Evaluating Research
©2014 Walden University 1
RC003: Evaluating Research: Evaluate the quality of early childhood research studies and other sources of information. .
Assessment Rubric
0 Not Present
1 Needs Improvement
2 Meets Expectations
3 Exceeds Expectations
Part 1: Evaluating Scholarly Sources
Sub‐Competency 1: Evaluate the credibility and validity of scholarly publications.
Learning Objective LO 1.1: Summarize research findings in the early childhood field.
Summary of three peer‐ reviewed journal articles is not present.
Response includes a vague summary of three peer‐ reviewed journal articles related to one of the topics presented in the Assessment. Or, response does not include an APA citation for each article or the citation is inaccurate.
Response includes an accurate and thorough summary of three peer‐ reviewed journal articles related to one of the topics presented in the Assessment. Response includes an accurate APA citation for each article.
Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response includes an accurate and thorough summary of two additional (total of five) peer‐ reviewed journal articles related to one of the topics presented in the Assessment.
Learning Objective LO 1.2: Apply strategies to evaluate scholarly publications.
Application of appropriate strategies for evaluating the validity and credibility of three peer‐reviewed journal articles is not present.
Response demonstrates a superficial or incomplete application of appropriate strategies for evaluating the validity and credibility of three peer‐reviewed journal articles.
Response demonstrates an application of appropriate strategies for evaluating the validity and credibility of three peer‐reviewed journal articles.
Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response weighs the merits and limitations of using specific strategies for evaluating the validity and credibility of three peer‐ reviewed journal articles.
Part II: Evaluating Credible Internet Sources
Sub‐Competency 2: Evaluate the credibility and validity of Internet sources.
©2014 Walden University 2
0 Not Present
1 Needs Improvement
2 Meets Expectations
3 Exceeds Expectations
Learning Objective LO 2.1: Summarize findings from Internet sources related to topics in the early childhood field.
Summary of two Internet sources related to one of the topics presented in the Assessment is not present.
Response includes a vague summary of two Internet sources related to one of the topics presented in the Assessment. Or, response does not include an APA citation for each Internet source, or the citation is inaccurate.
Response includes an accurate and thorough summary of two Internet sources related to one of the topics presented in the Assessment. Response includes an accurate APA citation for each Internet source.
Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response includes an accurate and thorough summary of two additional (total of four) Internet sources related to one of the topics presented in the Assessment.
Learning Objective LO 2.2: Apply strategies to evaluate Internet sources.
Application of appropriate strategies for evaluating the validity and credibility of Internet sources is not present.
Response demonstrates a superficial or incomplete application of appropriate strategies for evaluating the validity and credibility of Internet sources.
Response demonstrates an application of appropriate strategies for evaluating the validity and credibility of Internet sources.
Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response weighs the merits and limitations of using specific strategies for evaluating the validity and credibility of Internet sources.
Part III: Adhering to Ethical Guidelines
Sub‐Competency 3: Analyze ethical guidelines for conducting early childhood research studies.
Learning Objective LO 3.1: Describe ethical guidelines for conducting early childhood research studies.
Description of the ethical guidelines for conducting early childhood research studies is not present.
Response provides a vague or superficial description of the ethical guidelines for conducting early childhood research studies.
Response clearly describes the ethical guidelines for conducting early childhood research studies.
Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response provides a rationale for strict adherence of the SRCD Ethical Standards for
©2014 Walden University 3
0 Not Present
1 Needs Improvement
2 Meets Expectations
3 Exceeds Expectations
Research with Children. Learning Objective LO 3.2: Analyze research studies for adherence to ethical guidelines for conducting early childhood research studies.
Analysis of whether the study adheres to ethical guidelines is not present.
Response provides a superficial or unclear explanation.
Response thoroughly explains how the methodology in the chosen article adheres to ethical guidelines for conducting early childhood research studies. Rationale is supported by logical connections to SRCD Ethical Standards for Research with Children.
Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response provides cited examples from the research study to demonstrate adherence to specific principles from SRCD Ethical Standards for Research with Children.
Part IV: Synthesizing Sources of Information
Sub‐Competency 4: Synthesize research findings.
Learning Objective LO 4.1: Synthesize various sources of information related to a research topic in the early childhood field.
Synthesis is not present. Response provides an incomplete or illogical synthesis of the sources used in the Assessment.
Response provides a logical synthesis of all five sources used in the Assessment.
Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response explains the implications from the research on professional practice.
Learning Objective LO 4.2: Explain the importance of credibility, validity, ethics, relevance, and accuracy in early childhood research.
Explanation of is not present.
Response provides an unclear or vague explanation.
Response clearly explains the importance of credibility, validity, ethics, relevance, and accuracy in early childhood research.
Demonstrates the same level of achievement as “2,” plus the following: Response identifies potential benefits and challenges to using information that is not
©2014 Walden University 4
0 Not Present
1 Needs Improvement
2 Meets Expectations
3 Exceeds Expectations
peer reviewed.
PS001: Written Communication: Demonstrate graduate‐level writing skills.
Learning Objective PS 1.1: Use proper grammar, spelling, and mechanics.
Multiple major and minor errors in grammar, spelling, and/or mechanics are highly distracting and seriously impact readability.
Multiple minor errors in grammar, spelling, and/or mechanics are distracting and negatively impact readability.
Writing reflects competent use of standard edited American English. Errors in grammar, spelling, and/or mechanics do not negatively impact readability.
Grammar, spelling, and mechanics reflect a high level of accuracy in standard American English and enhance readability.
Learning Objective PS 1.2: Organize writing to enhance clarity.
Writing is poorly organized and incoherent. Introductions, transitions, and conclusions are missing or inappropriate.
Writing is loosely organized. Limited use of introductions, transitions, and conclusions provides partial continuity.
Writing is generally well‐ organized. Introductions, transitions, and conclusions provide continuity and a logical progression of ideas.
Writing is consistently well‐organized. Introductions, transitions, and conclusions are used effectively to enhance clarity, cohesion, and flow.
Learning Objective PS 1.4: Apply APA style to written work.
APA conventions are not applied.
APA conventions for attribution of sources, structure, formatting, etc., are applied inconsistently.
APA conventions for attribution of sources, structure, formatting, etc., are generally applied correctly in most instances. Sources are generally cited appropriately and accurately.
APA conventions for attribution of sources, structure, formatting, etc., are applied correctly and consistently throughout the paper. Sources are consistently cited appropriately and accurately.
PS006: Information Literacy: Apply appropriate strategies to identify relevant and credible information and data in order to effectively analyze issues and make decisions.
Learning Objective PS 6.1: Identify credible sources.
Credible sources are missing.
Some sources are credible, appropriate, and relevant to the topic.
Most sources are credible, appropriate, and relevant to the topic.
All resources are credible, appropriate, and relevant to the topic.
©2014 Walden University 5
0 Not Present
1 Needs Improvement
2 Meets Expectations
3 Exceeds Expectations
Learning Objective PS 6.2: Analyze findings from relevant sources.
Analysis is missing. Analysis superficially reflects relevance of findings to the identified problem, issue, or purpose.
Analysis clearly reflects relevance of findings to the identified problem, issue, or purpose.
Analysis clearly reflects relevance of findings to the identified problem, issue, or purpose, and synthesizes findings to generate new insights.