RUBRIC for ORIGINAL RESEARCH PROJECT
Criteria Expert Proficient Apprentice Novice
Introduction Clearly identifies and Limited discussion of Minimal discussion of Little or no discussion of
[Introductory discusses research research focus/purpose research focus/purpose research focus/purpose
paragraph(s), focus/purpose of of research of research of research
literature research Research focus is less Research focus is not Research focus not
review, Research focus is clearly well-grounded in well-grounded in grounded in previous
hypotheses or grounded in previous previous previous research/theoretically
propositions] research/theoretically research/theoretically research/theoretically relevant literature
relevant literature relevant literature relevant literature Significance of the
Significance of the Significance of the Significance of the research is not
research is clearly research is not as research is not clearly identified (how it adds
identified (how it adds clearly identified (how it identified (how it adds to previous research)
to previous research) adds to previous to previous research) Hypotheses/propositions
Hypotheses/propositions research) Hypotheses/propositions are poorly articulated or
are clearly articulated Hypotheses/propositions are not well articulated are absent altogether
are described but not as
well articulated
Research Provides accurate, Description of how the Description of how the Description of how the
Methods thorough description of data was collected, data was collected, data was collected,
how the data was what/how many data what/how many data what/how many data
collected, what/how sources were analyzed, sources were analyzed, sources were analyzed,
many data sources were plan of analysis or plan of analysis or plan of analysis or
analyzed, plan of measurement measurement measurement
analysis or instrument, research instrument, research instrument, research
measurement context is adequate but context is somewhat context is very
instrument, research limited. confusing/not clearly confusing/not
context Reflection on social articulated. articulated sufficiently.
Reflection on social situatedness/reflexivity Reflection on social Reflection on social
situatedness/reflexivity and how it may situatedness/reflexivity situatedness/reflexivity
and how it may influence data collection and how it may and how it may
influence data collection and interpretation is influence data collection influence data collection
and interpretation is adequate but limited and interpretation is and interpretation is
thorough and insightful limited and lacks insight severely limited, lacks
insight, or is absent
altogether
Results Results are clearly Results are explained Results are not very Results are not clearly
explained in a but not as clearly, level clearly explained, level explained, level of detail
comprehensive level of of detail is not as of detail is insufficient, is severely insufficient,
detail and are well- sufficient, and there and there are more and there are serious
organized are some organizational issues organizational issues
Tables/figures clearly organizational issues Tables/figures are not Tables/figures are not
and concisely convey Tables/figures are not clear/concise in clear/concise in
the data. as clear/concise in conveying the data. conveying the data.
Statistical analyses (if conveying the data. Statistical analyses (if Statistical analyses (if
used) are appropriate Statistical analyses (if used) are inappropriate used) are inappropriate
tests and are accurately used) are appropriate tests and/or are not tests and/or are not
interpreted. tests but are not accurately interpreted. accurately interpreted.
accurately interpreted.
Conclusions Interpretations/analysis Interpretations/analysis Interpretations/analysis Interpretations/analysis
of results are thoughtful of results are sufficient of results lacking in of results severely
and insightful, are but somewhat lacking thoughtfulness and lacking in thoughtful
clearly informed by the in thoughtfulness and insight, are not clearly ness and insight, are
study’s results, and insight, are not as informed by the study’s not informed by the
thoroughly address how clearly informed by the results, and do not study’s results, and do
they supported, refuted, study’s results, and do adequately address how not address how they
and/or informed the not as thoroughly they supported, refuted, supported, refuted,
hypotheses/propositions address how they and/or informed the and/or informed the
Insightful discussion of supported, refuted, hypotheses/propositions hypotheses/propositions
how the study relates to and/or informed the Discussion of how the Discussion of how the
and/or enhances the hypotheses/proposition study relates to and/or study relates to and/or
present scholarship in Discussion of how the enhances the present enhances the present
this area study relates to and/or scholarship in this area scholarship in this area
Suggestions for further enhances the present is limited. is severely limited
research in this area are scholarship in this area Suggestions for further and/or absent
insightful and thoughtful is adequate. research in this area are altogether.
Suggestions for further very limited. Suggestions for further
research in this area research in this area are
are adequate. severely limited and/or
absent altogether.
Documentation Cites all data obtained Cites most data Cites some data Does not cite sources.
of Sources, from other sources. APA obtained from other obtained from other Sources are
Quality of citation style is sources. APA citation sources. Citation style is disproportionately non-
Sources accurately used in both style is used in both text either inconsistent or scholarly and do not
text and bibliography. and bibliography. incorrect. clearly relate to the
Sources are all scholarly Sources are primarily Sources are not research focus.
and clearly relate to the scholarly and relate to primarily scholarly and
research focus. the research focus. relate to the research
focus but somewhat
tangentially.
Spelling & No spelling & grammar Minimal spelling & Noticeable spelling and Excessive spelling
Grammar mistakes grammar mistakes grammar mistakes and/or grammar
mistakes
Manuscript Title page has proper Title page Title page deviates a bit Title page completely
Format APA formatting approximates APA more from APA deviates from APA
Used correct headings & formatting formatting formatting
subheadings Used correct headings Headings & subheadings Headings and
consistently & subheadings almost less consistent subheadings completely
consistently deviate from suggested
formatting or are
absent altogether
Additional Comments:
Swygart-Hobaugh, A. J. (Some elements adapted from vom Saal, F., “Scoring Rubric—Scientific Paper”
http://www.biology.missouri.edu/courses/Bio4984_vomSaal/pdf/Sci_Paper_Critique.pdf and Cornell College/Colorado College., “Figure 1:
Research Paper Rubric” http://www.coloradocollege.edu/library/acmassign/tools.html
