Distinguished - Thoroughly and clearly critiques three quantitative research studies, providing a complete and accurate APA citation for each and identifying the research question(s), the hypotheses, the size and characteristics of the sample for each study, the type of statistical analysis that was used to evaluate the data, and evidence of any lack of consistency or bias in the way the study was conducted. 

Proficient - Critiques three quantitative research studies, providing an APA citation for each and identifying the research question(s), the hypotheses, the size and characteristics of the sample for each study, the type of statistical analysis that was used to evaluate the data, and evidence of any lack of consistency or bias in the way the study was conducted. Minor details are missing, slightly unclear, or inaccurate. 

Basic - Minimally critiques three quantitative research studies, providing a partial APA citation for each and identifying the research question(s), the hypotheses, the size and characteristics of the sample for each study, the type of statistical analysis that was used to evaluate the data, and evidence of any lack of consistency or bias in the way the study was conducted. Relevant details are missing, unclear, and/or inaccurate. 

Below Expectations - Attempts to critique three quantitative research studies; however, does not provide an APA citation for each; does not identify the research question(s), the hypotheses, the size and characteristics of the sample for each study, the type of statistical analysis that was used to evaluate the data, and/or evidence of any lack of consistency or bias in the way the study was conducted; and/or significant details are missing, unclear, and inaccurate. 

Non-Performance - The critiques of three quantitative research studies, providing an APA citation for each and identifying the research question(s), the hypotheses, the size and characteristics of the sample for each study, the type of statistical analysis that was used to evaluate the data, and evidence of any lack of consistency or bias in the way the study was conducted are either nonexistent or lack the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly and clearly analyzes how the studies are similar and dissimilar in the way each study addressed the research topic, noting which study was more compelling and why.

Proficient - Analyzes how the studies are similar and dissimilar in the way each study addressed the research topic, noting which study was more compelling and why. The analysis is slightly underdeveloped or unclear.

Basic - Minimally analyzes how the studies are similar and dissimilar in the way each study addressed the research topic, noting which study was more compelling and why. The analysis is underdeveloped and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to analyze how the studies are similar and dissimilar in the way each study addressed the research topic; however, does not note which study was more compelling and why, and/or the analysis is significantly underdeveloped and unclear.

Non-Performance - The analysis of how the studies are similar and dissimilar in the way each study addressed the research topic, noting which study was more compelling and why is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly and clearly evaluates the general concept of research validity in quantitative research studies as defined by Trochim (2006).

Proficient - Evaluates the general concept of research validity in quantitative research studies as defined by Trochim (2006). The evaluation is slightly underdeveloped or unclear.

Basic - Minimally evaluates the general concept of research validity in quantitative research studies as defined by Trochim (2006). The evaluation is underdeveloped and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the general concept of research validity in quantitative research studies as defined by Trochim (2006); however, the evaluation is significantly underdeveloped and unclear.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the general concept of research validity in quantitative research studies as defined by Trochim (2006) is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly and clearly evaluates the extent to which each study exhibits internal and external validity, clearly identifying the potential threats, if any, to external validity in each of the three studies.

Proficient - Evaluates the extent to which each study exhibits internal and external validity, identifying the potential threats, if any, to external validity in each of the three studies. The evaluation is slightly underdeveloped or unclear.

Basic - Minimally evaluates the extent to which each study exhibits internal and external validity, vaguely identifying the potential threats, if any, to external validity in each of the three studies. The evaluation is underdeveloped and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to evaluate the extent to which each study exhibits internal and external validity; however, does not identify the potential threats, if any, to external validity in each of the three studies, and/or the evaluation is significantly underdeveloped and unclear.

Non-Performance - The evaluation of the extent to which each study exhibits internal and external validity, identifying the potential threats, if any, to external validity in each of the three studies is either nonexistent or lacks the components described in the assignment instructions.

Distinguished - Thoroughly and clearly explains any unresolved questions about the topic of interest that were raised by the studies and how further research on this topic would augment the findings of the studies that were reviewed.

Proficient - Explains any unresolved questions about the topic of interest that were raised by the studies and how further research on this topic would augment the findings of the studies that were reviewed. The explanation is slightly underdeveloped or unclear.

Basic - Minimally explains any unresolved questions about the topic of interest that were raised by the studies and how further research on this topic would augment the findings of the studies that were reviewed. The explanation is underdeveloped and/or unclear.

Below Expectations - Attempts to explain any unresolved questions about the topic of interest that were raised by the studies and how further research on this topic would augment the findings of the studies that were reviewed; however, the explanation is significantly underdeveloped and unclear.

Non-Performance - The explanation of any unresolved questions about the topic of interest that were raised by the studies and how further research on this topic would augment the findings of the studies that were reviewed 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 words.

Proficient - The length of the paper is nearly equivalent to the required number of words.

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

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

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.