Katrin Becker
EDER 603.02
Last update: Thursday, June 10, 2004 10:00 AM
Quantitative Research Methods
The following is a marking rubric that can be used as a guide for preparing a research proposal

Presentation (looks)
Unacceptable * 0.0
[ 'C' ] Meets Requirements * 0.5
[ 'A' ] Exceeds Requirements * 1.0
Your Mark:
[ 4 ] Overall appearance
Looks disorganized.Looks like it was thrown together at the last minute.
Clean,Good enough.
Clean, clear, professional
/ 4
[ 3 ] Length (approx. 2-5 pages)
Too short (doesn't say enough).Too long (says stuff we don't want to know).
Not too long or short (able to say what it needs to)
Right length.Easy to read.Holds reader's interest.
/ 3
[ 3 ] Use of white-space
Too much: white space used to make it look bigger.Interferes with readability.Too little: looks crowded – hard to keep one's place when reading.
Helps readability.
Looks professional.
/ 3
Total
/10
Literary Quality (writing form)
Unacceptable * 0.0
[ 'C' ] Meets Requirements * 0.5
[ 'A' ] Exceeds Requirements * 1.0
Your Mark:
[ 2 ] Professional, grammatically correct
Needs to be proofread. Inconsistent. Incomplete sentences where there should be some.
Very few problems.
No noticeable problems
/ 2
[ 2 ] Spelling, typos
Ignored types.Looks like it was not proofread.
Almost none.
No noticeable problems.
/ 2
[ 2 ] Style and interest
Does not stick to the point; choppy; awkward.
Acceptable.
Enjoyable to read.
/ 2
[ 2 ] Clarity of writing; flows naturally
Had to re-read portions.Hard to follow / understand.
Mostly.
Yup.
/ 2
[ 2 ] Wordiness (each word should count)
Includes phrases that do not add to the meaning or content. Uses too many big or complex words when simple ones will do.
Mostly OK.
Each word / phrase is meaningful, appropriate and adds some value to the whole paper.
/ 2
Total
/10
Technical Quality (content)
Unacceptable * 0.0
[ 'C' ] Meets Requirements * 0.5
[ 'A' ] Exceeds Requirements * 1.0
Your Mark:
[ 2 ] Introduction – What is the proposal about?
Sketchy or non-existent.
Short; to the point. Tells me what's to come
Sets up the paper well. Has good lead-up to the problem at hand.
/ 2
[ 5 ] Purpose – What is the project about?
Unclear.Condescending.
Clear, clean.
Explains what you hope to get out of it.
/ 5
[ 3 ] Rationale – Why is it worth doing?
I don't believe it.
I'm convinced.
I'm enthused.
/ 3
[ 3 ] Question or hypothesis – What is the question you are trying to answer?
UnclearAmbiguous
Unambiguous.Expresses relationships among variables. Magnitude (size of proposed project) might be off – either too big or too small.
Everything hangs together. Magnitude of project is well-suited to this assignment.
/ 3
[ 3 ] Delimitations & limitations
Project is WAY too big or too little. Unable to define limitations & delimitations.
Anticipates many of the potential weaknesses and problems.
Seems to have all the angles covered.
/ 3
[ 2 ] Definitions
None / unnecessary definitions included.
Appropriate.Sufficient.
Some good ones. Each one relevant. None un-necessary.
/ 2
[ 5 ] Background
Sketchy or non-existent.
Explain what you already know / can do.Explain how this project relates to <the powers that be*> .Explains why it is being done this way.
Thorough. Appears complete, defensible, justified.
/ 5
[ 5 ] Procedures
Sketchy or non-existent.
Explain what you plan to do. Perhaps somewhat unrealistic.
Lays it out in sufficient detail – without going overboard. Realistic (appropriate for this course and project).
/ 5
[ 2 ] Supplementary material
None
Some.
Indicates project is well thought out.
/ 2
Total
/30
the powers that be: is whatever group is going to look at this proposal - it could be a funding body, course instructor, etc.
[University of Calgary]
[Computer Science]
[Faculty of Education]
Copyright (C) 2004 Katrin Becker June 10, 2004 10:00 AM