Project Justification Template Grading Rubric
Project Justification Statement Content Criteria
(All content criteria must be scored at Satisfactory or higher by Week Nine for a passing grade in
ADP Planning I)
• Contain at least one or two paragraphs that convey the relevance of the
over-arching topic in which the proposed research study is grounded.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Explain the research focus and its relationship to the discipline or field of
study that supports the need for, or opportunity to, conduct the proposed
project.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Describe the issue, situation, problem or opportunity that reinforces the
need to implement the study.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Be thoughtfully supported with evidence from current literature that
reinforces the relevance of the topic and your research focus.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Conclude with an explanation of how the intended outcomes of the project
could be used to advance knowledge, understanding or practice in the
discipline or field of study.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
Purpose Statement Content Criteria
(All content criteria must be scored at Satisfactory or higher by Week Nine for a passing grade in
ADP Planning I)
• Articulate a specific reason for conducting the proposed research in one or
two sentences.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Align with the ADP project justification statement 4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Explain the focus, project approach, scope, and intended outcomes of the
study
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Conclude with an explanation of how the intended outcomes of the project
could be used to advance knowledge, understanding or practice in the
discipline or field of study.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
Importance Statement Content Criteria
(All content criteria must be scored at Satisfactory or higher by Week Nine for a passing grade in
ADP Planning I)
• Comprise two or more paragraphs that describe clearly and completely how
the study represents a contribution to theory and/or practice associated
with the over-arching topic of the study, and what might be the implications
of the study finding for practitioners and researchers.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Identify how the project represents a unique approach to the topic and
whether the project addresses a gap in the literature.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Be thoughtfully supported with references to current literature that
reinforce the importance of the study.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
Proposed Project Approach
(All content criteria must be scored at Satisfactory or higher by Week Nine for a passing grade in
ADP Planning II)
• Comprise two or three paragraphs that describe the approach for the
proposed project, including how the project will be conceptualized,
organized and implemented.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Discuss how the proposed project will reflect accumulated learning from the
student’s academic program.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Discuss any proposed data collection methodologies and instrumentation,
as well as the study population, as appropriate.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Describe how project outcomes will be achieved. 4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
Over-arching Study Question(s)/Statement of Project Intent
(All content criteria must be scored at Satisfactory or higher by Week Nine for a passing grade in
ADP Planning II)
• Comprise a paragraph that presents the over-arching study question(s) or
statement of project intent.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Demonstrates alignment with the purpose statement and project approach. 4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Identify specific quantitative research questions and hypotheses, if
hypotheses will be tested
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
Writing /Style Criteria
(All criteria must be scored at Satisfactory or higher by Week Nine to pass ADP Planning I and
ADP Planning II)
• Demonstrate a writing style that is clear and concise, with academic tone
appropriate for the content and assignment.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• The thesis statement should be clearly articulated, and the structure and
flow of the paper should be logical, with effective transitions.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Rules of grammar, punctuation, and spelling should be followed, and
adherence to APA formatting requirements should be evident.
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
Research Criteria
(All criteria must be scored at Satisfactory or higher by Week Nine to pass ADP Planning I and
ADP Planning II)
• Sources are credible (preferably peer-reviewed), varied, relevant, and
current (published within past five years).
4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Use of seminal work (e.g. Freud) is encouraged. 4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
• Sources inform analysis, evaluation, problem-solving and decision-making. 4. Mastery
3. Satisfactory
2. Developing
1. Not evident
