Research Process Rubric
Exemplary | Satisfactory | Needs improvement | |
Search strategies HOW did you discover these sources? When you meet with Janelle, be prepared to share evidence that demonstrates your research process. |
4 Brainstormed many keywords, categories, and related terms that opened the research topic 4 Expanded and refined list(s) of relevant search terms by evaluating and refining initial search results 4 Searched many different types of tools (catalogs, article databases, websites, curricula) 3 Employed Boolean operators (other than AND), truncation, and other advanced search strategies to broaden or narrow searches as appropriate 3 Followed references/citations listed in in-hand sources |
3 Brainstormed some keywords, categories, and related terms that began to open the research topic 3 Began to refine relevant search terms by evaluating and refining initial search results 3 Searched a few different types of tools (catalogs, article databases, websites, curricula) 2 Began to employ Boolean operators (other than AND), truncation, and other advanced search strategies to broaden or narrow searches as appropriate 2 Followed some references/citations listed in in-hand sources |
1 Brainstormed limited keywords, categories, and related terms that began to open the research topic 0 Did not refine search terms by evaluating and refining initial search results 1 Searched 1-2 types of tools (catalogs, article databases, websites, curricula) 0 Did not employ Boolean operators (other than AND), truncation, or other advanced search strategies to broaden or narrow searches as appropriate 0 Did not follow references/citations listed in in-hand sources |
Identification, selection and organization of sources WHAT sources have you gathered? HOW did you organize and keep track of them? Hint: gather far more than you expect to use! |
4 Identified a sufficient number of appropriate sources Sources were balanced by: · 2 Publication format (reference books, books, articles, websites, films, lesson plans, other media…) · 2 Author (scholars from relevant disciplines, journalists, laypersons, other) · 2 Audience (scholars, students, parents, laypersons, other stakeholders) · 2 Publication date (as appropriate for topic) 2 Always saved/copied/emailed/exported relevant source citations found during research 2 Always saved/copied/emailed/exported or otherwise obtained relevant fulltext sources found during research |
2 Identified some appropriate sources Made limited attempts to balance sources by: · 1 Publication format (reference books, books, articles, websites, films, lesson plans, other media…) · 1 Author (scholars from relevant disciplines, journalists, laypersons, other) · 1 Audience (scholars, students, parents, laypersons, other stakeholders) · 1 Publication date (as appropriate for topic) 1 Sometimes saved/copied/emailed/exported relevant source citations found during research 1 Sometimes saved/copied/emailed/exported or otherwise obtained relevant fulltext sources found during research |
1 Identified few appropriate sources Did not balance sources by: · 0 Publication format (reference books, books, articles, websites, films, lesson plans, other media…) · 0 Author (scholars from relevant disciplines, journalists, laypersons, other) · 0 Audience (scholars, students, parents, laypersons, other stakeholders) · 0 Publication date (as appropriate) 0 Did not save/copy/email/export any source citations 0 Did not save/copy/email/export or otherwise obtain any fulltext sources, or copied part of a source w/o saving citation |
Exemplary | Satisfactory | Needs improvement | |
Quality/evaluation HOW WELL did you edit your initial research results? |
4 Cited only high quality sources that strongly supported the thesis or claim. 4 All sources represent intellectual choices made in service of a thesis or claim. 4 Final bibliography exhibits no gaps in background research. 4 Research gaps identified earlier in the process have been filled or otherwise adequately addressed. |
3 Cited some quality sources that supported the thesis. 2 Some sources represent intellectual choices made in service of a thesis or claim. 2 Final bibliography exhibits some gaps in background research. 2 Attempts have been made to fill the identified research gaps. |
1 Cited few or no quality sources that provided limited support for the thesis. 1 Few or no sources represent intellectual choices made in service of a thesis or claim. 1 Final bibliography exhibits many gaps in background research. 1 Research gaps identified earlier in the process have not been filled or otherwise adequately addressed. |