Distinguished - Comprehensively introduces the research problem or question including a thesis statement that identifies the purpose of conducting the research study and encapsulates the impact of the conduct of the study.

Proficient - Introduces the research problem or question including a thesis statement that identifies the purpose of conducting the research study and encapsulates the impact of the conduct of the study. Minor details are missing or unclear.

Basic - Minimally introduces the research problem or question including a thesis statement that identifies the purpose of conducting the research study and encapsulates the impact of the conduct of the study. Relevant details are missing and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to introduce the research problem or question including a thesis statement that identifies the purpose of conducting the research study and encapsulates the impact of the conduct of the study; however, significant details are missing and unclear.

Non Performance - The introduction of the research problem or question including a thesis statement that identifies the purpose of conducting the research study and encapsulates the impact of the conduct of the study is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Provides a comprehensive body of knowledge that previous researchers have generated and describes how the research will build upon the base of knowledge already in existence.

Proficient - Provides the body of knowledge that previous researchers have generated and describes how the research will build upon the base of knowledge already in existence. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Provides a limited body of knowledge that previous researchers have generated and describes how the research will build upon the base of knowledge already in existence. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide the body of knowledge those previous researchers have generated and describes how the research will build upon the base of knowledge already in existence; however, significant details are missing.

Non Performance - The provision of the body of knowledge that previous researchers have generated and describes how the research will build upon the base of knowledge already in existence is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains where data originated.

Proficient - Explains where data originated. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally explains where data originated. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain where data originated; however, significant details are missing.

Non Performance -The explanation of where data originated is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and accurately identifies and defines the data set being used, its origin, and its composition.

Proficient -Identifies and defines the data set being used, its origin, and its composition. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic - Minimally identifies and defines the data set being used, its origin, and its composition. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to identify and define the data set being used, its origin, and its composition; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non Performance -The identification and definition of the data set being used, its origin, and its composition is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains why this particular data set was chosen and the strengths and weaknesses of the set.

Proficient -Explains why this particular data set was chosen and the strengths and weaknesses of the set. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic - Minimally explains why this particular data set was chosen and the strengths and weaknesses of the set. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts explain why this particular data set was chosen and the strengths and weaknesses of the set; howeve,r significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non Performance - The explanation of why this particular data set was chosen and the strengths and weaknesses of the set is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and the principles of the selected approach.

Proficient - Explains the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and the principles of the selected approach. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic - Minimally explains the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and the principles of the selected approach. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations -Attempts to explain the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and the principles of the selected approach; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non Performance - The explanation of the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and the principles of the selected approach is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively evaluates criminal justice data with specific reference to a methodological approach.

Proficient - Evaluates criminal justice data with specific reference to a methodological approach. The evaluation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally evaluates criminal justice data with specific reference to a methodological approach. The evaluation is slightly underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate criminal justice data with specific reference to a methodological approach; however, The evaluation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non Performance - The evaluation of criminal justice data with specific reference to a methodological approach is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively describes how data was analyzed.

Proficient - Describes how data was analyzed. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally describes how data was analyzed. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to describe how data was analyzed; however, significant details are missing.

Non Performance -The description of how data was analyzed is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the conclusions and inferences drawn from the data analysis.

Proficient - Comprehensively explains the conclusions and inferences drawn from the data analysis. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains the conclusions and inferences drawn from the data analysis. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations -Attempts to explain the conclusions and inferences drawn from the data analysis; however, The explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non Performance - The explanation of the conclusions and inferences drawn from the data analysis is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished -Comprehensively and accurately identifies and discusses the findings in the research study.

Proficient - Identifies and discusses the findings in the research study. Minor details are missing or inaccurate.

Basic - Minimally identifies and discusses the findings in the research study. Relevant details are missing and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations -Attempts to identify and discuss the findings in the research study; however, significant details are missing and inaccurate.

Non Performance - The identification and the discussion of the findings in the research study is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively  examines justifiable conclusions and inferences resulting from data analysis.

Proficient - Examines justifiable conclusions and inferences resulting from data analysis. Minor details are missing.

Basic - Minimally examines justifiable conclusions and inferences resulting from data analysis. Relevant details are missing.

Below Expectations - Attempts to examine justifiable conclusions and inferences resulting from data analysis; however, significant details are missing.

Non Performance -The examination of justifiable conclusions and inferences resulting from data analysis is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively explains the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and applies scientific methodology to answer a criminal justice research question.

Proficient -Explains the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and applies scientific methodology to answer a criminal justice research question. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally explains the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and applies scientific methodology to answer a criminal justice research question. The explanation is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations -Attempts to explain the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and apply scientific methodology to answer a criminal justice research question; however, The explanation is significantly underdeveloped.

Non Performance - The explanation of the methodologies and statistical techniques used in research in criminal justice and application of scientific methodology to answer a criminal justice research question is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively summarizes the entirety of the study by restating the purpose and consolidated outcomes of data set, selection, data set arrangement, data analysis and conclusions.

Proficient -Summarizes the entirety of the study by restating the purpose and consolidated outcomes of data set, selection, data set arrangement, data analysis and conclusions. The summary is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally summarizes the entirety of the study by restating the purpose and consolidated outcomes of data set, selection, data set arrangement, data analysis and conclusions. The summary is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to summarize the entirety of the study by restating the purpose and consolidated outcomes of data set, selection, data set arrangement, data analysis and conclusions; however, The summary is significantly underdeveloped.

Non Performance -The summary of the entirety of the study by restating the purpose and consolidated outcomes of data set, selection, data set arrangement, data analysis and conclusions is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Accurately uses APA formatting consistently throughout the paper, title page, and reference page.

Proficient - Exhibits APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout contains a few minor errors. 

Basic - Exhibits limited knowledge of APA formatting throughout the paper. However, layout does not meet all APA requirements. 

Below Expectations - Fails to exhibit basic knowledge of APA formatting. There are frequent errors, making the layout difficult to distinguish as APA.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Displays meticulous comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains no errors and is very easy to understand.

Proficient - Displays comprehension and organization of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains only a few minor errors and is mostly easy to understand.

Basic - Displays basic comprehension of syntax and mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains a few errors which may slightly distract the reader.

Below Expectations - Fails to display basic comprehension of syntax or mechanics, such as spelling and grammar. Written work contains major errors which distract the reader.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - The length of the paper is equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of correctly formatted pages. 

Basic - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least three quarters of the required number of correctly formatted pages.

Below Expectations - The length of the paper is equivalent to at least one half of the required number of correctly formatted pages.   

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.

Distinguished - Uses more than the required number of scholarly sources, providing compelling evidence to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Proficient - Uses the required number of scholarly sources to support ideas. All sources on the reference page are used and cited correctly within the body of the assignment.

Basic - Uses less than the required number of sources to support ideas. Some sources may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are used within the body of the assignment. Citations may not be formatted correctly.

Below Expectations - Uses an inadequate number of sources that provide little or no support for ideas. Sources used may not be scholarly. Most sources on the reference page are not used within the body of the assignment. Citations are not formatted correctly.

Non-Performance - The assignment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the instructions.