University Libraries' Undergraduate Research Award Rubric

Rubric 20-21
Criteria	Beginning	Developing	Accomplished	Exemplary
Research process, strategies, & selection of sources; prior knowledge (How did you find your information? How did you address any bias you already had?)	Research question could be better introduced Database, sources, and/or keywords are hard to find on the poster or through conversation Prior knowledge is solely opinion (bias)	A search strategy is evident but not explained Limited keyword development/exploration Resources are largely from Google, similar in content/source type Personal bias may interfere with ability to balance opinion with findings of selected sources	Search strategy is explained Keyword development influenced sources Discipline-specific sources are used (e.g., databases, journals) Personal bias balanced with knowledge gained from sources	Meets all "Accomplished" criteria and may have: Used bibliography from sources to find more resources Recognized & used impact factor (via Web of Science or Google Scholar) Browsed through key journals in field Controlled vocabulary or other advanced database features used Acknowledged personal biases
Source integration (How did you use your information?)	Arguments are not supported with evidence Research was done in isolation without considerations of all aspects of topic or related fields Lack of understanding of the topic	Sources do not support argument or provide appropriate evidence	Sources are integrated to support arguments and provide evidence Some connection is made between the topic as discussed in professional fields	Sources are fully integrated to support or contextualize arguments Clear connection of how work adds to the scholarly conversation
Attributions & Citations (Did you give credit?)	Poster lacks attributions or citations for sources and visual elements	Some sources and visual elements are given attribution, but are not consistent and some are missing entirely	While all sources and visual elements are given attribution, there are some inconsistencies	All sources and visual elements are cited in a consistent format and are complete throughout
Understanding of Information Privilege (What privilege do you have in being able to access the information you used?)	Does not recognize that information has a cost Does not acknowledge that access is limited based on institutional affiliation (or lack thereof)	Acknowledges some information is found freely on the web and some is found through library databases Can only vaguely describe what that means about cost and access	Acknowledges that some information is found freely on the web and that some is found through library databases Can describe the impact cost and access might have on their own research and that of others	Meets all “Accomplished” criteria and: Acknowledges role as information producer Thinks about how to share work with a broader community

Be prepared to respond to these, or similar, questions:

General

What led you to be interested in this topic?

How did you find your information?

What were your research questions and how did you decide on them?
How did you decide what sources to use?
How did you find the information you used?
What kind of prior knowledge/bias did you already have about this topic?

How did you use your information?

Did any of your sources show you new ways of looking at your topic?
How do you think your work adds to the research on this topic?

Did you give credit?

What citation style did you choose for this project, and why?
How did you find any images you used?

What privilege do you have in being able to access the information you used?

How did you access the information you used?
Would you have been able to get to all the information you used if you could only have used Google, and couldn't access anything through Penn State?
Are there groups that might be affected by your work or similar projects, but can't access it because of the cost? How do you think that affects them?