3 Strong Competence
The item may have some, many, or all of these features:
Explicit discussion of research hypothesis or question
Clear understanding of research design, including the method’s limitations and strengths
Clear understanding of cause and effect appropriate to research level and design
Clear indication of inductive or deductive reasoning underlying hypothesis
Critical evaluation of results, including alternative explanations of results
Meaningful discussion of experiment’s limitations
Examines results in light of current state of knowledge
2 Competence
The item may have some, many, or all of these features:
Attempts to generate and test a hypothesis or answer a research question
Examines appropriateness of research design
Considers reasoning underlying hypothesis
Some interpretation and analysis of results, may consider alternative explanations of results
Attempts to deal with experiment’s limitations
Examines results in light of current state of knowledge
1 Minimal Competence
The item may have some, many, or all of these features:
Recognition of problem/hypothesis, but not of derivation of testable hypothesis
Description of methodology without thought on appropriateness of methods used
Data analysis with minimal discussion or interpretation of results
Little or no consideration of alternative explanations of results
Ignores experimental limitations
Fails to examine results with regard to current state of knowledge
0 No demonstration of competence in scientific reasoning
No discussion of problem/hypothesis
No consideration of methodology for experiment
Presents results without interpretation
Neglects differences between expected (literature) values and experiment
Demonstrates scientific knowledge, but without interpretation or analysis