Distinguished - Thoroughly, clearly, and accurately critiques whether the researcher used the appropriate and ethical application of research methods in relation to their research goals.

Proficient - Critiques whether the researcher used the appropriate and ethical application of research methods in relation to their research goals. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Partially critiques whether the researcher used the appropriate and ethical application of research methods in relation to their research goals. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to critique whether the researcher used the appropriate and ethical application of research methods in relation to their research goals; however, significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The critique of whether the researcher used the appropriate and ethical application of research methods in relation to their research goals is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively assesses whether the application of quantitative methods approaches, qualitative methods approaches, or a combination (mixed methods) was appropriate in the article research.

Proficient - Assesses whether the application of quantitative methods approaches, qualitative methods approaches, or a combination (mixed methods) was appropriate in the article research. The assessment is slightly underdeveloped.

Basic - Minimally assesses whether the application of quantitative methods approaches, qualitative methods approaches, or a combination (mixed methods) was appropriate in the article research. The assessment is underdeveloped.

Below Expectations - Attempts to provide assessment of whether the application of quantitative methods approaches, qualitative methods approaches, or a combination (mixed methods) was appropriate in the article research; however, the assessment is significantly underdeveloped.

Non-Performance - The assessment of whether the application of quantitative methods approaches, qualitative methods approaches, or a combination (mixed methods) was appropriate in the article research is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively and accurately interprets data and empirical findings in the research through an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses.

Proficient - Interprets data and empirical findings in the research through an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses. The interpretation is slightly underdeveloped or inaccurate.

Basic - Minimally interprets data and empirical findings in the research through an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses. The interpretation is underdeveloped and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to interpret data and empirical findings in the research through an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses; however, the interpretation is significantly underdeveloped and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The interpretation of data and empirical findings in the research through an assessment of the strengths and weaknesses is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly, clearly, and accurately examines the role of the research design in the article by defending or critiquing the research method based on the assessment.

Proficient - Examines the role of the research design in the article by defending or critiquing the research method based on the assessment. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Minimally examines the role of the research design in the article by defending or critiquing the research method based on the assessment. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to examine the role of the research design in the article by defending or critiquing the research method based on the assessment; however, significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The examination of the role of the research design in the article by defending or critiquing the research method based on the assessment is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Comprehensively, clearly, and accurately supports the impact of the research by determining if it benefits social policy, theoretical knowledge, or both.

Proficient - Supports the impact of the research by determining if it benefits social policy, theoretical knowledge, or both. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate.

Basic - Partially supports the impact of the research by determining if it benefits social policy, theoretical knowledge, or both. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate.

Below Expectations - Attempts to support the impact of the research by determining if it benefits social policy, theoretical knowledge, or both; however, significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate.

Non-Performance - The support of the impact of the research by determining if it benefits social policy, theoretical knowledge, or both is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment 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 - 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 - 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.