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Judging Guidelines
Grand Awards Judging is conducted using a 100-point scale with points assigned for creative ability, scientific thought or engineering goals, thoroughness, skill, and clarity. Team projects have a slightly different balance of points that includes points for teamwork. We have included each criteria (see below) and a list of questions that can assist you in interviewing the finalists and aid in your evaluation of the finalists' projects.
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I. Creative Ability
(Individual - 30; Team - 25)
1. Does the project show creative ability and originality in the questions the student(s) asked?
- The approach to solving the problem, the analysis of the data, the interpretation of the data?
- The use of equipment, the construction or design of new equipment?
2. Creative research should support an investigation and help answer a question in an original way.
3. A creative contribution promotes an efficient and reliable method for solving a problem. When evaluating projects, it is important to distinguish between gadgeteering and ingenuity.
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II. Scientific Thought/Engineering Goals
(Individual - 30; Team - 25)
a. Scientific Thought
1. Is the problem stated clearly and unambiguously?
2. Was the problem sufficiently limited to allow a plausible approach? Good scientists can identify important problems capable of solutions.
3. Was there a procedural plan for obtaining a solution?
4. Are the variables clearly recognized and defined?
5. If controls were necessary, did the student recognize their need and were they correctly used?
6. Are there adequate data to support the conclusions?
7. Does the finalist/team recognize the data's limitations?
8. Does the finalist/team understand the project's ties to related research?
9. Does the finalist/team have an idea of what further research is warranted?
10. Did the finalist/team cite scientific literature, or only popular literature?
b. Engineering Goals
1. Does the project have a clear objective?
2. Is the objective relevant to potential user needs?
3. Is the solution workable, acceptable to potential user, economically feasible?
4. Could the colution be utilized successfully in design or construction of an end product?
5. Is the solution a significant improvement over previous alternatives?
6. Has the solution been tested for performance under the conditions of use?
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III. Thoroughness
(Individual - 15; Team - 12)
1. Was the purpose carried out to completion within the scopre of the original intent?
2. How completely was the problem covered?
3. Are the conclusions based on a single experiment or replication?
4. How complete are the project notes?
5. Is the finalist/team aware of other approaches or theories?
6. How much time did the finalist/team spend on the project?
7. Is the finalist/team familiar with scientific literature in the studied field?
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IV. Skill
(Individual - 15; Team - 12)
1. Does the finalist/team have the required laboratory computation, observational and design skills to obtain supporting data?
2. Where was the project performed?(home, school lab, university lab)
3. Did the student/team receive assistance from parents, teachrs, scientists, or engineers?
4. Was the project completed under adult supervision, or did student/team work largely alone?
5. Where did equipment come from? Was it built independently by finalist/team? Was it obtained on loan? Was it part of a laboratory where finalist/team worked?
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V. Clarity
1. How clearly does finalist/team discuss the project and explain the purpose, procedure, and conclusions? Watch out for memorized speeches that reflect little understanding of principles.
2. Does written material reflect the finalist's/team's understanding of the research?
3. Are the important phases of the project presented in an orderly manner?
4. How clearly is the data presented?
5. How clearly are the results presented?
6. How well does the project display explain the project?
7. Was the presentation done in a forthright manner, without tricks or gadgets?
8. Did the finalist/team perform all the project work, or did someone help?
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VI. Teamwork
(Team only - 16)
1. Are tasks and contributions of each team member clearly outlined?
2. Was each team member fully involved with project, and is each member familiar with all aspects?
3. Does final work reflect the coordinated efforts of all team members?
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