Judging Criteria (AR, BHS, HUM, MPE, SSE)
Judging Criteria for Written Submissions
Arts & Research (AR); Biological & Health Sciences (BHS); Humanities (HUM); Mathematical, Physical, & Engineering Sciences (MPE); and Social Sciences & Education (SSE) Divisions
Section 2: Methodology/Technique
Section 4: Organization/Style
Section 1: Introduction/Foundation/Approach
A. Problem/Significance/Thesis
- Identifies problem, issues clearly
- Established importance, significance of research topic
- Clearly defines hypothesis/thesis
- Hypothesis is testable as stated
B. Literature Review/Theoretical Framework
- Author uses credible, scholarly sources
- Provides appropriate, relevant background for current study
- Identifies authors/theorists for precedent
Section 2: Methodology/Technique
A. Procedure/Technique
- Describes methodology/technique/procedure in sufficient detail to evaluate the results reported
B. Procedures/Materials
- Appropriate methodology/design/technique chosen (defendable if not standard)
- Defines key terms/materials/apparatus used in research
- Describes population if appropriate
Section 3: Results/Discussion
A. Presentation of Results
- Results are clearly stated or clearly plotted graphically
- Results are explained in manner that should be clear to an educated layperson
B. Outcomes/Findings
- If statistical analyses used, they are appropriate and clearly defined
- Findings clearly follow from methods used
- Results clearly address the hypotheses stated
C. Interpretation
- Author related the results to any points raised in the introduction
- Author addresses any failed predictions
D. Implications
- Author discusses implications of findings to discipline/field/practice
- Author links findings to future study/extensions of research
Section 4: Organization/Style
A. Writing/Presentation Style
- Author presents work in a clear and easy to follow style
- Author uses appropriate punctuation, spelling, and sentence structure
- References are cited clearly and in a style commensurate with discipline standards
