Outstanding and flawless. Fully documented and styled according to the brief; text (almost completely) free Very well documented and styled according to the brief; accurate spelling, from spelling, grammar, and grammatical, or punctuation; punctuation appropriate and errors; competent use of vocabulary vocabulary; appropriate to illustrations and topic with all tables well- specialist terms prepared; data defined; generally illustrations and integrated into tables well discussion. prepared; data presentation logically integrated into discussion in body of text/ appendices; appendices relevant.

Appropriate conclusions accurately drawn from findings and very clearly presented; conclusions drive the argument onwards, completely and fairly; where relevant, contrary findings used to illuminate or extend the argument; draws appropriate and implications and/or recommendations for policy/ practice, justified on basis of conclusions drawn from analysis; implications/ Appropriate conclusions accurately drawn from findings and clearly presented; conclusions substantiate the argument/ test thesis, and are comprehensive and fair; general awareness of potential contrary conclusions arising from findings; draws appropriate implications and/or recommendations for policy/ practice, mostly justified on basis of conclusions drawn from analysis; implications/ recommendations clearly presented.

Findings presented but limited in clarity and completeness, partially appropriate to methodology; several questions about accuracy of analysis and/or appropriateness of techniques used; rather shallow level of analysis; limited focus on key issues/ questions relating to research objectives. Findings presented but very limited in clarity and completeness, only marginally appropriate to methodology; inaccuracies in analysis and/or appropriateness of techniques used; shallow level of analysis; very limited focus on key issues/ questions relating to research objectives.

Clearly and fully presents empirical findings, appropriate to Clearly and fully presents empirical findings, appropriate to methodology; methodology; analysis analysis undertaken undertaken accurately using accurately using appropriate generally analytical appropriate methods/ analytical techniques; methods/ analysis techniques; undertaken in analysis considerable undertaken in depth; focuses depth; focuses on clearly on key key issues/ issues/ questions questions relating relating to to research research objectives. objectives. Findings presented but some parts lack in clarity and completeness, not fully appropriate to methodology; some questions about accuracy of analysis and/or appropriateness of techniques used; quite shallow level of analysis; some lack of focus on key issues/ questions relating to research objectives.

Presentation and analysis of empirical findings (30%) Clearly and fully presents empirical findings, appropriate to Clearly and fully presents empirical findings, appropriate to methodology; methodology; analysis analysis undertaken undertaken accurately using accurately using appropriate generally analytical appropriate methods/ analytical techniques; methods/ analysis techniques; undertaken in analysis considerable undertaken in depth; focuses depth; focuses on clearly on key key issues/ issues/ questions questions relating relating to to research research objectives. objectives.

Design of empirical investigation presented but not very clear; design not well-justified; sampling issues inadequately addressed; data collection methods limited in appropriateness (poor or limited examples); data analysis methods not explained or not fully appropriate; limited awareness of constraints and limitations when designing investigation; limited retrospective evaluation. Design of empirical investigation not clearly elaborated or presented; limited justification of design; sampling issues addressed in limited manner; data collection methods very limited in appropriateness (very poor or limited examples); data analysis methods not explained and not appropriate; very limited awareness of constraints and limitations when designing investigation; very limited retrospective evaluation.

Design of empirical investigation generally well- presented and justified; most sampling issues addressed appropriately; generally appropriate data collection methods adopted (with some examples); explains data analysis methods adopted, but not always clearly and/or appropriate; indicates general awareness of constraints and limitations when designing investigation; provides overall retrospective evaluation. Design of empirical investigation adequately presented and justified; sampling issues adequately addressed; data collection methods with some appropriateness (with few examples); explains data analysis methods adopted, but not always clearly and/or appropriate; indicates some awareness of constraints and limitations when designing investigation; some retrospective evaluation.

Design of empirical investigation fully and clearly presented and appropriately justified; sampling issues addressed appropriately and effectively; appropriate data collection methods adopted and indicating a degree of creative thinking (presented with examples); appropriate data analysis methods clearly explained; indicates clear awareness of constraints and limitations when designing investigation; provides thoughtful and critical retrospective Design of empirical investigation mostly well- presented and justified; sampling issues addressed appropriately; appropriate data collection methods (presented with examples); data analysis methods explained and appropriate; indicates awareness of constraints and limitations when designing investigation; provides critical retrospective evaluation.

Literature review (25%) Outstanding and flawless. All material selected from appropriate, Material selected from appropriate, authoritative Material mostly selected from appropriate, Material selected mainly from appropriate, authoritative sources; authoritative authoritative sources; sufficiently sources; mostly sources; comprehensive, comprehensive, comprehensive in selection of clear evidence of evidence of selection of materials is systematic systematic materials relevant generally relevant search; search; to project; to project but systematically systematically presents for the insufficiently presenting presenting most part a indicative of cogent, cogent, cogent structured systematic structured structured analysis of key search; identifies analysis of key analysis of key themes and/or relevant key themes and/or themes and/or issues relevant to themes and/or issues relevant to issues relevant to overall research issues but overall research overall research project; valid somewhat

Fail (30-39) 35 (20-29) 25 Not done 0 Poor discussion of context and rationale; lack of clarity on the nature of the Very poor discussion, if any, of context and rationale; complete lack of Missing. Wholly incorrect or not attempted. empirical clarity on the investigation nature of the undertaken, empirical tending to be little investigation more than a topic undertaken, rather than tending to be little research project; more than a topic little use of key rather than terms; little research project; indication of key very little or no issues; research use of key terms; objectives, as very little presented, only indication of key partially issues; research constitute objectives, as research presented, do not objectives. constitute research objectives.

Outstanding 100 Excellent (80-89) 85 Very Good (70-79) 75 Introduction, context, research objectives (10%) Outstanding and flawless. Context and rationale very clearly stated, indicating relevance to both Context and rationale clearly stated, indicating relevance to both arena of policy/ arena of policy/ practice and the practice and the research field; research field; clearly set up as very clearly set a worthwhile up as a investigative worthwhile project; provides investigative clear explanation project; provides of key terms; key clear and issues and comprehensive overall aim of the explanation of project explicitly key terms; key indicated; issues and research overall aim of the objectives clearly project explicitly stated and and effectively indicating overall indicated; depth of analysis research to be undertaken. objectives very clearly stated and indicating a thorough and in- depth of analysis to be undertaken.