Internal Assessment

• This component is internally assessed by the teacher and externally moderated by the IB at the end of the course.
• Fieldwork (20 hours)
• Written report (30 marks)
• Worth a total of 25% for SL students and 20% for HL students

Group work
May be undertaken by students as described below but the written report must be the students’ individual work.

The fieldwork topic, fieldwork question and methods of information collection may be chosen by the teacher, the whole class, small groups or individuals. In the early stages of the investigation, students may collect fieldwork information in groups and collaborate on these findings and suitable methods of presentation.

Once the research is completed and the necessary fieldwork information and possible methods of presentation exchanged, the emphasis must be on individual work. 

The writing of the report, the justification of methods, the analysis and the conclusion must be entirely the work of the individual student 

Written reports

Students should produce one report of their investigation. The report must not exceed 2,500 words.

The following are not included in the word count.

• Title page
• Acknowledgments
• Contents page
• Titles and subtitles
• References
• Footnotes – up to a maximum of 15 words each
• Map legends and/or keys
• Labels – of 10 words or less
• Tables – of statistical or numerical data, or categories, classes or group names
• Calculations
• Appendices – containing only raw data and/or calculations
• All the main text is included in the word count, including the research question, analysis, conclusion and evaluation, as well as all annotations over 10 words and any footnotes over 15 words.

Internal Assessment Guidance [Google Doc]

Example Questions

Guidance: To what extent has urban renewal led to gentrification in different areas of Paris?

Criterion A – Fieldwork Question & Geographic Context… (300)

From the IB
The fieldwork question (the precise inquiry) guides the fieldwork investigation. It must be focused, appropriate and stated as a question that can be answered through the collection of primary information in the field. Where appropriate, students can make a brief preliminary judgment or prediction answering the fieldwork question. This prediction may be formulated as a hypothesis.

Students must also comment briefly on the geographic context, explaining why and where the fieldwork investigation is to be carried out. This can include relevant spatial, physical, socio‑economic conditions and other background information, concepts or characteristics. A map of the research area and/or the locations used in the fieldwork investigation is essential to provide the necessary spatial element.

Students must also state the area(s) of the syllabus to which the study relates, which geographic inquiry topic or sub-topic in the syllabus, whether it is from the optional themes, the core theme, or the HL extension. It can be drawn from a combination of two or more topics or themes.

This criterion assesses the focus and geographic context of the fieldwork and to what extent the link between the fieldwork question and the geographic context (that is, material in the syllabus, a relevant syllabus topic or geographical theory) is made clear. The fieldwork question should be specifically geographical.

Student Instructions

Step 1 – Your title for investigation is:  ​To what extent has urban renewal led to gentrification in different areas of Paris?
​
You can formulate one or two sub research questions (see list below) to help you to investigate the title above. 

Step 2 – Make a hypothesis based on the question(s) above e.g. ‘regeneration has been unsuccessful in [insert sub location in Paris].

Step 3 – Describe the geographic theory surrounding urban renewal and how this can lead to gentrification.  This will need to be linked to the history of Paris. You may wish to present this information as a timeline. 

Step 4 – Draw a small map of France to show the location of Paris.  Label surrounding countries, sea to the north and add North arrow and scale line. 

Step 5 – Now draw a map of the conurbation of Paris.

Step 6 – State the relationship between the IA investigation and the syllabus. You may also link in to other topics covered outside of Option G. 

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Possible sub research questions to investigate: 1. How have the Authorities attempted to regenerate Paris? 2. How successful has the regeneration of Paris been? 3. What methods have urban planners used to regenerate Paris? 4. To what extent is X a disadvantaged area of Paris?  5. To what extent does the redevelopment of Paris cater for the needs of key stakeholders? 6. Has/have X location(s) on study area been gentrified?

Criterion B: Methods of investigation… (300)

From the IB Students must describe the method(s) used to collect information. The description may include technologies employed, sampling techniques, time, location and circumstances of information collection where relevant. ​The method(s) used must be justified and must enable a sufficient quality and quantity of primary data to be produced to allow the fieldwork question to be investigated. This criterion assesses the description, justification and appropriateness of the method or methods including sampling and surveying techniques, primary or secondary data collection as appropriate used to investigate the question formulated. Student Instructions Step 1 – Describe how you collected: a) secondary data such as background video tasks and our tour guide. b) primary data – your surveys in your booklet.  Try to include photos of you in the field carrying out the surveys if possible.  You collected this data in six contrasting areas of Berlin. For each survey in your booklet, you should include: a) a copy of the recording table and a brief explanation of why the scores differ. b) underneath each image, justify the relevance of the method to your research question / hypotheses ​ c) explain what high / low scores in each survey might suggest. Try not to do this in table format. The IB don’t like this approach very much!  Step 2 – Show where you collected your data. Annotate the chosen 4 / 5 locations of your chosen study areas onto the map to clearly identify the study area.

Criterion C: Quality and treatment of information collected … (0)

From the IB
Students should treat and display the information collected using the most appropriate techniques. These techniques must be the most effective way of representing the type of information collected and must be well used.

The precise techniques employed will differ depending on the nature of the fieldwork question but may include statistical tests (including confidence limits), graphs, diagrams, maps, annotated photographs and images, matrices and field sketches.

Students must also refer to the geographic context, information collected and the ways in which the material has been treated and presented. This criterion assesses the quality of information and data collected and its suitability for analysis in criterion D, whether it is appropriate and a sufficient range of techniques have been used for the presentation of information, and whether the presentation follows accepted conventions (that is, the numbering, labelling, and annotating of tables, graphs and diagrams).

IB Student Instructions
​
This section may not have any word count and should be embedded together with Criterion D together as one chapter. The total word count for both Criterion C & D is 1350 words. 

Step 1 – Photos – Sort through your photos. Find the photos of the study areas that you are going to use later. Create four folders in your My Documents that have the same name as the study areas e.g. Courtyard 1 etc. Create a photo evidence board. To do this, mix the photos you have taken with either a Google Map. The final product would have to be printed in A3 size to make sure that it was clear. 

Step 2 –  Notes – Write up your notes using this template. Once you have chosen the four areas you would like to study, go back through your notes and write them up in the spaces provided. You can delete the study areas that you are not using. 

Step 3 – Process your data – Using Google Sheets / Hand drawn maps

Perception Survey – One Chart
* Bar Chart or Radar Chart to either show Positive or Negative qualities of each of the zones. 

* If your zone has positive and negative results, enter the negative scores as -1, -2 & -3 and Excel will plot them together on the same chart with the positive bars going upwards and the negative bars going downwards. 
Then match up the photos that show your results! 

Index of Services & Amenities – Two charts.
* One bar graph showing the total number of services & amenities for each zone

* One table showing the three ranges (1, 2 & 3) and which zone each range falls in.
**Remember Range 1 (services used by traditional resident), Range 2 (services used by trad residents & tourists) Range 3 (services used mostly by tourists or luxury items)

​Then match up the photos that show your results! 

Residential Decay Index – Three or four charts (depends on number of zones). 
* One radar chart showing one of the factors (e.g. structural damage) for each of your zones.

​* Then do this for another two factors (part peeling & deterioration of walls)

Then match up the photos that show your results! 

Conflict Matrix – One graph
* Bar or line graph to show the total number of conflicts in each or your chosen zones. 

Then match up the photos that show your results! ​Further ideas for presentation can be seen on this excellent page from inthinking. 

Criterion D: Written analysis… (1350)

From the IB In the written analysis, students must demonstrate their knowledge and understanding of the fieldwork investigation by interpreting and explaining the information they have collected in relation to the fieldwork question. This includes recognizing any trends and spatial patterns found in the information collected. Where appropriate, an attempt should be made to identify and explain any anomalies. The treatment and display of material and the written analysis must be integrated within this section. This criterion assesses the quality of the analysis of the results, referring to: • links to the question and hypotheses formulated • geographic context (that is, geographical theory, the syllabus, or the relevant syllabus topic) • information collected • statistics used (descriptive techniques—that is, graphs, charts, histograms and so on; as well as statistical techniques—that is, correlations, regression, and so on) • illustrative material. Student Instructions: You will need to focus on answering your research question. For the question, you will have formulated one or two hypotheses to test against it.  In this section, you will be mixing your graphs, charts, statistic analysis and photos with you interpretation in one big chapter. It is important that you build a structured argument based on the fieldwork question (To what extent has urban renewal led to gentrification in different areas of Paris?) Step 1 – To what extent has there been Urban Renewal? You need to interpret your data and make clear whether renewal has happened or not in each of your study zones. What is the evidence? Which charts and photos will you use?  What are the trends?  What are the important relationships?  Are there any anomalies? Any analysis could also link to any background theory that you have studied before going to Paris.  Step 2 – So, is there evidence of gentrification in each of your zones? You need to interpret your data and make clear whether gentrification has happened or not in each of your study zones. What is the evidence? Which charts and photos will you use?  What are the trends?  What are the important relationships?  Are there any anomalies? Step 3 – To what extent does urban renewal always lead to gentrification? Did you see evidence of gentrification as a result of the renewal? What were the biggest signs?  Was the gentrification caused primarily by tourists or young professionals … or both?  Does urban renewal always cause gentrification in all of your study locations? ​ Are there any anomalies?

Criteria E – Conclusion (200)

From the IB
Students should summarize the findings of the fieldwork investigation. There should be a clear, concise statement answering the fieldwork question. It is acceptable for the conclusion to state that the findings do not match the student’s preliminary judgment or prediction. This criterion assesses the ability of the student to summarize the findings of the fieldwork investigation and draw a supported conclusion. 

Step 1 – Revisit both of your Research Questions (RQ’s) and answer them concisely. 

Step 2 – Revisit both of your hypotheses and briefly say whether they have been proved or disproved and why. 
​
Step 3 – Finish with a comment based around the overall investigation title: 

To what extent has urban renewal led to gentrification in different areas of Paris?

Focus on the word ‘extent’ and gentrification. What might the future bring for Paris and for your study zones? 

Criteria F – Evaluation (300) 

From the IB
Students should review their investigative methodology, including methods of collecting primary information.Within this, they should consider any factors that may have affected the validity of the data, including personal bias and unpredicted external circumstances such as the time of day visited etc. Students should suggest specific and plausible ways in which the study might have been improved and could be extended in the future. This criterion assesses the student’s ability to review the investigative methodology, by weighing up the strengths and/or weaknesses of the chosen method, and suggest improvements.

Step 1 – Revisit all the methods that you used. If you didn’t use a particular methodology, do not evaluate it and take it out of your methodology too. For each survey, you will need to describe:* the strengths of the method* the weaknesses of the method* a potential improvement to the method and an explanation of the potential impacts of these improvements on future study. 

Think about:

1. Perception – Based on your opinion only and someone who is not from Paris. (safe, dangerous, improving, declining – emotive and based on your experiences of cities). 

2. Services & amenities – did you record them all? Closed shops? 

3. Residential Decay Index – Perception based again so what weaknesses (see point 1 above)? 

4. Conflict Matrix – Again, from two sources. One was our tour guide and the second was any photos that showed conflict. Improve by consulting all key stakeholders. 

Other factors to think about. 

* Locations – we visited in the day time March. Issues? ​

* We collected data in small groups. Bias? 

* Study areas were predetermined. Were they suitable? Do they represent an accurate snap shot of life in Paris? 

* We didn’t speak to anybody other than our tour guide.  Interviews weren’t possible because of language barriers. 

* Your choice of data presentation techniques (limitations, future improvements).

**** Which ever suggestions for improvement are outlined, you must make sure that the potential impact of these improvements is then explained – you can only score 3/3 if you follow this structure.*****

Do not put the methodology in table format. The IB examiners hate that!!