RESEARCH PROPOSAL (MANUSCRIPT) RUBRICS

Satisfactory (7-10) Developing (4-6) Underdeveloped (0-3) Score

Title Title clearly conveys the Title incompletely or unclearly Title does not convey
study’s specific research conveys the study’s specific study’s specific research
question(s), purpose, or topic; research question(s), purpose, or question(s), purpose, or
for quantitative research, topic; for quantitative research, topic; for quantitative
study’s independent, incompletely identifies study’s research, study’s
dependent (if applicable), or independent, dependent (if independent, dependent
key variables are evident to the applicable), or important study (if applicable), or key
reader variables variables not evident to
the reader
Abstract Gives a concise, thorough Does not give enough information Contains no introduction.
introduction to provide context or provides unclear context or Starts with either methods
and background of the study. background. Discusses what or results. Contains no
Discusses what tests/ tests/procedures/methods were methods or procedures.
procedures/methods were used but in somewhat Gives no results or does
used in an organized, clear, disorganized manner. Merely not even mention results.
and concise manner. States states the results qualitatively. Provides no conclusion.
results including quantitative
data. Clearly interprets results
and concisely reflects the
purpose of the research.
Introduction
Problem References or arguments Unclear or weak argument No argument provided to
statement/rationale/purpose strongly motivate study of provided to motivate study of motivate study of topic
topic; evidence provided to topic; no evidence provided to
support research problem support research problem

Research question(s) Well-phrased empirical Poorly phrased/unclear empirical Research question(s) not
research question(s) that research question(s); or research explicitly stated; or
reference key variables or questions stated too broadly or research question(s) not
concepts; research question(s) too specifically suited for empirical
at appropriate level of research
specificity
Background Demonstrates that the Suggests that the researcher's Suggests the researcher's
researcher has a substantial breadth and depth of knowledge breadth and depth of
breadth and depth of is the adequate knowledge is poor
knowledge on the subject
Significance/importance Significance, importance, and Study significance, importance, Study significance,
possible implications of and possible implications, given importance, and possible
research for research/theory, insufficient attention implications, given no
policy, or practice, clearly attention
articulated
Literature Review
Relevance of reviewed literature Cited references relate Some cited references logically Cited references do not
logically to research question relate to research question; some logically relate to
relevant literature is not reviewed research question;
relevant literature is not
reviewed
Nature of reviewed literature All or preponderance of Insufficient amount of reviewed All or preponderance of
reviewed literature literature reviewed literature
(empirical or conceptual) is (empirical or conceptual) is (empirical or conceptual)
primary, academic, and peer primary, academic, and peer is not primary, academic,
reviewed in nature; other types reviewed in nature; other types of and peer-reviewed in
of literature (e.g., secondary literature (e.g., secondary nature; other types of
sources, policy documents, sources, policy documents, literature (e.g., secondary
opinion pieces) opinion pieces) are used too sources, policy
are used not at all or minimally frequently documents, opinion
pieces) dominate the
review
Method
Research design Specific quantitative, Some information pertaining to
Specific quantitative,
qualitative or mixed methods study design provided but lacks
qualitative or mixed
research design explicitly specificity or coherence with
methods research design
stated; study design coheres respect to research question(s)
not explicitly stated; or
with research question(s) design does not match
research question(s)
Sampling Sampling method clearly and Sampling method indicated, but No sampling method
accurately described, and is described incorrectly or is indicated, number of
appropriate given the research inappropriate given research participants not indicated;
 question(s); desired sample question(s); desired sample desired sample
characteristics (e.g., size, characteristics (e.g., size, characteristics (e.g., size,
demographics) completely demographics) explained demographics) not
described; if applicable, incompletely; if applicable, described; if applicable,
researcher entry to site and researcher entry to site and work researcher entry to site
work with gatekeepers with gatekeepers described and work with
described insufficiently gatekeepers not
described
Instrumentation/data collection Data collection methods and Data collection methods and Data collection methods
methods procedures (e.g., observation, procedures (e.g., observation, and procedures (e.g.,
interviews, researcher interviews, researcher developed observation, interviews,
developed instruments, instruments, existing tests) researcher developed
existing tests) fully and insufficiently described instruments, existing
accurately described tests) not or inaccurately
described
Data Gathering Procedure Research/data collection Research/data collection Research/data collection
procedures (e.g., procedures (e.g., procedures (e.g.,
experimental manipulations) experimental manipulations) experimental
clearly described; for a described, but insufficiently; for a manipulations)
quantitative study; for a quantitative study, difficult for a not described; if
quantitative study, a reader reader to carry out the study applicable, any program
could easily carry out the based on this description; if or intervention not
research based on this applicable, any program or described
description; if applicable, any intervention described
program or intervention insufficiently
described completely
Data Analysis Choices clearly explained and Choices explained adequately Choices not explained
details of how analysis will be and how analysis will be well and how analysis will
conducted are clearly laid out conducted are adequately be conducted are poorly
described laid out
Presentation and
Interpretation of Data
Presentation of results Easily accessible and clearly Somewhat accessible and Inaccessible and
understandable presentation of understandable presentation of confusing presentation of
results; variety of charts, table results; limited variety of charts, results; very limited
data displays included. table data displays included. variety of charts, table
data displays included.
Interpretation of findings Findings interpreted correctly Findings interpreted and Findings interpreted not
and directly supported by sometimes supported by correctly and are not
evidence and clearly address evidence and vaguely linked to supported by evidence
research questions. research questions. nor clearly address
research questions.
Summary of Findings,
Conclusion, and
Recommendation
Summary of Findings and Brief and concise discussion of Discussion of major Limited/no discussion of
Conclusion major findings/outcomes. findings/outcomes. major findings/outcomes.
Conclusion/summary is Conclusion/summary is Conclusion/summary is
appropriate and linked to sometimes appropriate but not inappropriate and not
findings/outcomes. clearly linked to linked to
findings/outcomes. findings/outcomes.
Recommendations Recommendations are Recommendations are Recommendations are
insightful, appropriate, and sometimes appropriate but not not included. No attention
linked to findings /outcomes. clearly linked to results/findings. paid to implications.
Implications for policy/practice Implications for policy/practice
included. included.
Citations and References Consistently uses APA style in Inconsistently uses APA style in Does not use APA style
text citations and references. text citations and references. and lack of citations
interferes with
comprehension.
Appendices Appendices include Appendices include undeveloped No appendices that are
instruments as used in the or draft form of instruments used included used in the
study. Uses APA formatting in study. Some errors in APA study.
correctly. formatting.
General writing mechanics Minimal to no grammar/spelling Some grammar/spelling errors Numerous
(e.g., grammar, spelling, errors spelling/grammar errors
punctuation)

Total__________/200
 Table of Contents
Acknowledgements .........................................................................................................................
Abstract ...........................................................................................................................................
Table of Contents ............................................................................................................................
List of Tables ..................................................................................................................................
List of Figures ...............................................................................................................................
Chapter 1: Introduction and Background ......................................................................................
Background of the study................................................................................................................
Statement of the Problem…………….….......................................................................................
Purpose of the study.........................................................................................................................
Scope and Limitations of the Study.....................................................................................................
Theoretical Framework....................................................................................................................
Conceptual Framework.....................................................................................................................
Significance of the study………………………………….……........................................................
Definition of terms...............................................................................................................................
Chapter 2: Literature Review ..............................................................................................................
Related Literature.................................................................................................................................
Chapter 3: Research Methodology......................................................................................................
Research Design ………………………….........................................................................................
Research Participants.........................................................................................................................
Research Locale...................................................................................................................................
Sampling Procedure...............................................................................................................................
Research Instruments ..........................................................................................................................
Data Gathering Procedure.....................................................................................................................
Ethical Considerations ...........................................................................................................................
Data Analysis .........................................................................................................................................
Chapter 4: Research Findings................................................................................................................
Presentation and Interpretation of Data ...........................................................................................
Chapter 5: Summary of Findings, Conclusion, and Recommendation..................................................
Summary of Findings...........................................................................................................................
Conclusion ..........................................................................................................................................
Recommendations……………………………….………...................................................................
References ............................................................................................................................................
Appendices ............................................................................................................................................
 List of Tables
Table 1
Table 4
Table 5
Table 6
Table 7
Table 8
Table 10
 List of Figures
Figure 1
Figure 4
Figure 5
Figure 6