Rubric for Thesis, Research Manuscript

Texas A & M University – Commerce, Department of Health & Human Performance – Thesis Grading Rubric

CRITERIA Beginning = 1 Basic = 2 Proficient = 3 Mastery = 4

Significance of Topic is of little Topic is of some importance Topic is important and Topic of major importance
Topic importance or and is related to field of study. related to field of study. and specifically related to
unrelated to field of Topic will somewhat add to Topic will moderately add to the field of study. Topic has
study. Topic will not the body of literature in the the body of literature in the significant theoretical and
add to the body of field of study. Topic had basic field of study. Topic has practical importance to the
literature in the field of theoretical and practical moderate theoretical and field of study. Topic
study. Topic has little importance to the field of practical importance to the demonstrates a high level
theoretical or practical study. Topic demonstrates field of study. Topic of innovative thinking.
importance to the field some innovative thinking. demonstrates a moderate Topic directly relates to
of study. Topic Topic somewhat relates to level on innovative thinking. planning, implementing,
demonstrates no planning, implementing, and Topic directly relates to and evaluating a program.
innovative thinking. evaluating a program. planning, implementing,
Topic does not directly and evaluating a program.
relate to planning,
implementing, and
evaluating a program.
Purpose Unclear and confusing. Somewhat understandable Clearly stated and Clearly stated and
No conceptualization. but needs clarity. Some level appropriately worded. appropriately worded. Well
of conceptualization. Moderately conceptualized. conceptualized.

Research Questions/ Unrelated to purpose Somewhat related to purpose Related purpose and Clearly related to purpose
Hypothesis and poorly written. and understandable. understandable. Moderate and understandable. Little
Significant revision Significant revision needed. revision needed. or no revision needed.
needed.
Review of Literature/ Incomplete or Partially complete and Complete literature review Comprehensive literature
Theoretical disorganized. Includes somewhat disorganized. with sound organization. review. Includes current
Framework an inappropriate Includes few non-refereed Includes very few non- and landmark literature
number of non- sources. Establishes a basic referred sources and highly relevant to the topic.
refereed sources. Fails theoretical framework provides current research Establishes an advanced
to establish an (including motivational relevant to the field and the theoretical framework
appropriate theoretical theories) for the research topic. Establishes a sound (including motivational
framework (including topic. Demonstrates a basic and proficient theoretical theories) for the research
motivational theories) understanding of appropriate framework (including topic. Is appropriate for
for the research topic. citation format, but requires motivational theories) for publication or presentation
Fails to site significant revision. Is not the research topic. May be with little or no revision.
appropriately. Not appropriate for publication or appropriate for publication
appropriate for presentation without or presentation with major
publication or significant revision. or moderate revision.
presentation.
Method Incomplete and little Partial description of methods Moderately well written and Well written, detailed
description of methods. which appear to be mostly complete description description of methods.
Methods appear appropriate and related to of methods. Methods Methods are highly
inappropriate or purpose and research appear sound, appropriate appropriate for this type of
unrelated to purpose questions. Data analysis and related to purpose and project and are directly
and research appears appropriate for the research questions. Data linked to the purpose and
questions. Data research but needs significant analysis is appropriate for research questions. Data
analysis is incomplete refinement. Is not appropriate the research but needs analysis is highly
and inappropriate. Not for publication or presentation some refinement. May be appropriate for the research
appropriate for without significant revision. appropriate for publication and needs little or no
publication or or presentation with major refinement. Is appropriate
presentation. or moderate revision. for publication or
presentation with little or no
revision.
Results & Inaccurately stated Accurately stated based on Accurately stated based on Accurately stated based on
Discussion based on the data. No the data. Limited discussion the data. Discussion relates the data. Thoughtful,
discussion to compare with some comparison to findings to previous detailed and
findings to previous previous research. Relates research on topic. comprehensive discussion
research. No material to purpose and Discussion relates key is presented. Key findings
relationship to purpose research findings to previous are specifically related to
and research questions/hypothesis. Some research and prevents previous research.
questions/hypothesis. discussion of key findings and implications. Shows critical Implications are well
Fails to discuss key their implications. Shows analysis of research related presented. Shows creative
findings. Shows little or some critical analysis of to topic and compared to thinking and thoughtful
no critical analysis of research related to topic and current study. May be insight. Shows critical
 Rubric for Thesis, Research Manuscript

research related to compared to current study. Is appropriate for publication analysis of research related
topic and compared to not appropriate for publication or presentation. to topic and compared to
current study. Not or presentation without current study. Is appropriate
appropriate for significant revision. for publication or
publication or presentation with little or no
presentation. revision.
Format, Citations, & Project is disorganized Project is somewhat Project is organized, but in Project is well organized,
References or difficult to read. organized but in need of need of major clarification in needing only very little
Project is not significant clarification. The some areas. The majority of clarification, if any. The
presented in format majority of the project is not the project is presented in entire project is presented
appropriate for presented in format format appropriate for in format appropriate for
intended scholarly appropriate for intended intended scholarly venue. intended scholarly venue.
venue. Presentation of scholarly venue. Presentation Presentation of material is Presentation of the material
material is of material is somewhat appropriate and is highly appropriate and
inappropriate and appropriate and professional. professional. A high number professional. All citations
unprofessional. Few A moderate number of of appropriate citations are are appropriate. Additional
appropriate citations appropriate citations are used, used, Few, if any, additional sources are not needed. All
are used. Citations and but more may be needed. sources may be needed. citations and references are
references are not Citations and references are The Majority of citations presented in proper format
presented in proper not presented in proper and references are and do not need revision.
format and need format, and are in need of presented in proper format,
significant revision. moderate revision. and are in need of minor
revision.
Concentration – a. Does not identify a. Identifies topical health a. Completely identifies a. Completely identifies
Specific Criteria topical health issues of issues of special populations topical health issues of topical health issues of
special populations and some skills for addressing special populations and special populations and
a. Health Promotion and skills for those issues. most skills for addressing skills for addressing those
addressing those those issues. issues.
b. Exercise Science issues. b. Outlines and follows most
of the guidelines for b. Completely outlines and b. Completely outlines and
c. Athletic b. Does not outline and performing testing for follows most of the follows the guidelines for
Administration follow the guidelines physiological evaluation to guidelines for performing performing testing for
for performing testing make individual and/or group testing for physiological physiological evaluation to
d. Sport and for physiological recommendations. evaluation to make make individual and/or
Recreation evaluation to make individual and/or group group recommendations.
Management individual and/or group c. Identifies and exhibits some recommendations.
recommendations. of the management and c. Identifies and exhibits the
administrative skills necessary c. Identifies and exhibits management and
c. Does not identify for athletic programs. most of the management administrative skills
and exhibit satisfactory and administrative skills necessary for athletic
management and d. Identifies and exhibits some necessary for athletic programs.
administrative skills of the management and programs.
necessary for athletic administrative skills necessary d. Identifies and exhibits
programs. for sport and recreation d. Identifies and exhibits management and
programs. most of the management administrative skills
d. Does not identify and administrative skills necessary for sport and
and exhibit satisfactory necessary for sport and recreation programs.
management and recreation programs.
administrative skills
necessary for sport
and recreation
programs.
Overall Content/ Demonstrates lack of Demonstrates basic level of Demonstrates a proficient Demonstrates a high level
Project Evaluation knowledge in field of knowledge in field of study, level of knowledge related of mastery of knowledge
(Readiness to study, the selected the selected topic, and to field of study, the related to field of study, the
Submit for topic, and research research design. Is not selected topic, and selected topic, and
Publication or design. Not appropriate for publication or research design. May be research design. Is
Professional appropriate for presentation without appropriate for publication appropriate for publication
Presentation) publication or significant revision. or presentation with major or presentation with little or
presentation. revision. no revision.