being replicated is cited but it is not presented using a standard method of listing references. Appendices are not labelled appropriately and/or are not referenced in the body of the report. The abstract is poorly written and does not include a summary overview of the student’s experimental study, including the results.
2= The report is within the word limit of 1,000–1,500 words. The report is complete and in the required format. The reference for the study being replicated is cited using a standard method of listing references. Appendices are labelled appropriately and are referenced in the body of the report. The abstract is clearly written and includes a summary overview of the student’s experimental study, including the results.