GRADUATE STUDENT ASSESSMENT CENTERCase Study Interview: Research Paper

Casey Holcom, Janiece Irby, Erica Moore, & Melinda Yang

Demonstrate Proficiency in the following areas:

•Computers

•Research procedures

•communication/speaking

•Inductive Reasoning

•Works under pressure

Objective

You Will be given a research topic. You will then be

given 10 minutes to conduct research in order to find

3 articles. After you have your articles, you will have

15 minutes to review them and create an outline for a

research paper. Afterwards, you will present your

outline and ideas for the paper.

Assignment

•10 Minutes: Research

•15 Minutes: review and create outline

•5 Minutes: present outline and ideas

Time Break-Down

Should the drinking age be lowered to 18 on college campuses? What are the advantages

and disadvantages? What statistical information can you find which might affect the issue?

Research Topic

KSAO Scales: Computers1- Unsatisfactory 2- Marginal 3- Meets

Expectations

4- Surpasses Expectations

5- Exceptional

Demonstrated extreme difficulty accessing and navigating the internet. Student did not utilize any computer programs to create the outline or prepare the presentation. The student’s limited knowledge of computers made completing the assignment nearly impossible.

Demonstrated difficulty accessing and navigating the internet during the research phase of the assignment. Submitted a handwritten outline and did not utilize any computer programs to assist in preparation for the presentation.

Accessed the internet through a selected web browser during the initial phase of the assignment without difficulty. Limited use of computer programs for other phases of the assignment (Outline and Presentation).

Quickly and easily accessed the internet through a selected web browser during the initial phase of the assignment. Also utilized multiple programs within Microsoft Office to include Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint to create the research outline and prepare the presentation.

Quickly and easily accessed the internet through a selected web browser during the initial phase of the assignment. Also utilized multiple programs within Microsoft Office to include Microsoft Word and Microsoft PowerPoint to create the research outline and prepare the presentation. Demonstrated advanced knowledge of various design functions to include changing the font, text, layout, and design of the document or presentation. Graphics, such as tables or charts, were implemented to display statistics gathered during the research phase. Students may have also decided to use other presentation programs such as Prezi or Google Docs as a PowerPoint alternative.

KSAO Scales: Research Procedures1. Unsatisfact

ory2. Marginal 3. Meets

Expectations4. Surpasses Expectations

5. Exceptional

The student uses unreliable sources in order to gain information. Sources are not peer reviewed or acceptable for a research paper.

The student uses sources that will produce more scholarly journals. However, the student does not research using keywords that will yield useful information. The student is either too specific or too broad for the information to be effective.

The sources that the student uses are acceptable for a research paper. The sources used are peer reviewed. Keywords that are used yield results that can be useful but vague.

Student uses good sources to gain information. Plenty of sources are found so that the best can be used for the outline. Student knows how to effectively scan articles to quickly find which ones will be helpful. Keywords yield specific and helpful articles.

All articles found are scholarly and peer reviewed. Keywords used find articles that directly relate to the research topic. Many aspects of the research topic are researched so that a cumulative paper can be written.

KSAO Scales: Communication1- Unsatisfactory 2- Marginal 3- Meets

Expectations

4- Surpasses Expectations

5- Exceptional

Showed significant difficulty in trying to convey ideas. Frequent stammering and/or stuttering made the presentation hard to follow. Ideas were scattered and not presented well. Little or no eye contact was made and fidgeting was distracting.

Presentation of ideas is not organized well. Stammering is frequent and distracts from the presentation. The general idea for the topic can be understood but it was not presented well.

Student presents ideas for the topic. Distractions are occasionally present but not to the point of interfering with the presentation. Some eye contact was made but student was often focusing on the ground.

Confidently presented ideas formulated in the outline. Presentation and outline are well organized and flow nicely. Little stammering occurs while giving the presentation. Eye contact was maintained throughout most of the presentation.

Presented ideas for the topic in a concise and organized manner. Very confident when speaking and presenting ideas. Maintained good eye contact and spoke with little to no stammering. The students voice remained steady and at an appropriate volume throughout the presentation. After the presentation, it was very clear what the student’s thoughts were and where they plan to go with the topic.

KSAO Scales: Inductive Reasoning1- Unsatisfactory 2- Marginal 3- Meets

Expectations

4- Surpasses Expectations

5- Exceptional

Showed significant difficulty in trying to convey ideas. Student did not develop a hypothesis or reach a probably conclusion. Student was incapable of completing the assignment. Student found no supporting or relevant sources to support assigned topic.

Student developed a hypothesis. The student only found one source to support student’s assigned topic. The student was unable to find information to report a conclusion.

Student is able to propose a hypothesis. The proposed hypothesis and conclusion is supported by 2-3 sources.

Student developed a hypothesis statement based on previous published research on the selected topic. The student found 4-5 articles that supported the hypothesis statement. Student was able to generate a reasonable conclusion based on the research.

Student developed a hypothesis, and conclusion based on information collected from six or more relevant scholarly primary and secondary sources. The materials collected provided multiple published studies and/or on-going research of the assigned topic. Student found significant information to support or reject the student’s proposed hypothesis.

KSAO Scales: Works Under Pressure1- Unsatisfactory 2- Marginal 3- Meets

Expectations

4- Surpasses Expectations

5- Exceptional

Demonstrated extreme difficulty completing the task in a timely matter or was unable to complete the activity in the time given. Student did not search for articles, summarize them, or form their presentation in a timely, efficient manner. The student showed very high signs of being stressed throughout the activity.

Demonstrated difficulty completing the assigned task in a timely manner. The student made poor use of their time searching for articles and summarizing them, as well as forming the presentation. The student also showed multiple signs of stress throughout the activity.

Demonstrated some difficulty completing the assigned task in a timely manner. The student made reasonably efficient use of their time searching for articles and summarizing them, as well as forming the presentation. The student also showed some signs of stress throughout the activity.

Demonstrated little difficulty completing the assigned task in a timely manner. The student made efficient use of their time searching for articles and summarizing them, as well as forming the presentation. The student showed a small amount of stress throughout the activity.

Demonstrated minimal to no difficulty completing the assigned task in a timely manner. The student made very efficient use of their time searching for articles and summarizing them, as well as forming the presentation. The student showed no signs of stress throughout the activity.