Thesis Proposal Evaluation Rubric

Component Fully met (3) Met (2) Partially Met (1) Not met (0) Score
Proposal overview Effectively and Develops a set of Develops Hypotheses are not
insightfully develops a testable and hypotheses. testable or justifiable.
set of testable, supportable hypotheses.
supportable and
impactful study
hypotheses.
Justification for The introduction section The introduction section The proposal Very little support for
hypotheses provides a cogent provides a logical provides weak the conceptual and
overview of conceptual overview of conceptual support for study theoretical relevant
and theoretical issues and theoretical issues hypotheses. to the study
related to the study related to the study Provides some hypotheses was
hypotheses. hypotheses. evidence of sound provided. Provides
Demonstrates Demonstrates critical thinking. little evidence of
outstanding critical competent critical sound critical
thinking. thinking. thinking.
Supporting Provides clearly Provides adequate Provides Provides little or no
evidence appropriate evidence to evidence to support inappropriate or evidence to support
support position position insufficient evidence position
to support position
Review of relevant Sophisticated Provides a meaningful Fails to cite important Provides little or no
research integration, synthesis, summary of the or relevant relevant scholarship.
and critique of literature literature. Shows scholarship.
from related fields. understanding of Misinterprets
Places work within relevant literature research findings.
larger context.
Maintains The proposal is well The proposal has an The proposal is The document lacks
purpose/focus organized and has a organizational structure somewhat focused or focus or contains
tight and cohesive focus and the focus is clear has minor drifts in major drifts in focus
that is integrated throughout. the focus.
throughout the
document
Methodology Identifies appropriate Identifies appropriate Identifies appropriate The methodologies
 Sample methodologies and methodologies and methodologies and described are either
  Procedures research techniques research techniques but research techniques not suited or poorly
 Measures (e.g., justifies the some details are but many details are suited to test
 Data sample, procedures, missing or vague. missing or vague. hypotheses. The
analytic and measures). Data The methodology is methodology is
plan analytic plan is suitable largely incomplete. under-developed
to test study and/or is not feasible.
hypotheses. Provides
appropriate justification
for controls. Project is
feasible
Grammar, clarity, The manuscript is well The manuscript The manuscript The manuscript is
and organization written and ideas are effectively communicates ideas poorly written and
well developed and communicates ideas. adequately. The confusing. Ideas are
explained. Sentences The writing is manuscript contains not communicated
and paragraphs are grammatically correct, some grammatical effectively.
grammatically correct. but some sections lack errors. Many
Uses subheadings clarity. sections lack clarity.
appropriately.
References and Properly and explicitly Properly cited. May The manuscript has The manuscript lacks
citations cited. Reference list have a few instances in several instances of proper citations or
matches citations which proper citations improper use of includes no citations.
are missing. citations. Contains
several statements
without appropriately
citing.
General recommendations for the thesis /dissertation defense:
 Thesis and Dissertation Defense Evaluation Rubric

Component Fully met (3) Met (2) Partially Met (1) Not met (0) Score
Thesis/dissertation Effectively and Develops a set of Develops Hypotheses are not
overview insightfully develops a testable and hypotheses. The testable or justifiable.
set of testable, supportable manuscript lacks a Focus of the
supportable and hypotheses. The clear organizational manuscript is hard to
impactful study manuscript is nicely structure and follow; lacks
hypotheses. In general organized and the cohesive focus; organizational
the document is well focus of the manuscript some sections are structure.
organized and maintains is generally maintained clearly organized and
a tightly integrated focus throughout the focused and others
throughout the document. are not.
manuscript.
Justification for The introduction section The introduction The proposal Very little support for
hypotheses provides a cogent section provides a provides weak the conceptual and
overview of conceptual logical overview of support for study theoretical relevant
and theoretical issues conceptual and hypotheses. to the study
related to the study theoretical issues Provides some hypotheses was
hypotheses. related to the study evidence of sound provided. Provides
Demonstrates hypotheses. critical thinking. little evidence of
outstanding critical Demonstrates sound critical
thinking. competent critical thinking.
thinking.
Supporting Provides clearly Provides adequate Provides Provides little or no
evidence appropriate evidence to evidence to support inappropriate or evidence to support
support position position insufficient evidence position
to support position
Review of relevant Sophisticated integration, Provides a meaningful Fails to cite important Provides little or no
research synthesis, and critique of summary of the or relevant relevant scholarship.
literature from related literature. Shows scholarship.
fields. Places work within understanding of Misinterprets
larger context. relevant literature research findings.
Maintains The proposal is well The proposal has an The proposal is The document lacks
purpose/focus organized and has a tight organizational structure somewhat focused or focus or contains
and cohesive focus that and the focus is clear has minor drifts in major drifts in focus
throughout. the focus.
 is integrated throughout
the document
Methodology Identifies appropriate Identifies appropriate Identifies appropriate The methodologies
 Sample methodologies and methodologies and methodologies and described are either
 Procedures research techniques research techniques research techniques not suited or poorly
 Measures (e.g., justifies the but some details are but many details are suited to test
 Data sample, procedures, and missing or vague. missing or vague. hypotheses. The
analytic measures). Data analytic The methodology is methodology is
plan plan is suitable to test largely incomplete. under-developed
study hypotheses. and/or is not feasible.
Provides appropriate
justification for controls.
Project is feasible
Results section The results clearly align The results discussed The results section is The statistics used
with study hypotheses are consistent with under developed. are inappropriate to
and the data analytic hypotheses and the Results section is test study
plan. Tables are well data analytic plan. incomplete in that hypotheses. Or,
integrated and discussed Tables are somewhat tables are somewhat results are discussed
in the section. Controls integrated and integrated, or incorrectly or
and preliminary analyses discussed in the preliminary analyses inappropriately.
are well explained and section. Adequate and statistical There is not a good
justified. The statistical justification of controls are not correspondence
results are discussed in preliminary analyses justified. Results are between the tables
a sophisticated and and statistical controls. not always described and the written
accurate way. The statistical results accurately. document.
are discussed
adequately.
Discussion section Provides a sophisticated Adequately integrates The integration of the No integration of the
integration of the findings the findings within the findings within the findings within the
within the extant extant literature. extant literature is extant literature.
literature. Clarifies how Addresses how the superficial or Fails to attend to
the findings and research findings and research incomplete. Poorly issues of
hypotheses advance the hypotheses advance justifies the generalizability or
field. Addresses the field. Attends to strengths, design strengths and
strengths, weaknesses, issues of strengths, weaknesses, and weaknesses.
and limitations of the weaknesses, and
 current study accurately limitations of the limitations of the
and insightfully. current study. current study.
Grammar, clarity, The manuscript is well The manuscript The manuscript The manuscript is
and organization written and ideas are effectively communicates ideas poorly written and
well developed and communicates ideas. adequately. The confusing. Ideas are
explained. Sentences The writing is manuscript contains not communicated
and paragraphs are grammatically correct, some grammatical effectively.
grammatically correct. but some sections lack errors. Many
Uses subheadings clarity. sections lack clarity.
appropriately.
References and Properly and explicitly Properly cited. May The manuscript has The manuscript lacks
citations cited. Reference list have a few instances in several instances of proper citations or
matches citations which proper citations improper use of includes no citations.
are missing. citations. Contains
several statements
without appropriately
citing.
Responsive to Highly responsive to Largely responsive to Somewhat Highly unresponsive
prior feedback previous feedback from previous feedback from responsive to to previous feedback
faculty. Feedback is well faculty. Feedback is previous feedback from faculty.
integrated into the somewhat integrated from faculty.
current document. into the current
document.
General recommendations for the thesis /dissertation defense:
 Qualifying Exam Rubric: Pre-oral exam evaluation of the written document

Component Fully met (3) Met (2) Partially Met (1) Not met (0) Score
Biological bases of Effectively and Provides a solid Answers the Question is not
psychology insightfully answers the answer to the question. question, but the answered. The
exam question. Provides Presents good answer lacks depth answer is superficial
scientific evidence to scientific evidence to and a clear and lacks any clear
support conclusions and support conclusions, integration of demonstration of an
provides a thoughtful, although may have existing research understanding of the
rich, astute answer that missed a few relevant and theory. Some conceptual issues
is consistent with and or citations. The answer sections are clearly the question
extends existing is clearly represents organized and addressed.
empirical and theoretical the empirical and focused and others
work. theoretical work. are not.
Social bases of Effectively and Provides a solid Answers the Question is not
psychology insightfully answers the answer to the question. question, but the answered. The
exam question. Provides Presents good answer lacks depth answer is superficial
scientific evidence to scientific evidence to and a clear and lacks any clear
support conclusions and support conclusions, integration of demonstration of an
provides a thoughtful, although may have existing research understanding of the
rich, astute answer that missed a few relevant and theory. Some conceptual issues
is consistent with and or citations. The answer sections are clearly the question
extends existing is clearly represents organized and addressed.
empirical and theoretical the empirical and focused and others
work. theoretical work. are not.
Cognitive-affective Effectively and Provides a solid Answers the Question is not
bases of psychology insightfully answers the answer to the question. question, but the answered. The
exam question. Provides Presents good answer lacks depth answer is superficial
scientific evidence to scientific evidence to and a clear and lacks any clear
support conclusions and support conclusions, integration of demonstration of an
provides a thoughtful, although may have existing research understanding of the
rich, astute answer that missed a few relevant and theory. Some conceptual issues
is consistent with and or citations. The answer sections are clearly the question
extends existing is clearly represents organized and addressed.
empirical and theoretical the empirical and focused and others
work. theoretical work. are not.
 Component Fully met (3) Met (2) Partially Met (1) Not met (0) Score
Individual Effectively and Provides a solid Answers the Question is not
differences insightfully answers the answer to the question. question, but the answered. The
exam question. Provides Presents good answer lacks depth answer is superficial
scientific evidence to scientific evidence to and a clear and lacks any clear
support conclusions and support conclusions, integration of demonstration of an
provides a thoughtful, although may have existing research understanding of the
rich, astute answer that missed a few relevant and theory. Some conceptual issues
is consistent with and or citations. The answer sections are clearly the question
extends existing is clearly represents organized and addressed.
empirical and theoretical the empirical and focused and others
work. theoretical work. are not.
Grammar, clarity, The manuscript is well The manuscript The manuscript The manuscript is
and organization written and ideas are effectively communicates ideas poorly written and
well developed and communicates ideas. adequately. The confusing. Ideas are
explained. Sentences The writing is manuscript contains not communicated
and paragraphs are grammatically correct, some grammatical effectively.
grammatically correct. but some sections lack errors. Many
Uses subheadings clarity. sections lack clarity.
appropriately.
References and Properly and explicitly Properly cited. May The manuscript has The manuscript
citations cited. Reference list have a few instances several instances of lacks proper
matches citations in which proper improper use of citations or includes
citations are missing. citations. Contains no citations.
several statements
without appropriately
citing.
Notes:
 Oral defense Checklist
Content
Does the student appropriately and effectively exhibit or use the following:

Components Yes (2) Sometimes No (0) Total

(1)
Accurately answer questions
Clarifies concerns in written
document (if NA answer yes)
Recovers from anxiety
Demonstrates knowledge of
the content area

total

Presentation and delivery: Oral components

Does the student appropriately and effectively exhibit or use the following:

Components Yes (2) Sometimes No (0) Total

(1)
Eye contact
Facial expressions
Gestures/movement
Appropriate word choice
Proper pronunciation
Vocal variety
Self-confidence
Professionalism
Enthusiasm
Timing/pace
total
Presentation and delivery: Visual components
Are the visual aids (Power point slides, handouts..)

Components Yes (2) Sometimes No (0) Total

(1)
Well organized
Clear and readable
Free of mechanical and
grammatical errors
Relevant and meaningful
Appropriately cited
Enhance overall presentation
total

Overall total:______________