A database IA is graded the same way as any other IA.  The same rubric is used and the same expectations are required. 

First Steps - Watch this video

• Find the database:  Students need to find the database first, and then a research question.  

• Big data: useful databases will yield sufficient data for analysis when only a fraction of it is utilized.

• Querying: the manipulation of the database, or the question asked of it. This will filter out data that is irrelevant in the study and/or arrange useful data so patterns begin to emerge.

• Manipulation always yields raw data. Processing must be done by you.

• Students often try to pull data from scientific studies. Most of that data is already heavily processed and hard to work with. Students could consider emailing the authors asking for the raw data.  

• Epidemiological studies, such as comparing the human development index to heart disease, do not have a clear biology focus and start to fall into geography. These need to have a specific biology focus. Heart disease compared to diet, for example, can be a better choice than the human development index.  

• Students need to apply the same rigour and through processes, as they would for a wet lab. This includes comments and discussions on the suitability of the database, a detailed procedure and the ethical implications of the database. Remember that the rubric for IAs are the same for a database IA.

Walk Through of a Database IA - level 6 out of 7